Guangzhou, China (My Sportsbook) - The United States Women's National Team (WNT) started its 2007 season looking to round into shape for this fall's FIFA Women's World Cup in China.
The first step was the Four Nations Tournament in China against the world's top-ranked team, Germany, ninth-ranked team, China, and 12th-ranked team, England.
Head coach Greg Ryan left a handful of key veterans home, taking a mostly inexperienced group to China to see what players he could count on when the stakes are raised later in the year and the world's second-ranked team respond by going 1-0-2 while winning the tourney.
The team's lone victory came Tuesday against China, 2-0, at Guangdong Olympic Stadium in Guangzhou in front of roughly 8,000 fans after back-to-back draws against Germany and England.
"I was very happy with my team today," Ryan said. "They played with tremendous energy and a desire to attack. In the first half, I thought we played very well. In the second half, I thought China played very well. When we weren't able to continue to pressure China, you could see they knew how to play and create chances and get good scoring chances behind our defense. I want to congratulate China on a very good performance."
A first-half goal by Lori Chalupny and a second-half tally from Natasha Kai led the American side to the game and tourney win.
"I'm happy with the start that we've made and in the goal scoring from Heather OReilly in the game against England, Natasha Kai today, and also scoring from distance from Lori Chalupny," Ryan said. "Those are very important for us because we need more players that can scores goals in addition to the two players that weren't here, Abby Wambach and Kristine Lilly. I am very, very happy with the way the younger players responded throughout the team."
The U.S. played the second match of the day, an advantage after Germany and England tied 0-0 in the first contest. The team knew that a victory by any margin would earn it the tourney championship and it came out firing from the opening whistle.
The WNT put immediate pressure on Chinese goalkeeper Han Wenxia, out-shooting the hosts 9-1 in the opening half, but were unable to break through until injury time just before the break.
Lindsay Tarpley started the chance by winning a hard-fought 50-50 ball in the offensive third. Her pressure forced an errant clearance by a Chinese defender that ended up right on the boot of Chalupny who was streaking towards the goal. She touched the ball to the right before firing a shot from about 25- yards out into the upper right corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.
"It felt good right when it came off my foot," Chalupny said. "I got a good touch on it right around the defender and just saw a seam to take a shot. I just tried to hit it hard and on frame. When it hits the back of the net, its just such a rush."
The team wasted little time adding to the lead in the second half.
After Wenxia made a spectacular leaping save on a hard shot by Carli Lloyd by tipping it over the crossbar, the U.S. set up for a corner kick.
Heather O'Reilly's kick past the far post found Lloyd, who settled and set up for a shot. Her shot was blocked by a defender, but Kai was in the right place at the right time to poke in the rebound from about 10-yards out to double the American's lead.
"I'm happy with what we did," Ryan said. "I still think our young players are in the process of maturing. This is a process that will go on between now and the World Cup and we have to take them as far as we can. To see Heather (OReilly) score, and Tash (Natasha Kai) score and Chalups (Lori Chalupny) score from outside the box, thats another step in the process and in them growing as players. We're happy with the progress we made during this tournament, but we still have a long way to go."
Germany, considered the USA's biggest threat at this fall's World Cup as defending champions, finished the tournament with three consecutive 0-0 draws to finish third while China - the only other team besides the U.S. to win a game - finished second.
England, the last placed team, did take a positive experience out of the tourney after earning draws against the two top-ranked teams in the world.
Ryan, who remains undefeated as head coach of the USA at 27-0-7, was named Best Coach of the tournament while fellow American, Hope Solo, picked up the Best Goalkeeper award. England captain Kelly Smith was named Best Player and China earned the Fair Play Award. As six different players scored one goal each, there was no Top Scorer award for the competition.
The USA will return home for a two-weak break before coming together in mid- February for a training camp in Carson, Calif. at The Home Depot Center. In late February, the USA will leave for the annual Algarve Cup in southern Portugal, this year being staged from March 7-14.
