Thursday, October 2, 2003

 

QUARTERFINALS - Day Two

Canada registered the biggest upset of the tournament with perhaps the nation's most historic victory in men's or women's international soccer by downing the 1999 Women's World Cup runners-up and a 2003 tournament favorite China, 1-0, Thursday night at PGE Park in Portland, Oregon. USL Hall of Famer Charmaine Hooper's seventh minute tally stood up for the win.

Former Chicago Cobras forward Charmaine Hooper, in her newfound position of defender, played a critical role in the match not only with the lone goal of the game, but with her defensive play. She was regularly shutting down the quick, dangerous Chinese forwards, including standout Sun Wen, with strong physical play in the box and in the air. The early goal for Canada came on the follow-up play to a corner kick that Hooper came up on. The ball came out toward midfield where Toronto Inferno player Diana Matheson sent the ball back into the box, where Hooper would beat Chinese goalkeeper Wenxia Han to the ball for the header, scoring what proved to be the game-winner and one of the biggest goals in Canadian soccer history. Behind Hooper, goalkeeper Taryn Swiatek, who led her Ottawa Fury side to the 2003 W-League semifinals, continued to show dominance in the penalty area, making five saves in the match and coming off her line to squelch numerous Chinese scoring opportunities. Swiatek has given up just one goal in three games and is second in the tournament in goals-against average (0.33) to the USA and former Delaware Genie goalkeeper Briana Scurry (0.25). The win and tournament as a whole has been historic for Canada, which has 16 current W-League players on the roster, 11 of which played in 2003. Canada, ranked 12th in the world, came into their third tournament this year winless in World Cup matches, but has registered their first three victories after an opening match loss, 4-1, to Germany, advancing to the Quarterfinals, and Semifinals for the first time. Thursday's victory over the fourth-ranked Chinese squad was Canada's first-ever as well in 12 matches after going 0-10-1. Hooper was honored as the Player of the Match by the FIFA Technical Study Group.
FIFA Game Summary: http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/t/match/28/index.html
CSA Game Summary: http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1493

A close 1-0 game at halftime in favor of Germany blew out of control in the second half as Germany would torch Russia for six more goals. Bergit Prinz moved to the top of the goal scoring table with two goals on the night for six in the tournament, two ahead of Brazil's Katia.
FIFA Game Summary: http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/t/match/27/index.html

Schedule/Results: http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/t/match/index.html

Final Group Standings: http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/t/group/index.html

Statistics: http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/t/stat/overview.html