U.S. 3, Norway 2; Norway 2, U.S. 1
The U.S. women’s national team defeated nemesis and world champion Norway 3-2 Feb. 2 in Tampa, Fla., but looked unsettled in a 2-1 loss two days later in Jacksonville, Fla.
Tiffeny Milbrett was the heroine for the U.S. in the first game, played at Pepin-Rood Stadium on the University of Tampa campus. World Cup MVP Hege Riise scored in the 72nd minute to tie the game at 2-2, but a minute later Milbrett’s goal — set up by Cindy Parlow — gave the U.S. the win.
In the second game, played in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, an error-prone U.S. was lucky to only lose 2-1.
Riise scored in the 10th minute on one of many Norwegian forays into the U.S. half. In the last minute, Riise fired a 26-yard free kick over the U.S. wall and past goalkeeper Briana Scurry for the winner.
Brandi Chastain had tied the game in the 83rd minute from the penalty spot after Mia Hamm was taken down by Merete Myklebust.
Carin Gabarra earned her 100th cap in the loss at the same time as 17-year-old defender Lorrie Fair made her debut.
The crowd of 8,975 was the largest ever to see a U.S. women’s game in the United States.
International Friendlies
Feb. 2 in Tampa, Fla.
United State 3, Norway 2. Goals: Hamm (36), Akers (57 pen.), Milbrett (73); Pettersen (47), Riise (72).
U.S. — Scurry, Overbeck, Wilson, Grubb (Parlow, 73), Chastain, Hamm, Akers (Roberts, 85), Lilly, Fawcett, Venturini, Gabarra (Milbrett, 60).
Norway — Nordby, N. Andersen (Svensson, 81), Espeseth, Carlsen, Riise, A. Andersen, Store, Pettersen, Medalen, Sandaune (Haugen), Myklebust.
Att: 1,879.
Feb. 4 in Jacksonville, Fla.
United States 1, Norway 2. Goals: Chastain (83 pen.); Riise (10, 90).
U.S. — Scurry, Overbeck, Chastain, Fair, Roberts (Staples, 46), Foudy, Lilly, Fawcett, Parlow (Venturini, 46), Hamm, Gabarra (Milbrett, 60).
Norway — Seth, Svensson, Espeseth, Myklebust, Riise, A. Andersen, Store, Haugen, Pettersen, Sandaune (Thun, 77), Medalen.
Att.: 8,975.