Girls Rock!

United States Beats Sweden on Two Goals by Wambach

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 15, 2007

CHENGDU, China, Sept. 14 (AP) — Kristine Lilly glanced up, caught sight of Abby Wambach 25 yards ahead racing down the left side toward Sweden’s goal, and lofted a soaring ball for Wambach to run under. Wambach did just that, settling the pass off her chest and lashing a left-footed half-volley from 15 yards that ripped into the net in the 58th minute.

“If you like football, you like to see a goal like Abby Wambach’s goal today,” Sweden Coach Thomas Dennerby said. “But for us, it was in the wrong match.”

It was Wambach’s second of the game — she also converted a penalty kick in the 34th minute — and it gave the United States a 2-0 victory at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The victory moved the Americans into position to qualify for the quarterfinals. “You have to know with Kristine,” Wambach said. “Sometimes in the course of a game she can get pretty much inside herself. When she gets inside herself, I know something good is about to happen.”

Wambach played with 11 stitches in her head, picked up in a 2-2 tie against North Korea.

The victory gave the United States 4 points in Group B, the same as North Korea. The Americans’ final group game is Tuesday against Nigeria, which lost, 2-1, to North Korea yesterday.

A draw will be enough to get the United States to the quarterfinals, although a victory may guarantee first place and a quarterfinal against Japan or England. If the United States finishes second in the group, it will probably have a tougher game, against Germany, the defending champion.

In Group A yesterday, Germany and England tied, 0-0, and Japan defeated Argentina, 1-0.