August 9, 2008

Lloyd's strike gives U.S. win over Japan

The U.S. looked far from gold-medal form, but did enough against a dangerous Japanese side to pick up a much-needed three points in Group G after dropping its opener against Norway.

The Americans created a host of scoring opportunities, but were only able to capitalize in the 27th minute, when Lloyd volleyed a cross from defender Stephanie Cox just under the crossbar.

The United States, which plays New Zealand in its final group match on Tuesday in Shenyang, has three points in the group. Japan has one point, and faces Norway next in Shanghai.

U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME REPORT

Match-up: USA vs. Japan
Competition: 2008 Olympics
Venue: Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium; Qinhuangdao, China
Date: August 9, 2008; Kickoff – 5:00 p.m. local / 5:00 a.m. ET
Attendance: -
Weather: Hazy, Humid, 78 degrees

Scoring Summary:
                1     2     F
USA        1     0     1
JPN         0     0     0

USA – Carli Lloyd (Stephanie Cox) 27th minute.

Lineups:
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts, 15-Kate Markgraf, 3-Christie Rampone – Capt.,14-Stephanie Cox (4-Rachel Buehler, 83); 9-Heather O’Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 11-Carli Lloyd, 5-Lindsay Tarpley (13-Tobin Heath, 73); 16-Angela Hucles, 8-Amy Rodriguez (6-Natasha Kai, 86)
Subs not used: 1-Nicole Barnhart,10-Aly Wagner, 12-Lauren Cheney, 17-Lori Chalupny
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage

JPN: 1-Miho Fukumoto; 2-Yukari Kinga, 3-Hiromi Ikeda (9-Eriko Arakawa, 82) 4-Azusa Iwashimizu, 7-Kozue Ando (12-Karina Maruyama, 62); 5-Miyuki Yanagita, 8-Aya Miyama, 10-Homare Sawa, 15-Mizuho Sakaguchi (13-Ayumi Hara, 65); 17-Yuki Nagasato, 11-Shinobu Ohno.
Subs not used: 6-Tomoe Kato,14-Kyoko Yano, 16-Rumi Utsugi, 18-Ayumi Kaihori
Head Coach: Norio Sasaki

Statistical Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 18/9
Shots on Goal: 6/4
Saves: 4/5
Corner Kicks: 9/4
Fouls: 7/6
Offside: 5/2

Misconduct Summary:
JPN – Homare Sawa (caution) 74th minute.

Officials:
Referee: Pannipar Kamnueng (THA)
Asst. Referee: Widiya Shamsuri (MAS)
Asst. Referee: Ja Daw Kaw (MYA)
4th Official: Christine Beck(GER)

Sierra Mist Woman of the Match:
TBD

2008 Olympic Women’s Soccer Tournament Standings
Group G
Team     W     L     T     Pts    GF    GA GD
NOR      1       0     0     3         2     0     +2
USA       1       1     0     3        1      2     -1
NZL        0       0    1     1         2     2       0
JPN        0       1     1     1        2     3      -1

Aug. 6
Japan 2, New Zealand 2
Norway 2 USA 0

Aug. 9
USA 1, Japan 0
New Zealand vs. Norway, 7:45 a.m. ET

Aug. 12
Norway vs. Japan, 7:45 a.m. ET
USA vs. New Zealand, 7:45 a.m. ET

Group E
Team     W     L     T     Pts    GF    GA GD
CAN       1     0      0     3         2       1    +1
CHN       1     0      0     3         2       1    +1
SWE       1    1       0     3         2       2     0
ARG       0     2      0     0         1       3    -2

Aug. 6
Argentina 1, Canada 2
China 2, Sweden 1

Aug. 9
Sweden 1, Argentina 0
Canada vs. China, 7:45 a.m. ET

Aug. 12
China vs. Argentina, 7:45 a.m. ET
Sweden vs. Canada, 7:45 a.m. ET

Group F
Team     W     L     T     Pts    GF    GA GD
GER        1     0     1     1         1        0   +1
PRK        1     0     0     3         1        0    +1
BRA        0     0     1     1         0        0     E
NGA       0     2     0     0         0         2    -2

Aug. 6
Germany 0, Brazil 0
North Korea 1, Nigeria 0

Aug. 9
Nigeria 0, Germany 1
Brazil vs. North Korea, 7:45 a.m. ET

Aug. 12
North Korea vs. Germany, 5 a.m. ET
Nigeria vs. Brazil, 5 a.m. ET