Aug. 28, 2006
U-20s Beat Germany, 4-1, Will Face China In Semifinal
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Sunday ended up being a great day for Santa Clara women's soccer, and not only because the team defeated Utah, 1-0, for the Santa Clara adidas Classic title. On the international scene, Bronco players and former stars such as Amanda Poach and Aly Wagner donned the Red, White, and Blue U.S. jerseys and helped their respective American sides to important victories on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
In FIFA Under-20 World Championship action from Russia, the U.S. side, featuring current Broncos Poach and Jordan Angeli, turned in their best performance of the tournament with a 4-1 romp over defending youth world champions Germany. Poach recorded assists on the first two U.S. goals, bringing her total in the tournament to three, as she served up teammates Kelley O'Hara and Danesha Adams in the 36th and 37th minutes, respectively.
Angeli came on as a substitute in the midfield in the 48th minute and played the remainder of the contest. The U.S. will now go on to play China in the semifinals Thursday at Lokomotiv Stadium in Moscow. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 a.m. PT.
Meanwhile, the senior U.S. Women's National Team was battling China in Bridgeview, Ill., as former Bronco standouts Aly Wagner and Leslie Osborne took the field in the U.S. Starting XI. After falling behind by a goal early on, the U.S. scored four unanswered goals to triumph 4-1 and improve its 2006 record to 10-0-3.
Wagner tallied the game-winner for the American side, converting a penalty kick in the 59th minute. The San Jose native earned the chance after initiating a give-and-go with Carli Floyd along the left flank. Floyd volleyed a pass towards Wagner in the middle of the box, but Wagner was taken down by China's Ren Liping, leading to the decisive penalty kick. Wagner's cashed in with a shot right down the middle as goalkeeper Han Wenxia dove left on contact.
Osborne again started in the midfield for the U.S. and played the full 90 minutes. The U.S. will now prepare for its Sept. 13 clash with its neighbor to the south, Mexico, at PAETEC Park in Rochester, N.Y. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. PT.