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Outshined WUSA's foreign players star in opening matches
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- Be careful what you wish for. The stars of the United States' 1999 World Cup championship can't do it all by themselves; the Women's United Soccer Association will need other players to emerge and share the spotlight. This was a common refrain heading into WUSA's inaugural season, coming even from the World Cup stars themselves. "There is so much potential in this league," said WUSA's biggest name, Mia Hamm, before the inaugural game. "There are players on every team that are going to be great." Mission accomplished. After two weeks and four matches, none of the league's four goals were scored by Americans. The U.S. stars have been greatly outshined in both of the league's first two nationally televised matches on TNT. In Week 1, the league's inaugural game was widely billed -- including a full-page USA Today advertisement -- as Mia vs. Brandi. However, the most exciting touches came from Brazilian boots that day, as Hamm's Washington Freedom defeated Brandi Chastain's Bay Area CyberRays. Brazilian Pretinha scored the lone goal on a penalty kick. And when the Atlanta Beat hosted the New York Power in Week 2, most of the scoreless game's flair came courtesy of the Far East, with Japanese midfielder Homare Sawa putting on the strongest performance -- until she was replaced with Chinese forward Sun Wen, the FIFA co-player of the century along with injured U.S. star Michelle Akers. Despite playing her first competitive match since her surgery, Wen was instantly the most dangerous player on the field when she came on in the 78th minute. Meanwhile, Cindy Parlow failed to create any goals for Atlanta, and her Beat teammates shut down fellow national teamer Tiffeny Milbrett. The league's third match brought the first goal from the run of play, as Germany's Maren Meinert scored in the first half to lead the Boston Breakers past the Carolina Courage. On Sunday, English forward Kelly Smith scored one goal and set up German teammate Doris Fitschen's penalty kick as the Philadelphia Charge beat the San Diego Spirit 2-0. WUSA officials scoured the globe to sign the world's top players, scoring one of their biggest victories last November when they were able to secure the services of five Chinese national team stars, including Wen, after months of negotiations. New York Power coach Pat Farmer said the Chinese players will set a strong example for young Americans. "They're really special players," Farmer said. "They're very confident. They play differently. They look different carrying the ball. "It's going to help us with some technical vision of the game." One of loudest ovations at Atlanta's Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday came when Wen entered the match, evidence that the hordes of soccer-playing girls in attendance had an appreciation for WUSA players beyond the Sports Illustrated covergirls on the U.S. national team. The admiration was mutual. "The American people are overwhelmingly enthusiastic," said New York Power goalkeeper Gao Hong, a mainstay on China's national team. "This is a good omen."
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