China Downs Japan, 3-0, in Heavy Rain at Soldier Field
CHICAGO (Sunday, September 9, 2001) - In the second match of 2001 Nike U.S. Women's Cup doubleheader at Soldier Field in Chicago, the Chinese Women's National Team downed Japan 3-0 today behind two goals from forward Bai Lilli.
Sep. 9, 2001
CHICAGO (Sunday, September 9, 2001) - In the second match of 2001 Nike U.S. Women's Cup doubleheader at Soldier Field in Chicago, the Chinese Women's National Team downed Japan 3-0 today behind two goals from forward Bai Lilli. The skillfully played match was contested in a torrential downpour and followed the U.S. Women's National Team's authoritative 4-1 victory over Germany.
China jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute with Washington Freedom midfielder Bai Jie strongly finishing a break on goal from the left flank after the Atlanta Beat's star forward Sun Wen had sent an excellent cross field pass over the Japanese defense. Just six minutes later, Bai Lilli slotted home a scramble in front of the net to give China a two-goal lead at the half.
The third China goal came from Lilli again, who this time chipped Japan goalkeeper Nozomi Yamogo with a crafty shot from 15 yards out in the 53rd minute.
The tournament continues on Tuesday at Columbus Crew Stadium when the U.S. battles Japan live on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET. That match will be preceded by Germany-China at 5:30 p.m. ET. The 2001 Nike U.S. Women's Cup will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 15 when the U.S. hosts China in the team's first meeting on American soil since their historic 1999 Women's World Cup clash. The match will be aired live on ESPN at 12 p.m. CT.
2001 NIKE U.S. WOMEN'S CUP GAME REPORT
| Participants: | China Women's National Team vs. Japan |
| Competition: | 2001 Nike U.S. Women's Cup |
| Venue: | Soldier Field (Chicago, Ill.) |
| Date: | September 9, 2001 |
| Scoring Summary: | 1st | 2nd | Final |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 1 | 3 |
CHN - Bai Jie (Sun Wen), 39.
CHN - Bai Lilli (unassisted), 45.
CHN - Bai Lilli (Bai Jie), 53.
Lineups:
JPN - 1-Nozomi Yamago, 3-Hiromi Isozaki - Capt. (7-Yayoi Kobayashi, 46), 4-Yumi Obe (17-Yuki Tsuchihashi, 80), 6-Noriko Baba, 8-Mito Isaka (20-Kanako Ito, 69), 11-Naoko Kawakami, 15-Mai Nakachi, 16-Yasuyo Yamagishi, 18-Homare Sawa, 19-Harve Sato (14-Mio Otani, 46), 21-Yuka Miyazaki (13-Yoshie Kasajima, 46).
CHN - 1-Xiao Zhen, 2-Wang Liping (14-Luo Quingxiu, 71), 3-Li Jie, 7-Zhang Ouying (10-Liu Ying, 55), 8-Bai Lilli, 11-Pu Wei - Capt., 13-Qu Feifei, 19-Sun Wen (6-Ren Liping, 46), 20-Bai Jie, 21-Wen Lirong (4-Jin Yan, 55), 22-Fan Yunjie.
| Statistical Summary: | JPN | CHN |
| 7 | 16 | |
| 5 | 3 | |
| 1 | 9 | |
| 11 | 15 | |
| 3 | 6 |
Misconduct Summary:
CHN - Bai Jie (caution), 31.
JPN - Yoshie Kasajima (caution), 55.
CHN - Luo Qingxiu (caution), 75.
Referee: Ricardo Salazar (USA)
