Germany Defeats Japan, 1-0, to Open 2001 Nike U.S. Women's Cup

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. (Friday, September 7, 2001) - The German Women's National Team wore down a game Japanese National Team and got the winning goal in the 76th minute from midfielder Verena Hagadorn in the first of six matches in the 2001 Nike U.S. Women's Cup.

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. (Friday, September 7, 2001) - The German Women's National Team wore down a game Japanese National Team and got the winning goal in the 76th minute from midfielder Verena Hagadorn in the first of six matches in the 2001 Nike U.S. Women's Cup.

Germany out-shot Japan 14-4 for the match, but the skillful and quick Japanese created several good chances in the second half. The German goal was unstoppable as Hagedorn, a halftime substitute, ran onto a loose ball that rolled straight back to her and drilled her shot on a line into the upper left corner.

The tournament continues on Sunday as the USA plays its first match, taking on Germany at Noon CT at Soldier Field (Live on ESPN). China faces Japan at 2:30 p.m. CT. The teams will then move to Columbus, Ohio and then Kansas City, Mo. for final three matches of the tournament.

2001 NIKE U.S. WOMEN'S CUP GAME REPORT

Participants:	Germany Women's National Team vs. Japan
Competition:	2001 Nike U.S. Women's Cup
Venue:	Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Date:	September 7, 2001

Scoring Summary:	1st	2nd	Final
Japan	0	0	0
Germany	0	1	1

GER - Verena Hagedorn (unassisted), 76.

Lineups:
JPN - 1-Nozomi Yamago, 3-Hiromi Isozaki, 4-Yumi Obe-Capt., 5-Tomoe Sakai, 7-Yayoi Kobayashi (17-Yuki Tsuchihashi, 79th), 8-Mito Isaka (6-Noriko Baba, 84th), 13-Yoshie Kasajima, 14-Mio Otani (19-Harue Sato, 63rd), 15-Mai Nakachi, 16-Yasuyo Yamagishi, 18-Homare Sawa.

GER - 1-Silke Rottenberg (12-Nadine Angerer, 46th), 2-Kerstin Stegemann, 4-Christina Zerbe (15-Verena Hagedorn, 46th), 5-Nia Kunzer, 17-Ariane Hingst, 7-Navina Omilade, 8-Sandra Smisek, 10-Renate Lingor-Capt., 11-Martina Muller, 9-Conny Pohlers (16-Jennifer Meier, 46th), 18-Petra Wimbersky.

Statistical Summary:	GER	JPN
Shots . . . . . . . . . .	14	4
Saves . . . . . . . . . .	0	6
Corner Kicks . . . . .	8	6
Fouls . . . . . . . . . .	13	14
Offside . . . . . . . . .	4	4

Misconduct Summary:
JPN - Hiromi Isozaki (caution), 24.
GER - Nia Kunzer (caution), 39.
GER - Petra Wimbersky (caution), 76.

Referee: Richard Grady (USA)