HANGZHOU, China -- The U.S. women's soccer team received outstanding
goalkeeping from Hope Solo on Sunday, playing China to a 1-1 tie in an
exhibition game in nearly freezing weather.
Jennifer Lalor scored for the United States in the 17th minute and Fan
Yunjie evened the score with a header four minutes later.
The game featured younger players for both teams and was played before a
crowd of about 30,000 in the new Dragon Sports Center Stadium.
Solo made several spectacular saves. One came on a dive in the 57th minute
with her body fully extended, turning away a hard shot by Chinese striker Bai
Jie.
"Our players love to play China and love to play in this kind of an
environment," U.S. coach April Heinrichs said. "It makes us play quicker and
in the end, makes us better."
The Americans opened the scoring when Tiffeny Milbrett passed to Lalor, who
was trailing the play. Lalor sent a spinning shot from just outside the penalty
box past goalkeeper Han Wenxia.
It was just the second career goal for Lalor, who was a member of the 1995
World Cup team. But before this trip she had not played for the national team
since.
For scoring the first goal in the new stadium, Lalor received a prize of
$1,250 from the local organizers.
Lalor and Milbrett will play together for the New York Power in the WUSA
this year.
The Chinese responded quickly to the U.S. goal. They had a free kick from
just outside the penalty box on the right side and played a bending ball over
the wall. Fan, a defender who will play for the San Diego Spirit in the WUSA,
got inside position and sent a header into the upper left corner.
The United States showed more flair on attack than it did in a 1-0 loss to
China on Friday.
"Many of players had never seen China other than on TV," Heinrichs said.
"And, in that respect, it was important for these players to get a feel for
the pressure, rivalry and crowd noise of a U.S.-China game."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
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