U.S. Beats Iceland in Nordic Cup
Lindsay Tarpley scored for the second consecutive game and the defense dominated to lead the United States women’s under-21 team to a 3-0 victory over Iceland in the Nordic Cup at Randers, Denmark, on Wednesday.
Tarpley, a forward for the University of North Carolina, staked the U.S. to a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute on a header from a cross by Amy LePeilbet (Arizona State).
The U.S. got second-half goals from Lindsey Huie (University of Portland) and Joanna Lohman (Penn State) and outshot Iceland, 25-1.
“It was a dominating effort,” U.S. Coach Chris Petrucelli said. “From the opening whistle, we took control of the game.”
Because of a 1-1 tie involving Norway and Denmark, the U.S. has already clinched a spot in Sunday’s championship game. The U.S. will complete Group A play Friday against Norway.
Its likely championship opponent will be Sweden, which upset Germany, 1-0, Wednesday and finishes Group B play Friday against winless Finland.
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Perugia’s Plan
Italian Serie A club Perugia, which recently signed the son of Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi, is now setting its sights on a female player.
Luciano Gaucci, the club’s president, told the ANSA news agency that within six months the team would have a woman on its roster and that it was not a publicity stunt.
“I am convinced that Perugia can be the first club in the world to have a woman play in the top division with the men,” he said.
But Gaucci also said the player in question would not be from the U.S. because of the restrictions and waiting time required for bringing a foreigner onto the roster.
Saadi Kadafi left the Libyan national team and club Ittihad to begin training with Perugia last month.
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Galaxy Update
The Galaxy will play host to an amateur team -- the Fresno Fuego of the Professional Development League -- in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup on Aug. 6 at the Home Depot Center.
The Fuego used four second-half goals to upset the El Paso Patriots of the A-League, 5-2, in Texas on Tuesday night to advance; the Major League Soccer champion Galaxy had a bye into the fourth round of the domestic tournament.
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Quick Passes
Dutch striker Roy Makaay, who led Europe with 29 goals last season playing for Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish league, is closer to signing with Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga, a Deportivo official said. Two weeks ago, Deportivo rejected a $20.6-million offer from Bayern.... Manchester United, which lost out on the bidding for Ronaldinho, has offered $32.2 million for Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer, according to the Daily Express of London. Newcastle officials have said they would sell Dyer for $40 million.... Luciano Figueroa, who led the Argentine league with 19 goals for Rosario Central last season, signed a five-year deal to play for Birmingham City of the English Premier League.... Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn, 39, who won three league titles and two FA Cups with the English club, announced his retirement.... After being snubbed by Real Madrid on a transfer because of a bad ankle, Argentine defender Gabriel Milito is not set to join Real Zaragoza of the Spanish league, Marca magazine reported.
Times wire services contributed to this report.
