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U.S. Women Prevail At Ray-Jay

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By BILL WARD

wward@tampatrib.com

Published: November 9, 2008

Updated: 11/09/2008 12:22 am

TAMPA - After enduring the intensity of last summer's Olympic soccer tournament in China, no one could expect the U.S. women's national team to be playing with much intensity three months later, particularly in an exhibition match.

But after forward Heather O'Reilly knocked in the lone goal of the Americans' friendly with South Korea at Raymond James Stadium for a 1-0 victory Saturday, you caught a glimpse of how this group of women emerged wearing gold in the Beijing Games.

The Americans might have played a little flat in the first 45 minutes of their post-Olympic, "Achieve Your Gold Tour." A technically sound, organized South Korean team had a lot to do with that. But O'Reilly's 72nd-minute goal seemed to flip a switch that reminded the announced crowd of 4,263 at RJS just what these new American stars are capable of.

"Mentally, physically, you can only withstand that kind of intense playing of the Olympics for so long," O'Reilly said. "But this team is so competitive and so intense. Every time we step on the field, we want to bring a high level of play."

For most of the second half, the 23-year-old O'Reilly was the main spark to the U.S. attack. Four minutes into that half, she twice nearly put the ball into the Korean goal off headers. Each time, she was thwarted by the crossbar.

Considering South Korean striker Cha Yun Hee blasted a first-half shot off the post, it seemed like a fair result. But O'Reilly's missed opportunities were more ominous as the Americans finally seemed to be putting South Korea's defense under steady pressure and maintaining possession.

During the first half, the Koreans hadn't given the U.S. squad much space to work with. But on O'Reilly's goal, midfielder Kacey White was able to play a pass down the line to Natasha Kai. With room to run, Kai sprinted toward goal on the left, hoping a teammate would be heading the same way on the far post. Kai said she soon "saw a white jersey" and knew she had to put in a good pass.

"I get reminded every time to make those runs and not really rush that first pass," said Kai, 25, a native of Hawaii. "I looked up and made sure my pass got through and it got past three people and I saw her put her foot on it."

With that kind of service, Korean goalkeeper Jun Minkyung, guarding the other post, had no chance and O'Reilly had no trouble knocking it in from inside the 6-yard box.

The victory makes the U.S. women 5-0-1 since the Olympic Games. True, three of those wins came against the same Irish squad. And South Korea, whom the United States have played in the other three games, failed to qualify for the Olympics. But under Swedish coach Pia Sundhage, who has now compiled a record of 31-1-2 in less than a year on the job, there's little doubt the United States will continue to be a world power. And with a new professional women's league coming to this country next spring, there's expectations this squad will improve.

"We need to play," Sundhage said. "The game is the best teacher."

Reporter Bill Ward can be reached at (813) 259-7456.

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