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 The
U.S. Women's National Team put together a quality game in
difficult conditions to defeat Finland, 3-0, in its second match
of the 2005 Algarve Cup. Forward Christie Welsh scored two
first-half goals and Abby Wambach added a third in the 52nd
minute as the Americans put themselves in position to make the
championship game with a win or tie against Denmark in their
final Group B match on Sunday.
In the other
Group B match, France defeated Denmark, 2-1, putting the USA
atop the group with six points. France and Denmark have three
points each while Finland sits at the bottom of the group with
zero.
Playing on
the smallest field to host a U.S. Women's National Team game in
recent memory, the U.S. navigated the bumpy 64-yard by 108-yard
pitch extremely well, putting together some long stretches of
quality possession in both halves.
The USA got a
valuable early goal that put the pressure on the Finns to come
out of their half a bit more despite their 4-5-1 formation. The
goal came in just the eighth minute off a long throw-in from the
right sideline of the narrow field. Reddick's throw flew to
Wambach who won the ball with her head at the corner of the
six-yard box and nodded it further into the middle. Finnish
goalkeeper Satu Kunnas mishandled the bouncing ball and Welsh
pounced on the chance to blast the ball home from six yards out
into the roof of the net.
In the 13th
minute, Welsh had a chance for another goal during a wild
sequence. After some good U.S. possession released Kristine
Lilly down the left flank, her hard cross sailed to the far post
where Terhi Uusiluomalahti tried to head it over the end line
for a corner kick, but instead the defender headed it off the
right goalpost. The ball bounced right to Welsh, who had an open
net, albeit from a tough angle, and struck her looping shot back
off the inside of the left post and into the arms of Kunnas.
Welsh scored
the USA's second goal four minutes before halftime, but credit
20-year-old Heather O'Reilly for creating it. The speedy
forward ran onto a bouncing ball down the right wing, settling
it well before blowing by a defender. She then cut a perfect
cross back on the ground into the middle for Welsh to meet
first-time with her right foot, powering it into the net under
Kunnas and into the lower left corner from 12 yards.
It was just
the second career full National Team start for O'Reilly, who
scored and broke her ankle just seconds into her first-ever
start against Ireland back in June of 2003 as the Irish
goalkeeper crashed into her.
The match
also marked the first career caps at the senior level for
18-year-old forward Amy Rodriguez, who came on at halftime, and
22-year-old defender Lindsey Huie, who played the final 15
minutes at left back.
After playing
all 90 minutes at left back against France in the first match of
the tournament, Lori Chalupny showed her versatility by starting
and playing the first half at right midfield in the USA's 3-4-3
formation before switching to left back in the second half as
the Americans moved to a 4-3-3.
Rodriguez, a
halftime substitute, played a part in the third goal, getting
fouled at midfield as a Finnish defender climbed over her back.
Reddick took the free kick and sent a perfect long service to
the far post and right onto the head of Wambach, who froze
Kunnas on her line with a world-class finish, sending the ball
back across the net into the right corner while falling away
from the goal.
It was
Wambach's 46th career international goal, moving her past Julie
Foudy into sole possession of 8th place on the all-time U.S.
scoring chart.
Finland took
just eight shots in the match, and didn't fire their first until
the 36th minute, but three were extremely dangerous and drew
great saves from Solo. Near the end of the firs half, Finnish
star Anne Makinen did well to slip two tackles in the midfield
before cracking a 25-yarder that Solo had to push over the
crossbar for a corner kick.
In the final
10 minutes, Solo made two more quality saves, smothering hard
shots at the right corner from Makinen and Minna Mustonen to
earn her first shutout for the National Team since a 2-0 victory
over England at the 2002 Algarve Cup. It was also Solo's first
start for the USA since October of 2002.
Finland's
other dangerous chance came on one of the rare occasions the
U.S. team did not win a long service, letting it drop in
midfield. The ball was quickly played through to Laura Kalmari,
but her toe-poke from the top of the penalty area past the
charging Solo bounced wide right of the goal.
The USA was
patient with its possession on the small field for the entire
match and had several great chances to add to its lead. In the
68th minute, halftime substitution Aly Wagner put Lilly behind
the defense on a breakaway. The U.S. captain rounded the 'keeper
to her right before being bundled down by a retreating defender
and the goalkeeper, but got no call.
In the 77th
minute, Lilly returned the favor, playing Wagner into the right
side of the box. She hit a perfect cross on the ground to the
far post that somehow eluded the crashing Wambach, slipping
through the forward's legs as a defender slid at her feet.
U.S. interim
head coach Greg Ryan used all his six allowed subs in the second
half, also giving time to midfielders Lindsay Tarpley and Lorrie
Fair and forward Kelly Wilson, who earned her first cap with the
full National Team since the 2002 Algarve Cup.
The U.S. team
will face Denmark on Sunday, March 13, for the group title and a
place in the championship game against Germany, which already
clinched Group A with one match left to play. Fans can follow
the USA's match online at 8:45 a.m. ET on ussoccer.com's
MatchTracker presented by Philips Electronics.
Denmark tied
and defeated the USA during the "Fan Celebration Tour" last
November, handing the U.S. women one of only two losses all year
in 2004. Those results combined with a berth in the title game
at stake should make for an extremely hard-fought match. A
Denmark win would likely put them in the championship game.
Against France, Denmark scored what looked like the winning goal
with just minutes to play, only to see it waved off for
offside. France's defensive leader Corinne Diacre then hit the
deciding goal in the final minute of the game, blasting a
left-footed shot off the hand of Danish goalkeeper Tine
Cederkvist and into the upper-left corner.
In Group A,
Germany clinched their spot in the title game and sent a message
to the rest of their continent with the European Women's
Championships coming up this summer by pounding Norway, 4-0. In
the other match, Sweden rebounded from its loss to Germany with
a 2-0 win over China. In Group C, Mexico shutout Northern
Ireland, who has yet to score a goal, 2-0, and England recorded
their second straight 4-0 win, this time over host
Portugal. England will meet Mexico on the final Match Day for
the Group C title.
About the National Soccer Hall
of Fame and Museum
 Located in
Oneonta, NY, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a 30,000
square foot, state-of-the-art museum in 1999. The Hall of Fame
tells the story of soccer in
America through artifacts, photographs, and video clips. The new
Hall features an extensive interactive, youth oriented Kicks
Zone where visitors have fun kicking,
heading and playing computer trivia stations and video
soccer games. The VideoWall portrays some of the greatest
moments and the greatest goals in history as well as live soccer
action with World Cup, MLS, and U.S. Soccer matches. Unique and
rare artifacts on exhibit range from the world’s oldest soccer
ball to the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy won by the USA in
1999,
Pelé's and Mia Hamm’s uniforms, Kristine Lilly’s golden
shoes, NASL championship rings, the original MLS championship
trophy, MLS gallery - it’s all at the National Soccer Hall of
Fame. In addition to the interactive Museum, the National Soccer
Hall of Fame complex boasts the
Kicks
Zone Store,
a research library, four world-class soccer fields and
office/meeting facilities. The Hall plans to add a stadium, an
indoor soccer arena and housing facilities in the future.
The mission of
the National Soccer Hall of Fame is to celebrate the history,
honor the heroes, inspire the youth and preserve the legacy of
soccer in the United States.
The National
Soccer Hall of Fame is open every day of the year, except
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Admission is $9.00 for
adults, $8.00 for students, $6.50 for children 6 or older and
senior citizens. Children 5 and under are free.
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