The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 50

P4 SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 1999 LOS ANGELES TIMES China Doesn't Rest on Its Laurels When it comes to picking a World Cup winner, Australia's coach sees a pattern go with China. GROUP GROUP A I GF GA PU GF GA Pto 3 0 0 13 2 9 2 0 0 10 1 6 x-Noiway United States x-Russia 2 1 0 10 3 6 1 1 0 3 8 3 Nigeria I ft 0 2 1 1 10 1 1 1 0 4 3 3 Japan North Korea EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.-Today's pregame meal for the U.S. national women's soccer team comes with an extra course, some words to chew on, possibly after having seasoned them with a grain of salt. "I'm sorry to disappoint the American crowd," Australia Coach Greg Brown said after his team's 3-1 loss to China in the Women's World Cup Saturday, "but I think China is the best technical team in the tournament. I still fancy China to make it Canada 0 2 1 3 12 1 0 2 0 1 6 0 Denmark ill MIKE PENNER At East Rutherford, June 19 United States 3, Denmark 0 At Rose Bowl, lune 20 Nigeria 2, North Korea 1 At Chicago, June 24 United States 7.

Nigeria 1 At Portland, June 24 North Korea 3, Denmark 1 Today at Landover, Md. Nigeria vs. Denmark, 1 p.m. Today at Foxboro, Mass. North Korea vs.

United States, 4 p.m. At San Jose, June 19 Canada 1, Japan 1 At Foxboro, June 20 Norway 2, Russia 1 At Landover, June 23 Norway 7, Canada 1 At Portland, June 23 Russia 5, Japan 0 At East Rutherford, June 26 Russia 4, Canada 1 At Chicago, June 26 Norway 4, Japan 0 GROUP GROUP GF GA Pts I GF GA Pts x-China 3 0 0 12 2 9 2 0 0 9 1 6 (-Brazil x-Sweden 2 1 0 6 3 6 10 17 14 Germany Australia 0 2 1 3 7 1 0 1113 1 Italy Ghana 0 2 1 1 10 1 0 2 0 1 13 0 I Mexico Soccer: Already assured berth in quarterfinals, it goes with its starters to defeat Australia, 3-1. By HELENE ELLIOTT TIMES STAFF WRITER EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.-The end of first-round play in many ways signaled the beginning of the Women's World Cup for China. Although it was assured of a berth in the quarterfinals before its 3-1 victory over Australia Saturday at Giants Stadium, its effort never flagged. That was by design, according to Coach Ma Yuanan, who started all his regulars and gave a break to standout midfielder Sun Wen only in the 63rd minute, after she had scored twice to increase her tournament total to five goals.

"The match is the best practice for the players," he said, "because there is a long time between the last match and the next match. For the main players, this was the best practice for them for the next game." Group champion China (3-0) will face Russia on Wednesday in San Jose. "I wish in the later matches I could score more goals and I wish my teammates would score more goals," Sun said. Australia (0-1-2) was down a player after forward Alicia Ferguson was ejected for an illegal tackle in the second minute. "I think the crowd would have seen a better game 11 against 11," Australia Coach Greg Brown said of the 29,401 spectators.

"To be fair, I didn't see the tackle. I was still tying my shoelaces." Given that disadvantage and the oppressive heat, Australia did well to hold China scoreless until the 39th minute, when Sun scored on a header. Her second goal, from about eight yards out, was set up by PuWei. Cheryl Salisbury spared Australia a shutout when she booted a left-footed shot that rolled off the hands of goalkeeper Gao Hong in the 66th minute, the first goal against China since the second minute of its 2-1 opening victory over Sweden, a span of 243 minutes. Liu Ying reestablished a comfortable margin for China in the 73rd minute.

