The U.S. women’s national team beat the Netherlands, 2-0, Thursday on goals from forward Lindsay Tarpley and defender Cat Whitehill in the first half to advance to the Peace Queen Cup final on Saturday against Canada.
The USA-Netherlands result left Denmark needing to beat Australia by three goals in the following match to have a chance of overtaking the Americans, but the Danes had to settle for second place with a 2-1 win. The USA and Denmark finished with seven points apiece, but the Americans had the edge in goal difference (plus-4 vs. plus-2).
U.S. coach Greg Ryan gambled to not start top scorers Abby Wambach and Kristine Lilly, knowing goals scored could determine his team’s fate. He brought them on in the second half with disastrous results. Lilly was sent off for dissent in the 79th minute, earning the first red card in her 316-game international career. Four minutes later, Wambach limped off with a sprained ankle, forcing the Americans to finish the game with only nine players.
The USA-Canada final is a potential preview of this month’s Gold Cup final. The USA and Canada will bid to qualify for the 2007 Women’s World Cup later this month at the Home Depot Center. Like the USA, Canada has been preparing full-time. The Big Red have been on fire in South Korea, scoring 10 goals in their three wins. The attack is led by 2005 Soccer America Women’s College Player of the Year Christine Sinclair and her Vancouver Whitecaps teammate, 30-year-old Martina Franko.