Billed by Nike as “the best team you’ve never heard of,” the post-Mia Hamm U.S. women’s national team looked anything but in a tepid performance in their World Cup opener against “mysterious” North Korea. In fact, the U.S. was fortunate to escape from the match with a 2-2 draw; the Koreans dominated possession and nearly won the match in stoppage time, but for a diving save from keeper Hope Solo. The result was an awkward one for the world’s top ranked team, which may have now lost its billing as the tournament favorite-especially after Germany’s commanding 11-0 romp in its first game against Argentina.
And it won’t get any easier for the U.S. women, who face third-ranked Sweden next. Sweden, the World Cup runner-up in 2003, goes into Friday’s match also in need of a win, after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Nigeria. The so-called Group of Death is so far living up to its name.
Star striker Abby Wambach scored the first U.S. goal before leaving the field for 10 minutes, needing stitches after cutting her head in a collision. North Korea took advantage of the 10-player U.S. team, scoring twice in four minutes until Heather O’Reilly brought the match level with just over twenty minutes to play. Question marks also hang over first-choice keeper Solo, who displayed several shaky moments in goal, including a terrible lapse of concentration on North Korea’s first goal. Veteran Briana Scurry is on the bench and may be used for the second game.