USWNT Claims Queen Cup

USA 1, CANADA 0

SUWON, South Korea (Ticker) -- Angela Hucles scored in second-half stoppage time as the United States won the Peace Queen Cup on Saturday with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Canada. With the contest seemingly headed to overtime, Hucles provided the decisive goal by blasting a free-kick past Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod in the 92nd minute.

"It was a battle, but you want to finish in the final, finish with a goal and finish first and we did that," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. "It was great for us to come up with a win that way. The energy we got from this game, we will bring to Beijing." It marked the second time this year that Hucles scored a stoppage-time winner. She also registered such a goal against Australia on May 3, giving the United States a 5-4 victory. Saturday's win gave the U.S. its fourth tournament title of the year after previously defeating China in January to win the Four Nations Tournament, beating Denmark for the Algarve Cup in March and downing Canada on penalty kicks in the final of the CONCACAF Women's Olympic qualifying in April. With four friendly matches remaining before the Beijing Olympics in August, the U.S. has posted a 17-0-1 record this year.

In the fourth meeting between the sides in 2008, Canada used a compact 4-5-1 formation to frustrate the Americans. However, the U.S. nearly broke on top in the 17th minute when Natasha Kai blew past a defender and put a shot off the right post. Canada had to wait for its first quality scoring chance until the 66th minute when Brittany Timko sent a free-kick just high over the goal. U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo also made two huge saves later in the second half, diving to her left to stop a header from Randee Hermus off a corner kick in the 84th minute. She also pushed a drive from Canadian captain Christie Sinclair over the top of the goal in the waning minutes. Heather Mitts also nearly won it for the U.S. in the 88th minute, sending a shot from the top of the penalty area off the crossbar.