By Scott French, Senior Editor in Portland, Ore.
Charmaine Hooper's seventh-minute goal held up as Canada's backline, spearheaded by Hooper, absorbed repeated Chinese forays and claimed a stunning 1-0 triumph Thursday to advance to the World Cup semifinals.
Germany also reached the final four, dismantling an overmatched Russian side, 7-1, in the opener of a doubleheader at PGE Park to set up a Portland showdown with the United States on Sunday.
Canada, second to Germany in Group C, will face Sweden, second to the United States in Group A, in the second game of Sunday's twinbill.
China, runners-up in 1999, managed only three goals during this World Cup and were held scoreless Thursday despite a massive advantage in possession. With Hooper and Atlanta Beat teammate Sharolta Nonen marshaling a speedy backline and W-League goalkeeper Taryn Swiatek expertly handling crosses and coming off her line to smother throughballs, Canada was in control throughout even if it didn't appear so.
''What we accomplished today is amazing,'' said Canada coach Even Pellerud. ''This is a historic day for soccer in Canada. This is just a start for this team. This is a very young team, and I am looking forward to the coming years.''
Pellerud, whose contract with the Canadian Soccer Association runs through the 2008 Olympics, called the win — notched before a pro-Canadian crowd of 20,021 — more satisfying than his victory as Norway's head coach in the 1995 Women's World Cup final.
''This is a bigger accomplishment for me,'' said Pellerud, who in four years has lifted Canada from women's soccer doormat to powerhouse. ''When Norway steps on the field, they are expected to finish No. 1, 2 or 3. Taking this team to the semifinals is up there also.''
Hooper, moved from striker to central defense after injury decimated Canada's backline before the World Cup began, slipped past as China pushed up after clearing a Diana Matheson free kick. Matheson ran down the ball on the left flank and served a long cross into the Chinese box. Goalkeeper Han Wenxia came off her line, but Hooper beat her to the ball and headed it over the keeper and into the net.
The goal was Hooper's Canadian-record 58th in international play.
''Four years ago I did not imagine ourselves in the semifinals of the World Cup,'' said Hooper, who had quit the team after the '99 World Cup because she was unhappy with the CSA's support of women's soccer. ''I could never imagine winning a game in the World Cup. … It's awesome.''
China dominated play the rest of the match, but its best opportunities were thwarted by Hooper, Nonen and Swiatek. Sun came close twice in the first half, putting an eighth-minute free kick onto the top of the crossbar and firing wide left from in close in the 17th minute.
In the opener, Birgit Prinz scored two goals and helped create two more, Kerstin Garefrekes found the net twice, and WUSA MVP Maren Meinert continually shredded the Russians with throughballs as the Germans scored three times in five minutes early in the second half to turn a deceptive 1-0 advantage into a 4-0 romp.
Three goals in the 80th minute or later, two by Prinz from tight angles, gave the Germans 20 goals in four matches and sent them into the semifinal clash with the Americans with great confidence.