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Gold tie But U.S. won't have to face nemesis China in semis
Posted: Wednesday June 28, 2000 12:50 AM
FOXBORO, Massachusetts (AP) -- Brazil and the United States played to a 0-0 tie in the Women's Gold Cup, then the Americans won a coin toss that will probably help them avoid a semifinal matchup with potent China. Kristine Lilly missed a penalty kick in the final minute Tuesday after Formiga was called for a foul in the penalty box when she undercut Julie Foudy. Lilly short-legged the kick low and just to the left of Brazilian goalkeeper Andreia, who easily made the save. Both teams finished 2-0-1 in group play and had already clinched berths in the semifinals. Goal differential is the first tie-breaker, but the teams had identical scores in their early games, each beating Trinidad and Tobago 11-0 and Costa Rica 8-0 in the first round. So the teams tossed a coin to decide who would play the Group B winner, most likely China. After the match, event organizer Jill Fracisco tossed a coin at midfield; Brazil called tails, and the coin came up heads. The Chinese play Mexico on Wednesday; Canada plays Guatemala. China has historically been one of the toughest opponents for the United States, posting six wins and six ties in 23 meetings. The Americans have won the biggest ones, though, beating China 2-1 in the gold medal game of the 1996 Olympics, and then on penalty kicks to win the 1999 World Cup. A crowd of 16,386 watched the teams play an uneventful and scoreless first half, with the excitement rising in the second as the United States dominated play. Brazil's best chance came when Nildinha had a chance from the left of the goal in the 75th minute. But she kicked it right into Siri Mullinix's arms. Katia Da Silva had a chance just at the right of the net in the 81st minute, but Mullinix deflected the shot away. Earlier Tuesday, Jacqueline Alvarez scored during injury time as Costa Rica rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie Trinidad and Tobago 2-2. Trinidad and Tobago took a 2-0 lead on goals by Delia De Silva and Natalie Des Vignes. But Xiomara Briceno scored for Costa Rica in the 83rd minute, and Alvarez tied it in the 90th.
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