Women Advance to Second Round

Win Group G with 4-0 Victory over New Zealand

August 12, 2008

SHENYANG, China – The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated New Zealand, 4-0, Tuesday to win Group G and advance to the second round of Olympic play.

The Americans, who got goals from four different players, including one from Heather O’Reilly just 40 seconds into the match, will now face rival Canada, which finished third in Group E.

“I think it’s fantastic that fact that we bounced back from the first 15 minutes against Norway,” said US coach Pia Sundhage. “You look at the first 15 minutes of that game to the last 15 minutes of this game and many things have happened. The whole team, and myself, have gained confidence every minute we’ve been together. The good part of this road is that we have experienced both sides: losing and winning. That’s good going into the quarterfinals where it’s now or never.”

The fortunes of the Group G teams flip-flopped during a short span in the second half. The U.S. was up 2-0 at halftime through goals from O’Reilly and Amy Rodriguez while Norway scored first in its match against Japan only to have the Japanese equalize before the break. Japan went ahead in the 51st minute, benefiting from an own goal, then made it 3-1 just one minute later. That score line meant the U.S. needed just one more goal to win the group – provided the Norway vs. Japan score stayed the same -- and just minutes later Lindsay Tarpley got it. The USA would add another goal four minutes after that while Japan piled two more on Norway.

Amazingly, at the start of the day, the USA has a minus-1 goal differential and Norway had a plus-three goal differential. At the end of the evening, the USA was at plus-three and Norway was at minus-1.

O’Reilly’s record-setting goal – the fasted in Olympic women’s soccer history -- broke the mark set, ironically, by Norway against the USA in the first match of the group and it was a masterful strike from the 23-year old midfielder. New Zealand goalkeeper Jenny Bindon cleared a ball into midfield that Carli Lloyd jumped up to win on a header. The ball fell onto the path of O’Reilly, who took a few touches and saw the ‘keeper of her line. O’Reilly let loose a dipping shot that sailed over Bindon from 30 yards and stuck in the right corner of the net.

Rodriguez added the second goal for the U.S. in the 43rd minute running under a long ball from Buehler, who had played it perfectly into space behind the Kiwi defense.

The third U.S. goal, which put the USA atop the group to stay, came in the 57th minute after a scramble in front of the net. Tarpley reacted quickest to the loose ball and volleyed clinically into the right corner of the net for her 28th career goal and 11th of 2008.

Just four minutes later, Angela Hucles got a goal of her own when Lori Chalupny ran the ball up the left flank, beat her defender to the inside and blasted a shot from the top left corner of the area that flew past an outstretched Bindon and pinged off the top right corner of the goal. The bounce fell right to Hucles, who was able to pivot and loft her shot off Bindon’s hands and in.

The U.S. did well to control the tempo of the match, allowing New Zealand only five total shots while taking 16 of their own. The best chance for the Kiwis didn’t come until the first minute of stoppage time when defender Anna Green carried the ball up the left flank and fired a long blast that headed for the upper left corner. U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo was there to cover the angle, although the shot went wide as it hit the side netting.

Friday’s match will mark the fifth time that the U.S. faces Canada in 2008, and the fourth time in tournament play. The U.S. defeated Canada, 4-0, in the opening match of the Four Nations Tournament in January. Both Canada and the U.S. qualified for the Olympics in March, facing each other in the final of the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Championship in Ciudad Juarez, with the U.S. earning the regional title, 6-5, in penalty kicks after drawing, 1-1, in regulation. The two teams also met in a friendly match in May in Washington, D.C., with the U.S. coming away with a 6-0 win. In the most recent meeting, the U.S. defeated Canada, 1-0, for the Peace Queen Cup title in June.

U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME REPORT:

Scoring Summary:
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Carli Lloyd) 27th minute
USA – Amy Rodriguez (Rachel Buehler) 43rd
USA – Lindsay Tarpley (unassisted) 56th
USA – Angela Hucles (Lori Chalupny) 60th

Lineups:
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts (14-Stephanie Cox, 63), 4-Rachel Buehler, 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 83, 17-Lori Chalupny; 9-Heather O’Reilly (10-Aly Wagner, 76), 7-Shannon Boxx, 11-Carli Lloyd, 5-Lindsay Tarpley; 16-Angela Hucles, 8-Amy Rodriguez (6-Natasha Kai, 56)

NZL: 1-Jenny Bindon; 2-Ria Percival, 5-Abby Erceg, 6-Rebbecca Smith, 17-Marlies Oostdam (14-Kristy Hill, 64); 4-Katie Hoyle (3-Anna Green, 64), 8-Hayley Moorwood, 11-Kristy Yallop; 7-Ali Riley, 9-Amber Heam, (13-Rebecca Tegg, 74), 15-Emma Kete

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