The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 59

LOS ANGELES TIMES THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1999 D7 i if 1 (A hr -A For Chinese, 2-0 Victory Is No Sweat Soccer: Russia manages only two shots and is beaten by the heat and a technically superior team. QUARTERFINALS THIRD PLACE July 10 3 China 2 At San Jose At Rose Bowl 10:15 a.m., ESPN Russia 0 SEMIFINALS Sunday China At Foxboro, Mass. 4:30 p.m., ESPN Norway CHAMPIONSHIP July 10 Norway 3 At San Jose Sweden 1 Today '1 At Rose Bowl lp.m., ABC By HELENE ELLIOTT TIMES STAFF WRITER SAN JOSE To China Coach Ma Yuanan, his team's Women's World Cup quarterfinal match against Russia Wednesday in the furnace called Spartan Stadium was a test of wills. "This is a very cruel game," he said. "I think the Russian team was more nervous than us.

Therefore, Russia didn't play at its best." China could hardly have played better. Despite blistering heat, the Chinese dominated every facet of the game and recorded a 2-0 victory before a crowd of 21,411, earning a semifinal berth against world champion Norway Sunday at Foxboro, and ending I United States i At Landover, Md. 4 p.m., ESPN At Palo Alto Germany A 1:30 p.m., ESPN Jr Norway Warms Up in the Second Half Soccer: Sweden keeps game scoreless for 45 minutes before falling, 3-1. By HELENE ELLIOTT TIMES STAFF WRITER SAN JOSE As the sultry weather cooled Wednesday evening, defending Women's World Cup champion Norway got hotter. Switching from long balls to a mixture of long and short passes, Norway broke open a scoreless game with three goals in the second half the last on a penalty kick and ran off with a 3-1 quarterfinal victory over rival Sweden at Spartan Stadium.

Norway (4-0) will face China Sunday in the semifinals at Foxboro, Mass. "Both teams were afraid of losing, and we talked about that at halftime," said Linda Medalen, Norway's captain. "Our coach Per-Mathias Hogmo was very good. He said, 'Don't be afraid of losing. There is nothing to lose and everything to win.

Do I'm very proud of him today. "We dreamt about this, so is fantastic." Norway wore down Sweden (2-2) with a display of individual skills the Swedes couldn't match. "We have been beating Sweden in our seven last matches," Hogmo said, "but there's always a chance you can be unlucky in football. We were very prepared for this game. "I'm not pleased with the goal we gave away, but I'm glad Sweden got a goal and can qualify for the Olympics." Holding Norway scoreless for the first 45 minutes Wednesday was a moral victory for Sweden, which can go to the Sydney Olympics if its margin of defeat is among the three lowest of the quarterfinal losers.

If teams have the identical margin of defeat, the losing team scoring the most goals will be ranked higher. "Norway has a lot of international players who are very good," Sweden Coach Marika Domansky Lyfors said. "It will be a very hard and tough match, but I think Norway will manage to reach the finals." Despite being sandwiched by two Swedish defenders, Norwegian midfielder Ann Kristin Aarones outjumped both to head in a free kick by Silje Jorgensen in the 51st minute. Seven minutes later, forward Marianne Pettersen chipped a shot over defender Asa Lonnqvist and the right hand of goalkeeper Ulrika Karlsson for Norway's second goal. Midfielder Hege Riise scored the third goal, in the 72nd minute.

Norway was awarded the penalty kick Karlsson tripped Pettersen in the penalty area, and Riise took a hard, curving shot that nestled inside the left post. Sweden avoided the shutout when Malin Mostrom outraced Norway's defense and sent a hard shot past Bente Nordby in the first minute of the four-minute injury time, but the clock ran out for Sweden. Brazil At Landover, Md. 6:30 p.m., ESPN2 Russia's World Cup debut. "Good game," said Chinese goalkeeper Gao Hong, who faced one I shot in each half and had to make only one save, on Irina Grigorieva in the 91st minute.

Nigeria All times Pacific. United States vs. Germany Reuters Pu Wei exults after scoring the only goal China would need to defeat Russia. determine the seven teams that will join host Australia in the Sydney Olympics; the four semifinalists will qualify, as will the three quarterfinalists that lose by the smallest margin. If the margin of defeat is the same, the losing team scoring the most goals will be ranked higher.

"Disappointed? No. Our overall objective was not to concede too many goals because a place at Sydney is at stake," he said. "Therefore, it would be senseless for us to open up the game. 0-2, in the long run, is not such a poor result." After creating many technically accomplished scoring chances, China scored its first goal on a shot that was neither threatening nor skillful. After Russian goalkeeper Svet-lana Petko made a handful of dazzling saves, she missed a stoppable shot by Pu from about 28 yards, mistiming her dive and watching as the ball bounced under her arm and into the net.

