Hamm-trick

U.S. advances to gold medal game with 5-0 win over Denmark

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Saturday July 25, 1998 11:26 PM

Hamm, who scored her 95th international goal, led the U.S with three goals to beat Denmark 5-0 Andy Lyons/Allsport

UNIONDALE, New York (AP) -- Never mind that it was the third time this year Mia Hamm scored three goals in a game, or the ninth time in her career.

The credit, she said, should go to her teammates on the U.S. women's soccer team, which beat Denmark 5-0 at the Goodwill Games Saturday night.

"Those three goals weren't anything that I did extremely well, they were great balls from my teammates," Hamm said.

Yes, and great moves by Hamm helped the U.S. team advance to the gold-medal game against China Monday night. China upset Norway, the defending World Cup champions, 4-2 in a shootout in the other semifinal game.

Hamm capped her hat trick - her 95th international goal - in the 75th minute on an assist from Christie Pearce. Hamm faked her defender from 12 yards out and shot into an open net past Denmark goalie Christina Jensen.

"I ran back to Pearce and told her, "That's your goal," Hamm said. "It was a perfect long ball and she's been doing them all week in practice. She deserved to be on the other end of it as well."

Hamm's first goal came in the final seconds before halftime on an assist from Kristine Lilly to make it 3-0. Her shot from 12 yards out on the right side deflected off Jensen into the upper left corner of the net.

Her second goal came from 20 yards out in the 70th minute on an assist from Shannon MacMillan, who had just entered the game.

"When she's on the field, she seems to be a gear or two above anyone else," U.S. coach Tony DiCicco said of Hamm. "Our midfielders were able to set her and allow her to have her signature game."

Tiffeny Milbrett opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a 10-yard shot in front of the goal on a pass from Hamm. Hamm shook off two defenders with the pass to a wide-open Milbrett.

Midfielder Michelle Akers got her 97th international goal in the 29th minute on a 35-yard blast into the left corner.

"I train for it, it's just part of my game," said Akers of her long goal. "If I get a chance, I'm going to whack it."

The U.S. team (15-1-2) outshot Denmark 14-5. U.S. goalie Briana Scurry got her eighth shutout in her last 13 starts.

The U.S. women are 10-3-4 against China, and are unbeaten in their last eight meetings.

"I think China definitely has a bitter taste in their mouth," said Milbrett, who scored the gold-medal-winning goal in Atlanta. "We have played them in a lot of big games, and it seems we always send them home with a loss."

The U.S. beat China 2-1 for the gold in the 1996 Olympics. The teams battled to a 0-0 tie last January in China, and the U.S. won 4-1 two months later in Portugal on a hat trick by Hamm.

"I think the United States team is among the best in the world," Chinese coach Ma Yuanan said. "After the game it will prove who is number one."

Related information
Stories
China beats Norway in Goodwill women's soccer
Stats
Soccer Results
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Message Boards
Hamm it up! Post your comments on the U.S. women's team on CNN/SI's Soccer Message Board! Join the discussion
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.