Three draws on match day II

On the second day of the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007, all six

countries in action put a point on the board. Japan and England played

to a 1:1 draw in Shanghai while in Chengdu the United States and DPR

Korea played to a 2:2 draw and Nigeria and Sweden (Sverige) played to

a 1:1 draw.



In the United States-DPR Korea match, two-time champions United States

opened the scoring in the 50th minute with a goal by Abby Wambach. The

North Koreans countered with goals by Kil Son Hui (58′) and Kim Yong

Ae (62′) before Heather O’Reilly equalised in the 69th minute.



The Americans have four remaining world champions from their USA 1999

run, including captain Kristine Lilly who was also a champion at China

1991. Lilly is the first five-time player at the FIFA Women’s World

Cup. Lilly, Kate Markgraf and Christie Rampone were all starters while

Briana Scurry was the back-up goaltender. Goalscorer O’Reilly,

meanwhile, is one of four alumni from the FIFA U-19 Women’s World

Championship Canada 2007. Lori Chalupny was also in the lineup while

Leslie Osborne and Lindsay Tarpley did not feature.



In the England-Japan match, all four goals were scored in the second

half. Aya Miyama opened the scoring in the 55th minute before Kelly

Smith scored twice, once in the 81st minute and then again in the 83rd

minute. The match was all but won, but then Miyama scored her second

of the match with the last kick in the 95th minute.



In the Sweden-Nigeria match, Victoria Svensson, a silver medalist at

USA 2003, put the Swedes up 1-0 in the 50th minute. Nigeria fought

back, though, and Cynthia Uwak scored in the 82nd minute. Uwak, a

three-time player at the FIFA U-20 World Cup level (including Canada

2002), plays her club football in Sweden and was Nigeria’s

representative at the World All-Stars match in Wuhan back in April.