USWNT Official Match Report: Abby Strikes Again

CHENGDU, China (Sept. 14, 2007) – Two Abby Wambach goals, one in each half, led the U.S. to a key Group B victory over Sweden in the second game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in China.

With all four teams earning one point from draws in the opening Group B matches, the two-goal victory gives the U.S. control of their own destiny as the leader in what has been the most difficult group of the tournament.

In the 34th minute, Kate Markgraf played a dangerous ball into the box that Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl misjudged. As the ball bounced over Lindahl, Lori Chalupny was running onto it and looked to have an empty net, but she was tackled by a defender and earned the penalty kick call. Wambach stepped up and put away the ensuing kick to give the U.S. the lead heading into halftime.

In the second half, as the U.S. was feeling Sweden’s pressure in their end, a long ball was played out of the back for Wambach. The striker brought the ball down between two defenders and struck a left-footed shot from about 15 yards out that gave Lindahl no chance, finding the upper corner of the goal for the 2-0 lead.

The U.S. will close out group play against Nigeria, who tied Sweden in their opener and will play North Korea in the second game of the day in Chengdu. That match will be played on Tues., Sept. 18 live on ESPN at 7:55 a.m. Tonight’s game will replayed at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN Classic. Match-up: USA vs. Sweden
Competition: 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup – Group B
Venue: Chengdu Sports Center Stadium – Chengdu, China
Date: Sept. 14, 2007; Kickoff – 5:00 pm local / 5 a.m. ET
Attendance: TBD
Weather: Sunny – 85 degrees

Scoring Summary:
           1   2   F
USA   1   1   2
SWE  0   0   0

USA – Abby Wambach (penalty kick) 34th minute
USA – Abby Wambach (Kristine Lilly) 58.

Lineups:
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 4-Cat Whitehill, 3-Christie Rampone, 15-Kate Markgraf; 17-Lori Chalupny, 12-Leslie Osborne (7-Shannon Boxx, 46), 11-Carli Lloyd, 14-Stephanie Lopez; 5-Lindsay Tarpley (9-Heather O’Reilly, 64), 13-Kristine Lilly – Capt, 20-Abby Wambach.

Subs not used: 1-Briana Scurry, 2-Marian Dalmy, 8-Tina Ellertson, 10-Aly Wagner, 16-Angela Hucles, 19-Marci Jobson, 21-Nicole Barnhart.

Head Coach: Greg Ryan

SWE: 1-Hedvig Lindahl; 3-Stina Segerstrom (9-Therese Lundin, 81), 4-Hanna Marklund, 5-Caroline Seger, 8-Charlotte Schelin, 10-Hanna Ljungberg, 11-Victoria Svensson (capt.), 13-Frida Ostberg, 15-Therese Sjogran (18-Nilla Fischer, 65), 16-Anna Paulson, 20-Linda Forsberg

Subs not used: 2-Karolina Westburg, 6-Thunebro, 7-Sara Larsson, 12-Sofia Lundgren, 14-Sara Johansson, 17-Madelaine Elund, 19-Charlotte Rohlin, 21-Kristin Hammerstrom

Head Coach: Thomas Dennerby

Statistical Summary:
USA / SWE
Shots: 15/10
Shots on Goal: 8/2
Saves: 0/6
Corner Kicks: 6/8
Fouls: 9/8
Offside: 5/0

Misconduct Summary:
SWE – Stina Segerstrom (caution)    34th minute
SWE – Caroline Seger (caution)        93+

Officials:
Referee: Gyoengyi Gaal (HUN)
Asst. Referee: Maria Luisa Villa Gutierrez (ESP)
Asst. Referee: Cristina Cini (ITA)
Fourth Official: Christine Beck (GER)

Sierra Mist Woman of the Match: Abby Wambach