Buoyed by cheers, clashing cymbals and chants from the Chinese fans who formed large rooting sections in the end zones, China used its speed on the wings to good advantage. "Compared to the Olympic Games in 1996, our players are much more experienced," Ma said when asked about his team's fitness under the duress of such heat. They will add to that experience Sunday. "Failure is the mother of success," Pu said. "That is what drives me." At least as far as Foxboro, anyway.

"The Russians were She paused and pantomimed panting. "But I like," she said, pointing up toward the blazing sun. "It is from God." China (4-0) was hardly challenged and asserted its superiority from the outset. Pu Wei scored in the 37th minute, her first goal in the World Cup, and Jin Yan further wilted the Russians' resolve in the 56th minute, when she nudged home the rebound of a shot by Sun Wen that had hit the right goal post. "I'm pleased with our game today because this is a game of life and death," said Ma, whose team finished first in tough Group and has outscored its opponents, 14-2.

"If we are going back to Beijing, we will fight to the very last minute." China, which reached the quarterfinals of the two previous World Cups and won the silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, had better technique and endurance than Russia (2-2) and created countless chances before scoring. Coach Yurii Bystritzkii acknowledged his team was not up to the stiff challenge, yet he felt all was not lost. The quarterfinals of the World Cup will a Site Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Md. Time 4 p.m. TV ESPN.

Update This one promises to be a nail-biter until the final whistle. Don't breathe easy if the U.S. takes the lead, even by two goals. Germany's women, like Germany's men, are never more dangerous than when they are losing. The Americans hold an 8-3-1 edge in the series, which started in 1991, but the Germans have won as recently as 1997.

However, they will be without veteran midfielder Martina Voss, who has a torn muscle in her leg. The U.S., which is at full strength, will find it difficult to break through the German midfield and defense, and when it does top-flight goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg will be waiting. The U.S. offensive arsenal is well-stocked, and Coach Tony DiCicco will not hesitate to go to his bench or change formations if the attack bogs down. Prediction United States by one goal.

ft? Brazil vs. Nigeria Site Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Md. Time 6:30 p.m. TV ESPN2. Update Nigeria's coach, Ismaila Mabo, already has made the mistake of looking beyond tonight's game and talking about playing the U.S.

in the semifinals, where, he said, his players could "take our revenge" for the 7-1 first-round loss inflicted by the Americans. Better he should worry about losing by the same score to the Brazilians, who will tear an already porous Nigerian defense into even smaller shreds. Mabo says he has "a strategy that will counter" Brazil's fluid play. What, 11 goalkeepers? It will be a long night for Ann Chiejine in the Nigerian net, and a joyous one for samba sisters Sissi, Pretinha and company. Prediction Brazil by four goals.

GRAHAME L. JONES United States vs. Germany Though the United States has a winning record (8-3-1) against Germany and has outscored the Germans, 32-14, the results have not always gone In the Americans' favor. A look at the series: Date Site Result May 30, 1991 Kalserslautern, Germany U.S. 4, Germany 2 Nov.

27,1991 Guangzhou, China U.S. 5, Germany 2 March 14, 1993 Agal, Cyprus Germany 1, U.S. 0 April 7, 1993 Qakford, Pa. Germany 2, U.S. 1 April 10, 1993 Atlanta U.S.

3, Germany July 31, 1994 Fairfax, Va. U.S. 2, Germany 1 March 14, 1996 Decatur, Ga, U.S. 6, Germany 0 Davidson, U.S. 2, Germany 0 Oct.

9, 1997 Duishurg, Germany Germany 3, U.S. 1 Oct. 12, 1997 Salzgitter, Germany U.S. 3, Germany 0 June 25, 1998 St. Louis U.S.

1, Germany 1 Chicago U.S. 4, Germany 2 1991 Women's World Championship semifinal She's Not Quite Ready for Air Hamm Wednesday was Mia Hamm media day, the one afternoon this week designated by U.S. Soccer officials for a question-and-answer session with the much-in-demand star striker for Team USA. Yes, her right hamstring is fine and she expects to play 90 minutes against Germany tonight, Hamm said. No, she doesn't think she could help the U.S.

men's national team, as one wide-eyed questioner suggested. "Never happen," Hamm said, working hard to keep a straight face. "I'd get wiped off the field. It's flattering, but I couldn't play at that level." And, yes, she had a great time making that television commercial with Michael Jordan. "It was a blast," Hamm said.