At East Rutherford, June 19 Brazil 7, Mexico 1 At Rose Bowl, June 20 Germany 1, Italy 1 At Chicago, June 24 Brazil 2, Italy 0 At Portland, June 24 Germany 6, Mexico 0 Today at Landover, Md. Germany vs Brazil, 10:30 a.m. Today at Foxboro, Mass. Mexico vs. Italy, 1:30 p.m.

At San Jose, June 19 China 2, Sweden 1 At Foxboro, June 20 Ghana 1, Australia 1 At Landover, June 23 Sweden 3, Australia 1 At Portland, June 23 China 7, Ghana 0 At East Rutherford, June 26 China 3, Australia 1 At Chicago, June 26 Sweden 2, Ghana 0 Qualified for second round to the final, and they could win it." That would presumably come at the expense of the host United States, who, if form holds, is due to meet China July 10 at the Rose Bowl for the World Cup trophy. This opinion comes after China played 88 minutes at Giants Stadium with a one-player advantage and led Brown's winless side by only a goal, 2-1, entering the 73rd minute. Yes, Alicia Ferguson was ejected in the second minute for playing the wrong sport Aussie Rules Football, instead of soccer and sending China's Bai Jie into orbit, head over heels. By the time Bai completed reentry, referee Sandra Hunt was brandishing the red card, forcing Australia to play short-handed for 88 grueling minutes in 91-degree heat and 38 humidity. But instead of running Australia off the pitch with its storied pinpoint precision passing attack, China labored mightily for most of those 88 minutes-unleashing a total of 21 shots, misfiring on 18 of them and requiring a 73rd-minute strike from Liu Ying to finally put away the wilting Matildas.

Still, Brown persisted in his charity mission to provide the American women with as much bulletin-board fodder as possible. "I just think China, all around, is technically the better side," Brown said. "They have flair, they have confidence, they can play the ball all around the park. They probably lack a little strength when compared to the United States. "The last two times I've seen them play each other, I thought China played the better football." Breaking it down, Brown did concede one advantage to the Americans.

"Having the home crowd, I think, will help the Americans," he said. Of course, such talk completely discounts the highly viable Norwegian and Brazilian factors still floating around this tournament. Norway, the reigning Women's World Cup champion, is not likely to surrender easily should the Norwegians meet China, as expected, in one semifinal July 4. Brazil could face the Americans in the other semifinal, in another matchup that is less than a sure thing. But should China and the United States meet for the championship, as they did during the 1996 Olympics, Brown favors the Chinese.

"I think China is a great footballing team," Brown said. "They play the ball on the ground, the way I like us to try to play." Asked if he had any advice to pass along to the Americans, if and when they play China, Brown Associated Press After scoring a goal against Australia, China's Liu Ying, left, celebrates with teammate Fan Yunjie. offered this: Score first. "I think the U.S. has played China often enough to know what to do against them," Brown said.

"They don't need me to tell them anything. But I'd say they have to be patient. One of the weak links of China is that they get frustrated. If you can hold them out, you can frustrate them." As Sweden did last weekend in China's World Cup opener scoring in the second minute before ultimately, succumbing, 2-1. "China came very close to losing that game," Brown said.

Australia, far less experienced than Sweden, stuck to much the same plan. With a tall, physical back line, Australia repeatedly flushed Chinese attacks out of the box winning head balls and interrupting crosses with knees, shins, ankles, whatever. China Coach Ma Yuanan said his team played at less than peak form because of the heat and jet lag from having to travel from San Jose to Portland, to East Rutherford to complete its three first-round matches. "Our rhythm is much slower today," Ma allowed. "We still have to get used to the local weather." A reporter asked Ma about the saturation media coverage that has been devoted to the United States so far during the tournament.

"We have to consider these things from two perspectives," Ma said with a wry smile. "One, everybody talks about the Americans because they know they are a capable team. And, two, all this talk about the Americans places a great pressure on them." How did Ma rate China's chance in a possible i championship showdown with the Americans? "We have played against the Americans 21 matches," he said, with the same wry smile. "Ten we have lost 11, actually, five we have drawn, and five we have won. In 1999 against the Americans, we have won two times and we have lost one time." So much for quotations from chairman Ma.

