Three days after losing, 8-0, in a closed-door match, Iceland recovered too hold the United States to a 0-0 tie before 10,000 fans at Charlotte’s Ericsson Stadium. Iceland goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir played the match of her life, making 11 saves. The Americans fired 19 shots at the Iceland goal, dominating the entire match, but couldn’t find a way past the 19-year-old Helgadottir, who made a spectacular save in stoppage time to snag Brandi Chastain’s volley and preserve the tie. Recap After getting pounded while playing a 3-5-2 formation, Iceland switched to a 4-5-1 and consistently had nine players behind the ball. U.S. midfielder Julie Foudy was a pre-game scratch from the starting lineup due to a slightly strained groin, and 19-year-old Aly Wagner started in her place. The USA first real chance of the game came courtesy of Iceland as Gaudlaug Jonsdottir knocked the ball off her own cross bar while attempting to clear a Mia Hamm cross. In the 25th minute, Chastain skied to head a Hamm corner kick at net, but the ball was batted up in the air and then grabbed by Helgadottir. In the 27th minute, Helgadottir came up big again, making a kick save of a Christie Welsh volley. The Americans had a golden chance in the 33rd minute when Tiffeny Milbrett, who peppered the Iceland net with eight shots, busted through the Iceland defense, but Helgadottir closed quickly and knocked down Milbrett’s shot with a sliding save. The USA attacked relentlessly in the second half in search of the winning goal, but Chastain was a step late at the far post on a Hamm corner kick in the 53rd minute and shot wide, while Milbrett’s chip from 23 yards in the 59th just skimmed over the crossbar. In the 66th minute, Welsh got around the Iceland defense on the left side and dribbled down the end line toward goal before cutting the ball back to Milbrett, but her shot from eight yards out was pushed over the top on a great reflex save from Helgadottir. Heinrichs made just one substitute in the match, sending on Danielle Slaton in the 66th minute at left flank midfield and moving Kristine Lilly to the forward line. In the 76th minute, Joy Fawcett penetrated deep down the right flank and swung a cross into the middle, but Milbrett’s header went straight to Helgadottir. In the 79th minute, Hamm got some space in the left side of the penalty box, but blasted her shot wide left, then Helgadottir denied Chastain on the last gasp effort. Reaction “Their goalkeeper made every save in the book, high, low, crosses, breakaways,” said U.S. head coach April Heinrichs. “She was terrific, but not just their goalkeeper, every player really came out and played with pride on the Iceland team. The result today was 50 percent about Iceland’s effort and 50 percent about that game of soccer that can be generous on some days and stingy on other days.” “Iceland is not in the Olympics,” said Chastain. “But today was their Olympic Games. Sometimes you play a game and do all the right things and one player has a spectacular game and that was their goalkeeper tonight, She made remarkable saves that she didn’t make on Wednesday. That was the difference in this game. We played a good game and a lot of things we worked in practice this week came through on the field, but the end result wasn’t a goal, and you have to score to win.” Notes U.S. goalkeeper Siri Mullinix did not have to make a save, but picked up her fourth shutout in six career games. When these two teams last played in 1998, the USA won the first game 6-0, then scrapped to a 1-0 victory in the second match. Lilly picked up her 198th career cap as she continues to extend her world record for international appearances, men or women. Lilly will became the first player in history to reach 200 caps if she plays in both of the USA’s games at the Nike U.S. Women’s Cup 2000 in Portland, Ore. on May 5 and 7. The U.S.Cup 2000 will feature Canada, Mexico, South Korea and the United States. Summary April 8 in Charlotte, N.C. USA 0 Iceland 0. USA — Mullinix, Chastain, Sobrero, Fawcett, Lilly, Fair, Wagner, MacMillan, Welsh (Slaton, 69), Milbrett, Hamm. Iceland — T.Helgadottir, Gardarsdottir, Saemundsdottir, Gunnarsdottir, G.Jonsdottir, Ogmundsdottir, A.Helgadottir, Olafsdottir, Hendriksdottir, K.Jonsdottir, Ingibergsdottir. Referee: Rich Grady (USA). Att.: 10,315.