Aly Wagner scored twice to give the U.S. under-21 women's national team a 2-2 tie with Sweden at the Nordic Cup in Hof, Germany, on July 30. Sara Johannson scored twice for Sweden, which took leads
of 1-0 and 2-1 before Wagner's heroics. "Aly played a great game," said U.S. coach Jillian Ellis. "She carried the midfield and her goals were tremendous individual efforts." "I thought we
struggled in the first half," Ellis added. "We seemed a bit tired and leg-less, and we had a few chances, but we really weren't in rhythm. We rallied in the second half and played some tremendous
soccer. I was extremely pleased that we came back from a goal down twice and knocked the ball around well. We deserved the result." The tie gives the USA four points and second place in Group B.
The group title -- and a place in the final -- will be decided when the defending Nordic Cup champion takes on Finland on Aug. 1. The Finns lead Group B with six points from two wins.
Nordic
Cup July 30, 2000 in Hof, Germany United States 2, Sweden 2. Goals: Wagner 73, 84; S. Johansson 30, 81.
USA -- Solo, Kraus, Pryce, French, Bush Cramer, Kluegel
(Wallis, 79), Wagner, Ramsey, Welsh (Borgman, 58), Monroe.
Sweden -- Thelin, Nykvist, Svensson, Thunebro, Andersson, Larsson, Lundin, L. Johansson (Brogarde, 82), S. Johansson (Rohlin, 80),
Normelli (Eriksson, 55), Jonsson.
Att.: 150.