Interpretation, anyone? "The Americans do have some weaknesses," Brown said. "China is technically sound at every position." To be continued, if this tournament has any luck, in 1 two weeks at the Rose Bowl. yuamcnriiMLa Wednesday Quarterfinal 1 At San Jose China vs. Russia, 5 p.m. Quarterfinal 2 At San Jose Norway vs.

Sweden, 7:30 p.m. Thursday SEMIFINALS -July 4 At Palo Alto Quarterfinal 3 winner vs. quarterfinal 4 winner, 1:30 p.m. At Foxboro, Mass. Quarterfinal 1 winner vs.

quarterfinal 2 winner, 4:30 p.m. THIRD PLACE July 10 At Rose Bowl Semifinal losers, 10:30 a.m. CHAMPIONSHIP July 10 Semifinal winners, 1 p.m. Quarterfinal 3 1 At Landover, Md. Group A winner vs.

Group second, 4 p.m. Quarterfinal 4 At Landover, Md. Group winner vs. Group A second, 6:30 p.m. All Times Pacific Germany vs.

Brazil Site Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Md. Time 10:30 a.m. TV ESPN2. Update The possibility of this Group finale ending in a tie cannot be dismissed. That would assure both teams of advancing to the quarterfinals.

However, Germany would prefer not to finish second behind Brazil because it almost certainly would have to play the U.S. next. A German victory would mean a U.S.-Brazil quarterfinal, something the Americans do not relish. It will come down to Brazilian offense against German defense, and with Sissi and Pretinha in hot form, go with the attacking team. Prediction Brazil by one goal.

Russia Has Enough to Beat Heat Nigeria vs. Denmark Site Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Md. Time 1 p.m. TV ESPN2. Update Nigeria, beaten, 7-1, by the U.S.

on Thursday, needs only a tie to fcecure second place in the group, assuming a U.S. victory over North Korea later in the day. Denmark has lost both of its games, but can salvage second place by Seating the African champions by enough goals and also relying on a U.S. victory. The Danes have disappointed, but their resolve to make the Olympic field com-' bined with the Nigerians' porous defense could make it interesting.

Prediction Denmark by one goal. Mexico vs Italy 1, Reuters Site Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro, Mass. Time 1:30 p.m. TV ESPN2. (tape-delayed at 9:30 p.m.) Update For Italy to reach the quarterfinals, it needs to beat Mexico by as many goals as possible and hope that Brazil thrashes Germany.

Since that game already will be over by the time this one begins, the Italian display could either be awesome oy as dull as it was in the loss to Brazil on Thursday. Mexico will finish last in the 16-team World Cup field unless it somehow conjures up a win, and that is most utilikely. Prediction Italy by three goals. Japan's Kae Nishina, left, and Norway's Unni Lehn battle each other and uncertain footing as they slosh across a sodden Soldier Field. Norwegians Battered, but Japan Is Beaten United States vs.

North Korea Substitute Is Spark for Swedes By GRAHAME L. JONES TIMES STAFF WRITER CHICAGO The mark of a good team is depth of talent, and Sweden proved that once again Saturday afternoon, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup despite losing its top goal scorer. The Swedes' match against Ghana at Soldier Field was barely five minutes old when Hanna Ljungberg injured her knee and had to be substituted. Ljungberg had scored twice in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Australia and is Sweden's fastest player. But no matter.

Fellow forward Victoria Svensson stepped up her game and twice found the net in the second half to give the Swedes a 2-0 victory in front of 34,256. The first came in the 58th minute when Svensson leaped to head a cross by Malin Mostrom over goalkeeper Memunatu Sule-mana and under the crossbar. "At first I thought it was going to go over the goal, but then I saw it go in," Svensson said. Ghana came close to tying the score in the 86th minute when a bad back pass by Sweden's Asa Lonnqvist resulted in goalkeeper Ulrika Karlsson hitting her clearance kick directly into Ghana's Elizabeth Baidu. The ball rebounded over Karlsson, struck the crossbar and bounced back into the keeper's arms.