"One of the great things about the experience was how normal it all was. Michael was gracious. He didn't ask me to treat him differently. He didn't treat me differently. It was two people who love their sports and have respect for each other." Reporter: "So, are you on his level now?" Hamm, laughing: "No way!" Reporter: "Does he know anything about soccer?" Hamm: "Yes, he does.

And if you gave him a week, he'd be on the men's national team." U.S. Left Germany Aching in '91 Tonight's game is not the first time the United States has played Germany in a women's world championship; the teams met in the semifinals of the inaugural tournament in 1991. That year, the U.S. was coming off a 7-0 rout of Chinese Taipei in a quarterfinal game in which Michelle Akers scored a world championship-record five goals. Her devastating performance caused the Germans to make a tactical error in the next match, according to coach Anson Dorrance.

They keyed their defense to stop Akers. And Carin Jennings, the ponytailed winger from Palos Verdes, tore the Germans to shreds in a convincing 5-2 U.S. victory that represented the team's best and most attractive offensive performance of the championship. Jennings, now Carin Jennings Gabarra, the coach of Navy, scored the first three goals, her dribbling and finishing skills clinching the tournament's most-valuable-player award in the process. Team captain April Heinrichs scored the last two goals.

Germany never stood a chance. U.S. assistant coach Lauren Gregg still regards Jennings' play that night as the best performance by an American player. -GRAHAME L. JONES to see Carla and Lil Lilly and the veterans there first.

So what we've built not me personally, but as a team is a culture. "Because if I'm a young player and I see Kristine Lilly going over to take bags off the bus without being asked, or to help load bags onto the belt at the airport, the message has got to sink home or else it's going to come home down the road and bite me. "If you're not ready to share the responsibilities, both on and off the field, on this team, you're going to have trouble living in this culture. That's something that I think the team leadership creates." Can the next generation do as well, or is this a unique team, a once-in-a-lifetime coming together of all the elements that make for sporting success? Were Overbeck and friends so much better in '91 than the young players now waiting to take their place? "It's been so long I can't remember back that far," she said. "But I know there is some great talent coming up.

"It makes us feel comfortable as veterans knowing that when we go and finally retire and give up the national team, they'll just step right in and continue the success because the federation has started women's under-16, under-18 and under-20 teams. They understand that the development of the youth is critical to the team's success." Indeed, once World Cup '99 has disappeared from the front page and the nightly news, the American stars of 2003 and 2007 will be out there trying to match their predecessors' success. In August, assistant coach Lauren Gregg takes the U.S. under-20 national team to Iceland for the Nordic Cup. Later that month, Shannon Higgins-Cirovski takes the under-18 national team to Canada to compete in the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg.

Shannon Higgins-Cirovski was Shannon Higgins in '91, a starter on the world championship team. The legacy is being passed on. But no matter what happens tonight or in the rest of the World Cup, it won't be until after the 2000 Sydney Olympics that the seven stalwarts Akers, Chastain, Fawcett, Foudy, Hamm, Lilly and Overbeck will bid their adieus. They're still having too much fun. "I have a tremendous respect for this team," DiCicco said.

"It's an honor, an absolute honor, to coach them. It's a privilege. "I think the world of them, not only as players but as people. I'm proud of them." Best of all, when the inevitable does happen, the bonds that have been formed over the last decade will continue to keep the players and coaches together. "It's a good feeling," Overbeck said.

"These are the friends we're going to have for life." SOCCER Continued from Page 1 they partied deep into the night at the White Swan hotel beside the Pearl River, Akers was the oldest at 25. Next came Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett and Carla Overbeck, each of them 23. Julie Foudy and Kristine Lilly were only 20. And the baby of the group was Mia Hamm. She was 19.

Tonight, at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in Landover, the seven will line up together again, just as they have every year since 1988. Regardless of being soccer's first women's world champions, of being soccer's first women's Olympic champions, of all the other honors that have come their way, that they have stayed together and kept playing at the highest level is their most remarkable achievement. "That is pretty amazing," U.S. Coach Tony DiCicco said. "But the thing you've got to remember is that they were all teenagers when they started.

The core of the team, in many ways, is not even 30. Some of the players are just getting into their 30s. "This has been their league. These are professional players who wanted to play at the highest level. If somebody played 10 years in a top league, we probably wouldn't think much of it.

But they haven't had a league to play in. is where they've been able to realize their competitive drives and dreams and satisfy those types of energies within them." But it is more than competition. It is also very much about camaraderie. "This team has been together, gosh, since '87 or '88," Overbeck said. "We've grown up together.

We go through hard times. We have great times. I think this team is unique in that we all get along. It's amazing how much we genuinely like each other, and we have so much fun together. "I think when you stop having fun is when it's time to stop.

