U.S. WOMEN: Kai hits fifth goal in eight games

Natasha Kai, 23, scored her fifth goal for the USA since debuting for the national team earlier this year to help the USA down Canada, 2-0, in a friendly on Sunday.

Kai, a Hawaii product, now has five goals in eight games. She finished a rebound off her own shot for her strike late in the second half. Abby Wambach's penalty kick had given the USA a halftime lead. The U.S. women improved their overall 2006 record to 9-0-3.

''Nobody could say that this was an artistic game today,'' said U.S. coach Greg Ryan. ''It was just a scrap and a battle. Credit Canada, they fought very, very hard, and I feel like our players matched their intensity and fortunately we were able to put a couple away.''

July 30 in Cary, N.C.

USA 2 Canada 0.

Goals: Wambach (pen.) 45, Kai 80.

USA - Solo, Chalupny, Whitehill, Frimpong, (LePeilbet, 46), Mitts; 12-Osborne, Miller, Wagner (Lloyd, 66), Welsh (Kai, 46), OÆReilly (Rapinoe, 82), Wambach.

Canada - McLeod, Latham, Booth, Nonen, Hermus (Jamani, 66), Schmidt (Neil, 61), Walsh, Timko (Cicchini, 55), Sinclair, Franko, Hooper.

Referee: Sandra Serafini

Att.: 5,292

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