United States 2-0 Republic of Ireland

by Dan Gaichas

BRIDGEVIEW, IL--In 192 previous appearances for the national team, Kate Markgraf has never scored a goal.  Her teammates have always tried to give her an opportunity to score a goal whenever there was a penalty for the US unless it was in a major tournament. 

“I have 192 games with the National Team and scored no goals,” said Markgraf. “For the past 10 years, any time we’ve had a penalty opportunity that wasn’t in a major tournament they’ve tried to get me to take one. Today, I finally caved and said ‘okay, I’ll take one today.’

“Some of it had to do with being here in Chicago (where she will be playing in the WPS for the Red Stars), but I also had to get rid of the pressure! Natasha Kai probably put the most pressure on me. She would always say ‘I’m getting you a PK!’”

Well, in the 31st minute, Kai would get the PK as she was bundled in the box by two Irish defenders.  Markgraf would step up and cooly convert the penalty for her first-ever goal for the US after 11 years, 193 caps, and 15,278 minutes.

“I’m so happy for her,” said US Women’s National Team coach Pia Sundhage of Markgraf. “I coached her in Sweden with our club team and she scored a goal on a corner, but I’m so proud and happy to be a part of this, because it is her first goal and she’s been playing forever and ever.” 

That was the moment of the night in the United States’ 2-0 friendly victory over the Republic of Ireland at Toyota Park completing a three-match sweep of Ireland in the “Achieve Your Gold” tour.  All three future Chicago Red Stars--Markgraf, Carli Lloyd, and Lindsay Tarpley were in the starting lineup for the match. 

Tarpley provided the through-ball for the first goal of the evening for defender Lori Chalupny, soon to be a member of St. Louis’s WPS entry, on 19 minutes. 

It was your typical friendly where the US dominated throughout the 90 minutes and the opposition rarely looked like scoring.  Indeed, Ireland managed just one shot on target the entire match. 

“I think the game went well,” said U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage. “We knocked it around in the first half and the first goal from Lori Chalupny was excellent. I think they had a lot of fun out there and that’s the most important thing. We got two goals from defenders and that’s pretty great. That means we have many goal scorers and that’s important.”

Prior to the match, midfielder Shannon Boxx was honored for her 100th cap for the US which was achieved during the quarterfinals of the Olympic Tournament in Beijing.  Saturday night’s match marked here 100th start for the US.  Boxx will play for Los Angeles in the new WPS in April 2009. 

As for future Red Star Markgraf, she feels very fortunate to be playing here next Spring.

“I feel very fortunate to be playing in Chicago in this amazing stadium,” said Markgraf.  “Everybody in the [Red Stars] organization that I’ve met so far has been professional and first-rate, but I feel very lucky to be playing here.” 

The Red Stars, featuring Markgraf, Carli Lloyd, and Lindsay Tarpley, begin play at Toyota Park in April 2009.

SCORING SUMMARY:

USA-Lori Chaulpny (Tarpley) 19

USA-Kate Markgraf (penalty kick) 31

BOOKING SUMMARY:

None

UNITED STATES (4-4-2):  #1-Hope Solo (#18-Nicole Barnhart 45), #2-Heather Mitts (#14-Stephanie Cox 45), #3-Christie Rampone (#4-Rachel Buehler 45), #15-Kate Markgraf, #17-Lori Chalupny, #16-Angela Hulces (#10-Aly Wagner 45), #7-Shannon Boxx (C), #11-Carli Lloyd, #5-Lindsay Tarpley, #9-Heather O’Reilly, #6-Natasha Kai (#21-Kacey White 64)

Subs not used:  #22-Brianna Scurry

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-4-2):  #1-Emma Byrne, #5-Yvonne Tracy, #4-Niamh Fahey, #13-Ciara McCormack (#2-Mebh DeBurca 45), #3-Alisha Moran (#12-Sharon Boyle 91+), #7-Ciara Grant (C), #8-Aine O’Gorman, #6-Sonya Hughes (#14-Jemma Connor 45), #17-Mary McDonnell, #11-Stefanie Curtis (#18-Denise Thomas 60), #10-Michele O’Brien

Subs not used:  #9-Katie Taylor, #15-Susan Byrne, #16-Lynn Bradley

TOTAL SHOTS:  USA 21-2 IRL

SHOTS ON GOAL:  USA 7-1 IRL

FOULS:  USA 4-14 IRL

OFFSIDES:  USA 5-0 IRL

CORNER KICKS:  USA 8-1 IRL

SAVES:  USA 1-5 IRL

Referee:  Jennifer Bennett (USA)

Referee Assistants:  Stephanie Toth (USA); Veronica Hefner (USA)

4th Official:  Margaret Domka (USA)

Attendance:  5,390