The U.S. Women’s national team, behind goals from Tisha Venturini, Kristine Lilly and Michelle Akers, defeated Sweden 3-1 on Nov. 1 at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. It was the second win in three days for the U.S., which also beat the Swedes 3-1 on Oct. 30 in a closed-door match. The U.S. struggled to find a rhythm during the games first half hour, until Lilly hit the left post on a volley in the 29th minute. One minute later, Swedish keeper Ulrika Karlsson thwarted a breakaway by U.S. forward Tiffeny Milbrett, but the U.S. won a corner when Shannon MacMillan’s rebound shot was cleared out by the Swedish defense. Mia Hamm took the corner and hit a bending ball toward the far post, where Venturini out-leaped her defender to head home the first U.S. goal. Venturini had replaced Cindy Parlow in the 22nd minute, as the Memphis native, starting before her home state crowd, will play for the University of North Carolina in its ACC finale against Virginia Nov. 2. The U.S. took a 1-0 lead into the break, and continued the pressure in the second half. Just three minutes in, Joy Fawcett sent a long ball into the right corner as the Swedish defense was pulling up. MacMillan ran the ball down and sent a curling cross back into the middle, where Lilly volleyed it into the left corner. U.S. all-time scoring leader Michelle Akers scored the final U.S. goal in the 69th minute when she ran onto a back pass from Lilly and first-timed the ball into the upper left corner from 28 yards out. The strike was her 93rd in 111 games for the U.S. Sweden received a late consolation goal after Brandi Chastain fouled Hanna Ljunberg in the box. Malin Andersson converted the resulting penalty in the 82nd minute. The U.S. outshot Sweden 22-3, and could have scored more goals but for the fine work of Karlsson. The 1997 European Championship MVP made eight saves. The U.S. was denied by the woodwork on several other occasions. Starting defenders Chastain, Fawcett and Carla Overbeck had only joined the team on the morning of the match, due to college coaching commitments. Nov. 1 in Chattanooga, Tenn. USA 3 Sweden 1. Goals: Venturini 31, Lilly 48, Akers 69; M. Andersson (pen.) 82. USA — Scurry, Overbeck, Chastain, Fawcett, MacMillan (DeVert, 83), Foudy, Akers, Lilly, Parlow (Venturini, 22), Milbrett (Pearce, 71), Hamm (Fotopoulos, 83). Sweden — Karlsson, Westberg (Marklund, 73), Toernqvist, Loennqvist, Sandell, A.Andersson (Lilja, 56), Pohjanen, M.Andersson (Engwall, 86), Ljungberg, Olsson (Nordlund, 65), Svensson (Sjogran 79). Yellow card: USA — Chastain 59. Referee: Zim Boulos (USA). Att.: 13,081.