The U.S. women’s U-20 national team opened play in the Nordic Cup with a 3-0 victory over Sweden. The win puts the U.S. atop Group B in the unofficial U-20 world championship. After a difficult first 45 minutes in which the U.S. struggled to find a rhythm, 1996 gold medalist Cindy Parlow opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the second half. Michelle French threw the ball into Meredith Florance, who beat her defender to the endline and crossed on the ground to an unmarked Parlow, whose first-timed shot went into the left corner from eight yards out. The USA added a second goal just five minutes later, when Parlow sprang Lorrie Fair down the right flank, and the North Carolina star pushed a pass behind the Swedish defense for French to slot home from 12 yards out. Florance added a superb third goal for the U.S. in the 75th minute. French and Laurie Schwoy executed a superb give-and-go on the left flank, with Schwoy sending a driven cross into the box. A bad clearance by the Swedish defense dropped to Florance at the top of the penalty box, where she chested the ball down, took a touch, and blasted a rocket into the upper left corner. It was a special goal for Florance, who chose to play for the U-20s while her club teammates from the Dallas Sting won the U-18 title at the SNICKERS national championships in Phoenix, Ariz. over the weekend. “This was an important first game to establish our mentality,” said U.S. coach Lauren Gregg. “Sweden is one of the most combative teams we’ll face and we were able to weather that in the first half and then settle into our rhythm in the second half.” The U.S. continues first-round play against Iceland Aug. 5 and meets host Denmark Aug. 7. The two group winners meet for the tournament title on Aug. 8. Aug. 4 in Ringsted, Denmark USA 3 Sweden 0. Goals: Parlow 46, French 50, Florance 75. USA — Beene, Grubb, Sobrero, L.Fair, Roberts (R.Fair, 82), Whelchel (Streiffer, 65), Schwoy, French, Florance, Confer (Erikson, 54), Parlow (McDowell, 78). Sweden — Thelin, Call (Norkvist, 58), Marklund, Rinman, Nilsson, Nordlund (Heponiemi, 59), Fagerstroem (Engwall, 49), Olsson, Lilja, Svaerd, Sjoegran. Yellow card: Sweden — Fagerstroem 41. Referee: Elke Guenther (Germany). Att.: n/a.
Results and Standings
Group A Norway 2 Finland 0 Germany 2 Netherlands 0
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| TEAM | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | P |
| Germany | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Norway | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Finland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Group B USA 3 Sweden 0 Denmark 3 Iceland 0
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| TEAM | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | P |
| USA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Denmark | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Iceland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Sweden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
