US beats Canada to claim third place at World Cup

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, October 12, 2003

US beats Canada to claim third place at World Cup

Defending champions the UnitedStates scored a consolation 3-1 win over Canada in the third-place playoff of the fourth Women's World Cup at the Home Depot Center, Carson, California, on Saturday.

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US beats Canada to claim third place at World Cup

Defending champions the UnitedStates scored a consolation 3-1 win over Canada in the third-place playoff of the fourth Women's World Cup at the Home Depot Center, Carson, California, on Saturday.

The US women, toppled 3-0 by European champions Germany in the semifinal in Portland last Sunday, put up a fluent and dominant performance, telling the world that it is too early to say a dynasty is falling down.

Kristine Lilly, America's most-capped player, put the twice World Cup winners ahead in the 22nd minute, when she crashed in a long range effort as the ball fell at her feet at the edge of the box.

The hosts then dominated possession lifted by Lilly's sensational kick.

But the Canadians, who shocked runners-up China en route the semifinals, were close to levelling the score in the 29th minute, when Kara Lang hit the post while sliding in to get a touch colliding with US 'keeper Briana Scurry.

Even Pellerud's side finally scored the equalizer in the 38th minute through striker Sinclair, who timed her run to perfection as she slipped in between the American rearguard and finished off with a clinical drive past Scurry.

It was the fifth goal the defending champions conceded in the World Cup.

The visitors played deeply and stayed cautious to counter attack in the first 45 minutes, while the United States took a 63 per cent of possession but could not extend their lead.

April Heinrichs' side, who were stopped by Germany in the semifinal last Sunday, finally turned their dominance into goals six minutes after the break.

Mia Hamm's corned was perfectly met by a midfielder Shannon Boxx, who hammered the ball into the back of the net.

Both sides appeared tired in the heat of a sunny California, but the US women were still desperate to kill off the match with one more goal.

They should have made it 3-1 in the 69th minute, but they hit the crossbar from a corner well taken by Hamm.

Three minutes later, Lilly's close range shot were again saved by Canada's wookwork.

Canada almost levelled the score again but Sinclair directed her fantastic header against the crossbar.

Milbrett finished off the match for the hosts in the 80th minute when a long ball found her on the right. After being blocked from her first attempt, the 43rd-minute substitution firedthe rebound into the top corner of goal.

The host nation continued to push forward in the dying minutes although Heinrichs can never feel fully satisfied because it was all but a title match.

US head coach Heinrichs had mixed feeling after the match.

"I feel that throughout the tournament we had a world-class performance and the goal for us in the tournament was to continually get better. We are the third-place team and teams likeBrazil, China, and Norway are headed home and that is a reflectionof the game today."

She said that a win over their northern neighbors was significant and difficult considering the rivals' good form in theWorld Cup.

"Coming into today's game was very hard because we both came indifferent psychological mind frames. Our hearts are broken and wounded. It has been a difficult week psychologically and emotionally and we arrive here in Carson without a chance to win it all, and that is very hard."

Heinrichs, one of the stars in the U.S. winning squad at the 1991 World Cup, said she was moved by her players' hard-working performance.

"The girls drove forward and scored and were trying to get another one after that as a matter of pride and to separate ourselves from the rest of the world. I am very proud of the way my team played today."

Canada head coach Pellerud said his players had a good game andbelieved the young squad can get even better in the next few years.

"We challenged the US on every inch of the field today and madesure they never had an easy game. I was very impressed when we came back in the first half to tie it up.

"Considering that six of our girls were hurt going into this game and that we had to move players around and restructure our formations, I am very impressed with our strong, even fought performance.

"I feel that since we are a young team, average age of 21, we need to play together more and I feel that in the next four years we can progress together as a team and we feel that are athletic ability, skills, and power will only improve as we continue to play and mature together. I feel that we will be contenders in thenext World Cup, 2007."

Line-ups:

The United States:

Briana Scrurry, Christie Pearce, Cat Reddick, Shannon Boxx, MiaHamm, Julie Foudy (C) (Kylie Bivens 78th), Cindy Parlow (Tiffeny Milbrett 43rd), Kristine Lilly, Joy Fawcett, Kate Sobrero (ShannonMacmilllan 84th), Abby Wambach

Canada:

Taryn Swiatek, Christine Latham, Sasha Andrews (Carmelina Moscato 90th), Andrea Neil (Isabelle Morneau 84th), Sharolta Nonen,Kristina Kiss, Charmaine Hooper (C), Christine Sinclair, Diana Matheson, Kara Lang (Rhian Wilkinson 89th), Brittany Timko

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