[U.S. WOMEN] South Korea held the USA to a 0-0 tie Wednesday in Cincinnati, marking only second time in 33 games this year that the Americans didn't emerge victorious.
Playing on a slick turf, the Americans had problems breaking down the Korean defense.
The closest the U.S. came to finding the back of the net was in the 31st minute when Lindsay Tarpley blasted a shot that ricocheted off the bottom of the crossbar and bounced tantalizingly close to the goal line before bouncing up with backspin and away from the net where the ball was cleared.
The game snapped a nine-game winning streak for the USA, whose only loss of the year came in its opening game at the Olympics. The Americans' only other tie was against Canada in the final of the Concacaf Olympic qualifying competition — which they won on penalty kicks.
The USA (30-1-2 in 2008) concludes its three-game series with South Korea on Saturday in Tampa. It also recently announced matches on Dec. 13 and Dec. 17 against China in Carson, Calif., and Detroit, respectively.
GAME SUMMARY:
Nov. 5 in Cincinnati
USA 0 South Korea 0.
USA — Barnhart (Scurry, 46), Mitts, Rampone (Buehler, 60), Markgraf, Chalupny (Dalmy, 66), O'Reilly (White, 46), Boxx (Cox, 33), Wagner, Hucles, Tarpley.
South Korea — Kai Jun Minkyung, Yi Ju Eun, Kim Do Yeon, Kim Yoo Mi, Cho So Hyun, Lee Eun Mi (Joen Ga Eul, 46), Kim Sooyun (Go Taehwa, 89), Kwon Hah Nul, Lee Jang Mi, Cha Yun Hee (Kim Huiyeong, 67), Park Hee Young (Han Song I, 71).
Referee: Veronica Brito (USA).
Att.: 5,877.