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Lilly marks 300th game with goal, assist to help down Norway 3-1.
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 GUANGZHOU,
CHINA (January 18, 2006) -- Captain Kristine Lilly did not celebrate
participating in her historic 300th international match by simply
playing. The veteran midfielder starred, scoring the first and assisting
the second of three American tallies in a 12-minute span late in
the second half, igniting the rally that led to the 3-1 triumph
over Norway in the opening match of the Four Nations Tournament
at the Guangdong Olympic Center this evening.
It was the 39th meeting between the two most successful countries
in women's soccer history, the U.S. grabbed the lead in the series
for the first time in 34 matches. With their sixth straight victory,
the longest streak in the series, the Americans now lead Norway
19-18-2 overall, their first edge since the U.S. captured three
of the first five matches.
"Kristine Lilly's performance in her 300th game was tremendous,
with a goal and a beautiful assist on the corner kick," U.S.
head coach Greg Ryan said. "She is still such a special player
and the most special thing about Kristine is that every game she
comes to play with her whole heart. She gives us everything, now
for the 300th time."
In today's second game in the round-robin event, China and France
drew 1-1.
Lilly, the most capped player ever in international soccer for
men or women, appropriately put the U.S. ahead 1-0 with a free kick
in the 73rd minute. After reserve forward Heather O'Reilly was taken
down at the top of the penalty area, Lilly nailed the near top right
corner of the net from 19 yards, beating lunging Norwegian goalkeeper
Bente Nordby.
The goal was the 105th in Lilly's 18-year international career,
tying her with Michelle Akers for second on the all-time U.S. list.
She and Akers are also tied with Italian Carolina Morace for third-best
all-time in women's international soccer behind Mia Hamm (158) and
Italy's Elisabetta Vignotto (107).
It took four minutes for the Americans to extend their lead. Lilly
curled a right-side corner kick to the far post where Shannon Boxx
elevated above a mass of players and headed the ball off the left
post and in from close range. It was the defensive midfielder's
14th career goal in her 51st appearance.
Norway cut into a lead with a penalty kick by Trine Ronning into
the low left corner of the net to make it 2-1 in the 82nd minute.
The tally snapped the U.S. shutout streak at 1,009 minutes, dating
back to the last match of 2004.
The penalty was awarded when U.S. reserve midfielder Leslie Osborne
was ruled to have fallen on the ball in a crowd of players following
a save from keeper Hope Solo.
Striker Abby Wambach needed three minutes to restore the American
advantage to two. She ran hard into the left side of the box to
dig out a pass from midfielder Aly Wagner, shed a defender, cut
into the middle and stuffed her shot through the legs of the charging
Nordby from the top of the six-yard box.
In her 64th international match, Wambach became the eighth U.S.
player in history to score 50 goals or more, joining Hamm, Lilly,
Akers, Tiffeny Milbrett, Cindy Parlow, Shannon MacMillan and Carin
Gabarra.
Dangerous shots were scarce for both teams, but the Americans held
an edge in possession, keeping pressure on Norway. The Scandinavians
were solid in back, but produced few opportunities.
The U.S. came close to taking a 1-0 lead early when Lilly lifted
a ball to Wagner whose drive was turned away by a great save by
Nordby. The ball rolled tantalizingly along the goal-line before
a defender cleared it away.
In the 32nd minute, Wagner drove a shot from 16 yards right at
Nordby.
Norway's best chance came two minutes before halftime when Leni
Larsen hammered a 25-yard shot that an extended Solo tipped off
the crossbar. The ball bounded back off the keeper's face but, after
she hit the ground, she popped up to grab the ball.
Solo made three saves, including parrying away a free kick in the
87th minute.
Tina Frimpong made her first start for the U.S. in central defense
in her fourth overall appearance, while right back Christie Rampone
played her first game since having her first child, a girl, in October.
Left back Lori Chalupny made her 16th appearance, while central
defender Amy LePeilbet earned her 11th cap.
Twenty-year-old forward India Trotter made her first appearance
for the U.S., entering in the 90th minute. Norway used no substitutes.
The U.S faces France here Friday at 12:30 a.m. (ET)
Note: American Rachel Woo refereed the game between China and France.
http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/2006/women/games/jan18.htm
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