Tisha Venturini, Tiffeny Milbrett and Debbie Keller scored goals as the U.S. women’s national team opened its 1998 schedule with a convincing 3-0 victory over Sweden at the Guanzhou International Women’s Tournament in Guangzhou, China. The Americans dominated the match, outshooting Sweden 27-7 for the game and 18-1 in the second half. Venturini opened the scoring for the U.S. in the 34th minute. Kristine Lilly sent a perfect pass behind the Swedish defense to the left side of the penalty box. Mia Hamm beat onrushing Swedish keeper Ulrika Karlsson to the ball, but lost her angle to shoot when she sidestepped past Karlsson. Hamm then stopped the ball on the end line, where she pivoted and sent a chip into the middle. Two Swedish defenders crashed into each other in a failed effort to clear the ball, allowing Venturini to slide in and poke the ball into the net from four yards out. Milbrett doubled the Americans’ lead in the 63rd minute after a one-touch pass from Keller sprung Hamm deep in the right side of the penalty box. Hamm slotted a cross back across the ground for the cutting Milbrett, who made no mistake from eight yards out. Keller than added the third for the U.S. eight minutes later. Shannon MacMillan ran down a long ball from Venturini on the right wing and hit a high cross. Karlsson ventured out of her net and got a hand on the cross as it sailed over her head to Julie Foudy. The former Stanford star worked the ball away from the off-balance keeper for Keller, who first-timed it into the open goal from 12 yards out. “I was pleased with our game,” said U.S. coach Tony DiCicco. “Although we had a much stronger second half, we were always in complete control of the match. Our defense played very well and Julie Foudy and Tisha Venturini had a strong game in center midfield. We had a lot of options to attack because of our good midfield play and ball movement.” Next up for the U.S. will be tournament host China on Jan. 21. The Chinese fell 2-1 to Norway in the other opening-night match. The U.S. meets Norway Jan. 24. Jan. 18 in Guangzhow USA 3 Sweden 0. Goals: Venturini 34, Milbrett 63, Keller 71. USA — Scurry, Overbeck, Chastain, Fawcett, Foudy, Venturini (Baumgardt, 76), Lilly, MacMillan, MIlbrett (Fair, 69), Parlow (Keller, 54), Hamm (Roberts, 73). Sweden — Karlsson, Westberg, Loennqvist, Sandell (Marklund, 20), Bengtsson, Toernqvist, Pohjanen, Olsson (Nordlund, 68), Kolbert, Lilja (Sjogran, 59), Svensson (Allberg, 78). Att.: 1,500.
Other Results
Jan. 18 in Guangzhou China 1 (Jin Yan 31) Norway 2 (Haugenes 34, Pettersen 77). Half: 1-1. Att.: n/a.Standings
| Team | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | P |
| USA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Norway | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| China | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Sweden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |