Wallis Sparks U.S.
Stanford forward Marcia Wallis scored two goals and University of North Carolina defender Cat Reddick scored one, and the United States under-21 women’s national team defeated Germany, 3-1, Sunday at Turku, Finland, to win the Nordic Cup for the fourth year in a row.
“It’s not easy to win a championship and even harder to defend one,” Coach Jerry Smith said.
The Americans were beaten, 1-0, by Denmark Wednesday and needed a four-goal victory over Greece on Friday and a loss by the Danes to reach the championship match. They got both.
The U.S. beat Greece, 4-0, with Veronica Zepeda of Riverside scoring one goal and assisting on another, and host Finland upset Denmark, 2-1, to send the Americans to the final.
Wallis had not scored in the eight-nation tournament. Her goals came in the 21st and 47th minutes.
“You just have to keep believing your next shot is going to go in,” she said, “and I had two good chances in this game.”
Martina Muller brought Germany to within a goal in the 52nd minute, but Reddick sealed the victory 11 minutes later. The U.S. has won the tournament five of the last six years.
Norway routed Denmark, 5-1, to earn third place.
Cruz Azul Captures ‘Cuna’
Cruz Azul won the final and most important of Mexico’s preseason tournaments, defeating Pachuca, 4-3, on penalty kicks after the teams had tied, 1-1, to claim the “Cuna del Futbol” trophy for the third time.
Pachuca took the lead on a goal by Honduran forward Milton Nunez in the 54th minute, but Uruguay World Cup striker Sebastian “Loco” Abreu tied the score in the 65th.
The Pumas of UNAM beat Atletico Celaya, 2-0, for third place.
The Mexican league season opens Sunday.
Brazilians on the Move
Three of Brazil’s World Cup-winning players changed clubs over the weekend, led by AC Milan’s signing of Rivaldo.
Rivaldo, 30, had been released by Barcelona and was the target of several teams but accepted a three-year contract with the Italian team that will pay him an estimated $4.4 million per year.
He is Milan’s third major signing in the off-season, following the club’s acquisition of Denmark striker Jon Dahl Tomasson from Feyenoord of the Netherlands and Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf from crosstown rival Inter Milan.
Rivaldo’s move means he will face Brazil teammate Ronaldo, who plays for Inter, when the Milan derby matches are played.
“It will be a huge party for all the fans,” Rivaldo said. “I never imagined that such a scenario could become reality and I am really curious to see what it will be like.”
Milan also has two other Brazil World Cup winners: defender Roque Junior and backup goalkeeper Dida.
Also changing clubs were midfielders Juninho, 29, who was bought from Atletico Madrid in Spain for $9.47 million by his former club, Middlesbrough of England, and Gilberto Silva, 25, who was acquired by English champion Arsenal from Atletico Minerio of Brazil for an undisclosed fee.
China Bids Bora Farewell
Bora Milutinovic left China after a farewell banquet in Beijing, where reports suggested the Chinese will abandon the “happy football” philosophy of the coach who took them to the World Cup for the first time.
A report in the Sports Review quoted China’s soccer leaders as wanting a change of direction.
“Soccer must have strict discipline,” one official told the newspaper. “The moment you start talking about enjoyment [it] will only lead to a breakdown in team discipline and make training chaotic.”
Ardiles Takes Over Racing
Osvaldo “Ossie” Ardiles, whose inspired play on the wing helped Argentina win the World Cup in 1978, has been hired as coach of Racing Club of Buenos Aires.
Ardiles takes over from Reinaldo “Mustard” Merlo, who led the club to its first title in 35 years last season but quit last week because he had not been given the resources to strengthen his team.
The Argentine season started Sunday.
Wanchope to Have Surgery
Costa Rica World Cup forward Paulo Wanchope will undergo knee surgery in the United States this week and probably won’t be available to his club team, Manchester City of the English Premier League, until early next year.
