BORLANGE, Sweden (July 15, 2008) -- U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team won its opening match of the 2008 Nordic Cup, defeating Switzerland, 1-0, as midfielder Brittany Klein tallied the winning goal six minutes into the second half.

While the USA out-shot the Swiss, who were using several overage players, by a 14-6 margin, the Americans produced just one goal but it was enough to hold up for a crucial three points.

The goal came off a throw-in that forward India Trotter took the right end line. She crossed the ball back to midfielder Tina Dimartino at the top right side of the penalty area. Faced with two defenders, DiMartino cleverly found Klein on her left and she bent the ball around the ‘keeper into the lower right corner.

"At times, we settled the ball and created good chances,” said Klein, who scored her first international goal for the U-23s. “We just have to be able to finish those chances we get. There are some things we really need to work on for our next game to move forward in the tournament, but we made big improvements from the first half to the second half."

The USA almost changed the game just three minutes in as Trotter slammed a shot off the post. Switzerland’s Maeva Sarrasin had the best chance of the game for her country as she broke through the U.S. defense and shot around U.S. goalkeeper Val Henderson, but the ball was cleared off the line by a hustling Katherine Reynolds.

"We played good football,” said U.S. head coach Bill Irwin. “In the first half, we were out-hustled and out-muscled, but we changed it up in the second half and we finally scored on one of our many chances. The win is a good start to the tournament, but we have a few things to work on to prepare for England on Thursday."

Held in Northern Europe every summer, the USA has competed in the Nordic Cup for the last 14 years, during which time it has become the focus of the USA’s oldest youth national team during its six-month run-up to the prestigious competition. The USA has won nine out of the last 11 Nordic Cups.

"I thought we played well when we found feet and width,” said DiMartino, who was named played of the match. “We put in a good effort tonight."

The American face England next on July 17 in Borlange and then will finish group play with Norway on July 19 in Famas. The USA must win its group to play in the championship game on July 21.

All four opening matches of the Nordic Cup were shutouts. In the other Group B match, Norway defeated England, 2-0. In Group A, Sweden downed Scotland 3-0 and Germany edged Finland, 2-0

U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team Match Report

Participants: U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team vs. Switzerland
Competition: 2008 Nordic Cup – Group B
Location: Borlange, Sweden
Date: July 15, 2008
Attendance: 300
Weather: Cloudy, Cool – 62 degrees

Scoring Summary:
               1st   2nd   Final
USA         0       1       1
SUI           0       0      0

USA – Brittany Klein (Tina DiMartino)     51st minute.

Lineups:
USA: 1-Valerie Henderson; 2 Marissa Abegg (11-Meghan Schnur, 62), 15-Becky Sauerbrunn, 4-Nikki Krzysik, 7-Katherine Reynolds; 10-Yael Averbuch, 13-Tina DiMartino, 9-Brittany Klein, 5-Kiki Bosio (16-Katie Larkin, 70); 8-India Trotter (17-Katie Frierson, 85), 3-Ella Masar (14-Kerri Hanks, 55).
Subs Not Used: 18-Cori Alexander, 6-Lorraine Quinn, 11-Kasey Moore.
Head Coach: Bill Irwin

SUI: 1-Marisa Brunner; 2-Gaelle Thallman (4-Rahel Graf, 74), 15-Isabelle Meyer, 5-Nora Hauptle, 13-Vanessa Burki, 6-Marina Keller (3-Caroline Abbe, 62), 14-Lara Dickermann (8-Prisca Steinegger, 62), 10-Noemie Beney, 19-Ramona Bachman, 20-Maeva Sarrasin, 7-Franziska Scharer (16-Marina Moser, 82).
Subs Not Used: 12-Sandra Betschart, 11-Vanessa Bernauer.
Head Coach: Beatrice von Siebenthal

Statistical Summary:
USA / SUI
Shots: 14 / 6    
Shots on Goal: 5/2
Saves: 2 / 4
Fouls: 7 / 16
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Offside: 1 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
SUI –Marina Keller (caution)    54th minute

2008 Nordic Cup Schedule - Sweden
July 15-21, 2008
 
Group A Standings
Teams        W    L    T     Pts.    GF     GA    GD
Sweden      1     0     0      3        3         0      +3
Germany    1     0     0      3        2         0      +2
Scotland     0     1     0      0        0         3       -3
Finland        0    1     0      0        0          2      -2

Tuesday, July 15
Sweden 3, Scotland 0
Germany 2, Finland 0

Thursday, July 17
Finland vs. Sweden
Scotland vs. Germany

Thursday, July 19
Sweden vs. Germany
Scotland vs. Finland

Group B Standings
Teams            W    L    T     Pts.    GF     GA    GD
Norway            1     0    0      3        2         0      +2
USA                 1      0    0      3        1         0      +1
Switzerland    0      1    0      0        0         1       -1
England          0      1    0      0        0        2       -2

Tuesday, July 15
USA 1, Switzerland 0
Norway 2, England 0

Thursday, July 17
USA vs. England
Switzerland vs. Norway

Thursday, July 19
USA vs. Norway
England vs. Switzerland

Monday, July 21
7th Place Match
5th Place Match
3rd Place Match
Championship Match