USL at the Women’s World Cup >>
Friday, September 14, 2007
A showdown of powers between the US and Sweden would give one an advantage in qualifying as Korea downed Nigeria to put themselves in position to succeed from their role as dark horse in Group B. In Group A, England is in a must-win situation after a stalemate against Germany and a Japanese win.
After the first two sets of round-robin games for Groups A and B, Japan and North Korea are in position to surprise the favorites and advance from their groups with positive results in their final matches.
Group B: USA 2 :: 0 Sweden
Former Rochester Raven Abby Wambach scored both goals in a tightly contested affair between the first and third ranked nations. The US took the lead on a penalty in the 34th minute when Lori Chalupny was taken down in the box after a misread ball got past the Swedish goalkeeper.
Wambach would double the lead on a world class strike in the 58th when one-timed a left-footer out of the air off her chest on a long ball into the box from former Delaware Genie Kristine Lilly on the left flank, blasting it home from 14 yards out.
US Soccer Full Report [+] FIFA Full Report [+]
Group B: North Korea 2 :: 0 Nigeria
A pair of corner kick goals four minutes apart were the difference as North Korea moved to the top of the table in the group. Kim Kyong-Hwa stunned the crowd when her corner kick curled into the goal untouched by an unprepared Nigerian squad. Minutes later Kyong-Hwa pushed the lead to 2-0 on another corner kick when she found team captain Ri Kum-Suk at the far post for a header that got past the Nigerian defense at the post.
FIFA Full Report [+]
Group B: The Scenarios
Tied with North Korea and with a match against Nigeria, who has one point through two games, the Americans sit in the best position to qualify. A draw or win would put the US through. North Korea and Sweden square off in the other match with the North Koreans needing just a draw to become the surprise qualifier out of the group. Sweden would need a win over North Korea to advance. Nigeria would need a significant win over the US to pull level on points and advance via tiebreakers.
Group A: England 0 :: 0 Germany
A second draw for England put the British in excellent position to qualify with their remaining game coming up against Argentina, who has yet to earn a point or score. England, led by captain and recent Ottawa Fury defender Faye White in the back line, shut down the potent German attack that put 11 on the South Americans in the tournament opener. The scoreless draw came two days after a 2-2 thriller against Japan in which they gave up two free kick goals. Despite inspired play, former W-League star Kelly Smith was unable to get past the German defense for her third goal of the tournament.
FIFA Full Report [+]
Group A: Japan 1 :: 0 Argentina
Argentina showed resiliency by bouncing back from the record defeat in the opener to give the Japanese, led by veteran midfielder and former W-Leaguer Homare Sawa, a tough test in what looked to be a scoreless draw only to see a goalkeeping error be their undoing in stoppage time at the close of the game. A shot from late substitute Yukari Kinga was not held onto by Romina Ferro, who started in place of first-game keeper Vanina Correa, and rebounded out to Yuki Nagasato for the easy put-away.
FIFA Full Report [+]
Group A: The Scenarios
England would advance from the group with a win over Argentina along with the winner of the Germany-Japan match on the final day as the two leaders with a draw and win collide. Should the two leaders draw, however, creating a three-way tie, the Germans would advance courtesy of goal difference and England would need a two-goal win over Argentina to surpass Japan, who currently sits at +1 while England is level after two ties. Argentina is the first team to be eliminated from contention.
