The best game of U.S. Women’s Cup ’95 was saved for last as the U.S. did what it couldn’t do in the World Cup — beat Norway.
This wasn’t the World Cup final, and the teams weren’t Norway and Germany but rather Norway and the United States in the final match of U.S. Women’s Cup ’95.
Still, the exciting, end-to-end affair was as good as any in Sweden. The U.S. got revenge for a semifinal loss in the World Cup to its Scandinavian nemesis with a 2-1 victory Aug. 6 at RFK Stadium. Substitute Tammy Pearman bagged the “golden goal” in sudden death overtime in front of a record crowd of 7,083. The goal, in the 92nd minute, sent the U.S. team contingent running onto the field in a celebration topped off by the appearance of Chelsea Clinton.
“They dethroned us,” said U.S. coach Tony DiCicco. “They took something away that we can never regain fully. But it worked to motivate us for this game and I’m hoping it motivates us through the Olympics.”
The cast of characters in the game was familiar for both teams, with the U.S. missing four starters — Briana Scurry, Joy Fawcett, Carin Gabarra and Julie Foudy — and Norway without three from Sweden. Forward Ann Kristin Aaroenes, who scored against the U.S. in Sweden, was moved to marking back in the absence of defenders Anne Nymark Andersen and Tina Svensson and did a competent marking job on Tiffeny Milbrett.
On paper, the U.S. seemed to be missing the most, but the U.S. reserves picked up the slack quite well. Amanda Cromwell, Foudy’s replacement, continued her steady play at defensive midfielder. Mary Harvey got the start in goal and her play was nothing short of superb as she stopped a variety of Norwegian chances.
In fact, the U.S. played almost every phase of the game better than it did in the semifinal loss. A big key was Michelle Akers, who was still suffering from a knee injury but looked much better than last time.
The high pressure that the Norwegians put on opposing backs meant in the past that the U.S. had to just boot the ball out of the back rather than risk losing possession. In Sweden, that also meant not being able to create many serious goalscoring opportunities.
But Carla Overbeck, Linda Hamilton and Thori Staples, who had her hands full with star striker Linda Medalen, handled the pressure much better. And even without playmaker Foudy, the U.S. was still able to create, with Hamilton and midfielder Kristine Lilly bringing the ball up the flanks and Mia Hamm helping out as well in midfield.
The team defense was also much improved, with the forwards dropping back to help win balls, and Hamilton, shaky in Sweden, playing very well. DiCicco also made a defensive adjustment. Golden Ball winner Hege Riise was a constant thorn in the U.S. side in Sweden, but here DiCicco had Tiffany Roberts, normally an outside midfielder, marking Riise, whose contributions in central midfield were kept to a minimum.
As well as the U.S. defense played, however, it hung Harvey out to dry on the Norwegian goal. Defender Gro Espeseth beat out Staples for a long ball near the U.S. box. Her cross from the right wing found Medalen unmarked on the far post. Marianne Pettersen, free at the top of the six-yard box, took Medalen’s pass and fired the ball past Harvey.
The tying goal was the third in a series of outstanding free kicks scored on by Hamm, whose tournament performance (5 goals, 6 assists) earned her the MVP award. In both the Chinese Taipei and Australia games the U.S. striker scored from about 35 yards out. Against Norway, she blasted a 30-yard shot through a hole between Riise and Tone Haugen in the wall and past goalkeeper Bente Nordby.
Both teams had their chances to win the game in regulation. Norway had a great chance right before overtime, but Harvey deflected Medalen’s header beyond the end line.
DiCicco made a couple of key substitutions near the end of regulation. High school senior Jenny Grubb came in for Cromwell, while Pearman, getting her first U.S. cap, replaced Milbrett. Pearman hadn’t been able to play in the tournament to that point because of a pulled quadriceps muscle. Her speed surprised Norway, as twice she left defenders in her wake.
Just two minutes into overtime, Grubb fired a 40-yard pass to Pearman near the top of the Norway box. Pearman caught up to it, outleaped Andersen as well as the onrushing Nordby and nodded the ball down beyond the Norwegian goalie. Pearman ran the ball down and tapped it in before turning and pumping her fist.
Aussies tough, again
Three days before the Norway game, the U.S. team had to get past another World Cup opponent, and again the road wasn’t easy.
Sure, it romped to a 9-0 win over Chinese Taipei in the opener. But not having all its starters may have contributed to a tight performance in the next game, a 4-2 win over Australia Aug. 3.
Twice the Australians tied the game after the U.S. took the lead on goals by Lilly and Hamm.
Their first goal, a free kick that goalie Saskia Webber caught but couldn’t hang on to, was tapped in by midfielder Angela Iannotta. Seventeen-year-old Lisa Casagrande netted the second after beating Staples and Overbeck to the ball.
But a mixup in the Aussie defense led to an easy tap-in for Akers to score a minute later, and the U.S. held on for the victory.
The Aussies blew whatever chance they had to catch the U.S. in the 57th minute when Iannotta got her second yellow card for fouling Hamm from behind and was sent off.
Hamm added an insurance goal late in the match.
by Soccer America Associate Editor Dean Caparaz
U.S. Women’s Cup
Aug. 6 in Washington, D.C.
United States 2, Norway 1 (OT). Goals: Hamm (62), Pearman (92); Pettersen (58).
U.S. — Harvey (7), Overbeck (6), Hamilton (6), Staples (5), Roberts (6), Cromwell (5), Venturini (5), Lilly (6), Hamm (7), Milbrett (5), Akers (6). Substitutions: Grubb (6) for Cromwell (58th minute), Pearman (7) for Milbrett (67th), Keller (5) for Akers (75th).
Norway — Nordby (6), N.Nymark Andersen (5), Espeseth (6), Myklebust (6), Aaroenes (5), Riise (6), Haugen (5), Humlestoel (5), Pettersen (6), Sundaune (6), Medalen (6).
Att.: 7,083.