Match Recap: USA v BRAZIL in San Diego --- Natasha Kai scores the winner for the Americans; USA, still undefeated in 2008, now heading to Olympics [UPDATED]

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Match Recap: USA v BRAZIL in San Diego --- Natasha Kai scores the winner for the Americans; USA, still undefeated in 2008, now heading to Olympics [UPDATED] Links3
MVNsoccer MVNsoccer posted 7/17/2008 from ballhype.com [flag]

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(a BallHype Original article)   
SAN DIEGO:
The setting was a sold-out Torero Stadium, where the Americans hosted the Brazilians in an international friendly seen live on Fox Soccer Channel. ---  These are the same two teams who met in the 2004 Olympics Championship, and they are both preparing for the 2008 tournament which begins 3 weeks from tonight in China. ---
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Natasha Kai, a second-half substitute, scored the winning goal for Team USA tonight in their final match before the Summer Olympics.  Her goal in the 85th minute was off of an assist from Carli Lloyd, and was enough to win the match. 
This is the third consecutive 1-0 match between the two teams - all U.S. wins, and the second match in a row, as the two played on Sunday in Colorado.  In that game, Amy Rodriguez was the lone goal-scorer.
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The U.S. Women are still undefeated this year, improving to 21-0-1.  They are the number one ranked team in world, according to the latest (June) FIFA ranking, with Brazil 4th.
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Abby Wambach was looking for her 100th USWNT goal, and had several chances, but late in the first half, she collided with Brazil's Andreia Rosa, and was taken off the field on a stretcher.  Lindsay Tarpley did achieve her century - her 100th USWNT cap.
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Kai, a colorful and popular team member who hails from Kahuku, Hawaii, subbed in for Tarpley in the 56th minute.  Here is more on her:
VIDEO:  Produced just prior to the 2007 FIFA World Cup, a Natasha Kai feature produced by US Soccer for their Studio 90 online news series,
"Surfing with Natasha Kai"
PROFILE:  NBC's 2008 Olympics feature on Kai, first published this June,
"Natasha Kai:  Rainbow Warrior"
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Wednesday, August 6 begins the Americans' quest to defend their Olympic Gold Medal.  They will meet on that night the only other nation to ever win the Women's Olympics soccer tournament - Norway, also the opening night of all Olympic competitions...
NOTE:  Women's Olympics soccer began in 1996, when the U.S. won.  Norway won in 2000- (U.S., Silver), and then U.S. defeated Brazil in Athens for the Gold in 2004...
ROSTER:  The announcement on USA Women chosen for Olympics
ARTICLE:  OLYMPICS Soccer Preview, NBC coverage on 7 networks,
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[UPDATE]  The day after this match, it was determined that Abby Wambach had suffered a broken leg;  a titanium rod was inserted, with a prognosis that she would be out for at least 12 weeks.  She is the team's leading scorer, and will miss the Olympic Games.  It could perhaps take her until early next year to regain full fitness.
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Author: MVN Soccer http://mvn.com/soccer/  (additional updates there)

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Local recap of last night's San Diego international friendly
Published 7/17/2008 by Mr. Adventure at San Diego MLS Project
... Match Recap: USA v BRAZIL in San Diego --- Natasha Kai scores the winner for the Americans; USA, still undefeated in 2008, now heading to the Summer Olympic Games ...

So Cal Style: Natasha Kai scores winning goal, USA defeats Brazil 1-0
Published 7/17/2008 by Mr. Adventure at San Diego eXtreme Sports Coalition
... Match Recap: USA v BRAZIL in San Diego --- Natasha Kai scores the winner for the Americans; USA, still undefeated in 2008, now heading to the Summer Olympic Games  ...

Development News: San Diego hosts 2nd consecutive sold-out int'l friendly
Published 7/17/2008 by Mr. Adventure at MLS Expansion And Development
... Match Recap: USA v BRAZIL in San Diego --- Natasha Kai scores the winner for the Americans; USA, still undefeated in 2008, now heading to the Summer Olympic Games  ...

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Match Preview: USA v BRAZIL in San Diego

MVNsoccer posted 7/16/2008 from mvn.com

July 16 --- MVN Soccer: The U.S. Women are getting ready for the Summer Olympics, but they have one bit of business to take care of first, and they will do it in sunny San Diego tonight at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium. ---The task at hand is their final warm-up before departing for China; the opponent is their nemesis from the previous Olympics’ Championship match…Brazil !
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(courtesy JMayers / The Beautiful Game) Kudos to J for finding this on the FourFourTwo website. --- As a follow up to my Independence Day redux/remembrance posted at MVN Soccer, I’d like to share this great video that’s been going around since that anniversary of USA v BRAZIL in the USA 94 FIFA World Cup we celebrated earlier this month. --- It comes from that tournament's Opening Ceremony...
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The Official Site of U.S. Soccer - Women's National Team

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (July 16, 2008) -- U.S. Women s National Team forward Abby Wambach suffered a mid-shaft oblique fracture of the tibia and fibula, the two bones that make up the lower leg, in a 31st minute collision with a Brazilian defender during ...
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Match Recap: USA v BRAZIL

MVNsoccer posted 7/17/2008 from www.ussoccer.com

(Official USWNT Match Report) July 16 --- US Soccer: The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Brazil, 1-0 in San Diego on a goal from forward Natasha Kai. --- The win also featured a loss for the U.S. team, as top scorer Abby Wambach broke her leg in a 31st minute collision with Brazilian defender Andreia Rosa. --- Kai entered the match at 56' and would bag the winning goal at 85'...
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