A goal by forward Christie Welsh in the 23rd minute gave the United States a 1-0 victory over defending world champion Germany in the final of the Algarve Cup in Portugal.
It was the third Algarve Cup championship in a row for the U.S. team, and fourth overall. The Americans completed a perfect run of four straight shutouts.
The USA tallied when midfielder Aly Wagner led Welsh with a 40-yard cross-field pass, and her Lyon teammate scored from just inside of the penalty area. It was the fifth goal of the tournament for Welsh and won her the Algarve Cup scoring title.
GAME REPORT
March 15 in Faro
USA 1 Germany 0. Goal: Welsh 23.
USA — Solo, Mitts, Reddick, Markgraf, Chalupny, Tarpley, Boxx, Wagner (Hucles, 75), Lilly, Welsh (O'Reilly, 83), Wambach.
Germany — Rottenberg, Stegemann, Jones, Gunther (Fuss, 70), Hingst; Lingor (Okoyino de Mbabi, 86), Garefrekes, Carlson (Odebrecht, 32) Pohlers (Wunderlich, 83), Mittag (Smisek, 66), Prinz.
Referee: Florea Cristina Ionescu (Romania).
Att.: 1,000.
PLACEMENT GAMES
Eleventh-Place Game
Portugal 3 Northern Ireland 1
Ninth-Place Game
Mexico 1 Finland 1 (Mexico wins on PKs)
Seventh-Place Game
England 0 China 0 (China wins on PKs)
Fifth-Place Game
Norway 2 Denmark 1
Third-Place Game
France 3 Sweden 2
Final
USA 1 Germany 0
AWARDS
Top Scorer
Christie Welsh (USA)
Best Player
Birgit Prinz (Germany)
Best Goalkeeper
Bente Nordby (Norway)