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Women's Olympic Final 2004: USA v Brazil

USA 2 Brazil 1

Women's Olympic Soccer Final - Karaiskaki Stadium, Heraklion, Greece.

Attendance - 10,416

In what was probably the last major football tournament game for the US fab five of Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain and Joy Fawcett, victory was again America's as this physical but exciting match ended 1-1 at full time.

In the 38th minute the Brazilian midfield seemed to hesitate as one of the US players played the ball through to Lindsay Tarpley who curled the ball past the right hand of the Brazilian keeper.

Brazilians Rosana and Elaine both went close in this first half.

The second half came alive particularly in the last five minutes, though veteran American goalie Brianna Scurry, made some good saves earlier in the match to keep Brazil out.

After brilliant skill by Cristiane to get a cross in past three US defenders, Pretinha tapped home in the 72nd minute to level the score.

86th minute - best chance for US in the second half. Long free kick from the left hand side of the US midfield.

88th minute - Brazil's Pretinha cut in across the box, sliced her shot, and hit the post, the second time the Brazilians had hit this same post.

90th minute - Brazil's Cristiane showed good ball skill in the right channel and fell heavily under the slightest of touches; some may remember Rivaldo and his play-acting antics at the Korea/Japan World Cup - further proof of Brazilian gamespersonship.

Extra Time

This is how the final exciting 30 minutes of the match played out:

A new referee appeared; the previous ref apparently suffering from hamstring trouble.

1st minute - Pretinha header easily saved from 7 metres.

3rd minute - Reddick long shot from 22 meters sailed wide right.

7th minute - Marta long dipping shot; comfortable save by Scurry.

8th minute - Brazil putting on the pressure as another shot came in after good work again by the Brazil midfield.

9th minute - Mia Hamm, perhaps playing her last international match, cut in from the left, but some of her speed seemed to have deserted her.

10th minute - US forward Wambach found herself just inside the box with the ball at her feet. She powered it over the bar when she had time to control the shot.

13th minute - Break away by Brazil stymied at the last moment by some stout defending by the US.

14th minute - Free kick to Brazil. Taken quickly not from the correct place on the filed allowedf Cristiane to run in free on the US goal. She sliced her shot which hit the side netting.

16th minute - A free kick to Brazil surprisingly awarded to Brazil - high and wide.

18th minute - Daniela escaped the attentions of two UD midfielders and drove the ball across the US penalty area after flicked pass from Crstiane.

20th minute - Long ball to the far post of the Brazil goal was cleared by Monica.

21st minute - From the resulting corner by Lilly, Abby Wambach spectacularly powered the header into the back of the Brazilian net

From then to the end of the match the US took control to seal yet another victory for one of the winningest teams in world sports.

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