USL at the Women’s World Cup >>

Sunday, September 30, 2007

In four previous World Cups, the US has claimed two championships and a pair of bronze medals for third. They added to their medal count with a win over Norway while former W-League players came up short in Brazil’s bid for the title against the defending champion Germany.

THIRD PLACE GAME: US 4 :: 1 Norway

The United States rebounded in style as they dominated the Norwegians in the Third Place game. Former W-Leaguer Abby Wambach (Rochester) led the charge with the opening goal on the half hour mark in a close first half. A minute into the second frame she doubled the lead on an assist from former New Jersey Wildcat Cat Whitehill, and the Americans never looked back.

Lori Chalupny made it 3-0 in the 58th and former Wildcat teammates connected a minute later as Lindsay Tarpley found Heather O’Reilly to cap the scoring for the US. Norway’s Ragnhild Gulbrandsen would spoil the shutout four minutes later. The victory gave former W-League Kristine Lilly (Delaware) her fifth tournament medal.

USSF Full Report [+]        FIFA Full Report [+]
FIFA Wambach 2011 Feature [+]       FIFA Lilly Farewell Feature [+] 
 
 
CHAMPIONSHIP: Brazil 0 :: 2 Germany

W-Leaguers Daniela (Hampton Roads) and Formiga (Jersey) were unable to crack the vaunted defense of Germany, who became the first team in the history of the Women’s World Cup to defend its title. Germany finished the tournament without conceding a single goal and took the title with goals from Birgit Prinz in the 52nd and Simone Laudehr in the 86th.

It was not for a lack of trying by the Brazilians, who were shut down by goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, who started the game off with a stop against Marta just five minutes into the match. Brazil’s first chance came three minutes later when Formiga poked a ball just wide after Angerer had uncharacteristically mishandled a free kick by Daniela. Daniela scared Germany with another chance on a perfect 21-yard volley that hit the inside of the post.

A weak penalty kick effort from Marta allowed Angerer to keep the 1-0 advantage in the second half, but it would not be Brazil’s last chance as Daniela would send a 29-yard free kick on goal that tested Angerer with four minutes left. The goalkeeper, however, proved up to the task to make the save and pass Walter Zenga’s FIFA World Cup record of 517 shutout minute streak.

FIFA Full Report [+]