U.S. Seems Ready for Olympics

Ready or not, Greece, here they come.

The U.S. women’s Olympic soccer team leaves for Athens today, boosted by an impressive 3-1 victory Sunday over fellow medal contender China in front of 15,093 fans at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn.

Goals by Aly Wagner, Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach made certain that the U.S. left in the right frame of mind, confident of reclaiming the gold medal it won in 1996 but failed to get in 2000.

“We’re ready, and I think everybody on the team knows that we’re ready,” said Wambach, whose headed goal off a Hamm free kick in the 69th minute was her 28th in 40 games for the national team.

“The preparations are done,” said midfielder Kristine Lilly, who appeared in her world-record 276th international match.

“Now it’s just about fine-tuning, keeping the team’s confidence up and resting for Greece and Aug. 11,” when the U.S. opens Olympic play against the host nation at Heraklio on the island of Crete.

The victory over a disciplined and determined Chinese team was well-orchestrated. Coach April Heinrichs fielded her Olympic starting lineup, and each of the 11 players did her part.

Briana Scurry came up with the clutch saves when needed. The back line of Christie Rampone, Joy Fawcett, Catherine Reddick and Kate Markgraf was on the same page throughout, with Reddick doing especially well to clear a Chinese shot off the goal line.

In midfield, Shannon Boxx, Julie Foudy, Lilly and Wagner contributed on offense and defense, while the front line of Hamm and Wambach created numerous scoring chances.

In a physical game in which nine players earned yellow cards, the U.S. outshot China, 20-6, including 10-5 in shots on target. The match was played at a fast pace and at a high level, befitting its status as the final warmup for both teams before the Olympics.

“You have to commit to tackle sometimes, and when they’re as skilled as they are, they slip your tackles and that leads to contact,” said Hamm, who got one of the yellow cards from referee Sandra Hunt.

“But at the same time, I don’t think it was anything dirty. There was no malicious intent involved, just two teams playing hard.”

The U.S. took the lead 13:46 into the game when Foudy sent a cross in from the right flank, and Hamm back-heeled the ball into the path of Wagner, who fired a rising shot from 12 yards that beat goalkeeper Xiao Zhen and caromed into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Nineteen minutes later it was 2-0 after Wambach took a long pass from Rampone and crossed for Hamm to slam it into the net for her world-record 151st international goal.

China cut the U.S. advantage to a single goal in the 49th minute when Scurry only half-cleared a curling free kick. The ball fell to impressive forward Han Duan, who crossed it back to the far post for teammate Fan Yunjie to poke into the open net.

Wambach’s goal made sure of the win, which improved the team’s record to 15-1-2 this year and to 14-8-10 all-time against China.

“I’m really pleased, it could not have gone better,” Heinrichs said.

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Jones reported from Los Angeles.