U.S. Displays Dominance in Rare Stop
The U.S. women’s soccer team made a rare Southern California appearance Saturday, and showed local fans why they are the world’s most dominant team.
Tisha Venturini and Kristine Lilly each scored two goals to lead the United States to a 6-0 exhibition victory over the Netherlands before a crowd of 5,116 at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.
The United States, which won the 1991 Women’s World Championship and placed third in 1995, is preparing for the Olympics.
In the 12th minute, Lilly dribbled down the sideline and crossed the ball into the box. Michelle Akers tapped it back to Venturini, who sent a grounder into the net to start the scoring binge.
Julie Foudy scored three minutes later, Lilly scored her two goals in the 24th and 27th minutes and Venturini scored her second goal in the 34th minute.
Akers scored the only goal of the second half on a header in the 54th minute. For Akers, the all-time leading scorer for the United States with 88 goals, it was her first game since suffering a knee injury on Feb. 2 against Norway.
The Netherlands provided little competition for the United States--goalkeeper Jaccolien Burggraaf, 16, was constantly under siege and saved six shots.
It was the first time the U.S. women have played an international match in California and they are not expected back before the Olympics. The United States, however, is expected to host the 1999 Women’s World Championships, but FIFA has asked that the event be confined to the East Coast for financial and travel reasons.
