Nigeria's Super Falcons are no match for the American women in overall soccer skills. So they often bring something more to the game: brute force.
It's not necessarily malicious, nor is it always effective. But when the United States plays Nigeria in a first-round Women's World Cup game tonight in Philadelphia, there's no question it'll be physical.
"Nigeria has been a very physical team in the past, but we don't shy away from that kind of game," said forward Cindy Parlow, who scored in the United States' 3-1 victory over Sweden in a Group A match Sunday. "You don't go into a game afraid of getting hurt because then it's going to happen."
The only two Nigeria-U. S. games were one-sided American victories. But in the 1999 World Cup, a 7-1 win, and in a 3-1 victory at the 2000 Olympics, U.S. players were roughed up.
"I had cleat marks up and down my legs," defender Kate Sobrero recalled. "Mia (Hamm) had one right across her stomach. ... They go into tackles you would never dream of going into."
While Nigeria coach Sam Okpodu says there isn't any malevolence involved in those tactics, he admits his players are "competitive."
"I don't think you can succeed against teams like the U.S. if you are not aggressive," said the former North Carolina State star. "But there is no intention of hurting anyone."
Nigeria committed 22 fouls in its 3-0 loss to North Korea on Sunday.
In World Cup games Wednesday:
Brazil 4, Norway 1. Daniela and Rosana scored in the first half, and Marta and Katia netted goals in the second half for Brazil in a Group B match in Washington. The win all but assured Brazil (2-0) a place in the quarterfinals. Norway (1-1) will hinge its hopes on a final group game against South Korea on Saturday.
-- Associated Press
France 1, South Korea 0: Marinette Pichon, last year's MVP in the WUSA, scored in the 84th minute as France avoided elimination in Group B. A tie in Washington would have ended any chance of France (1-1) advancing to the quarterfinals. South Korea (0-2) has yet to score.
-- Associated Press
Germany 3, Japan 0: Birgit Prinz scored two goals in Columbus, Ohio, as Germany took the Group C lead. Sandra Minnert added a goal for Germany (2-0). Japan (1-1) was coming off a 6-0 rout of Argentina.
-- Associated Press
Canada 3, Argentina 0: Christine Latham scored twice in a three-minute span as Canada (1-1) won a Group C match in Columbus and remained in the hunt for a second-round berth. Argentina (0-2) can't advance past the first round.
-- Associated Press
MLS: Rodrigo Faria, the Brazilian forward whom the Earthquakes acquired for a conditional draft pick in late August, has begun training with the team. He had been in Rio De Janeiro since his father died in late May. He was taking care of his 13-year-old brother Rafael. Faria will dress for Saturday's home match, but coach Frank Yallop doesn't expect to use him against Dallas. Also, San Jose defender Eddie Robinson sprained his knee in practice and is expected to be out for a few weeks.
-- San Jose Mercury News
Elsewhere: Powerhouse Barcelona and small Slovakian club SKM Puchov tied 1-1 in the biggest surprise of first-round UEFA Cup action. Milan Jambor scored the tying goal in second-half injury time for Puchov. Because Puchov's stadium seats only 6,600, the game was switched to the nearby town of Trnava and drew a sellout of 18,000. The teams finish the home-and-home, total-goals series in three weeks at Barcelona.
-- Associated Press
• Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero may be sidelined for as long as six weeks after injuring his thigh in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Italian rival Roma. ... Players from Borussia Dortmund agreed to a 20 percent pay cut after the German team failed to qualify for the lucrative Champions League.
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/sports/6856985.htm
It's not necessarily malicious, nor is it always effective. But when the United States plays Nigeria in a first-round Women's World Cup game tonight in Philadelphia, there's no question it'll be physical.
"Nigeria has been a very physical team in the past, but we don't shy away from that kind of game," said forward Cindy Parlow, who scored in the United States' 3-1 victory over Sweden in a Group A match Sunday. "You don't go into a game afraid of getting hurt because then it's going to happen."
The only two Nigeria-U. S. games were one-sided American victories. But in the 1999 World Cup, a 7-1 win, and in a 3-1 victory at the 2000 Olympics, U.S. players were roughed up.
"I had cleat marks up and down my legs," defender Kate Sobrero recalled. "Mia (Hamm) had one right across her stomach. ... They go into tackles you would never dream of going into."
While Nigeria coach Sam Okpodu says there isn't any malevolence involved in those tactics, he admits his players are "competitive."
"I don't think you can succeed against teams like the U.S. if you are not aggressive," said the former North Carolina State star. "But there is no intention of hurting anyone."
Nigeria committed 22 fouls in its 3-0 loss to North Korea on Sunday.
In World Cup games Wednesday:
Brazil 4, Norway 1. Daniela and Rosana scored in the first half, and Marta and Katia netted goals in the second half for Brazil in a Group B match in Washington. The win all but assured Brazil (2-0) a place in the quarterfinals. Norway (1-1) will hinge its hopes on a final group game against South Korea on Saturday.
-- Associated Press
France 1, South Korea 0: Marinette Pichon, last year's MVP in the WUSA, scored in the 84th minute as France avoided elimination in Group B. A tie in Washington would have ended any chance of France (1-1) advancing to the quarterfinals. South Korea (0-2) has yet to score.
-- Associated Press
Germany 3, Japan 0: Birgit Prinz scored two goals in Columbus, Ohio, as Germany took the Group C lead. Sandra Minnert added a goal for Germany (2-0). Japan (1-1) was coming off a 6-0 rout of Argentina.
-- Associated Press
Canada 3, Argentina 0: Christine Latham scored twice in a three-minute span as Canada (1-1) won a Group C match in Columbus and remained in the hunt for a second-round berth. Argentina (0-2) can't advance past the first round.
-- Associated Press
MLS: Rodrigo Faria, the Brazilian forward whom the Earthquakes acquired for a conditional draft pick in late August, has begun training with the team. He had been in Rio De Janeiro since his father died in late May. He was taking care of his 13-year-old brother Rafael. Faria will dress for Saturday's home match, but coach Frank Yallop doesn't expect to use him against Dallas. Also, San Jose defender Eddie Robinson sprained his knee in practice and is expected to be out for a few weeks.
-- San Jose Mercury News
Elsewhere: Powerhouse Barcelona and small Slovakian club SKM Puchov tied 1-1 in the biggest surprise of first-round UEFA Cup action. Milan Jambor scored the tying goal in second-half injury time for Puchov. Because Puchov's stadium seats only 6,600, the game was switched to the nearby town of Trnava and drew a sellout of 18,000. The teams finish the home-and-home, total-goals series in three weeks at Barcelona.
-- Associated Press
• Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero may be sidelined for as long as six weeks after injuring his thigh in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Italian rival Roma. ... Players from Borussia Dortmund agreed to a 20 percent pay cut after the German team failed to qualify for the lucrative Champions League.
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/sports/6856985.htm
