US Women Drop Opener - USA 0-2 Norway
du Nord, August 7, 2008
A match report by our dear reader Adam. He covered the 2007 World Cup for us here at du Nord. Give him some good feedback won't you. -BruceGroup Stage Match 1USA 0-2 NorwayFor the first time ever in a major tournament, the US lost its first game and now finds itself in last place of its group. Sure, it’s only one game. And it’s only one loss. With two games yet to play, the US is certainly not out of medal contention. But the way the team played—ugly, mediocre soccer—doesn’t bode well for any dreams it may have of defending the gold medal it won four years ago. The US players looked nervous right from the start, and Norway punished them for it, scoring both goals within the first four minutes of the match. On the first goal, Hope Solo tried to punch a Norwegian cross out of the box. Instead, she punched defender Lori Chalupny in the head and allowed Norway’s Lene Larsen Kaurin to head the ball into an open net.Two minutes later, veteran defender Kate Markgraf’s errant back-pass was picked off by Norway’s Mel