The U.S. Women’s National Team scored three spectacular goals off crossed balls to defeat Brazil, 3-0, and claim the championship of the U.S. Women’s Cup ’98, once again establishing themselves as a favorite to win next summer’s 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In a physical match that featured 34 fouls, and the ejection of Brazilian defender Valeria, the Americans showed class under pressure and some world class finishing to win their fifth straight U.S. Women’s Cup without a loss. Defender Joy Fawcett, who scored two goals in the tournament, was named the U.S. Women’s Cup MVP as the USA shut out all three opponents, outscoring the opposition 16-0 in the three games. Brazil lost star forward Roseli in the 19th minute to a serious knee injury, and although substitute Maicon performed admirably, the Brazilian attack was not the same without her. Roseli was coming off a six-goal performance against Mexico on Friday night. U.S. star Mia Hamm, who scored her 100th and 101st career goals last Friday night in Rochester, N.Y. against Russia, did not score today, but created the first two goals. It was Hamm’s corner kick in the 32nd minute that found Brandi Chastain at the far post where she smacked a first-time volley that flew back across the goal to Fawcett, who redirected the ball into the net with her head from two yards out. Before this tournament, Fawcett had not scored since the 1995 Women’s World Cup. She now has 17 international goals. “Joy had a great tournament and added a lot to the team with her offense,” said U.S. Head Coach Tony DiCicco. “She is a great all-around player but her best quality might be her consistency. In every match, Joy shows that she is one of the best in the world.” Hamm got the assit on the second goal in the 43rd minute, launching a high free kick from the right side to the far post. Michelle Akers grappled with Brazilian midfielder Katia, but shed her mark just in time to hit a falling volley through the legs of Brazilian goalkeeper Maravilha from six yards out. It was Akers’ 98th career international goal as she too shoots for the magical 100-goal mark. Hamm became the third player ever to score 100 international goals and now she and Akers will set their sights on the world scoring record held by the long-retired Elisabetta Vignotto of Italy, who scored 108 goals in a career that spanned the 1970s. Italian Carolina Morace, with 105 career goals, is second on the all-time goal-scoring list, but is also retired. Brazil’s counter-attack looked dangerous at times as Pretinha almost equalized one minute after the USA’s first goal, but popped the ball over the cross bar on a break-away. The USA’s tough back line of Fawcett, captain Carla Overbeck, Christie Pearce and Kate Sobrero kept the clamps on the speedy and skillful Brazilians, and goalkeeper Briana Scurry did well to come off her line and defuse any dangerous chances. Brazilian defender Valeria was shown the red card in the 51st minute after tackling Hamm from behind to earn her second yellow card of the match, and playing with 10 women, Brazil had little chance for a comeback. Debbie Keller ended any remaining thoughts of a rally in the 74th minute, scoring the 17th goal of her international career. Overbeck hit a long ball to Chastain in the left side of the penalty box, who headed it across the face of the goal to Keller, who finished with a header of her own. “It was a great way to end the tournament and send us into a break,” said Overbeck, who along with her teammates will take two months off before regrouping for yet to be confirmed matches in December. “When we come back together, we’ll be energized and excited to go into residential camp to prepare for our greatest challenge — winning the 1999 Women’s World Cup.” The USA is now 15-0-0 in five U.S. Women’s Cups and has outscored 11 opponents 64-6. The USA moved to 101-13-6 since taking the world title in China in 1991 and has gone unbeaten on American soil in 42 straight matches. The American women are 20-1-2 in 1998 and have earned 16 shutouts. The match, shown live on ESPN2 and Telemundo, was the first U.S. Women’s National Team game ever broadcast in Spanish. Game Summary Sept. 20 in Richmond, VA USA 3 Brazil 0. Goals: Fawcett 32, Akers 43, Keller 74. USA — Scurry, Pearce, Overbeck (Whalen, 78), Sobrero, Fawcett, Chastain, Akers (Venturini, 46), Foudy (Keller, 70), Lilly, Milbrett (MacMillan, 70), Hamm (Confer, 76). Brazil — Maravilha, Valeria (Ejection, 51), Elane, Juliana, Nene, Katia (Catarina, 70), Raquel (Doranil, 64), Suzana, Fabiana (Debora, 56), Pretinha, Roseli (Maicon, 19). Referee — Hunt (USA). Referee’s Assistants — Vergara (USA), Baitinger (USA). Att.: 9,147. Final Standings
| TEAM | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | PTS |
| USA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| Brazil | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 4 |
| Russia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| Mexico | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
Scoring Leaders | Team | Player | Goals |
| BRA | Roseli | 6 |
| BRA | Pretinha | 6 |
| USA | Mia Hamm | 4 |
| USA | Tiffeny Milbrett | 3 |
| RUS | Nadezhda Bossikova | 2 |
| USA | Kristine Lilly | 2 |
| RUS | Natalia Barbashina | 2 |
| USA | Joy Fawcett | 2 |
| USA | Debbie Keller | 2 |
| RUS | Olga Letyushova | 2 |
| USA | Michelle Akers | 1 |
| MEX | Maribel Dominguez | 1 |
| RUS | Inna Grigorieva | 1 |
| USA | Shannon MacMillan | 1 |
| BRA | Nene | 1 |
| USA | Tisha Venturini | 1 |
All-Tournament Team
Goalkeeper — Briana Scurry (USA)
Defenders —Joy Fawcett (USA), Brandi Chastain (USA).
Midfielders — Julie Foudy (USA), Inna Grigorieva (Russia), Tatiana Egorova (Russia), Laurie Hill (Mexico).
Forwards — Tiffeny Milbrett (USA), Mia Hamm (USA), Nadezhda Bossikova (Russia), Roseli (Brazil), Pretinha (Brazil).
MVP — Joy Fawcett (USA).
