Norway Beats U.S. to Win Soccer Gold

S Y D N E Y, Australia, Sept. 28, 2000 -- The magic of the Rose Bowl was not to

be found at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The United States will have to share the stage of supremacy forthe first decade of major international women’s soccer. Norwayearned its share today, beating the U.S. team 3-2 inovertime in the gold medal game of the Sydney Olympics.

Substitute Dagny Mellgren scored in the 12th minute of suddendeath, taking a deflection off defender Joy Fawcett’s head as theyplayed a long ball from Hege Riise. The ball hit Mellgren’sshoulder and landed at her feet before she pushed it to the left ofgoalkeeper Siri Mullinix from 7 yards.

Milbrett Forces Overtime

Norway nearly had it won in regulation, but Tiffeny Milbrett’ssecond goal with seconds left in second-half injury time tied thegame. Ragnhild Gulbrandsen had given the Norwegians a 2-1 lead inthe 78th minute.

With the victory, Norway adds the 2000 Olympic title to its 1995World Cup championship. The United States can claim the 1991 and1999 World Cup as well as the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The victory also means Norway is still the only nation with anall-time winning record (15-13-2) against the United States. TheNorwegians are also the only team to beat the Americans in a WorldCup or Olympic tournament, the other victory coming in the 1995World Cup semifinals.

Milbrett’s tying goal came when she outleaped defender GoerilKringen to knock home Mia Hamm long cross from the right wing.There was literally no time left — when the ball was returned tothe center circle for the kickoff, referee Sonia Denoncourtsignaled the end of regulation.

Milbrett also scored in the fifth minute of a first halfdominated by the Americans, but Gro Espeseth’s goal off a cornerkick tied it in the 44th.

The most ironic moment came when in the 60th minute, whenKristine Lilly’s drive was headed off the line at the post in agreat defensive play by Kringen. A year ago, in the World Cupfinal, it was Lilly’s header on the line in overtime that preventeda China victory and sent the game to penalty kicks.

Norway took the lead in the 78th as Mullinix was late to reactto a 35-yard long ball from Silje Joergensen. Gulbrandsen headedthe ball into the net as Mullinix collided with Fawcett.

Changes for U.S. Team

Although these Olympics weren’t a cumulative last-hurrah for thestars of the U.S. team, it’s likely that the lineup will changesubstantially before the next major tournament, the 2003 World Cup.

Carla Overbeck is the only player definitely retiring frominternational play this year, but it’s inevitable that youngerplayers will start to challenge longtime veterans such as Lilly,Julie Foudy, Fawcett, Brandi Chastain and Hamm.

The loss is a tough one for coach April Heinrichs, who has beenunder pressure to match predecessor Tony DiCicco’s success shetaking the job earlier this year. Heinrichs’ aggressive style andunusual tactics have spurned critics, but her team won everytournament it entered this year before the Olympics.

Playing Long Ball

The Americans put on a clinic of smooth passing to dominatepossession in the first half, while Norway unsuccessfully tried towork the long ball. But the Norwegians kept at it — scoring allthree goals using the set pieces and long balls at which theyexcel.

In the 44th minute, Hege Riise lifted a corner kick into thebox, where Espeseth directed a magnificent header from 9 yards withdefender Kate Sobrero draped all over her. Shannon MacMillan,defending on the goal line, was able to get her left foot on theball, but she couldn’t keep it out of the net.

Hamm did almost all the work, and Milbrett scored the goal asthe Americans took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. Hamm tookFoudy’s pass and fought off Kringen in the left side of the box,drew the goalkeeper out and passed to Milbrett, who one-touched theball into the open net from 8 yards.

The U.S. team kept getting the ball in the box the rest of thehalf, but couldn’t capitalize. Foudy came closest when her headerhit the crossbar after a cross from MacMillan in the 29th.

In the second half, with the score tied 1-1, Lilly had her shotheaded off the line, and goalkeeper Bente Nordby followed withsuperb saves in the 71st and 74th minutes. First she batted away a25-yard shot from Hamm headed toward the corner of the net, thenshe stopped Lilly from close range after a nice feed from Milbrett.She had an easier time diving to stop substitute Cindy Parlow’s lowdrive the 77th, one minute before her teammate put Norway ahead.