Aly Wagner's sensational volley in Tuesday's Group A finale was all the U.S. women's national team needed to reach the Algarve Cup title match.

A 1-1 tie with Sweden in Vila Real San Antonio coupled with Norway's 1-0 victory over Canada, sends the Americans (1-0-2, 5 points) to Thursday's championship against China (2-0-1, 7 points), which claimed Group B with a 2-1 decision over Denmark.

It will be the U.S. squad's fourth final in eight Algarve Cup appearances. It has won the championship just once, in 2000.

Wagner, who scored two of the Americans' three first-round goals, fired the Americans ahead in the 18th minute. Like her goal in the 1-1 tie with Canada to open the tournament, it followed a corner kick. Twice the Swedes headed the ball from their box, lofting it the second time toward Wagner, standing just to the left of the penalty arc. Her right-footed volley dipped into the right corner.

Swedish star Hanna Ljungberg evened the score in the 78th minute, slotting past Siri Mullinix from 15 yards after Malin Mostrom stripped Julie Foudy in midfield. Ljungberg scored all three Group A goals for Sweden.

The match, like all in Group A, was a defensive battle, with central defenders Joy Fawcett and Brandi Chastain critical in slowing Swedish surges early in the first half and late in the second half.

There were four 1-1 ties and two 1-0 victories among the six Group A matches.

Thursday's final, to be played in Loule, is the second meeting this winter between the 1999 Women's World Cup finalists. China topped the United States, 2-0, in a Four Nations Cup clash Jan. 26 in Wuhan. The Americans won the Chinese tournament's title with a 2-1-0 record.

Greece (1-0-2, 5 points), its roster dotted with Greek-Americans, captured Group C on goal differential over host Portugal. The Greeks will meet Canada (0-1-2, 2 points) in Thursday's seventh-place match in Guia. Group C featured developing nations not in competition for the Algarve title.

France (2-1-0, 6 points) will meet Norway (1-1-1, 4 points) in the third-place match at Quarteira and Sweden (0-0-3, 3 points) will take on Finland (0-1-2, 2 points) for fifth place at Ferreiras. Denmark (0-2-1, 1 point) and Portugal (1-0-2, 5 points) play for ninth at Lagoa, and Ireland (1-1-1, 4 points) and Wales (0-2-1, 1 point) tangle for 11th at Montechoro.