United States to meet Norway in women's soccer final
Olympic News Service

CANBERRA — Olympic champions United States beat Brazil 1-0 with a
hotly-disputed Mia Hamm goal in a hard-fought semifinal on Sunday to secure
a place against Norway in the final of the women's soccer tournament.

Norway clinched their spot in Thursday's final with a 1-0 win over Germany in
Sydney thanks to an 80th minute own goal by Tina Wunderlich.

Brazil will meet Germany for the bronze medal in the third-place play-off match
in a curtain-raiser to the final.

After a slow start at Canberra, the pace of the match picked up with both
teams going on the attack and Swiss referee Nicole Petignat booking three
players from each side.

Although the 11,000 fans at Canberra's Bruce Stadium - who included FIFA
president Sepp Blatter - were clearly backing the Brazilians, the United States
were the better team. Brazil counter-attacked with pace and invention but the
Americans were better organised and more efficient passers and movers of the
ball.

Brazil suffered a blow when Katia, their most dangerous forward was carried off
injured after 57 minutes - and three minutes later they were in even worse
trouble when they went behind. Brandi Chastain sent a free-kick into the box
which goalkeeper Andreia missed and it fell to Hamm who turned the ball in at
the near post. But Brazilian coach Jose Duarte later complained the referee
should have called a foul with Andreia apparently pushed over by Tiffeny
Milbrett as the pair challenged for the ball.

Brazil rallied and went close to scoring ater 63 minutes but Pretinha's effort
was disallowed for offside. US coach April Heinrichs predicted a tough match
against Norway, who have challenged the Americans for superiority in the
women's game for the best part of a decade.

The United States beat Norway 2-0 during a preliminary match in Melbourne
just before the Olympics started."Their defence will be tough to break down. It
is going require a great performance on our part," Heinrichs said.

Norway, who took the bronze medal in Atlanta in 1996, a year after winning the
world championship, needed an own goal 10 minutes from time to beat
Germany in Sydney in front of 16,710 fans.Wunderlich deflected the ball past
her own goalkeeper with extra time approaching.German captain Doris
Fitschen said: "Obviously Tina feels bad, but we all lost the game not only
her."