NOTES

Brandi Chastain’s own goal wasn’t the only mistake by a member of the U.S. women’s soccer team generating postmatch discussion Thursday night.

With Brazil leading Nigeria, 3-0, at halftime in the night’s second match, U.S. press officer Aaron Heifetz distributed through the press box a traveling itinerary for Team USA for the next three days, culminating in Sunday’s semifinal: “USA vs. Brazil at Stanford Stadium.”

This, of course, was before Nigeria rallied for a 3-3 tie to force overtime--Brazil eventually won on a goal by Sissi--but Nigerian journalists tried to make an issue out of it in the mixed zone afterward.

Responding to a question about a possible FIFA conspiracy to secure a Brazil-United States semifinal, Nigerian Coach Ismaila Mabo nodded and said, “Since this issue has come up, I’m going to assure you I am going to report it to my chairman and other board members of the Nigerian federation. I’m sure something will be done about it.”

At that point, a FIFA spokeswoman stepped to the microphone to inform the press corps that the premature posting of a Brazil-United States matchup appeared on “a document actually produced by U.S. Soccer, and so any issue needs to be taken with U.S. Soccer. But I’m sure there’s no deliberate attempt to keep anybody out of the competition.”

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Add conspiracy theories: Mabo had more to say about the 87th minute ejection of Nigerian forward Patience Avre.

“I felt it was a deliberate attempt to ruin my team,” Mabo said. “The offense [Avre] committed wasn’t even a cautionable offense.”

Would Mabo make an official complaint to FIFA?

“Nigeria is a football nation and would never do such a thing,” Mabo said. “We would never complain to FIFA. The day is gone as far as I am concerned.”