But this team continues to have a great time every time we're together." In 1991, Overbeck was still Carla Werden. She had not yet married. She had not yet given birth to a son, Jackson, now 1V6. And yet here she is, only two victories away from returning to Pasadena, the city of her own birth, for another world championship final, this one at the Rose Bowl. Five of the seven have married since '91.

Fawcett, who was Joy Biefeld in '91, also has children in tow, her daughters Katelyn Rose and Carli, and their nanny, being very much a part of the U.S. team's entourage. Lilly has become the world-record holder in number of international appearances, just as Hamm has become the world's all-time leading goal scorer. "We love the game and we love to play at the highest level," Lilly U.S. Coach Tony DiCicco said he and his staff have toyed with the idea of changing formations for Germany possibly employing a 3-5-2 alignment that would include Shannon MacMillan as a flank midfielderbut indicated he will stay with the 4-3-3 set the United States used for its first two games against Denmark and Nigeria.

"We're pleased with the way we played the first two games," DiCicco said, adding that he probably won't replace Cindy Parlow at forward with MacMillan. DiCicco said Parlow's height (5 feet 11) and heading ability make her especially useful against a tall, physical backline such as Germany's. "If we go into the game expecting Mia 5-5 and Tlffeny Mllbrett, who is 5-2 to compete for head balls against the Germans, we're not going to be successful," DiCicco said. -MIKE PENNER The Women's World Cup has been around for less than two weeks and its television ratings are already better than the NHL's. ESPN has a .82 cable rating in five World Cup games so far compared with a .59 mark on NHL regular-season games this past season.

The cable network also has broadcast 17 Women's World Cup games on ESPN2, with a .51 mark. ESPN's game last Thursday between the United States and Nigeria drew a 1.85 rating and was seen in 1.4 million homes. Sunday's United States-North Korea game on ESPN2 got a 1.96 rating and was seen in 1.3 million homes. Associated Press said. "We're competitive and we love each other.

We love seeing each other, playing with each other. "When you've known people for so long, you don't want it to end. Whatever it may be. But we still love the game of soccer, and I think that's what keeps us coming back." Chastain sees something more at work. "I think it's a testament to not only the hard work that each one of those players puts in, but I think it says something about women athletes in general," she said.

"I mean, I don't think you see too many players in men's athletics who are on one team for 10 years, even if their career lasts that long. "To play at the highest level for that long is pretty impressive, I think." Especially since the U.S. women, despite the championships they have won and despite the crowds they draw, do not get much in the way of financial reward. "That's even more impressive, isn't it?" Chastain said. "I think that's the bottom line for this team," she added.

"Fans know that we go out there and work hard for ourselves and our teammates and our country. And we're doing it because we want to put a good product out there, not because we're making millions of dollars. "It's because we love soccer and we love what soccer has given to us and now we're going to give it back. It's a simple equation. It's so simple." Simple to say, yes, but not simple to achieve.

A great deal of thought and large amount of work has gone into building the closeness that is the hallmark of the U.S. team. "It comes down to the very basics of the stuff we do," DiCicco said. "If you see the equipment list for practice, you'll see Hamm's name up there, Akers' name up there, Foudy's name up there, water, ice, bibs, cones. We don't have a rookie responsibility to handle those things, because we ought to do it together on the field and we ought to do it together off the field.

"That's the way they want it. Carla Overbeck doesn't want somebody else doing these jobs. She wants to be part of it. And when we're unloading a bus, you're going China Russia. .1 1-2 0-0 Norway 0 3-3 Sweden 0 1-1 First-half scodnj-None.

Second-half scorlng-1 Nor, Aarones (Jorgen-sen), 51st minute. 2. Nor, Pettersen (Aarones), 58th. 3. Nor.

Ruse (penalty kick), 72nd. 4. Swe, Mostrom (Heponiemi), 90th. Shots-Norway 14, Sweden 8. Shots on goal-Norway 8, Sweden 3.

Offsides-Norway 4, Sweden 3 Fouls-Norway 9, Sweden 11, Yellow cards-Norway 1, Sweden 0. Red cards-None. Referea-Eun Ju Im, South Korea. Linesman-Hisae Yoshizawa, Japan; Ghislaine Peron Labile, France. First-half scoring 1.

Chi, Pu, 37th minute. Second-half scoring 2. Chi, Jin (Sun), 56th. Shots China 24, Russia 2. Shots on goal China 9, Russia 1.

Offsides China 0, Russia 0. Fouls China 13, Russia 10. Yellow cards China 1, Russia 1. Red cards None. Referee Nicole Mouidi Petignat.

Switzerland. Linesmen Boni Bishop, Trinidad and Tobago; Comfort Cofie, Ghana. Attendance 1,411. i.