Other Sports
US Soccer Roundup 8/15/04
By The Source
Aug 15, 2004

(sun-sentinel.com) - In the first half, the U.S. women's soccer team was pushed around by a Brazilian squad that had more hustle, speed and creativity.

In the second half, the Americans pushed back.

The Brazilian coach called it dirty soccer. The American coach called it proactive soccer. Regardless, Brazil ultimately had no answer for scoring machine Abby Wambach, whose souvenirs included a ripped jersey, a cut on her side, a goal created and a goal scored in Saturday's 2-0 victory in the first round of the tournament that clinched a quarterfinal berth.

"Brazil came with a gusto in the first half that we didn't have," coach April Heinrichs said. "And we responded. I like the way we responded."

Wambach drew the foul that set up Mia Hamm's penalty kick in the 58th minute and sliced through two defenders to score on a thrilling run in the 77th -- her 16th goal in 17 games. For good measure, she also received her second yellow card in two games, giving her an automatic suspension for Tuesday's final first-round match against Australia.

"She could've got rattled after that yellow card, knowing she was going to have to sit for the third game," Hamm said. "But what she decided was that she was going to give us everything she had."

Brazil had five players injured, including Kelly with a broken collarbone and Elaine with a concussion. Kelly is out for the tournament.

-Landon Donovan scored both goals in the San Jose Earthquakes' 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday.

The Wizards' Chris Klein, who was to have joined the U.S. team for next week's World Cup qualifier at Jamaica, tore his left anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the rest of the season.

Donovan opened the scoring in the 27th minute when he headed a pass from Brian Mullan past Wizards goalie Tony Meola for a 1-0 lead.

In the 59th minute, Donovan outraced defender Shavar Thomas to a ball in the penalty area and again beat Meola for his sixth goal of the season.

-D.C. UNITED 2, REVOLUTION 2: Andy Dorman scored in the 85th minute to lift visiting New England to the tie in a game played through a soaking rain caused by the remnants of Hurricane Charley.

Jaime Moreno scored both United goals.

Defender Steve Ralston had the Revolution's other goal.

-RAPIDS 3, FIRE 0: Visiting Colorado got a goal and an assist from Mark Chung to help defeat Chicago.

Matt Crawford and John Spencer also scored for the Rapids. All the goals came in the second half.

Keeper Joe Cannon got the shutout.

-Premiership begins

Liverpool opened its Premier League season Saturday without star forward Michael Owen and tied Tottenham 1-1.

Djibril Cisse had a goal in the 37th minute for Liverpool, but Jermaine Defoe evened the score for the home team in the 71st.

Owen was acquired by Spanish power Real Madrid in a $14 million deal Friday.

U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel shook off a preseason leg injury and started for Blackburn in a 1-1 tie with West Bromwich Albion.

In other games it was Bolton 4, Charlton 1; Middlesbrough 2, Newcastle 2; Aston Villa 2, Southampton 0; Manchester City 1, Fulham 1; Norwich 1, Crystal Palace 1; and Portsmouth 1, Birmingham 1.

In the Football League Championship, American midfielder Bobby Convey and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann started for Reading in a 1-0 win at Sheffield United.

-Beasley chips in

American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley scored in his Dutch League debut, a 5-2 win for PSV Eindhoven over RBC Roosendaal in its opener.