For the third time this year, the U.S. women's national team edged Australia by one goal, winning, 2-1, in their opening match of the Peace Queen Cup in Suwon, South Korea.

Forward Natasha Kai scored in the first half to give her a team-leading 11th of 2008, and forward Abby Wambach added the winner 13 minutes from the end of the game for her 96th career goal.

Wambach's goal came with on a shot off the back of her head off a ball into the penalty area by Aly Wagner, who saw her first action of 2008 after a long recovery from a double-hernia operation.

The match contrasted the two meetings between the teams earlier this spring when the USA won by 3-2 and 5-4 scores. The U.S.back four of right back Heather Mitts, center backs Christie Rampone and Kate Markgraf and left back Lori Chalupny limited the Matildas to just two shots on goal.

The equalizer came in the 57th on a goal by midfielder Heather Garriock.

In the other Group B game, Brazil defeated Italy, 2-1.

GAME SUMMARY:
June 15 in Suwon
USA 2 Australia 1. Goals: Kai 35, Wambach 77; Garriock 57.
USA -- Solo, Chalupny, Rampone, Markgraf, Mitts, O'Reilly (Heath, 72), Boxx, Lloyd (Hucles, 36), Tarpley (Wagner, 46), Kai (Cheney, 62), Wambach.
Australia -- Barbieri, Alagich, Salisbury (McShea, 72), Colthorpe, Polkinghorne, Perry, Garriock, McCallum (Neilson, 85), Burgess (Chapman, 50), De Vanna, Munoz (Gill, 74).
Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (Germany).
Att.: 1,357.