Debbie Keller scored a pair of first-half goals as the U.S. women’s national team defeated Canada 4-0 at the Citrus Bowl in a preliminary to the 1998 MLS All-Star Game. Canada mounted an early run at the USA, taking two shots in the first nine minutes, but the sweltering mid-90s heat and a relentless U.S. attack put the Canadians on the defensive for the rest of the match — they managed just one more shot. The U.S. finally broke through the feisty Canadian defense in the 25th minute when Kristine Lilly drove around the left corner of the penalty box, drawing goalkeeper Nicole Wright to the near post, and bent a driven cross to the far post. Keller met the ball on the dead run and re-directed it into the open net. Wright played a valiant game, making 12 total saves including several point blank stops, but couldn’t stop Keller’s second goal in the 37th minute. Keller collected a poor clearance at the top of the box before smacking a 27-yard shot that skidded off the turf, kissed the right post and settled into the net. Keller has scored 10 goals in her last 14 games and has scored 11 of her 15 career international goals in 1998, making her the team’s second leading scorer for the year. Mia Hamm has 15 goals in 1998. “Now that I’m done with college, I’ve really been able to concentrate on soccer,” said Keller, who scored the winning goal in the 1996 NCAA Championship final for North Carolina. “I’m getting more playing time and whenever you get the chance, you start to improve. This year has been a lot of fun.” The first 15 minutes of the second half saw the U.S. team hit the goalpost twice, the crossbar once and have two shots cleared off the line by the Canadian defense. With the U.S. coming at Canada in waves, the third goal came off a bullet near-post cross from Julie Foudy in the 58th minute. With a defender hanging onto her, 5-foot-2 forward Tiffeny Milbrett, still got inside position and was able to re-direct the ball with her head into the roof of the net from two yards out. Foudy scored her 24th international goal in the 88th minute on a play that started with MacMillan’s cross from the left corner. Milbrett kept the ball alive at the near post, deflecting it up in the air with her leg, and Foudy cleaned it up, heading the ball just inside the left corner from close range. “The United States team is the best in the world and there’s not much else to be said,” said Canadian coach Neil Turnbull. “They’re great to watch, and for us, it’s a learning experience.” The U.S. team will now take a month off before regrouping in early September for U.S. Women’s Cup ’98 on the East Coast. Aug. 2 in Orlando, Fla. USA 4 Canada 0. Goals: Keller 25, 37, Milbrett 58, Foudy 88. USA — Ducar, Pearce, Overbeck, Sobrero, Fawcett (Whalen, 46), Venturini, Akers (Chastain, 46), Lilly (Foudy, 46), Keller (Fotopoulos, 76), MacMillan, Hamm (Milbrett, 46). Canada — Wright, C.Walsh, Morneau (Chow, 72), Dion (Slaymaker, 46), Smith (Chandonnet, 72), Joy, Muir, Stumbos (Harvey, 46), Hooper, Rosenow, A.Walsh. Yellow cards: Canada — Joy 41, C.Walsh 58. Referee: Sandra Hunt (USA)> Att.: 34,416.