US Takes Care of Italy

Win Second Straight in Algarve Cup

March 8, 2008

ALVOR, Portugal – Two days after routing China, the U.S. women’s soccer team got an early goal from Lindsay Tarpley and a late clincher from Heather O’Reilly to defeat Italy, 2-0, in the Americans’ second match in the 2008 Algarve Cup.

The two wins and six points from two group games sets up a clash with Norway on March 10 in Alvor with the U.S. needing a win or a tie to advance to the championship match.

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage made three changes from the team that beat China, 4-0, in the first game of the tournament, starting Hope Solo in goal, Stephanie Cox at outside back and Lauren Cheney up top with Abby Wambach.

The first goal came just six minutes into the match as Wambach received a throw-in from the right sideline with her back to the goal. She held off a defender and then played a pass back to Cheney at the top of the penalty area.

Cheney smacked her first-time shot on goal, but Italian goalkeeper Chiara Marchitelli could only slap the ball down, and once again Tarpley was first to a rebound, knocking the ball into the net from six yards out. It was Tarpley’s second goal of the tournament and team-leading sixth of 2008.

In the 14th minute, it looked for a moment as if Italy had tied the match as Tatiana Zorri hit an in-swinging free kick out from the right side, catching the U.S. in a moment of disorganization. Italian captain Patricia Panico knifed through the center of the defense to head the ball over Solo and just under the crossbar, but the assistant referee had already raised the flag for offside.

Italy created most of its danger from the counter attack, especially through forward Melania Gabbiadini, but she found major difficulties when attempting to bust through American defenders, specifically Christie Rampone.

Italy had just one shot in the second half, but it could have easily tied the game if not for a big save from Solo. Gabbiadini managed to split Rampone and second half substitute Cat Whitehill to get a strike at the U.S. goal from about 10 yards out, but Solo came off her line to knock down the driven shot before it was cleared.

Two minutes later, O’Reilly struck for her first goal of the year. Rodriguez and Cheney played a nice one-two at the top of the box, forcing an Italian defender into a wild clearance. The ball squirted to O’Reilly on the right side of the penalty area. She coolly collected the ball, sped past a defender to the outside and then angled a sizzling far-post shot into the lower corner from 14 yards. It was O’Reilly’s 16th international goal.

In other Group A matches, defending Women’s World Cup champion Germany rebounded from a first game loss to Denmark to roll past Finland, 3-0 and the Danes picked up their second straight 1-0 win, this time over Sweden. In Group C, host Portugal continued its good run, defeating Poland, 3-1. Iceland pounded Ireland, 4-1, setting up a match with Portugal on March 10 for the Group C title.

U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME REPORT

Scoring Summary:
USA – Lindsay Tarpley (Lauren Cheney) 6th
USA – Heather O’Reilly (unassisted) 74th

Lineups:
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 14-Stephanie Cox, 15-Kate Markgraf (4-Cat Whitehill, 46), 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 17-Lori Chalupny (26-Rachel Buehler, 59); 7-Shannon Boxx (16-Angela Hucles, 76), 11-Carli Lloyd (12-Leslie Osborne, 46), 5-Lindsay Tarpley (13-Tobin Heath, 46), 9-Heather O’Reilly; 8-Lauren Cheney, 20-Abby Wambach (19-Amy Rodriguez, 71).

ITA: 1-Chiara Marchitelli; 2-Sara Gama, 3-Roberta D’Adda, 6-Giulia Perelli, 13-Giorgia Motta; 4-Alessia Tuttino, 10-Tatiana Zorri, 16-Pamela Conti (17-Carolina Pini, 87), 20-Giulia Domenichetti; 8-Melania Gabbiadini (11-Silvia Fuselli, 83), 9-Patrizia Panico.

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