The U.S. Women’s National Team had already sealed a place in the Algarve Cup finals, but it came down to the final day of group stage play to find out their opponent. Iceland, No. 17 in the FIFA World Rankings, defeated Denmark, 1-0, Monday afternoon in Portugal to advance to their first-ever Algarve Cup final. Iceland, which also beat China and Sweden in Group B, will play the U.S. Wednesday. Dóra María Lárusdóttir (Valur) scored Iceland’s goal. Meanwhile in Cyprus, Canada beat England, 2-0, Monday and coupled with Holland’s 6-0 win Monday over Switzerland, Canada and Holland will play Wednesday in the Cyprus Cup finals.
Alex Morgan (WNY Flash) scored two goals for the U.S., while Shannon Boxx (magicJack’s Washington Freedom) and Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat) scored one apiece. Nicole Barnhart (Philadelphia Independence) made one save to record the shutout in the USWNT’s 4-0 win over Finland. Canadian captain Christine Sinclair (WNY Flash) and Brittany Timko scored and Erin McLeod (magicJack’s Washington Freedom) came up with some huge stops in goal to preserve the shutout in Canada’s 2-0 win over England.
In other action at the Cyprus Cup Monday, France beat New Zealand, 5-2. In Mexico’s 3-1 win over Northern Ireland, 3-1, Maribel Domínguez (U.E. L’Estartit), Veronica Charlyn Corral, and Nancy Gandarill scored for Mexico. South Korea beat Russia, 2-1, and Italy and Scotland played to a scoreless draw. At the Algarve Cup, Sweden’s Lotta Schelin (Lyon) scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win over China. Japan beat Norway, 1-0. Portugal tied Romania, 1-0, and Wales beat Chile, 2-1.
More results and stats to come.