The U.S. women's national soccer team claimed the top spot in Group G at the 2004 Olympic, settling for a 1-1 tie with Australia after surrendering a late goal Tuesday in Thessaloniki.

Former New York Power midfielder Joanne Peters' looping header, from Heather Garriock cross, pulled the Aussies even in the 82nd minute. Kristine Lilly scored the U.S. goal in the 19th minute.

The Americans (2-0-1) remain in Thessaloniki for Friday's quarterfinal against Japan, which finished third in Group E following Sweden's 2-1 victory Tuesday over Nigeria. Japan edged the Swedes but lost to Nigeria.

The U.S.-Japan winner will meet either Women's World Cup champion Germany or Nigeria in the semifinals. The quarterfinal matchups in the other bracket are Sweden-Australia and Brazil-Mexico.

China and host Greece failed to advance to the knockout phase.

The United States was without forward Abby Wambach, suspended after receiving yellow cards in the first two games, and Coach April Heinrichs left Christie Rampone — who received a yellow against Brazil — on the bench. Cindy Parlow started in Wambach's place, and Heather Mitts was on the left flank.

Lilly's goal was her first in 17 games for the U.S. women, a left-footed volley from Julie Foudy's chip after Australia failed to clear a Cindy Parlow rebound.

Australia scored the tying goal when Peters stepped in front of Julie Foudy to get to Garriock's cross from the right. Her header dipped under the crossbar at the upper-right corner as Briana Scurry watched.

Sweden, facing elimination with a 1-0 deficit to Nigeria, won Group E as Hanna Marklund scored in the 68th minute and Malin Mostrom in the 73rd. Mercy Akide tallied for Nigeria.

Germany beat Mexico, 2-0, in Group F on goals by Petra Wimbersky and Birgit Prinz. Prinz has a tournament-best five goals.

Brazil routed Greece, 7-0, in the other Group G match, scoring five second-half goals after taking a 2-0 lead in first-half stoppage time. Cristiane had a hat trick, and Pretinha, Marta, Grazielle and Daniela also scored goals.

U.S. SUMMARY
Tuesday, Aug. 17 at Thessaloniki, Greece

United States 1 Australia 1. Goals:

United States — Scurry; Mitts, Fawcett, Reddick, Markgraf; Boxx (Tarpley, 67); Foudy, Wagner (Hucles, 74), Lilly; Parlow, Hamm (O'Reilly, 67).

Australia — Kell; Alagich (De Vanna, 62), Wainwright, Salisbury, Davies; Slatyer (Reuter, 43), Shipard, Garriock, Peters, Small (Foster, 67); Walsh.

Yellow cards: U.S. — Parlow 72.

Referee: Christina Ionescu (Romania).

Att.: NA.

2004 ATHENS OLYMPICS
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Group E
W L T GF-GA Pts
x-Sweden 1 1 0 2-2 3
x-Nigeria 1 1 0 2-2 3
x-Japan 1 1 0 1-1 3
x – qualified for quarterfinals

Wednesday, Aug. 11
Sweden 0 Japan 1 (Arakawa 24)

Saturday, Aug. 14
Japan 0 Nigeria 1 (Okolo 55)

Tuesday, Aug. 17
Sweden 2 (Marklund 68, Mostrom 73) Nigeria 1 (Akide 25)

Group F
W L T GF-GA Pts
x-Germany 2 0 0 10-0 6
x-Mexico 0 1 1 1-3 1
China 0 1 1 1-9 1
x – qualified for quarterfinals

Wednesday, Aug. 11
Germany 8 (Prinz 13, 21, 73, 88, Wunderlich 64, Lingor pen. 76, Pohlers 81, Mueller 90) China 0

Saturday, Aug. 14
China 1 (Ji Ting 34) Mexico 1 (Dominguez 11)

Tuesday, Aug. 17
Germany 2 (Wimbersky 20, Prinz 79) Mexico 0

Group G W L T GF-GA Pts
x-United States 2 0 1 6-1 7
x-Brazil 2 1 0 8-2 6
x-Australia 1 1 1 2-2 4
Greece 0 3 0 0-11 0
x – qualified for quarterfinals

Wednesday, Aug. 11
Greece 0 United States 3 (Boxx 14, Wambach 30, Hamm 82)
Brazil 1 (Marta 36) Australia 0

Saturday, Aug. 14
Greece 0 Australia 1 (Garriock 27)
United States 2 Brazil 0 (Hamm pen. 58, Wambach 77)

Tuesday, Aug. 17
Greece 0 Brazil 7 (Pretinha 21, Cristiane 46+, 55, 77, Grazielle 49, Marta 70, Daniela 72)
United States 1 (Lilly 19) Australia (Peters 82)

Quarterfinals
Friday, Aug. 23
Germany vs. Nigeria at Patras
United States vs. Japan at Thessaloniki
Mexico vs. Brazil at Heraklio
Sweden vs. Australia at Volos

Semifinals
Monday, Aug. 23
Patras winner vs. Thessaloniki winner at Heraklio
Volos winner vs. Heraklio winner at Patras

Bronze Medal
Thursday, Aug. 26
Semifinal losers at Athens

Gold Medal
Thursday, Aug. 26
Semifinal winners at Athens

Goalscorers
Birgit Prinz (Germany) 5
Cristiane (Brazil) 3
Mia Hamm (U.S.) 2
Marta (Brazil) 2
Abby Wambach (U.S.) 2
Mercy Akide (Nigeria) 1
Eriko Arakawa (Japan) 1
Shannon Boxx (U.S.) 1
Daniela (Brazil) 1
Maribel Dominguez (Mexico) 1
Heather Garriock (Australia) 1
Grazielle (Brazil) 1
Ji Ting (China) 1
Kristine Lilly (U.S.) 1
Renate Lingor (Germany) 1
Hanna Marklund (Sweden) 1
Malin Mostrom (Sweden) 1
Martina Mueller (Germany) 1
Vera Okolo (Nigeria) 1
Conny Pohlers (Germany) 1
Pretinha (Brazil) 1
Petra Wimbersky (Germany) 1
Pia Wunderlich (Germany) 1