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Olympic Football Recaps: 1 August (Day 13)

Women's Bronze Medal Game, Match 15

BRA vs. NOR

AARONES Leads Norway to Women's Olympic Football Bronze Medal

A pair of first-half goals by Ann Kristin AARONES led Norway to a 2-0 bronze medal victory over Brazil Thursday in women's Olympic football at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. Norway, the pre-Olympic tournament favorite which fell to the United States in semifinal play, controlled the ball most of the game. The Norwegians held a commanding 26-9 shots-on-goal advantage over their Brazilian opponents.

Both Norwegian goals came 3 minutes apart to start a first-half shooting barrage. AARONES awoke the docile crowd of 62,015 in the 21st minute, taking a cross pass from Linda MEDALEN and drilling a shot past Brazilian goalkeeper MEG. Three minutes later, AARONES got a pass from Trina TANGERAAS and lofted a shot from 18 yards out into the left side of goal past a diving MEG.

Brazil had only one serious scoring opportunity when an apparent goal in the 51st minute was waved off on a called handball.

Final Score: NOR 2, BRA 0.

"This means a great deal to the people of Norway," said Ann Kristin AARONES regarding Norway's bronze medal victory. "We don't win many medals, so this victory is very big for us."


Women's Gold Medal Game, Match 16

CHN vs. USA

United States Wins First Gold Medal in Women's Olympic Football

A goal by Tiffeny MILBRETT broke up a 1-1 stalemate in the 68th minute to lead the United States to victory in the first-ever gold medal game of women's Olympic football Thursday night in Athens, Georgia. A boisterous Sanford Stadium crowd of 76,481, the largest to witness a women's football game, watched the U.S. team defeat a persistent Chinese squad that had tied them in a scoreless preliminary match earlier in the Olympic tournament.

The winning goal came when Joy FAWCETT crossed a pass in the box back to MILBRETT who knocked the 5-yard shot past a diving Chinese goalkeeper Hong GAO. Shannon MACMILLAN put the United States up 1-0 in the 18th minute with a shot that ricocheted back to her off the left post following a shot by Mia HAMM that GAO deflected into the post.

China tied the game before halftime in the 32nd minute. Wen SUN drove to the goal with the ball from the left side of the penalty box and popped a shot past charging U.S. goalkeeper Briana SCURRY. Defender Brandi CHASTAIN tried to run the ball down, but could not catch up to it as it rolled in to tie the game.

The win extended the U.S. squad's unbeaten streak for the year to 18 games and overall mark to 21-1-2. Thursday's game marked the fourth meeting of the year between the two teams with the United States holding a 2-0-2 advantage.

Final Score: USA 2, CHN 1.

"We made a great statement tonight," said Shannon MACMILLAN regarding the United States' gold medal win. "Women's soccer is becoming a powerhouse in the United States."


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Olympic Factoid
Pin trading was one of the most popular Olympic sports, with more than 1.2 million pins changing hands during the Games in the Coca Cola Pin Trading Center at Centennial Olympic Park.