Shannon Boxx on Sunday made another strong argument for a starting job once the Women's World Cup begins, scoring her second goal in as many games with the U.S. women's team in a 5-0 romp over Mexico in the Americans' final pre-Cup friendly.

Abby Wambach scored a beautiful goal and missed, by inches, at least a half-dozen times, and the U.S. women converted three second-half penalty kicks before 13,510 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose.

The San Jose Earthquakes and New England Revolution met in a Major League Soccer match in the second game of the doubleheader.

U.S. referee Kari Seitz was the unwitting star of the match, aiding the Americans with the three penalty calls — two of them gifts — while letting Briana Scurry off after she crashed into Mexico's Monica Gonzalez after punching the ball away in the 67th minute. A number of calls that went against Mexico appeared wrong decisions, with that judgment often confirmed by television replays.

Seitz is the only U.S. referee on FIFA's list of officials for the Sept. 20-Oct. 12 World Cup.

Scurry, the likely No. 1 goalkeeper, departed in the 70th minute after tweaking an existing injury in her right knee when she landed on Gonzalez, her knee slamming into the Boston Breakers defender's butt just before she hit Gonzalez in the square of the back with both hands.

Scurry was removed for Siri Mullinix, but she said afterward that she was fine and ''could play tomorrow.''

Defender Kylie Bivens was red-carded in the 83rd minute after going studs-up into UCLA star Iris Mora's knee, but it will not affect her status for the Americans' World Cup opener Sept. 21 against Sweden in Washington.

Mexico, coming off 8-0 and 6-0 losses to Canada and a 2-1 defeat to Cal State Fullerton, gave the Americans far more competition than did Costa Rica in a 5-0 U.S. win Monday in Carson, Calif.

The Americans might have scored a dozen goals, but Cindy Parlow and Tiffeny Milbrett hit the goal frame with headers, Wambach repeatedly fired wide just wide, several other players — Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Aly Wagner included — were barely off target, and Colgate University goalkeeper Jennifer Molina made nine saves, several of them quite spectacular.

Boxx, giving another sensational performance as defensive midfielder, fired the Americans ahead in the 10th minute. Julie Foudy's low corner kick from the left sneaked through a crowd of defenders to Boxx, who left-footed it home from within the 6-yard box.

Boxx scored a terrific goal in her U.S. debut on Monday. She joined Michelle Akers and Natalie Neaton as the only U.S. women to score in each of her first two international appearances.

Wambach made it 2-0 in the 25th with a half-shot, half-cross from the right side of the Mexico box into the upper-left corner of the net.

Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm and Aly Wagner converted the penalty kicks as the Americans pulled away.

Chastain's came in the 55th minute after Kristine Lilly went down without contact near the Mexico net. Lilly leapt over defender Marlene Sandoval, from Cal State Fullerton, and might have been carded for simulation by a different referee.

Hamm's penalty kick, in the 63rd minute, was fairer although unfortunate for the Mexicans. Former USC standout Susana Mora took the ball from Wambach at the left edge of the Mexico box, then slipped onto the ball, inadvertently handling it just inside the area.

Wagner's, in the 85th, followed a phantom call on Gonzalez after Wambach went down in the box.

Milbrett rejoined the U.S. team Thursday in San Jose after remaining in her native Portland, Ore., following the Aug. 26 death of University of Portland coach Clive Charles, the forward's father figure and chief mentor.

Mexico used six U.S.-based players. In addition to the two Moras, Gonzalez, Molina and Sandoval, former University of Miami standout Lisa Gomez played 90 minutes in midfield.

SUNDAY'S SUMMARY

Sept. 7 at San Jose

United States 5 Mexico 0. Goals: Boxx 10, Foudy 25, Chastain pen. 55, Hamm pen. 63, Wagner pen. 85.

United States — Scurry (Mullinix, 70); Pearce (Bivens, 46), Fawcett, Chastain, Sobrero (Reddick, 46); Foudy (Roberts, 60), Boxx (Hucles, 61), Lilly (Wagner, 61); Wambach, Parlow (Milbrett, 61), Hamm.

Mexico — Molina; S. Mora, Sandoval, Gonzalez, Castillo; I. Mora, Gomez, Rosales, Perez; Leyva; Worbis (Hernandez, 46).

Yellow cards — Mexico: Sandoval 19, Hernandez 76.

Red card — United States: Bivens 83.

Referee — Kari Seitz (U.S.).

A — 13,510.