USA v Denmark at Albufeira on March 10th - The game started with what could only be said as slow, the USA looked and acted as if this would be a formality although the Danes were operating a deep offside tactic which constantly frustrated the Americans. The first shot on goal didnt come until the 10th for the US and 15th for the Danes. The game remained a midfield affair until the 23rd when the Danes broke fast and caught the US defence sleeping with a superb shot from 20 out that hit the right post and went in off. Silence ensued from the US fans and the players looked just as stunned.
The USA had only one more genuine attack in the 1st half on the 28th which was a tame save for the Danish keeper, after that it was wolves to the slaughter as the Danes gathered momentum and dominated what should have been their superiors. Two quick goals on 34 and 38 left the US reeling and 3-0 down going to halftime.
The second half started off with the same US side whereas the Danes had made 3 substitutions. Whatever Sermanni the US coach had told them, it seemed to work as they set about reducing the deficit immediately. Both Press and Leroux were instrumental in getting the USA on the scoresheet and it was Press in the 51st that brought it back to 3-1. Three minutes later and in a goal mouth scramble Leroux got a head on the ball only to have it ruled offside which seemed harsh.
The US then brought on Rapinoe in place of O'Reilly who seemed to lift the team immediately and as they continued to press forward the Danish offside trap worked as a perfect counter attack movement providing the Danes with a fourth in the 62nd minute.
The USA pulled another back courtesy of Leroux minutes later to make it 4-2. Rapinoe got on the board in the 68th taking the USA within one of tying the match, from that point the USA were throwing everything at the Danes in the final 20 mins only to be hit on the counter attack in stoppage time to give Denmark a 5-3 result.
This is the first time since 2002 that the USA have lost back to back matches which was also in the Algarve Cup. They now have a facesaving match tomorrow in Parchal where they take on the North Koreans for 7th place.
The Final
The final was on Wednesday the 12th March, at the Algarve Stadium Faro between Germany and Japan.
After last years 2-0 loss in the final to the USA, Germany went one better this time around in securing The Algarve Cup for a third time.
It was a contrasting match between the silky skills of the Japanese and the more agressive Germans.
Though both sides probed at each other during the first half a goal was never forthcoming and it remained a ticking timebomb of a final.
The second half started off with can only be described as explosive with the Germans scoring in the 46st minute courtesy of Natalie Kesler and were 2 up three minutes later by a tap in after a goalmouth scramble from Anja Mittag.
From here on in, the match became a one sided affair with the Germans constantly assaulting the Japanese half.
Though they only scored once more it was a memorable and possibly goal of the tournament from the captain Celia Sasic whose 30 yard shot was not going to be stopped by any keeper.
It was a deserved victory and the largely partisan German crowd left fully satisfied having seen their team uphold their favourites position in the warm spring sunshine of the Algarve.
Elsewhere there were victories for Iceland over Sweden 2-1 in the third place playoff. The Chinese drew 1-1 with Denmark to secure 5th and the USA triumphed over North Korea 3-0. Russia beat Norway 1-0 and Portugal were defeated 2-1 by Austria who avenged the 3-2 loss that they had received at the hand of the local heroines a week ago.
