Carla Overbeck ended her glorious career with the United States’ 1-1 tie with Japan in Phoenix. All the scoring in the listless game came in the first half, with goals from two WUSA players — the CyberRays’ Brandi Chastain and Atlanta’s Homare Sawa. The USA also ended its Glory Tour with the match, played in front of 12,039 spectators at Bank One Ballpark. It was the world champions’ 41st and final game of the year. The match marked the final international appearance of U.S. captain Carla Overbeck, who retires from the national team after 13 years in which she helped lead the USA to three world titles. Overbeck finishes her career with 168 games played, fifth most all-time. “It was an amazing last five years,” Overbeck said. “These players I’ve played with over my career are just wonderful people and I don’t think there will ever be another team like this. I wish my son was a little bit older so he could know what this team has done, but I think I’ll enjoy telling him about it.” The U.S. controlled the match but could only manage one goal, a Chastain header off a Shannon MacMillan corner kick in the 26th minute. The draw broke a 13-match winning streak for the USA against Japan. The USA out-shot Japan, 12-8, and had 18 corner kicks to Japan’s one. In the 35th minute, a U.S. foul set up the Japan goal. Yayoi Kobayashi took the ensuing free kick and served a cross from the right side of the penalty box about 30 yards from the net. Sawa slashed through and redirected the ball into the net with her chest. “We just weren’t sharp out there,” U.S. coach April Heinrichs said. “When you watch this team when we are totally rested, enthused and passionate, you get a sense of amazement of how well we can play. But when we’re tired, it’s laborious and hard, some extra effort is required and the first touch isn’t as sharp as it might be. But we are willful, and the will is always there. Our will was there today, but I don’t think our legs were.” The USA had three solid chances to get a winner in the final minutes as Julie Foudy skidded a header wide of the goal in the 88th minute. It was almost a storybook finish for Overbeck, who had two chances in stoppage time, the first when a ball bounced to her in the penalty box after a cross from the right flank, but the ball took a high bounce on her and she skied her volley over the top. She just missed nodding a header home off a MacMillan corner kick in the dying seconds, putting the ball inches outside the right post. “It would have been the best closing act to a most wonderful play,” said Chastain of Overbeck’s near misses. The USA finishes 2000 at 26-6-9, shattering the record for games played in a year, previously at 29. The USA won six tournaments this year before the Olympics and took at silver medal in Australia, setting a record for wins in a year along the way. “Every motor needs to be turned off and given a rest,” Chastain said. “The holidays will be a great time for us to rest and take some time off, but I think overall this was a great year. With the new coaching staff we made great strides, improved in a lot of areas and I think we played some of our best soccer.” Overbeck, who struggled through 2000 after knee surgery and a bout with Graves disease, but made it back to earn a spot on the Olympic team. “I want to say thanks so much to the fans who have supported us over the years,” added Overbeck. “Obviously, everyone was a little disappointed with the result in Australia, but these are just the best fans in the world and I’ll be joining them in the stands soon.” Overbeck will continue to play professionally with the WUSA’s Carolina Tempest. “It’s going to be sad leaving this team, but I am looking forward to playing against these guys in the WUSA,” Overbeck said. “It’s over, but it’s not over. I’m certainly going to stay in the game. We’ve had a great run with the national team over the last few years, and I’ll miss the camaraderie and closeness of this team.” Glory Tour Dec. 17 in Phoenix United States 1 Japan. Goals: Chastain 26; Sawa 35. USA —Mullinix, Pearce (Raygor, 59), Overbeck, Sobrero, Chastain, Lilly (French, 77), Foudy, Fair, MacMillan, Milbrett, Hamm Monroe, 55). Japan — Yamago, Isozaki, Obe, Sakai, Yamazaki, Kobayashi (Fujimura, 50), Sawa, Hara, Kasajima, Arakawa (Ogawa, 86), Nakachi (Kimura, 63). Att.: 12,039.