Soccer: US women beat Denmark 2-0 in Algarve opener
March 4, 2009 by jane
Filed under Int'l Soccer, Soccer
The U.S. Women’s National Team got its 2009 Algarve Cup campaign off to a rousing start, defeating Denmark 2-0 in nasty weather conditions as midfielders Angie Wonzuk and Tina DiMartino scored in the first half.
With the wind whipping through the stadium and a drizzling rain falling almost the entire match, the opening 20 minutes were evenly played but then the Americans grew dominant.
The first U.S. score came in the 22nd minute on the USA’s first shot on goal as Woznuk scored her second career goal in just her seventh career cap and second start. She controlled a cross and blasted a sizzling half-volley into the top right corner of the net over the Danish goalkeeper.
The goal energized the U.S. team, which started connecting passes and getting numbers into the attack. Thirteen minutes after the first score, the Americans got another.
The 22 year old DiMartino, making only her second appearance with the team, scored her first international goal by knocking the ball from short range in the 35th minute after Natasha Kai’s header rebounded off the post.
Goalie Hope Solo made a string of tough saves, including two from Johanna Rasmussen in a 10-minute span.
The United States beat Denmark in the invitational tournament’s last two finals and has won the title six times in the past eight years.
Also in Group B, Iceland upset four-time Algarve champion Norway 3-1. Fara Bjor Gunnars scored twice and Edda Gardar added another for the Icelanders, while Kersten Lie scored for Norway.
Two-time world champion Germany went to the top of Group A by beating Finland 2-0 on goals from Naid Berringer and Kerstin Garefrekes. In the group’s other match, two-time Algarve champion China drew 0-0 with Sweden.
The winners of each group will meet in the final March 11.
For players not in Portugal this week the Women’s Professional Soccer preseason got underway as Team Training Camps opened across the country in preparation for the WPS season openers later this month.
Play on…
