_Soccer America_ reports US WNT cruises to Algarve Cup

ALGARVE CUP: USA completes dominant performance
3/15/2007




The USA will be installed as the heavy favorite to win the 2007 Women's World Cup thanks to a dominating performance at the 2007 Algarve Cup in Portugal combined with shockingly bad showings by reigning world champion Germany and 2007 Women's World Cup host China.

The USA beat Denmark, 2-0, Wednesday on goals by Kristine Lilly and Carli Lloyd (pictured above, second to left, with teammates Wambach and Kai to the left and right) to win the 2007 Algarve Cup, while Germany and China finished last among the teams entered in the two top-flight groups following the completion of Wednesday's six placement games.

Lloyd, who entered the Algarve Cup with just one goal in her previous 24 international appearances. scored in her four straight game and took tournament honors as the top scorer and MVP. She is the third U.S. player to score in all four Algarve Cup games, joining Shannon MacMillan (2002) and Christie Welsh (2005) and third to win MVP honors along with Shannon Boxx (twice) and Tiffeny Milbrett.

Both U.S. goals came on shots from 24 yards. Lilly beat Danish keeper Heidi Johansen after being fed by Abby Wambach in the 12th minute. Lloyd struck struck with a spectacular left-footed blast that left Johansen on the ground shaking her head in disbelief.

''We're very happy to win this tournament again and build confidence for our young team,'' said Ryan. ''These were also the first games [of 2007] for some of our top players so this was a good beginning for us. In terms of the game, I think we dominated the play. We had most of the chances and could have scored more goals than we did, and I think maybe one of those goals they called offside was a good goal. I was very happy with our team's performance.''

The win increased the U.S. women's unbeaten streak to 39 matches, 38 of them under head coach Greg Ryan, who has yet to lose a match in regulation time in two years at the helm. The USA has won the Algarve Cup five times -- four times in the last five years. It lost to Germany on penalty kicks last year.

Germany finished eighth after falling to Italy, 1-0, in the seventh-place game for its third loss in four games. More shocking China's 10th-place finish. The Steel Roses fell to Iceland, 4-1, in the ninth-place game.

USA-DENMARK GAME SUMMARY:
March 14 in Vila Real de San Antonio
USA 2 Denmark 0. Goals: Lilly 12, Lloyd 51.
USA -- Solo, Mitts, Whitehill, Rampone, Lopez, Osborne (Boxx, 46), Chalupny (Hucles, 85), Lloyd (Wagner, 83), Kai (Tarpley, 46), Wambach, Lilly.
Denmark -- H.Johansen, Olsen, Andersen, B.Hansen (M.Jensen, 81), Orntoft, Eggers Nielsen, Larsen (M.Pedersen, 61), Madsen, Bukh, Pape, Rasmussen (Dimun, 71).
Referee: Pannipar Kamnueng (Thailand).
Att.: 1,000

PLACEMENT GAMES:
11th place: Ireland 0, Portugal 0
*Ireland wins 5-4 on penalty kicks
9th place: Iceland 4 China 1
7th place: Italy 1 Germany 0
5th place: Norway 2 Finland 0
3rd place: Sweden 3 France 1
Final: USA 2 Denmark 0

[photograph by Paulo Cordeiro, International Sports Images]