CHARTING THE SHOTS: A look at the Women’s World Cup championship game

Impact Player: Michelle Akers of the United States looked like a thrilled teenager during the opening ceremony and national anthem . . . and promptly turned into a tenacious bulldog midfielder, seemingly winning everything in the air and nearly every 50-50 ball, as her 33 years melted away in the hot sun. Watching her was like waiting for an impending car crash. Would she emerge from the wreckage intact? This mishap was typical of her spirit: In the 39th minute, Akers tried to prevent the Chinese from gaining a corner kick and she went flying, smashing into the boards behind the end line.

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Missed Opportunity: In the 30th minute, Mia Hamm’s corner kick was punched out of immediate danger by Chinese goalkeeper Gao Hong. The punch was somewhat short and the ball skittered over to defender Brandi Chastain, who slipped and fell.

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Missing in Action: Hamm--the Wayne Gretzky or Michael Jordan of her sport, take your pick--was not much of a threat, occasionally making a foray down the flank or a corner kick or two, actually four in all. In 120 minutes, she had three shots, two of them on goal. Other tough numbers to digest--no goals in the final four games.

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Rough Stuff: Akers vs. the sponsorship boards. No foul, no harm.

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Between the Posts: Sure, Gao and U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry were sweating a bit in the first half, from the hot day, not the action. Gao made one save in the opening 45 minutes. Scurry, nil.

SECOND HALF

Impact Player: There were MVPs all over the place. We were expecting to hear that David Letterman picked an MVP too. But ABC had a good one in defender Carla Overbeck, who had an outstanding game at central defense, constantly getting in front of Sun Wen. Nice to see a defender get some glory.

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Missed Opportunity: Four shots on goal for the United States, no goals. Need we say more?

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Missing in Action: OK, we have to be tough on both stars. The brilliance of forward Sun Wen was muted. In 120 minutes, she had three shots, none of them on goal. Credit to Akers, of course, and Overbeck and the rest of the American defense.

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Rough Stuff: The intensity picked up in the second half and yellow cards started flying, three in a 10-minute span, two to China and one to the United States. The guilty parties: Zhang Ouying in the 70th minute, Akers in the 74th and Liu Ailing in the 80th.

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Between the Posts: Scurry’s job was made a bit easier by some stellar defense, namely, Chastain’s crucial slide tackle in the 89th minute, stopping a great run by Zhang, and Akers’ header on a corner kick in injury time.

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The Quote I: “She’s the toughest goddamn player I’ve ever played with or against.”--Chastain on Akers

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The Quote II: “I’m real proud of this team. Getting to penalty kicks is no easy task. All five were made and that’s the sign of a champion.”--U.S. Coach Tony DiCicco

OVERTIME

Impact Player: Forward Kristine Lilly made the play of the game in the first overtime, heading the ball out of danger from the goal line after a corner kick.

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Missed Opportunity: Do you think Fan Yunjie will have a few nightmares about missing the header and being thwarted by Lilly from about eight yards out in the 100th minute?

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Missing in Action: Akers was felled after heading the ball out in injury time. She needed medical attention and did not return because of exhaustion and dehydration. Her loss left a gaping hole in the midfield, and the Chinese had more room to operate, in particular, Jin Yan.

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Rough Stuff: That either team had to lose. “They just fought and fought and fought,” DiCicco said. “There were so many things they had to overcome to win this tournament. Most of all, an outstanding Chinese team. In my mind, there’s two champions here and there’s only one taking the World Cup home.”

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Between the Posts: If not for Lilly’s game-saving play, there never would have been penalty kicks and Scurry’s spectacular save.

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The Quote III: “Momentary insanity, nothing more, nothing less. . . . I kind of lost my mind. . . . I lost control, I guess.”--Chastain on pulling her jersey off after converting her penalty kick, clinching the World Cup for the United States.