University of North Carolina Athletics
Mia Hamm Leads US To 4-1 Win
July 2, 2000 | Women's Soccer
July 2, 2000
By Joseph White
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The fragile emotions inside the world's greatest female soccer player came forth in an unusual and touching moment Saturday night.
Mia Hamm scored a goal, then immediately ran to the bench and hugged Coach April Heinrichs.
"Thanks for not giving up on me," Hamm, the former UNC star, said.
"I'll never give up on you," Heinrichs replied.
Hamm extended her world scoring record with her 121st international goal in the 65th minute, an 18-yard blast off goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc's outstretched hands, as the United States beat Canada 4-1 in the semifinals of the Gold Cup.
The Americans will play Brazil in Monday's title game in Foxboro, Mass., a rematch of the teams that played to a 0-0 tie in group play Wednesday. Brazil beat China 3-2 in Saturday's other semifinal.
Shannon MacMillan, starting at forward for the first time this year, scored from 16 and 25 yards out, shots so powerful the goalkeeper just stood and watched them fly past, as the Americans beat their North American neighbors for the 21st consecutive time.
MacMillan scored in the 12th and 38th minutes. Tiffany Milbrett added a goal in first-half injury time for the Americans, who have won 22 of 23 games against Canada.
ut Hamm's hug stole the show. The game's most recognizable name suffered through a scoring drought earlier this year after Heinrichs became coach, even though she is still the most feared striker in the world and receives more than her share of attention from defenders.
"I've been struggling for a long time," Hamm said. "I have expectations to score. People have expectations for me to score."
Heinrichs said Hamm was feeling the pressure of constantly living up to expectations. The U.S. team was on top of the world after winning the World Cup last year, but a players' strike in the winter and preparations for the upcoming Olympics have given the players a limited time to bask in the glow.
"The hardest thing is there are lot of people tugging us right now," captain Julie Foudy said. "The real challenge is to keep the main thing the main thing, and that's to be prepared for Sydney."
Charmaine Hooper, a former N.C. State player, scored a penalty kick in the 58th minute for the Canadians, whose only victory against the Americans came in 1986.
The game drew 11,140 fans.
Cidinha scored on a penalty kick at the end of the first overtime as Brazil stunned China.
The victory left no doubt as to Brazil's status as a gold-medal threat at the Sydney Olympics.
Cidinha's sudden-death goal came after Wang Liping pushed down Formiga just inside the penalty area in the final minute of the first 15-minute extra period. Cidinha calmly put her penalty kick inside the left post, and Brazil celebrated possibly its greatest victory ever.