Sweden then turned on its fast-break offense and, seconds later, Sulemana was picking the ball out of the back of Ghana's net after Svensson had driven home a pass from Malin Gustafsson. Ghana Coach Emmanuel Kwame Afranie complained afterward about his team not getting the calls, but Ghana's overly physical play could easily have been more severely punished by Canadian referee Sonia Denoncourt. Sweden will meet world champion Norway in the quarterfinals in the latest edition of one of the oldest rivalries in women's soccer. "Even though we won today, we had a lot of chances and we should have put the ball in the net," Sweden Coach Marika Domanski Lyfors said. "We cannot afford those mistakes when we play a team of Norway's caliber." Site Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.

Time 4 p.m. TV- -ESPN2. Update A repent of Thursday's six goal first half against Nigeria is not going to happen, but the Americans are at their best at the moment and would like to join Norway and China in remaining unbeaten and untied going into the final eight. A Combination of experience, tactical awareness and technical superiority, plus an- other crowd supporting it, should assure the U.S. of a relatively easy afternoon.

North Korea just does not have the guns to score an upset. Does it? Prediction United States by three goals. GRAHAME JONES By HELENE ELLIOTT TIMES STAFF WRITER EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.-Russia's Women's World Cup debut is proving to be surprisingly successful, exceeding even its coach's highest hopes. "It would be naive for us to set ultimate goals like winning the World Cup. We wanted to produce a good impression and to gain experience," Yurii Bystritzkii said.

"The concrete task was to qualify for the quarterfinals. This was, indeed, the case." It was, indeed. Substitute Elena Fomina scored twice and captain Irina Grigorieva continued her brilliant play with a goal and an assist as Russia overwhelmed Canada, 4-1, Saturday before an announced crowd of 29,401 at steamy Giants Stadium and qualified for the quarterfinals. Grigorieva scored in the 54th minute with a 23-yard shot taken on the run and set up Fomina just outside the 18-yard box in the 66th minute, five minutes after Fomina replaced Tatiana Egorova and infused energy into a lineup that had been conserving energy because of the heat. "It's very hard to adapt," Grigorieva said of the temperature, which was 88 degrees at game time.

"In the second half, we still found strength enough to go at full speed, and there were good substitutions, maybe, for players who were most tired." Russia, which finished second in Group will face China Wednesday at Spartan Stadium in San Jose. "We fight on," Grigorieva said. "We are fully aware China is a very hot favorite to win this Cup but we will fight down to the wire and play as good football as we can." In winning, Russia (2-1-0) also earned a berth in the Sydney Olympics. "Of course, Sydney is looming and is dominating all our thoughts," the 27-year-old midfielder said. "We shall do our best." The heat and a strong attack by Canada (0-2-1) tested the Russians early.

"We had a couple of chances but we just could not finish," Canada's Charmaine Hooper said. "It's really frustrating." MIWAMall i A illl III lll'liliiiiiiiiiif .0 44 .0 1-1 .0 11 .1 2-3 Russia Canada Amtrall. China woman in Oslo and now is a private investigator, showed up in the media mixed zone with her head wrapped in bandages and sporting sunglasses. As flashbulbs popped, the defender protested light-heartedly to photographers when they asked her to remove the sunglasses. "Do I have to?" she said.

"I look like the elephant woman. You know how I am, I am more concerned about my looks than the broken nose." The irony is that it was Medalen who clattered into the United States' Michelle Akers on Feb. 14 in San Jose in the FIFA all-star game and fractured Akers' cheekbone. Now, she has suffered a similar injury. Striker Ann Kristin Aarones also came out of the game for Norway early on after cutting her head in a collision.

