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U.S. beats Canada for Gold Cup title
By Andrew Dalton // Associated Press // November 26, 2006
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| Photo by Associated Press |
CARSON, Calif. -- Kristine Lilly scored on a penalty kick late in overtime to give the United States a 2-1 victory over Canada on Sunday night in the championship game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Robyn Gayle fouled Carli Lloyd with an elbow just a few feet in front of the goal in injury time in the second overtime, and Lilly -- the tournament MVP -- sent the penalty kick sailing to the left of goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
Both teams had already qualified for the 2007 World Cup in China by making the final.
The United States solidified its position as one of the favorites for the World Cup and extended its unbeaten streak to a team-record 32 games. All but two of those games were under coach Greg Ryan.
The United States, 27-0-5 during the run, broke a national record when it ran the streak to 31 with a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Wednesday in the semifinals, the game that earned the team its World Cup berth.
McLeod had three huge second-half saves to help force overtime.
She dove to her left for her first save of the game in the 74th minute to stop a header from Marci Miller, then saved two shots in a 1-on-1 duel with Natasha Kai in the 78th minute.
Canada's Randee Hermus tied it at 1 just before halftime with an unassisted goal. A free kick from Melanie Booth caromed off Miller's head, and Hermus scored from 10 yards.
Leslie Osborne opened the scoring for the United States in the sixth minute when Martina Franko failed to clear the ball with a header. Osborne booted it just to the left of a lunging McLeod from 15 yards out for her second career goal for the national team.
Canadian coach Even Pellerud was ejected in the 86th minute after arguing with officials for much of the game.
Canada beat Jamaica 4-0 on Wednesday to reach the final and qualify for the World Cup.
Mexico beat Japan 3-0 earlier Sunday in the third-place game and will play two games against Japan for a World Cup berth.
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