WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2003 - USA 0 : 3 GERMANY

10-06-03 - Germany shocked the hosts and holders USA 0-3 in Sunday’s first semi-final from Portland, Oregon. In what many were calling the match of the finals, a Kerstin Garefrekes goal on the quarter-hour mark was doubled by Maren Meinert and then tripled by Birgit Prinz deep into injury time to send the Americans on their tearful way.

With the Americans attacking constantly but lacking the final touch, Germany did all they needed to in a solid, giant-killing performance. Avenging their quarter-final loss to the U.S. four years earlier, goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg’s heroics went a long to way to seeing the Germans into their second-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup final.

The match began with both sides battling physically in the middle of the pitch. All of the early pressure was coming Germany’s way. But with Mia Hamm in control of midfield, and towering Abby Wambach up front wreaking havoc, the Europeans slowly began to assert their own pressure and grabbed the first goal.

Renate Lingor’s corner – Germany’s first of the day – was met in a blare by the rising Garefrekes at the near post. Under very little pressure, the midfielder nodded the ball off the underside of the American crossbar (0-1, 15’).

Shocked by the early goal, the Americans came out of their tentative shell and surged into attack. Cindy Parlow, Wambach and Hamm began to look tremendously impressive, but for all of their possession and attack, they rarely forced Rottenberg into a save.

Kristine Lilly had the U.S.’ first real chance of the half, after taking advantage of a mistake at the German back. Turning and firing with her left foot from 20 yards, Rottenberg dove well to her right to pull off a fine save (26’).

And Wambach too nearly grabbed the crucial equaliser, flicking a well-placed Hamm corner just inches wide of the post (32’).

Hamm then had a chance to pull level with what must have been the opportunity of the half. Getting on the end of a fine through ball from Wambach, she tried to go around Rottenberg when she might have shot, but was denied in the end by the brave keeper (34’).

In the dying moments of the half, Parlow got on the end of a flicked pass on the left side, but her clumsy shot barely troubled Rottenberg (42’).

Meinert nearly doubled the German lead shortly after. Getting on the end of a fine cross from Pia Wunderlich, she was unable to snap the close-range strike past Briana Scurry (44’).

The Americans came out in the second half determined to throw everything at the European Champions. But, it was the Germans that nearly got on the board again in the period’s early minutes. The U.S. defence were singing the praises of their keeper Scurry, who twice denied the German attack in quick succession. From a corner, Prinz hammered a header that was well saved by the U.S. keeper. Bettina Wiegmann then got to the rebound, but Scurry was back up like a snap to push the second shot out (53’).

And as the Americans continued to press forward, Germany looked content to absorb the pressure and break out on the counterattack.

And they nearly got a goal after Prinz was taken down on the edge of the box. Lingor’s strike though, only slipped wide of Scurry’s post (67’).

Second-half substitute Tiffeny Milbrett then raced in on Rottenberg as the American attack began to develop a desperate edge. But after the two collided heavily, the ball was cleared away to safety. All of the American players were up in arms and calling for a penalty (71’).

But the Germans remained dangerous on the break and Prinz blew an absolute sitter at the back post. Wiegmann’s cross from the right picked out the big striker racing in, but she could only volley woefully over from five-yards out (78’).

In a frenzied final ten minutes of attack, the USA simply could not find a way past the sturdy German defence, and in injury time the Europeans even added a couple more goals. Getting on the end of a fine Prinz pass, Meinert, all alone in the box, slotted home to crush the Americans’ dreams (91+, 0-2). Meinert turned provider just seconds later, and unopposed tournament top-scorer Prinz walked in alone and slipped the ball home to seal the night with her seventh goal of the competition (93+, 0-3).

After the match, U.S. coach April Heinrichs was complimentary of her opponents, while her team weeped openly on the pitch.

"The margin is so slim in these matches, and you have to give Germany credit," said the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup winner. "This was perhaps the greatest game ever played in women's soccer."

Her opposite number, an obviously happy Tina Theune-Meyer said: "I had a good feeling today. In the final minutes, the U.S. had to push up further which created great chances to counter-attack. Silke Rottenberg had an amazing match and the whole side worked really well for each other. All of our players were very disciplined and everyone tried to do something with the ball.

"In the dressing-room everybody was calm, and we were sure that we could accomplish this task," she continued. "Perhaps our relaxed attitude today was the difference to 1999."

Source: FIFAWorldCup.com

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