NOTES

Tisha Venturini’s incredible double somersault--complete with Ozzie Smith-style no-hands backflip--after scoring her second goal against North Korea on Sunday night was, believe it or not, a premeditated act.

According to U.S. teammate Shannon MacMillan, the two players were plotting elaborate goal celebrations all day after getting the good news they would be starting. MacMillan recreated the conversation thusly:

MacMillan: “I think I’m going to go over the boards and into the crowd.”

Venturini: “I’m going to do a backflip.” MacMillan (a tad skeptical): “Yeah, OK, Tish. Whatever.” Venturini: “No, I used to be a gymnast. I can do it.”

And she did, sticking the landing perfectly, much to the amazement of the Foxboro Stadium crowd and her teammates.

“I was in awe,” U.S. midfielder Julie Foudy said. “I said, ‘Tish, where the hell did you pull that one out?’ She said, ‘Hey, I’m a gymnast, Jules.’ ”

MacMillan laughed when someone asked if she had considered the backflip as well?

“No,” she said. “But Joy [Fawcett] said she’d spot me.”

*

Foudy also got a thrill out of watching Venturini, a longtime U.S. starter now consigned to bit-player status, score two goals against North Korea.

“I’m so happy for her,” Foudy said. “To go from a starting role to the role she has now, and she’s never complained once.”

Foudy wasn’t surprised by either goal, both of them perfectly placed headers.

“I think she’s still one of the greatest goal scorers in the world,” Foudy said.