U.S. WNT Blanks China in Algarve Cup

ALBUFEIRA, Portugal (US Soccer) – The U.S. Women’s National Team got goals from four different players in a suffocating 4-0 victory against China to open the 2008 Algarve Cup.

The match marked the third time the USA has scored four times against China in 39 meetings between the two countries, but it was the first time it had beaten the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2008 Olympics hosts by four goals.

It didn’t take long for the USA to get rolling. Just five minutes into the match Carli Lloyd ran onto a touch from Abby Wambach and took a few forward dribbles before looping a perfect pass with the outside of her right foot to Lindsay Tarpley inside the penalty area. The U.S. midfielder brought the ball down perfectly with her right foot then snapped a left-footed shot into the lower right corner from 10 yards out. It was Tarpley’s team-leading fifth goal of 2008, surpassing her total of four last year. Her high for a year is eight, scored in 2004, and she now has 22 total goals in her WNT career.