U.S. falls to Norway, 3-2, at the Algarve Cup

The U.S. women’s national team lost to archrival Norway, 3-2 and will play Denmark for fifth place at the Algarve Cup after finishing third in Group B. Group A winner China will play Norway for the title, and Sweden will play Germany for third place. Shannon MacMillan scored both goals for the Americans, one in each half, to extend her scoring streak to four consecutive games, including all three Algarve Cup matches. Norway broke a 2-2 tie in the 85th minute as New York Power signing Linda Ormen’s cross from the right flank spun off a U.S. defender’s shin and bounced to Solveig Gulbrandsen, who redirected the ball into the lower left corner from seven yards out. The United States continues to struggle at the Algarve Cup, the premier invitational tournament in the world. The Americans have won the Portuguese tournament just once in seven trips. The loss to Norway was the fourth straight. USA-NORWAY SUMMARY March 5 in Lagos, Portugal USA 2 Portugal 3. Goals: MacMillan 14, 59; Riise pen. 23, Mellgren 29, S.Gulbrandsen 85. USA — Beene (Solo, 84), Slaton, Fawcett, Reddick, Foudy, Wagner (Fair, 78), Lilly, Kluegel (Bivens, 46), Milbrett, Fotopoulos (Wilson, 46; O’Reilly, 68), MacMillan. Norway — Nordby, Sandaune, Tonnessen, Stangeland, Kvitland, Riise, S.Gulbrandsen, Knudsen (Lehn, 46), Ronning (Ormen, 68), Rapp (Klaveness, 85), Mellgren.