Golden goal secures soccer gold for Norway
Olympic News Service

Norway has beaten the United States 3-2 after scoring a dramatic golden goal
winner in extra time in the women's football tournament at the Sydney 2000
Olympic Games on Thursday.

They scored in the first half of extra time to secure the victory. The result was 2-2 at full-time.

Substitute Dagny Mellgren scored the decisive goal after 102 minutes of a pulsating match which saw the US force extra time with an equaliser 20
seconds from the end.

There was a hint of handball about Mellgren's golden goal winner, although it was more a case of ball to arm — which is legal — after it bounced off US defender Joy Fawcett.

US goalkeeper Siri Mulinix, at fault for Norway's second goal, was slow to get
down to Mellgren's shot which slid under her arm and into the net to give
Norway its first gold medal of the Games.

The match represents an end of an era for the US women's team. They have
lost the Olympic but are also likely to lose Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and
July Foudy. All three are set to retire.

Early goal inspires US

The US took only five minutes to take the lead in the match at the Sydney Football Stadium, after skipper Foudy set up Hamm wide on the left.

She fought off a determined challenge from Goeril Kringen to lay a perfect ball back to Tiffeny Milbrett.

With goalkeeper Nordby having committed herself out wide, Milbrett shot
left-footed first time into the empty net to put the US ahead.

Foudy went close to doubling the lead after 29 minutes when she headed
against the top of the Norwegian bar, but Norway gradually played its way
back into contention and finally scored a deserved equaliser a minute before
the break.

Hege Riise's corner came to defender Gro Espeseth and she powered home a
header with Shannon Macmillan's leg helping it into the net.

Nordby made a series of good saves as the US dominated for most of the
second half — but a mistake at the other end allowed Norway to take the lead
against the run of play after 78 minutes.

US keeper Siri Mullinix came for, but missed, a high cross from Margunn
Haugenes and Ragnhild Gulbrandsen sent a looping header into the net to put
Norway 2-1 up.

With the Norwegian bench and their fans ready to celebrate the US pulled level
with less than 20 seconds to play.

Hamm launched one last attack with another high cross deep into the
Norwegian box.

For once Nordby stayed back, allowing her defenders to clear, but Milbrett
rose above them and scored with the late dramatic equaliser that sent the
game into extra time.

Just before the end a fan broke through the security cordon and climbed onto the crossbar of the goal the US were defending before police and security officers escorted the person away. The match was not disrupted.

12 minutes into the extra period, Norway scored the all-important golden goal winner.