U.S., Australia tie in women's soccer

By SCOTT PITONIAK

Gannett News Service

THESSALONIKI, Greece - For the Aussies, the tie felt like a win. A huge one.

For the Americans, the tie felt like a loss. A minor one.

Forward Joanne Peters flicked in a header at the 81st minute to give the Australian women's Olympic soccer team a 1-1 tie with the United States Tuesday night at Kaftantzoglio Stadium. The deadlock enabled the Aussies to snap a 15-match losing streak in the series that dates back to 1987. It also earned them a berth in Friday's quarterfinals.

The tie had no bearing on the Americans' status because they already had advanced and will play Japan here Friday.

But, "for us, a tie has always had the feel of a loss because we've set our bar so high,'' said Kristine Lilly, whose sliding, left-footed tip-in of a crossing pass from Julie Foudy at the 18th minute gave the United States its only goal.

"Now, we have to shake it off. We have to remind ourselves that we are where we wanted to be, in position to medal. It's do-or-die now. One loss and you go home. We need to put two good halves together the rest of the way.''

Despite playing without its leading scorer, forward Abby Wambach, who was out because of consecutive yellow-card violations, the Americans dominated the first half. But they had problems finishing the deal.

"We certainly had our chances,'' Foudy said, after the United States finished first-round play with a 2-0-1 record. "But sometimes the ball just doesn't go in the net as much as you would like it to.''

It did, however, go into the net at least one time for the Americans, thanks to a looping pass from Foudy and a nifty conversion by Lilly.

"I thought I hit it too far,'' said Foudy, "But I had forgotten about Kristine's blazing speed.''

Peters' goal came from about 10 yards out. She out-leaped two American defenders and looped it over goalkeeper Briana Scurry and just inches beneath the crossbar.

"I was hoping it would (go over the crossbar),'' said Scurry, who had recorded shutouts in her first two matches and had gone more than 240 minutes without allowing a goal.

Japan and the United States met once this year, on June 6, with the game ending in a 1-1 tie.

A victory by the Americans and Germans Friday would set up a rematch of the 2003 Women's World Cup finalists in the Olympic semis Monday night on the island of Crete.