But not before scoring her third goal of the tournament and giving Norway a 3-0 lead after only 36 minutes. "It is only a small cut, it should not be any problem," Norway Coach Per-Mathias Hogmo said. Dagny Mellgren closed out the scoring in the 61st minute when she headed in a cross from Unni Lehn, who worked tirelessly all night on a sodden field. Soccer: Medalen, Aarones knocked out of game by injuries in 4-0 victory. By GRAHAME L.

JONES TIMES STAFF WRITER CHICAGO All it takes is one play to turn a private eye into a broken nose. When Linda Medalen's nose smacked into a Japanese player's elbow Saturday evening, the Norwegian captain crumpled to the ground clutching her hands to her face in pain. She wobbled off the field on rubbery legs, supported by the team doctor and trainer, and was not on hand to see Norway ease into the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup with a 4-0 Group victory over Japan in front of 34,256 rain-drenched fans. "We have taken X-rays of the break and it could possibly be a fracture, but if it is, the nose is not out of position, it is just cracked," said Agnar Tegnander, the team doctor. "We are now going to take a scan, and if its shows a fracture we will make her a mask and she can play with that against Sweden on Wednesday in San Jose." Medalen, who used to be a police First-half scoring None.

Second-half scoring 1. Russia, Gngorieva (Bar-bachina), 54th minute; 2. Russia, Fomina (Gngorieva), 66th; 3. Canada, Hooper (Donnelly), 76th; 4. Russia.

Fomina (Letuchova), 86th; 5. Russia. O.Kar-asseva (Letuchova), 91st. Shots Russia 13. Canada 15.

Shots on goal Russia 10, Canada 8. Offsides Russia 2. Canada 1. Fouls Russia 9. Canada 11.

Yellow cards Russia 1, Canada 2. Red cards None. Referee Zuo Xiudi. China. Linesmen Lu Lijuan, China: Ri Song Ok, North Korea.

Attendance 29,401. Flrst-haH acorlnK 1 China. Sun (Zhao), 39th rpmute. 'SeconcHialf tewing China, Sun (Pu), 51st. 3.

Australia, Salisbury (Murray), 66th. 4. Liu (Pu), 73rd. Shots Australia 5. Chinn Shots on goat Australia 4.

China 9. Ofhklea Australia 2. China 2. Foul Australia 8, Oilm 1 6. Yallow cards Austt ilin 0.

China 2. Rod cards Australia t. 1 hina 0. Refsras Sandra H-int, United States. Unas-man Ana Isabel Perez Assante, Peru; Hisae Yoshi-zawa, Japan.

.0 0-0 0 22 Ghana Sweden Norway 3 14 Japan 0 00 First-half scoring 1. Norway. Riise (penalty kick), 8th minute; 2. Norway, Japan's Isozaki (own goal), 26th; 3. Norway, Aarones (Lehn), 36th.

Second-half scoring 4. Norway, Mellgren (Lehn), 61st. Shots Norway 15, Japan 6. Shots on goal Norway 8, Japan 4. Offsides Norway 4.

Japan 6. Foots Norway 19, Japan 14. Yellow cards Norway 2, Japan 1. Red cards None. Referee Mansela Contreras, Venezuela.

Ltnes-men Ghislaine Person-Labbe, France; Susanne Borg. Sweden. Attendance 34,256. First-half scoring ie. Second-half scoring -Swc 'on.

Svensson (Mos-trom). 58th minute. Swrdon, Svensson (Gustafs-son), 86th. Shots Ghana 1t. Swrv'n Vj.

Shots on goal Ghinn Sweden 15. Offsides Ghana 2. Sweden 6. Fouls Ghana 15. Swrdn 14.

Yellow cards Ghana 2 Sweden 0. Red cards None Referee Soma Drnntcotirt. Canada. LinesmenAnn Wenche Kleven. Norway: Come Kruithof, Holland..