Win over Sweden spiced up U.S. team’s chances

SHANGHAI, China – The United States survived games against North Korea and Sweden in the first week of the Women’s World Cup. The spicy cuisine of Sichuan province, home of giant pandas and blistering chilies, proved a little more difficult.

“I felt very at home, but I still couldn’t eat the Sichuan food,” said U.S. coach Greg Ryan, a Texan who should know about chili peppers. “It was too hot for me. I had to bring my own food.”

Ryan could afford to joke as his team arrived Saturday in sprawling Shanghai following Friday’s 2-0 win in Chengdu over Sweden, FIFA’s No. 3-ranked team.

Add this to a testing 2-2 tie with North Korea on Tuesday, and the No. 1-ranked Americans have four points and need only a tie Tuesday against Nigeria in Shangahi to reach the quarterfinals as they seek a third World Cup to go with titles in 1991 and ‘99.

Nigeria, the five-time African champion, is probably the weakest team in Group B, the toughest of the four in the 16-team tournament.

In Saturday’s games, Canada defeated Ghana 4-0 and Australia tied Norway 1-1 in Group C in Hangzhou. In Group D in Wuhan, Denmark topped New Zealand 2-0 and Brazil routed China 4-0.

Abby Wambach, the top American striker, has three goals in the first two games to give her 80 in 98 appearances for the U.S.

“I think there is a bit of relief getting three points yesterday,” she said. “I know there was a lot more tension than expected after playing North Korea and having gotten only one point. Having four points is a little bit of a relief, but still anything can happen.”

The race for the two qualifying spots in Group B is tight. The group winner will have a big advantage and face the No. 2 team in Group A – likely England or Japan. The second-place team will probably draw defending champion Germany.

“Hopefully, we don’t face them (Germany), but if we do we’ll deal with that bridge when we cross it,” Wambach said. “But when it comes down to it, when this whole thing is over, it’s not going to be about when we played a specific team. You’ve got to beat the best to be the best.”

Through two games, North Korea and the Americans are even on the first three criteria FIFA uses to break ties in the standings: points, goals and goal difference (the difference between the number scored and number allowed).

So Tuesday’s final Group B games are critical, with North Korea facing Sweden in the northern city of Tianjin. Sweden and Nigeria are long shots to advance.

“We know very little about Nigeria,” Wambach said.