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Wambach powers US over China

US player Abby Wambach, left, heads the ball past China's Weng Xinzhi, center, as Shannon Boxx of the US looks on in the first half of an exhibition match on Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio. Wambach scored twice on headers as the US won 2-0. PHOTO: AP

Abby Wambach scored twice on headers in the second half to give the US women's team a 2-0 win over China on Saturday.

The match was the first in a six-game exhibition series for the US leading up to the World Cup in September in China.

Wambach was able to outjump China goalkeeper Zhang Yanru in the 67th minute to convert a looping free kick from 30m by captain Kristine Lilly.

In the 88th minute, Wambach dove headlong to redirect a corner kick from Stephanie Lopez to score her seventh goal of the year and 73rd in 91 career games. She's two behind Cindy Parlow for fifth on the US all-time list.

It was the 17th multi-goal game of Wambach's career and helped the US extend their team-record unbeaten streak in regulation time to 42 games.

The US team was without starting goalkeeper Hope Solo, whose father died on Thursday night. The team wore black armbands in his honor.

Briana Scurry, one of the heroes of the 1999 World Cup championship team, started in goal but was rarely tested as the US controlled the ball throughout.

The US, ranked No. 1 in the world, notched its third win over 11th-ranked China this year.

China, which had gone undefeated in four games since former Swedish National Team coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors took over in the spring, mounted only one sustained offensive flurry early in the second half.

US coach Greg Ryan inserted Leslie Osborne at midfield for Shannon Boxx in the 53rd minute and the move helped the US break out offensively.

The US will play Brazil at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey next Saturday.
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