USL at the Women’s World Cup >>
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The second day of the 2007 Women’s World Cup in China opened with a thrilling rainy affair between the top-ranked US squad against the fifth-ranked and relatively unknown North Koreans and continued with two other exciting fixtures as Nigeria and Sweden faced off in the other Group B game and England and Japan finished the Group A action that started yesterday.
Group B: United States 2 :: 2 North Korea
CHENGDU -- Through steady rain, the US came away with a draw in their first FIFA Women’s World Cup match against South Korea.
After a scoreless first half, the US got on the board first when former Rochester Raven (now Rhinos) Abby Wambach hit a strike that was too much for goalkeeper Jon Myong Hui to handle in the wet conditions. Just a few minutes later, however, the striker would suffer a deep cut to the back of her head on defensive play, forcing the US to play with 10 players for nearly 10 minutes while getting stitched up.
A young North Korea team seemed un-phased, and took full advantage of their man-up situation, pulling even in the 58th minute when Kil Son Hui struck a long-distance shot that Hope Solo couldn’t handle in the wet conditions. Just four minutes later, the North Koreans took the lead on a goal from Kim Yong Ae when a loose ball in the box came to her.
The Americans, back to full strength, tied the game on a Heather O’Reilly (New Jersey Wildcats 2004-05) finish with the outside of her right foot in the 69th minute to earn a tough 2-2 draw, and an important point in Group B. The US will next face Sweden on Friday, Sept. 14 at 4:55 a.m. ET on ESPN.
US Soccer Full Report [+]
Group B: Nigeria 1 :: 1 Sweden
CHENGDU -- Runners-Up in the 2003 Women’s World Cup and currently ranked third, Sweden saw a tough Nigerian squad, ranked 24th, hold them scoreless through the first half. Sweden finally broke the stalemate with a strike from 2003 star Victoria Svensson. Nigeria, however, did not give up and gained the advantage of the game as it advanced to the later stages, finding an equalizer in the 82nd minute by way of Cynthia Uwak.
Nigeria missing star striker and veteran W-League player from the Hampton Roads Piranhas Mercy Akide-Udoh, who gave birth to a baby girl last Thursday in Minnesota.
FIFA Full Report [+]
Group A: England 2 :: 2 Japan
SHANGHAI -- Former W-League players Rachel Yankey (New Jersey Wildcats 2005) and Kelly Smith (New Jersey Wildcats 2004) helped guide England to a draw in their opener, a wild back-and-forth affair with Japan, who was led by former W-Leaguer Homare Sawa (Denver Diamonds 1999-00). The two were dangerous throughout the first half, but were unable to find the back of the net.
Japan would stun the Brits 10 minutes into the second half when Aya Miyami nailed a 25 yard free kick past the wall and goalkeeper Rachel Brown. Smith would respond with two goals in a three minute span between the 81st and 83rd to give England a 2-1 lead. A late foul, however, would cost England dearly as they saw Miyami convert another fantastic free kick in the final seconds four minutes into stoppage time for the draw.
FIFA Full Report [+]
