Germany kicks off Nike Cup with win over Japan

Germany 1 Japan 0

2001 NIKE U.S. Women's CupSchwaben Athletic Complex - Buffalo Grove, Ill.

September 7, 2001 - Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. Central Time

Attendance: 1,072 Weather:Humid, breezy -- 81°F

Scoring

Germany - Verena Hagedorn (Unassisted) 76th minute

Germany

1 Rottenberg, Silke (12 Angerer, Nadine 46th)

2 Stegemann, Kerstin

4 Zerbe, Christina (15 Hagedorn, Verena 46th)

5 Kunzer, Nia

17 Hingst, Ariane

7 Omilade, Navina

8 Smisek, Sandra

10 Lingor, Renate-- Capt.

11 Muller, Martina

9 Pohlers, Conny (16 Meier, Jennifer 46th)

18 Wimbersky. Petra

Misconduct

Nia Kunzer (caution) 39.

Petra Wimbersky (caution) 76.

Japan

1 Yamago, Nozomi

3 Isozaki, Hiromi

4 Obe, Yumi Capt.,

5Tomoe Sakai

7 Yayoi Kobayashi (17-Yuki Tsuchihashi, 79th)

8 Isaka , Mito (6 Baba, Noriko 84th)

13 Kasajima , Yoshie

14 Otani, Mio (19 Sato, Harue 63rd)

15 Nakachi, Mai

16 Yamagishi, Yasuyo

18 Sawa, Homare

Misconduct

Hiromi Isozaki (caution) 24.

Officials:

Referee: Richard Grady (USA)

Statistical	Germany	Japan
Shots	14	4
Saves	0	6
Corner Kicks	8	6
Fouls	13	14
Offside	4	4

Game

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 in the 76^th minute.