U.S. Struggles to Win on Parlow’s Late Goal

Substitute Cindy Parlow, the youngest player on the women’s U.S. Olympic soccer team, scored on a bouncing header in the 81st minute to give the Americans a 2-1 victory over Australia in an exhibition match in Tampa, Fla.

Parlow, an 18-year-old rising sophomore at the University of North Carolina, entered the game midway through the second half. She had three consecutive scoring chances, and connected with nine minutes remaining after taking a crossing pass from Mia Hamm.

Though Australia’s national team has limited international experience, U.S. Coach Tony DiCicco said he wasn’t disappointed with the result.

“We were clearly the better team,” he said. “But Australia’s defense was really packing it in and made us earn the win. Any time you are fighting for the winning goal late in the game, then you get it, that’s positive.”

It was the 12th victory in a row for the gold-medal favorite U.S. team (16-1-1), which outshot Australia, 24-1. Australia’s Sharon Black opened the scoring in the fifth minute, beating U.S. goalkeeper Mary Harvey with a 30-yard blast. The Americans tied it with Tisha Venturini’s unassisted goal in the 18th minute.