| | FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The quote left such an impression
on April Heinrichs, she decided to write it down: "Leaders begin
with the end in mind."
Heinrichs plans to use the saying as she guides the U.S. women's
soccer team toward the 2000 Olympics.
|  | | U.S. goalkeeper Saskia Webber reacts to missing the game-winning goal by Norway's Dagny Mellgren in injury time. |
Heinrichs, the star of the 1991 World Cup team that beat Norway
in the championship game, replaced Tony DiCicco last month. She has
seven months to put together a team for the Sydney Games.
It seems she has some work to do, too.
The Americans gave up two goals in the final 10 minutes Sunday
and lost 3-2 to Norway, souring Heinrichs' debut with the team that
captivated the nation last summer by winning the World Cup.
The U.S team -- which lost for the first time in 22 games -- played without several members of the 1999 World Cup-winning squad: Michelle Akers, Lorrie Fair, Cindy Parlow and Tisha Venturini.
"At the end of the game, I wanted to have ideas about the 4-4-2
(formation) and about some young players," Heinrichs said. "That
was a priority, learning and giving the younger players a chance to
play. It was a priority for me more than the result and kicking my
career off on the notion of a win."
Heinrichs and the U.S team will get another chance Wednesday
when they play Norway again in South Florida.
The Norwegians improved their record to 12-10-1 against the
United States, remaining the only team with a winning record
against the Americans.
"The United States has had a tough time over the last months.
Don't put too much into this match," Norway coach Per Hogmo said.
"It was a good win. We beat the best team the United States has at
the moment."
The Americans, who have begun preparing for the Sydney Olympics,
were playing their first exhibition game since they signed a new
contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation and ended a boycott that
kept them from a tournament in Australia.
Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly scored for the Americans. The goal
was the 115th of Hamm's career, extending her record for
international goals by a man or woman.
Norway's winning goal came in the first minute of injury time.
Dagny Mellgren beat goalkeeper Saskia Webber from 25 yards to the
top left corner of the net.
"Bummer. It really was," Heinrichs said. "The assistant coach
turned to me and said, `They didn't earn that. We gave it to them.'
At times you have to have humor and think of things like that.
"Every player made mistakes out there. How quickly we learn
from them is what's important to me."
Heinrichs went with several young players Sunday. The move gave
the rookies valuable experience, but it might have cost the
Americans the game.
"A couple of players didn't play today we're accustomed to
seeing," Heinrichs said. "We know the players. We've seen them
play and know what they give and how they can compete in
international matches. Seeing other players gave me the chance to
evaluate them and see what their future is."
Norway opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 19th minute
by Hege Riise.
The U.S. team tied it in the 25th minute on Hamm's header and
took a 2-1 lead with Lilly's unassisted goal in the 71st minute.
But 10 minutes later, Webber misplayed a long pass from Anita
Rapp. The ball went into the net, an own-goal by Carla Overbeck.
The goal seemed to deflate the Americans, which might have
accounted for the fluke game-winner.
"We hate to lose, but this was the first game of our new system
and there were new players and a new coach," MacMillan said.
"This is something to build on. We can play better."
At the time of the winning goal, the Americans had two
17-year-olds, two 18-year-olds and a 19-year-old on the field.
"We played a good game. The next one will be better," Lilly
said. "We lost two games to China last year, but that's the level
of competition. We don't mind getting those losses now." | |
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