Dec. 10, 2000 SportsLine.com wire reports

HOUSTON -- Cindy Parlow scored twice in five minutes to rally the U.S. women's national soccer team to a 3-2 victory over Mexico on Sunday.

The United States had never allowed a goal in five previous games against Mexico, winning all of those by a combined 41-0.

But Mexico held a 2-1 lead Sunday with 25 minutes left before a crowd of 11,121 at Robertson Stadium.

"I thought we'd be all right when we were behind," U.S. coach April Heinrichs said. "We still had 20 minutes. That was plenty of time for us to win as long as we were pursuing excellence and keeping our wits about us. Which we did."

Parlow tied the game in the 70th minute with a goal off a pass from Nikki Serlenga, and then put the hosts ahead in the 75th with an unassisted goal off a shot from 25 yards out.

"We realized we were playing a little fast," Parlow said. "We slowed down and found our rhythm and scored the two goals. This team has been together a long time and we know what it takes to come from behind."

The United States nearly went ahead in the 24th minute, but Brandi Chastain's shot hit the right post.

Seconds later, U.S. captain Carla Overbeck ran head-first into the post and dropped to the ground. She got up, though, and never left the field.

Mia Hamm set up Kristine Lilly, the U.S. team's career appearance leader, for a goal that made it 1-0 in the 37th minute. Lilly went by two defenders before shooting the ball in with her left foot.

Hamm came close to making it 2-0 five minutes later, but her header hit the post.

At halftime, the U.S. team had 13 shots, seven on goal, while Mexico had only four shots, one on goal.

"It seems like everyone we play, their goalkeeper plays the best game of their lives," Heinrichs said.

Chastain had a shot in the 50th minute that was stopped by a dazzling one-handed block by Mexican goalkeeper Linnea Quinones.

Mexican captain Maribel Dominguez made it 1-1 with a goal off an assist from Iris Adriana Mora in the 57th minute. Mora then put Mexico ahead in the 65th minute.

The U.S. team is on an exhibition tour with players from the teams that won the 1999 World Cup and the silver medal at the Sydney Olympics.

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