American hopes for a fourth successive Nordic Cup title were badly damaged with Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Denmark in a combative match in Kaarina, Finland.

Pernille Schmidt came off the bench to score the goal in the 79th minute, picking up a poor clearance by Betsy Barr and beating U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo with a 22-yard blast that deflected off a defender and looped into the upper-left corner.

The loss leaves the United States 1-1 in Group A play and needing a decisive victory Friday over Greece's national team and a narrow win by Finland over the Danes to reach Sunday's title game at the world's premier tournament for under-21 women. The Americans hadn't lost a Nordic Cup game since the 1998 championship match.

The Americans continually created chances in the first 30 minutes, with Aly Wagner and Christie Welsh narrowly missing shots. Wagner scored on a header from Marcia Wallis' cross in the 42nd minute, but the goal was called back and she was cautioned for pushing a defender, a decision that baffled the U.S. bench. Denmark goalkeeper Heidi Johansen made 10 saves.

''Our inability to finish our chances really hurt us today,'' U.S. coach Jerry Smith said. ''We simply have to finish our chances better.''

The Danes were disruptive most of the second half, and the Americans couldn't find a rhythm until the closing minutes. Substitute Veronica Zepeda and defender Cat Reddick missed the target on good chances near the finish.

WEDNESDAY'S SUMMARY

July 24 at Kaarina, Finland

United States 0 Denmark 1. Goal: Schmidt 79.

United States — Solo; Marquand, Reddick, LePeilbet, Pryce; Hawkins (Barr, 74), Lohman (Yokers, 85), Wagner; Welsh, Ramsey, Wallis (Zepeda, 53).

Denmark — H. Johansen; Olsen, Petersen, J. Johansen, Larsen; Bolow (Stoumann, 75), Falk, Nielsen, Munch; Madsen, Pedersen (Schmidt, 70).

Yellow cards: U.S.: Wagner 42; Denmark: Petersen 69, Munch 73, Johansen 89.

Referee: Antonia Kokotu (Greece).

Att.: 200.

Other Group A score: Finland 2 Greece 1.
Group B scores: Germany 4 Iceland 0; Norway 3 Sweden 1.

Standings
Group A: Denmark 6 points; Finland 3; United States 3; Greece 0.
Group B: Norway 6; Germany 4; Sweden 1; Iceland 0.