World Cup Update

USA READY FOR CLASH WITH BRAZIL IN SEMIFINAL AT 2007 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
The USA will face Brazil in a Women’s World Cup semifinal for the second time when the two teams meet at Dragon Stadium in Hangzhou on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 8 p.m. local time (5 a.m. PT). The match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 starting at 4:55 a.m. PT. The teams also met in the semifinal in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a 2-0 U.S. win on July 4 at the old Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. It will also be a rematch of the 2004 Olympic gold medal game, a 2-1 U.S. win on a goal in overtime from Abby Wambach. Dragon Stadium seats about 53,000 fans and a crowd of almost 40,000 is expected. The days have been hot in Hangzhou, but for kickoff, temperatures are forecast for the mid-70s on what should be another perfect night for soccer.

GERMANY THROUGH TO THE FINAL
To no one’s surprise, Germany is through to the Women’s World Cup Final, its third after finishing second in 1995 and winning in 2003, but it wasn’t as easy as the 3-0 scoreline would indicate. Norway played an excellent first half, but couldn’t hold on in the second, and actually finished the game with eight shots on target to Germany’s four. The Germans managed to win 3-0 despite putting just four shots on goal, two of which went in on unusual plays. After scoring on a Norwegian own goal in the first half, Germany got its last two goals from defender Kerstin Stegemann, who hit a shot that was deflected by a Norwegian foot up and over ‘keeper Bente Nordby in the 72nd minute, and substitute Martina Muller, who stole a poor back pass and slotted home three minutes later to seal the game. The Germans won the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 overtime win over Sweden at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.