MVN - Most Valuable Network

Match Recap — USA v BRAZIL in San Diego [UPDATED]

The U.S. Women’s National Team is getting ready for the Beijing Summer Olympics, but on Wednesday night they had one bit of business to take care of first, and they did it in sunny San Diego at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium…

The task at hand was their final warm-up before departing for China;  the opponent was their nemesis from the previous Olympics’ Championship match…Brazil !    

The setting was a sold-out Torero Stadium, where the Americans hosted the Brazilians in an international friendly seen live on Fox Soccer Channel. —  These are the same two teams who met in the 2004 Olympics Championship, and they are both preparing for the 2008 tournament which begins 3 weeks from tonight in China. —

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Natasha Kai, a second-half substitute, scored the winning goal for Team USA tonight in their final match before the Summer Olympics.  Her goal in the 85th minute was off of an assist from Carli Lloyd, and was enough to win the match. 

This is the third consecutive 1-0 match between the two teams - all U.S. wins, and the second match in a row, as the two played on Sunday in Colorado.  In that game, Amy Rodriguez was the lone goal-scorer.

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The U.S. Women are still undefeated this year, improving to 21-0-1.  They are the number one ranked team in world, according to the latest (June) FIFA ranking, with Brazil 4th.

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Abby Wambach was looking for her 100th USWNT goal, and had several chances, but late in the first half, she collided with Brazil’s Andreia Rosa, and was taken off the field on a stretcher.  Lindsay Tarpley did achieve her century - her 100th USWNT cap.

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Kai, a colorful and popular team member who hails from Kahuku, Hawaii, subbed in for Tarpley in the 56th minute.  Here is more on her:

VIDEO:  Produced just prior to the 2007 FIFA World Cup, a Natasha Kai feature produced by US Soccer for their Studio 90 online news series,

“Surfing with Natasha Kai”

http://ballhype.com/video/video_studio_90_world_cup_feature/

PROFILE:  NBC’s 2008 Olympics feature on Kai, first published this June,

“Natasha Kai:  Rainbow Warrior”

http://ballhype.com/story/natasha_kai_rainbow_warrior/

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Wednesday, August 6 begins the Americans’ quest to defend their Olympic Gold Medal.  They will meet on that night the only other nation to ever win the Women’s Olympics soccer tournament - Norway, also the opening night of all Olympic competitions…

NOTE:  Women’s Olympics soccer began in 1996, when the U.S. won.  Norway won in 2000- (U.S., Silver), and then U.S. defeated Brazil in Athens for the Gold in 2004…

ROSTER:  The announcement on USA Women chosen for Olympics

http://ballhype.com/story/uswnt_roster_for_2008_summer_olympics_revealed/

ARTICLE:  OLYMPICS Soccer Preview, NBC coverage on 7 networks,

http://ballhype.com/story/soccer_kicks_off_summer_olympics_on_august_6_nbc/

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[UPDATE]  The day after this match, it was determined that Abby Wambach had suffered a broken leg;  a titanium rod was inserted, with a prognosis that she would be out for at least 12 weeks.  She is the team’s leading scorer, and will miss the Olympic Games.  It could perhaps take her until early next year to regain full fitness.

Author: MVN Soccer

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 at 12:12 am and is filed under Soccer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.