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Goal difference U.S. tops Australia for inaugural Pacific Cup on penalty
Posted: Sunday June 11, 2000 05:02 PM
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) -- A penalty 11 minutes from full-time gave the United States the inaugural Pacific Cup women's soccer tournament when they beat Australia 1-0 at Breakers Stadium on Sunday. Although tied with China and Canada on 12 points, a superior goal difference gave the World Cup-champion Americans the trophy in the six-nation international tournament. Australia finished in fourth place on nine points, followed by Japan and winless New Zealand. In a hard-fought and sometimes physical encounter, the United States create the best chances, the first as early as the fourth minute when 200-game veteran Kristine Lilly shot wide. Australian striker Sunni Hughes broke into the U.S. penalty area in the 13th minute and went down under a heavy challenge but the referee ignored a plea for a penalty. Australian goalkeeper Tracey Wheeler had to be at her best, producing a great double save to deny U.S. midfielder Tiffeny Milbrett on 20 minutes and moments later Milbrett squandered a chance, shooting wide when in scoring range. Australia created a half chance in the 57th minute when Hughes was released behind the U.S. defense, but goalkeeper Siri Mullinix was quickly out of her area to clear. Despite being under some heavy pressure the Matildas almost took a shock lead in the 67th minute but Mullinix was alert and tipped an Alicia Ferguson shot over the bar. The winner came after Australian defender Cheryl Salisbury played at the ball with her arm under pressure from American substitute striker Cindy Parlow. Shannon MacMillan took the penalty and calmly sent Wheeler the wrong way. United States coach April Heinrichs said her team and staff had enjoyed the experience of a serious test prior to the Olympics. "Everything has been done really well here, sometimes a bit officious but it's been really valuable practice for September," she said. "I don't think we played at our peak during this tournament but I'm positive we will be up there come September." Despite finishing fourth, Australia's acting coach Ian Murray was upbeat about his team's performances. "The results don't really show how well we played," he said. "We can now match it with the best in the world under tournament conditions and we're definitely optimistic about our medal chances at the Olympics."
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