U.S. Needs Luck to Tie Norway

TROMSO, Norway —  Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Tiffeny Milbrett and Kristine Lilly were not in the starting lineup for the United States and it showed.

The American stars were missed a great deal as Norway dominated the first half before a fluke own-goal by the hosts salvaged a 1-1 tie for the United States in a women’s soccer exhibition Thursday night.

“Norway has a great variety of young players and veterans,” said Hamm, who played in the second half. “And they always capitalize on their chances. They’re organized in the back and they have a very good goalkeeper.”

The game, played before 3,810 fans in a small town just north of the Arctic Circle, was the first for the U.S. women in Norway.

Each team has beaten the other twice this year and they play Sunday in Olso before meeting in the first round of the Sydney Olympics, where they are favorites along with China.

Marianne Pettersen, Norway’s lone forward, picked up a perfect pass from Monica Knudsen about 30 yards from the U.S. goal, shook off an American defender and faked onrushing goalkeeper Briana Scurry before scoring into the empty net in the third minute.

The equalizer came in the 58th minute, one minute before Akers came in for Julie Foudy. Norwegian defender Goril Kringen saved Nikki Serlenga’s hard shot from 16 yards on the goal line. As she was trying to clear the ball, Kringen accidentally hit her own goalie, Bente Nordby, and the ball bounced into the net.

“Every single player that started for us had an impact on the game,” U.S. Coach April Heinrichs said. “There was great intensity in the first half. We made one mistake and it cost us.”

Hamm, who recently played in her 200th international match and joined Lilly as the only players--men or women--to top that figure, played the last 31 minutes.

Lilly entered in the 46th minute and Milbrett in the 79th.