U.S. Women's Soccer Team Beats Brazil in Semis
C A N B E R R A, Australia, Sept. 24, 2000 -- Brazil kept dumping U.S. star Mia
Hamm on the ground. Hamm responded by dumping Brazil out of the
Olympic women’s soccer final.
Moments after she drew a third yellow card from a Brazilianplayer for a hard tackle, Hamm scored in the 60th minute today asthe defending champions United States advanced to the gold medalgame with a 1-0 victory.
“I take it as a sign of respect,” Hamm said of her knockdowns.“Because if I don’t, then I’d probably go crazy.”
Neither Hamm nor her team had a good game, looking slow andlethargic against the fast and improving Brazilians. But two plays— Hamm’s goal and a super save by Siri Mullinix 10 minutes later —made the difference.
“I don’t think we played our best soccer of the tournament,”coach April Heinrichs said. “And they understand that. And theywould like to play better, and that will be our focus of the nextgame.”
The Americans, who won the World Cup last year, will be in thefinal Thursday in Sydney against Norway, which they beat 2-0 in theopening round. Norway edged Germany 1-0.
No Interference Call
The goal came when Brandi Chastain took a free kick 40 yardsaway from the Brazil net. Lorrie Fair, only 5-foot-3, outleaped adefender in the box to head the ball toward the net. TiffenyMilbrett gave chase and collided with goalkeeper Andreia, leavingHamm alone beyond the far post to tuck the ball in for her 127thinternational goal.
The Brazilians thought Swiss referee Nicole Petignat should havedisallowed the goal for interference with the goalkeeper. Milbrettadmitted as much.
“She definitely could have called a foul,” Milbrett said. “Iwas just trying to go for the ball. It’s a fat chance when you’regoing up with your head against keepers that are stretching theirarms, so I just wanted to wreak a little bit of havoc in there, andI did. I obstructed her, and Mia was following the play.”
The Brazilians dominated the rest of the game, trying to get thetying goal. In the 70th minute, Roseli was free inside the box withonly Mullinix to beat. But the American goalkeeper batted the ballwide with her right hand for the only difficult save made in thegame.
Brazil Plays Tough Defense
While the action flowed from end to end, Brazil took only twoshots and the United States just one the entire first half. Nonewere from closer than 35 yards, and all three were well wide of thenet.
The Americans found it difficult to counter Brazil’s speed. TheBrazilians have always been fast and full of flair, but the teamhas slowly developed the technical skills to make it a threat tojoin the China, Norway and the U.S. team as a regular member of thesport’s elite.
Brazil won seven corner kicks in the first half to one for theUnited States, but the American defense didn’t allow a shot on anyof the corners. On offense, forwards Hamm and Milbrett were made tolook ordinary by the Brazilian defense, with Hamm getting strippedthree times in the first half.
The game was also a rough one, with both teams drawing fouryellow cards, and there was a brief scuffle after the final whistleas the Brazilians confronted Petignat.
The Brazilian offense was hampered when dangerous striker Katiapulled up with an apparent hamstring injury and left in the 56thminute. But Hamm’s goal added some desperation to the attack.
In the closing minutes, some resourceful time-wasting by theAmericans closed out the victory as they held the ball in thecorner at the Brazilian end.
Brazil will play Germany in the bronze medal game Thursday.