Two goals for Hamm as U.S. women thump Germany

Mia Hamm scored a pair of goals as the U.S. women’s national team rebounded from its first loss in 31 games to thrash Germany 3-0 before a capacity crowd in Salzgitter. The Americans suffered through a rough opening five minutes, as a pair of German shots flew over the crossbar, but a more disciplined U.S. squad weathered the storm and took the lead in the 31st minute. Tiffeny Milbrett, whose dribbling runs frustrated the German defense throughout the match, collected a ball 40 yards out and made a run at the German midfield. The slashed through two defenders while at a full sprint and threaded a ball to a cutting Hamm at the top of the box. Hamm sidestepped a defender before driving into the box and rolling a left-footed shot home from 10 yards. Germany nearly equalized seven minutes later, when a lazy back pass forced U.S. keeper Briana Scurry to tackle the ball away from a German forward outside the box. The U.S. added a second goal in the 40th minute, when Tisha Venturini headed Shannon MacMillan’s corner kick from the far post back into the middle of the box, where Milbrett tapped the ball in from six yards out. Hamm nearly added a third on a breakaway a minute later, but she slipped while shooting and the ball hit the side of the net. Tracy Ducar replaced Scurry in goal at halftime, and was immediately tested, making a fine, diving save of a 12-yard blast from Germany’s Birgit Prinz. The U.S. kept possession for much of the second half, challenging the Germans to come forward, and Hamm struck again in the 75th minute. A quick series of passes found MacMillan deep on the right wing, and she hit a long cross to the far post, where Ham headed the ball into the lower left corner past the diving German keeper. It was Hamm’s 80th international goal. “The character of the U.S. team was obvious today,” said head coach Tony DiCicco after the match. “They were disappointed in their performance on Thursday and today, every player was a better player. Tiffeny Milbrett and Mia Hamm put on a show for the Germans, but it was based on an inspired performance from their teammates.” The U.S. team returns home Oct. 13 and will take two weeks off before gathering in Chattanooga, Tenn. for a Nov. 1 match against Sweden. The match, which will be played at Finley Stadium, kicks off at 12:30 p.m. (ET) and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net. Oct. 12 in Salzgitter Germany 0 USA 3. Goals: Hamm 31, 75, Milbrett 40. Germany — Rottenberg, Stegemann, Fitschen, Jones, Minnert (T.Wunderlich, 89), P.Wunderlich (Meyer, 76), Hoffmann (Voss, 46), Wiegmann, Fuss (Gottschlich, 46), Prinz, Mueller (Smisek, 46). USA — Scurry (Ducar, 46), Overbeck, Pearce, Staples, MacMillan, Venturini (Cromwell, 46), Foudy, Lilly, Keller, Milbrett, Hamm. Yellow cards: Germany — Gottschlich 65; USA — Keller 89. Referee: Florian Meyer (Germany). Att.: 4,906 (sellout).