MacMillan’s Effort Pays Off
In years to come, it will be known as the ghost goal of the 2003 Women’s World Cup.
It was scored by Shannon MacMillan of the United States and, had it counted, it would have capped a remarkable comeback by a player who only four months ago was on the operating table, her World Cup dreams supposedly in ruins.
The “goal” was scored against North Korea on Sunday, when MacMillan intercepted a Korean free kick and fired the ball from long range over out-of-position goalkeeper Ri Jong Hui and into the net.
Referee Sueli Tortura of Brazil disallowed the play, but “Mac,” as MacMillan is known to her U.S. teammates, was sure she had scored a legitimate goal.
“I did,” she said. “In the scouting report, April [U.S. Coach April Heinrichs] told us that [on free kicks] they were going to put the ball down, touch it and play it quick.
“She [a Korean player] touched it and played it to the girl who was right next to her. But that girl wasn’t really paying attention and didn’t expect it. So it was just kind of sitting there in front of me. I looked and saw the ‘keeper was out and so I said, ‘What the heck’ ” [and took a shot].
“But I don’t think the referee saw it. She stole it [the goal] from me.”
MacMillan was able to laugh about it afterward, unconcerned because the U.S. won the game, 3-0, to advance to a quarterfinal tonight against Norway. Unconcerned because in 10 years on the national team she already has 58 goals in 156 games, plus a world championship medal and Olympic gold and silver medals.
Unconcerned, most of all, because as recently as May she wrecked the ligaments and cartilage in her right knee while playing for the San Diego Spirit of the Women’s United Soccer Assn. (WUSA) and should, by all reasonable expectations, have been sidelined for six to eight months.
Instead, she underwent surgery two days after the injury, had discarded her crutches within a week, and set about on a strenuous rehabilitation program that helped her land a spot on the U.S. roster.
Why try to make the quick comeback, when she just as easily could have allowed herself ample time to be ready for the Athens Olympics next year?
“There are lots of reasons,” MacMillan said, pointing to two in particular: teammate Joy Fawcett and Clive Charles, her former coach, who died at age 51 in late August after a three-year battle with cancer.
“Joy is one of my best friends, it’s her last World Cup, to be out there with her [was important],” MacMillan said. “Clive has been my rock, my father figure, my best friend. I had a knee injury; he was fighting for his life. So that just kind of inspired me.”
Physically, getting her knee back into playing shape was a matter of intense and painful work, day after day for months on end. By Sept. 1, when the U.S. played Costa Rica at the Home Depot Center -- site of the Oct. 12 Women’s World Cup final -- MacMillan was ready.
Physically, if not mentally.
“That’s been the biggest hurdle,” she said of getting her mind to trust her knee under the pressure of competition. “The Costa Rica game was huge for me. That was a stressful day from the morning when she [Heinrichs] said I might get in.”
MacMillan cleared the hurdle with ease, though, and Heinrichs had no qualms about putting her into the game in the second half against North Korea.
“It felt awesome,” she said. “For me, [after] playing well in training, feeling really good, not really worrying about the knee, being able to get into a game of this caliber was amazing.
“I’m back, but I’m not. I’ve still got to work on my touch and get my confidence back [in order] to do what I was doing in March and April before it [the injury] happened. That’s going to come.”
The Norwegians hope it doesn’t come tonight. They well remember what MacMillan did to them in the Atlanta Olympics, when she scored the overtime goal that beat them in a semifinal in Athens, Ga.
Norway gained its revenge in Sydney four years later, when another of tonight’s players, forward Dagny Mellgren, scored in overtime in the final as the Norwegians beat the Americans, 3-2, to win the gold.
That was the first of four consecutive victories over the U.S. by Norway, but the Americans turned it around and have since won four in a row themselves. Tonight, few are willing to predict the outcome.
“Now it’s [a case of] you lose, you’re out, so they’ll bring their game,” MacMillan said. “It’s going to be a great battle.”
Meanwhile, the memory of the goal that got away lingers. It was to have been for Charles.
“He told me the first goal was for him,” MacMillan said. “I was kind of in awe that I’d actually kind of pulled it off for him, so I was shocked it got called back.
“But the next one will be more important, right?”
That’s what Norway is worried about.
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A Quick Look at U.S. vs. Norway
The United States and Norway have played each other 36 times, with the Norwegians holding an 18-16-2 edge in a series that dates from 1987. In major tournaments, this is what has happened:
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1991
In the first FIFA Women’s World Championship, the U.S. defeated Norway, 2-1, in the final in Guangzhou, China, with Michelle Akers scoring both goals for the Americans and Linda Medalen scoring for Norway.
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1995
In the Women’s World Cup, Norway defeated the U.S., 1-0, in a semifinal in Vasteras, Sweden, on a goal by Ann Kristin Aarones, ending the Americans’ reign as world champions.
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1996
In the Atlanta Olympics, the U.S. defeated Norway, 2-1, in overtime in a semifinal in Athens, Ga., on a penalty kick goal by Akers and the game-winner by Shannon MacMillan. Medalen scored for the Norwegians, who won the bronze medal while the Americans won the gold.
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2000
In the Sydney Olympics, Norway defeated the U.S., 3-2, in overtime in the gold medal game on a goal by Dagny Mellgren. Gro Espeseth and Ragnhild Gulbrandsen also scored for Norway. Tiffeny Milbrett scored twice for the U.S., including the tying goal in the 90th minute.
-- Grahame L. Jones
