Pros

Women's U-20s Advance to Gold Medal Game
Beat Canada, Brazil up next
July 24, 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Lauren Cheney scored twice and the U.S. Women's U-20s upset the full Canadian Women's National Team, 2-1, in the semifinal of the 2007 Pan American Games Monday.

Cheney, who missed last week's loss to Mexico after being suspended a game for a red card against Argentina, looked like she made the most of her time off – coming out with energy from the opening whistle and potting the game's first goal just 17 minutes into the match.

Tobin Heath made a run through the Canadian midfield before feeding Cheney about 16 yards out. The U.S. forward fired the ball into the lower right corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Cheney would strike again in the 77th minute, fielding a Casey Nogueria pass and beating Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc one-on-one. Cheney, who has one goal in two career caps for the full U.S. Women's National Team, has scored six goals so far in the Pan Ams, upping her U-20 international total to 15 in 19 matches.

“I think we had some good opportunities throughout the match,” said Cheney. “Canada played really direct, but our backs did their job. They played awesome and stuck together and battled. Canada is not an easy team to play against for sure. This team just has a lot of heart and joy and passion for the game.”

Cheney wasn't as modest about the team's previous game against Mexico. She watched from the sideline as the U.S. allowed three late goals to lose, 3-2.

“I think it needed to happen for us,” said Cheney of the loss to Mexico. “We were sliding by in the second half in games, and not putting the whole game together. We realized that if we didn't, it would come back to bite us. I think for this game, I was especially motivated playing in Maracaña Stadium against Canada's World Cup Team. If that doesn't motivate you, nothing will.”

That motivation nearly translated into Cheney's second hat trick of the tournament. She slammed home a rebound off a Kelley O'Hara shot, but was ruled offside.

Canada halved the lead with two minutes left off a booming shot from the wing by Cheney's UCLA teammate Kara Lang, but the Americans were able to hold on for the 2-1 victory.

The USA will now face host Brazil for the gold medal Thursday, July 26, at the famed Maracaña Stadium, at one time the largest stadium in the world. Brazil defeated Mexico, 2-0, in the other semifinal on two goals from Rosana in a dominating victory that saw the hosts pile up a 29-3 shot advantage.

“The experience of the Pan Am games, the intense schedule of games, the large stadiums and unfavorable crowds, that all adds up to great preparation,” said U.S. coach Jillian Ellis. “There must have been 25,000 people in the stadium for the Mexico-Brazil game before our match, and when we came out, they were booing the USA. You can't buy that kind of experience. The kids can't hear themselves out there. It's so loud, it's fantastic.”

The USA will have its work cut out against a Brazil team featuring most of its first-choice full National Team players that will be playing in the 2007 Women's World Cup, including the 2006 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, Marta, who scored five goals in Brazil's victory over Canada in group play. Brazil has scored 28 goals in the tournament and allowed zero.

“The game doesn't know who is supposed to win,” said Cheney of the gold medal game. “In the game of soccer, anything can happen.”