[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] For the second time in a week, the U.S. women's national team blew a multiple-goal lead over Australia and needed a goal in stoppage time to prevail over the Matildas. The Americans gave up two own goals and gave up a three-goal lead in the second half before winning, 5-4, on substitute midfielder Angela Hucles' gamewinner in the 94th minute.
The USA scored four times — two by Lindsay Tarpley and two by Abby Wambach — in a 17-minute stretch that included the end of the first half and the first minute of the second to take a 4-1 lead, but it let Australia score three consecutive goals in the second half to tie the match at 4-4.
The victory upped the USA's 2008 record to 12-0-1 heading into a match against Canada on May 10 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Canada's 1-1 tie with the USA in the final of the Concacaf qualifying tournament — the Americans won on penalty kicks — is the only blemish on the USA's record.
"There is something with this team that we refuse to lose," said U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage. "The way we're winning is different, but playing in games like this is so important for us to deal with. This is another good result by the U.S. team."
GAME SUMMARY:
May 3 in Birmingham, Ala.
USA 5 Australia 4. Goals: Tarpley 28, 42, Wambach 29, 46, Hucles 94+; own goals 19, 69, Walsh 49, Colthorpe 64.
USA — Solo (Scurry, 46), Mitts (Buehler, 58), Rampone, Whitehill, Cox, White (Hucles, 46), Boxx, Lloyd, Tarpley (O'Reilly, 74), Kai (Cheney, 80), Wambach.
Australia — Barbieri, Reuter (Alagich, 46), Salisbury, Polkinghorne (McShea, 58), Colthorpe, Carroll, Garriock, McCallum, Burgess (Simon, 74), Walsh, Gill (Munoz, 85).
Referee: Sandra Serafini (USA).
Att.: 5,000.