The United States Under-20 Women’s National Team, facing a must-win situation against Sweden in its final group game at the 1998 Nordic Cup, got a 75th minute goal from Cindy Parlow (North Carolina/Memphis, Tenn.) to defeat Sweden, 1-0, and earn a berth in the championship game against Norway on Sunday, Aug. 9. The Nordic Cup is the world’s top competition for Under-20 women and is played annually in Northern Europe. The USA is defending Nordic Cup champions, defeating Norway last year in Denmark in an emotionally-charged 1-0 sudden death overtime victory, on a 106th minute “golden goal” from Jen Streiffer (Notre Dame/Baton Rouge, La.). The U.S. faces a daunting task in this year’s final, having scored just once in each of its three games while Norway advanced to the championship by scoring 13 goals in three matches. The USA was clearly the dominant team against Sweden, out-shooting them 18-5 for the match, and outside of several dangerous counter-attacks from the Europeans, the Americans controlled the flow of the game, producing numerous quality chances to score. The U.S. finally broke through in the 75th minute when 20-year old Cindy Parlow, a veteran of 42 games for the full national team, got the winner. “It was an exciting match today and a solid performance by the U.S.,” said U.S. Head Coach Lauren Gregg. “The score does not reflect the personality and dominance displayed, both individually and as team.” The winning goal began with 17-year old forward Susan Bush (Houston Challenge/Houston, Tex.) on the right flank, as she fed forward Raven McDonald (North Carolina/Benton N.C.) down the right wing. McDonald dribbled the ball to the end line and slotted a cross on the ground back to Parlow, who on the dead run, first-timed her shot into the left corner from six yards out. A draw or a loss would have relegated the Americans to the third place match or worse, instead they will face a powerful Norwegian team on Sunday in Stadskanaal for the unofficial world title for Under-20 women. The match kicks off at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). “Beating Sweden was a tremendous victory for us because from the beginning of the year, it was our goal to repeat as Nordic Cup champions,” said Parlow, who also played on last year’s Nordic Cup team. “This team has really come together and a match against Norway for the championship is a game that all of us dream about playing. You play soccer to play in matches like this.” The USA had much of the possession during the game and swung numerous crosses into the goal area, only to see most of them cut off by Swedish goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson, who made nine saves in the match. Early in the game, Rebekah McDowell (North Carolina/Lakewood, Co.) slammed a header off the crossbar. Parlow had a breakaway in 49th minute, but shot it right at Jonsson, who made a kick-save. In the 80th minute, the USA has a chance to bury the Swedes, but Michelle French (Portland/Kent, Wash.) had her breakaway chance kicked away by Johnsson again. Late in the first half, Sweden’s Tina Nordlund cracked a shot off the crossbar from 22 yards, but the U.S. defense, backed by sweeper Jen Grubb (Notre Dame/Hoffman Est., Ill.), and marshaled by McDowell at defensive midfield, was able to put the clamps on Sweden’s attack for most of the match. “Rebekah McDowell set the tone for our team with her phenomenal defensive effort,” added Gregg. “Her work rate was world class. The wonderful part of this victory was that it was a total team effort. The players who came off the bench were vital to the outcome.” Aug. 7 in Beilen, Netherlands USA 1 Sweden 0. Goal: Parlow 75. USA — Beene, Grubb, R. Fair, L. Fair, French, McDowell Whelchel (Schwoy 46), Roberts (Confer, 61), Streiffer (McDonald 66), Parlow, Clemens (Bush 51). Sweden —– Jonsson, Thunebro (Lundstrom 66), Bjorklin, Erikson, Axelsson, Nordlund (Lundin 81), Johansson, Engwall (Helen Svard 35), Marklund (Ostberg 60), Sjogran, Sjostrom (Gustafsson 51). Att.: 75
Nordic Cup Scoreboard
Group A
Aug. 3 — Norway 7 Denmark 1, Iceland 1 Germany 5.
Aug. 5 — Denmark 3 Iceland 1, Norway 1 Germany 0.
Aug. 7 — Norway 5 Iceland 2, Denmark 1 Germany 1.
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| TEAM | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | P |
| Norway | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 9 |
| Germany | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Denmark | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Iceland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 0 |
Group B
Aug. 3 — USA 1 Finland 0, Holland 0 Sweden 2.
Aug. 5 — Sweden 2 Finland 1, USA 1 Holland 1.
Aug. 7 — USA 1 Sweden 0, Holland 2 Finland 2.
| |
| TEAM | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | P |
| USA | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Sweden | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Netherlands | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Finland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Placement Games
Sunday, Aug. 9 Final USA vs Norway.
Third Place Germany vs Sweden.
Fifth Place Denmark vs Netherlands.
Seventh Place Iceland vs Finland.
