U.S. WOMEN ABROAD (Aug. 28-Sept. 1): Asker advances to Norwegian Cup semifinals

• by Soccer America , Aug 31, 2004

Asker, with former Philadelphia Charge forward Darci Borski, advanced to the Norwegian Cup semifinals on Saturday, beating host Arna-Bjornar on penalties following a 3-3 tie.

Lindy Melissa Wiik scored two first-half goals for Asker, but Arna-Bjornar rallied to tie the score on Anne Bugge Paulsen's 82nd-minute goal and go ahead on Kari Forthun strike six minutes into overtime.

Former New York Power winger Anita Rapp scored for Asker in the 117th minute to force penalty kicks. Asker won the shootout, 4-2.

Roa, Kolbotn and Trondheims-Orn also won NM Kvinner quarterfinal matches.

Russian Supreme League leader FC Energy Voronezh (7-1-6), with former Charge forward Emily Burt, began the championship phase with scoreless ties at home against Nadejda and Lada, its second and third successive draws. Energy holds a two-point lead on Lada.

FC Honka (5-5-4), with former Duquesne University defender Becky Barritt on the backline, won, 3-1, in a Finnish League match at KMF-Kuopio (3-10-2). Sanna Talonen scored twice for Honka.

IBV (10-1-2), with former Charge defenders Rachel Kruze and Mary McVeigh, clinched second place with one game remnaining in the Icelandic League with a 5-0 romp at Fjolnir. Olga Faerseth and Iris Saemundsdottir scored two goals apiece.

Valur (12-0-1), the champion, has a five-point advantage, and IBV is five points ahead of third-place KR (8-2-3). IBV is home against Valur in Sunday's league finale.

IBV also is home Wednesday against Stjarnan in an Icelandic Cup semifinal. The winner on Sept. 11 will meet the winner of Wednesday's Valur-KR semifinal.

FINLAND
* Becky Barritt (FC Honka, D1), at KMF-Kuopio, 3-1 (Saturday).
90 minutes. Seventh-place Honka is 5-5-4.
Season league stats: 10 games, 1 goal.

ICELAND
* Rachel Kruze (IBV, D1), at Fjonir, 5-0 (Saturday).
90 minutes. Second-place IBV is 10-1-2
. Season league stats: 5 games, 1 goal.

* Mary McVeigh (IBV, D1), at Fjolnir, 5-0 (Saturday)
DNP. Second-place IBV is 10-1-2.
Season league stats: 9 games, 0 goals.

Icelandic Cup semifinals
* Rachel Kruze (IBV, D1), vs. Stjarnan (D1), Wednesday.
Season cup stats: 1 game, 0 goals.

* Mary McVeigh (IBV, D1), vs. Stjarnan (D1), Wednesday.
Season cup stats: 1 game, 1 goal.

NORWAY
Norwegian Cup quarterfinals
* Darci Borski (Asker, Toppserien), vs. Arna-Bjornar (Toppserien), 3-3, OT (Saturday).
Asker advances on penalties, 4-2
Details unavailable.
Season cup stats: 2 games, 3 goals.

RUSSIA
* Emily Burt (FC Energy Voronezh, D1), vs. Nadejda, 0-0 (Thursday).
90 minutes.
vs. FC Lada, 0-0 (Monday).
90 minutes. First-place Energy is 0-0-2 in the championship phase and 7-1-6 overall.
Season league stats: 4 games, 1 goal.