| |
|
| ||
Golden goal for Brazil Sissi's score in overtime beats Nigeria in quarterfinals
Posted: Friday July 02, 1999 12:20 AM
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- Sissi scored the first sudden-death overtime goal in Women's World Cup history, a 22-yard free kick in the 104th minute to give Brazil a 4-3 victory over Nigeria in Thursday night's quarterfinals. After blowing a 3-0 halftime lead, Brazil advanced to meet the United States in the semifinals when Sissi's blast found the upper right corner of the net for her tournament-high seventh goal. The victory put the Brazilians into a Fourth of July semifinal against the United States at Palo Alto, Calif -- the same date and same venue as the Brazil-United States second-round match at the men's World Cup five years ago. The United States advanced with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Germany. Brazil, the prohibitive favorite, won that match 1-0 and went on to capture the Cup. When the women meet, the United States will be the favorite -- but not overwhelmingly so -- because of a Brazilian team with plenty of flair and a midfielder with a powerful free kick. Sissi was involved in every Brazil goal, getting two assists and helping set up another score in addition to her "Golden Goal." Cidinha scored twice and Nene once, all in the first half, for Brazil before Nigeria rallied with goals from Prisca Emeafu, Nkiru Okosieme and Nkechi Egbe against a suddenly flat Brazilian defense. Before 54,642 at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Sissi set up the first score in the fourth minute with a free kick from the right of the penalty box. Goalkeeper Ann Chiejine headed the kick straight to Brazil's Raquel. Raquel's first shot was blocked by a defender, but her second was deflected by teammate Cidinha into the net. Cidinha got her second goal in the 22nd minute when she headed Sissi's chipped cross at the far post. Sissi got another assist in the 35th, making the final pass before Nene's 40-yard chip shot from the right of the box. Chiejine jumped too soon, allowing the ball to float over her head at the far post. Four minutes later, she was replaced in goal by Judith Chime. Emeafu put Nigeria on the board in the 63rd with a short solo run after a defensive blunder, and Okosieme put in her own rebound after a cross from Patience Avre in the 72nd. Nigeria tied the game on Egbe's 14-yard strike inside the far post in the 85th minute. Nigeria played the final minutes with 10 players after Avre was ejected in the 87th when she received a second yellow card. As a consolation, Nigeria qualified for the 2000 Olympics with its second-half rally. A 3-0 defeat would have eliminated the Nigerians, but a one-goal loss makes Russia the lone World Cup quarterfinalist not to earn a place in Sydney.
| |||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||
