The U.S. women’s national team struck twice in a three-minute span late in the match to snatch a 3-1 win over Sweden in the third-place match at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. The U.S. regrouped after its shocking 4-1 loss to Norway March 19 and took the game to the Swedes, earning three corner kicks in the opening seven minutes of play. However, Sweden scored the first goal in the 29th minute, when Hanna Ljungberg took advantage of hesitation by U.S. defender Lorrie Fair to smack a loose ball past U.S. keeper Tracy Ducar from six yards out. It was Sweden’s first shot on goal. Mia Hamm, who had a hand in all three U.S. goals, was the catalyst for the equalizer ten minutes later. She took a short corner kick on the left side and dribbled across the top of the penalty box before passing to Julie Foudy, who eluded a defender and fired a shot that Swedish keeper Ulrica Karlsson could only deflect as it flew over her head into the goal. “The first half we played exceptionally well even though we fell behind,” said U.S. coach Tony DiCicco. “The true character of this team came out as they equalized and never stopped working to get the winning goal.” The match remained even throughout the second half until the 85th minute, when Hamm made a run toward the Swedish goal, cut back into the middle of the box and was cut down by Sweden’s Jane Tornquist. Brandi Chastain converted the ensuing spot-kick (her third penalty kick goal of the tournament) to put the U.S. ahead 2-1. The clinching goal came just two minutes later, when Hamm collected a poor punt from Karlsson about 40 yards out. She sprinted towards the goal with two defenders at her heels, and as Karlsson came out to challenge, Hamm slipped the ball to Kristine Lilly before colliding with the keeper and both defenders. Lilly then dribbled the ball into the open goal. “Coming off a disappointing game against Norway, we really rebounded well, especially in our commitment to fight and battle and win loose balls,” said Hamm. “We executed our style instead of letting the opponent dictate the game.” “We played a good match against an improved Sweden team and finished the tournament well,” added DiCicco. “The commitment to victory was vastly improved over the Norway game, but once again we found these teams in mid-season form due to their World Cup Qualification schedule. Overall, the tournament was an excellent event for our development as we prepare for the 1999 Women’s World Cup.” The U.S. women will reconvene in San Diego on April 18 to prepare for a pair of matches against Argentina on April 24 at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, Calif., and April 26 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. March 21 in Quarteira USA 3 Sweden 1. Goals: Foudy 39, Chastain (pen.) 85, Lilly 87; Ljungberg 29. USA — Ducar (Scurry, 46), Overbeck, Fair, Fawcett, Roberts (Whalen, 59), Foudy, Akers (Venturini, 46), MacMillan (Chastain, 46), Keller (Baumgardt, 67), Lilly, Hamm. Sweden — Karlsson, Lonnquist (Lija, 51), Sandell, Marklund, Eriksson, Tornquist, Andersson, Olsson (Fagerstroem, 71), Sjogran, Svensson, Ljungberg. Yellow card: Sweden — Sandell 35. Referee: Gitte Nielsen (Denmark). OTHER PLACEMENT MATCHES Championship — Norway 4 Denmark 1. Fifth Place — China 3 Netherlands 2. Seventh Place — Portugal 2 Finland 2 (Portugal wins 4-2 on penalties.)