U.S. women

Americans await semifinal qualifying opponent after blanking Mexico 2-0.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Sunday, February 29, 2004) -- The United States women got the job done, turning in a workmanlike 2-0 victory over Mexico to win Group B in the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament before an estimated 3-0 at Estadio Nacional this afternoon.

CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Group B
Team	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
United States	3	0	0	9	17	0
Mexico	2	1	0	6	13	3
Trinidad & Tobago	1	2	0	3	7	18
Haiti	0	3	0	0	2	19
February 25 United States 7, Trinidad & Tob. 0 Mexico 5, Haiti 0 February 27 Mexico 8, Trinidad & Tobago 1 United States 8, Haiti 0 February 29 United States 2, Mexico 0 Trinidad & Tobago 6, Haiti 2

While both nations entered the match assured of playing in Wednesday's semifinals, a victory was important. The U.S. (3-0), which won by shutout for the sixth straight outing, will face the runnerup from Group A in the semifinals and winning today was the surest way to avoid playing Canada in the semis.

The semifinal winners earn berths in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Mexico (2-1) will face the Group A titlist.

Canada (2-0) will be the favorite to defeat Costa Rica (2-0) Monday night to determine the Group A winner. Canada is the only of the eight teams in this tournament to ever defeat or tie the U.S. and the Americans would certainly prefer to meet Costa Rica in Wednesday's high-stakes games.

"Both teams are pretty dynamic," U.S. forward Abby Wambach said of Canada and Costa Rica. "Canada is top-four team in the world right now, but whatever opponent we face, we're going to be ready. This is what we do for a living and this is what we love to do, and I think we'll come out in the semifinal prepared and focused on earning a berth in the Olympics."

The U.S., which only allowed one shot combined in its 7-0 rout of Trinidad & Tobago and 8-0 romp over Haiti, didn't exhibit such overwhelming dominance today, but still handled matters pretty easily. The Americans took the lead for good in the 10th minute, beneficiaries of an own goal.

Kristine Lilly powered a right-side corner kick to the far post where fellow U.S. midfielder Shannon Boxx hit a solid header back across the face of the goal. Mexico could not clear and a miscommunication between defender Maria Castillo and goalkeeper Jennifer Molina caused the ball to bounce off Castillo and then glance off Molina's arm, into the net to make it 1-0.

The U.S. expanded its advantage to 2-0 in the 26th minute after striker Mia Hamm was chopped down near the end line at the left perimeter of the penalty area. Lilly chipped the free kick to the far post where Wambach beat her defender and slipped a header into the net from a sharp angle. It was Wambach's 17th international goal in 28 matches.

"It's very difficult to play on a surface as hard as this," U.S. coach April Heinrichs said. "It's hard on the body. So any time you play a tournament with very few days rest, you're going to have some level of fatigue. Combine that with the fact that the U.S. team plays a high-energy style. We work very hard to get forward and on defense. This was our third game in fives days, and that's pretty tough. But credit Mexico for their defensive effort. They came out and played to win today."

The U.S. produced several other quality chances in the first half, but came up empty. In the 20th minute, defender Cat Reddick hit a long, low free kick on the ground to Hamm, cutting into the penalty area. Holding off a defender, Hamm rolled a pass into the path of advancing midfielder Julie Foudy who, while being leveled by a Mexican defender, sent a left-footer skimming off the outside of the left post.

Two minutes later, Hamm powered past two defenders on the left flank and, as she was knocked off the field, got off a cross to the near post. As Molina waited to field the ball, midfielder Lindsay Tarpley stepped in front, spun back toward the middle and, as she fell, skimmed a shot off the top of the crossbar.

In the 35th minute, Wambach's diving header off a Hamm cross was batted away by a scrambling Molina.

"The field was so hard, and it was very windy, and we didn't manage to get the ball on the ground enough," Foudy said. "Everything is bouncing up to your chest and neck and our touch was a little off. We played a better first half for sure, but we're glad that we got another shutout and our defense has been playing well. We go into the semifinals with two days off and that will help."

After outshooting Trinidad & Tobago 27-1 and Haiti 29-0, the U.S. managed only a 9-5 shots advantage today, 7-3 on frame. The Americans did not take a shot after intermission.

Maribel Dominguez' drive from 20 yards into U.S. keeper Briana Scurry's gut was as close as Mexico got to scoring. In the 56th minute, Dominguez sent a 25-yard free kick right at Scurry.

"Our defense has been very solid," said Scurry who recorded her 68th career shutout in her 131st cap. said. "They've been playing very well no matter who is back there. Considering the conditions of the field, I think we've been very cohesive almost as if we're in mid-season form."

Championship
Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.