The U.S. Women's National Team got spectacular first-half finishes from Kristine Lilly and Natasha Kai to defeat Australia, 2-0, in its second Group B match of the 2006 Peace Queen Cup. The USA next faces the Netherlands on Thursday, Nov. 2, at Suwon World Cup Stadium and a win will likely put the Americans in the championship game.
In the other Group B match, Denmark defeated the Netherlands, 1-0, meaning the USA, Australia and the Danes are all still in the running for the group title and a place in the title game against the winner of Group A, which will be determined by tomorrow's clash between Brazil and Canada in Changwon. Both Denmark and the USA have four points from two matches, but the USA has a one-goal advantage over Denmark in the first tie-breaker -- goal difference -- heading into the final group game. If the USA can maintain that edge by beating the Netherlands by more goals than Denmark beats Australia, the USA will win the group. If Australia beats Denmark or the teams draw, a win by any margin will get the USA to the title game.
The victory was especially sweet for the U.S. women, as not only did they win while resting numerous regulars, and earn a leg up towards making the final, but the Americans had tied Australia in the two previous matches between the teams, one in group play at the 2004 Olympics.
U.S. head coach Greg Ryan made six changes from the lineup that tied Denmark, 1-1, last Sunday, including giving forward Natasha Kai first-ever start. In fact, Ryan switched out the entire midfield in the 4-3-3 formation, resting regular starters Leslie Osborne, Carli Lloyd and Aly Wagner. Stepping up was the midfield trio of Marci Miller, Joanna Lohman and Angela Hucles, who played an excellent game in the attacking midfielder role, as all three put together a fine team performance.
Kai celebrated the start with a goal in the 35th minute, but not before Lilly got the USA on the board with her 115th career goal 20 minutes into the match.
Lilly created the goal almost out of nothing, as she ran down a cross from Kai that flew from the right wing through the penalty area and rolled outside the box on the left flank. Lilly squared up on her defender, beat her to the inside and cracked a shot with her right foot from about 14 yards out that took a deflection off the shoulder of an Aussie defender and soared just under the crossbar, slamming into the back of the net near the upper right corner.
The Matildas looked to be the better team through the first 15 minutes as a U.S. lineup featuring numerous inexperienced players struggled to find its rhythm. Lilly's goal shifted the momentum and Kai's score added an exclamation point.
It was Abby Wambach who did the heavy lifting on the second goal as she sprinted into the right side of the penalty area and beautifully brought down a high Lilly service in stride. She took a hard touch toward goal, a bit too hard in fact, as Australian goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri came out sliding to block the cross at the edge of the six-yard box. The ball deflected straight up in the air and dropped at the front of the goal box where Kai took a great touch to her right to lose a defender before blasting the ball into the net for her sixth career international goal.
Lilly had almost given the USA the lead in the 17th minute after Wambach was whacked down by Aussie captain Cheryl Salisbury just outside the penalty area on the left side. The USA took the free-kick quickly to Lilly running into the left side of the box, catching the Matildas off guard, but the U.S. captain slammed her left-footed shot off the inside of the right post. The rebound rolled straight back up the middle of the penalty area but no U.S. players were framing the goal.
Australia almost tied the game in the 23rd minute as Joanne Burgess hit the inside of the right post after running onto a chip over the U.S. defense, but the ball bounced into the middle and was cleared by Tina Frimpong.
The U.S. defense, bolstered by a great game from center back Cat Whitehill, played an air-tight match, limiting the Australians to just two shots on goal over the 90 minutes. Outside backs Heather Mitts and Christie Rampone, and in the second half Lori Chalupny, were stellar in keeping the talented Aussie flank players in front of them. U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry, starting just her third match since returning to the national team at the beginning of this year, did have to handle a half-dozen well struck crosses, including several that required brave ventures into oncoming goal mouth traffic.
In the 42nd minute, Wambach fought through a pack of players off a corner kick to knock both the ball and Barbieri into the net, but the goal was correctly waved off for the foul and it took the Aussie ‘keeper a few moments to regain her wits.
With the U.S. holding a two-goal lead, the second half was somewhat uneventful, but the Australians did have a dangerous free kick in the 63rd minute as Heather Garriock hit the side netting after a cross was knocked down inside the U.S. penalty box.
The final chance of the game came in the 86th minute as Wambach fired a shot from deep in the right side of the penalty area, but it was palmed down by the diving Barberi and she pounced on the ball before late substitute Lindsay Tarpley could get a toe to the rebound.
If the USA and Denmark both win their final matches, but Denmark manages to score one more goal than the USA in doing so, the teams will be tied on points, goal difference and goals scored, meaning the tournament organizers would have to draw lots to determine the group champion. If the USA does make the championship game, it will be held on Nov. 4 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.