The U.S. womenÆs national team won its 2006 home opener with a 3-2 victory over Sweden in a game played in 99 degree heat in Blaine, Minn. The game featured a wild finish with three goals after the 89th minute. Defender Cat Whitehill scored from 70 yards to give the USA a 2-1 lead, but in the first minute of stoppage time winds carried Swedish substitute Elin EkblomÆs cross deep from the right corner into the U.S. goal to tie the score. U.S. captain Kristine Lilly scored the dramatic winning goal in the second minute of stoppage time.
ôIt was a tough day for both the Swedes and us,ö said U.S. head coach Greg Ryan. ôWhat was the temperature today? One hundred? Ninety-nine? We play with a lot of pressure, and it was hard to keep our shape today. Our forwards were so tired it was hard for them to get back. The backs were tired, so it was hard for them to get up. The only way you can play pressure is if you can get up and back as a group, but I am really proud of the players. They made such a great effort today, and didn't give up.ö
July 15 in Blaine, Minn.
USA 3 Sweden 2. Goals: Wambach 38, Whitehill 89; Lilly 90; Sjoestroem 72, Ekblom 90.
USA — Solo, Mitts (Chalupny, 80), Whitehill, Frimpong (LePeilbet, 60), Rampone, Osborne, Lloyd, Wagner (Tarpley, 73, OÆReilly (Kai, 60), Wambach, Lilly.
Sweden — Jonsson (Lundgren, 70), Westberg, Segerstroem, Sjoeberg (Marklund, 60), Thunebro, Seger, Sjoegran (Fischer, 81), Lundin (Aronsson, 60), Schelin (Sjoestroem, 60), +qvist (Ekblom, 67), Svensson.
Referee: Rachel Woo (USA). Att.: 4,996.