By Scott French, Senior Editor in Philadelphia
The U.S. women moved to the verge of a quarterfinal showdown with Norway after destroying disorganized Nigeria, 5-0, Thursday night to extend their Women's World Cup winning streak to nine games.
Mia Hamm, playing what U.S. coach April Heinrichs called the best soccer of her storied career, dominated proceedings, scoring twice in the first 12 minutes and adding her fourth assist of the tournament before 31,553 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Cindy Parlow, Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy also tallied as the Americans, unbeaten in WWC play since a 1995 semifinal loss to the Norwegians, improved to 2-0-0 in Group A with an easy triumph in a physically demanding clash.
A victory or draw, and possibly a narrow loss, in Sunday's group finale against North Korea would give the United States the top spot in the group, setting up an Oct. 1 semifinal at Foxboro, Mass., against Group B's No. 2 team, most likely Norway.
Hamm, sensational against Nigeria, was the Americans' creative fulcrum while teaming with Cindy Parlow, also dynamic, up front in the first half and after moving into midfield after halftime. Hamm converted a sixth-minute penalty kick, then netted a 30-yard free kick from the left flank — a cross meant for Shannon Boxx that found the side netting off goalkeeper Precious Dede's fingertips — six minutes later to quickly kill any doubt about the result.
Parlow, who was fouled before both Hamm strikes, sharply headed home Hamm's corner kick two minutes into the second half, the fifth American goal from a set piece in the tournament. Foudy's 89th-minute penalty, after Nigerian captain Flo Omagbemi chopped down a streaking Wambach, was the sixth.
Omagbemi, who played two seasons in the WUSA, was moved to sweeper after playing in midfield in a 3-0 loss to North Korea on Saturday. She also committed the foul that led to Hamm's early PK.
Wambach's first World Cup goal arrived from a Kristine Lilly cross in the 65th minute.
Heinrichs, using a 4-4-2 formation, made two unexpected changes to her lineup, using Aly Wagner at the top of the Americans' midfield diamond and replacing right back Christie Pearce with World Cup debutant Kylie Bivens. Wagner lacked the time, space and support to create as the United States struggled to find a rhythm in the first half, and Wambach replaced her at halftime with Hamm moving into midfield. Bivens, after initial uneasiness, gave a strong performance on the flank.
With Brandi Chastain sidelined by a broken foot, Kate Sobrero started the match next to Joy Fawcett in the middle of the backline with Catherine Reddick at left back. Sobrero and Reddick swapped spots at halftime, with Reddick providing greater air presence and Sobrero attacking more effectively on the wing.
The U.S, women, leery of the Super Falcons' ''reckless'' approach to tackling, matched their foe physically and, on the whole, got the better of the battles. Nearly 10 minutes of stoppage time was added by Argentine referee Florencia Romano after defender Bunmi Kayode, decked by a Wambach elbow late in the game, was placed in a neck brace and taken to the hospital. There was no report on her condition.
Nigeria, which mustered little attack and was disorganized at the back, saw goals by Stella Mbachu and Perpetua Nkwocha waved off on offside calls, both confirmed by television replays.
Sweden's 1-0 victory over North Korea in the first game of the doubleheader, on Victoria Svensson's seventh-minute volley, prevented the U.S. women from clinching a quarterfinal berth on Thursday. The Swedes will advance to the final eight with a win or tie against Nigeria should the Americans beat the Koreans.