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US defeat Nigeria to take top spot in World Cup Group B

Lori Chalupny of the US flies over Nigeria's Lilian Cole during their Women's World Cup Group B match at the Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Lori Chalupny gave the US the fast start they were looking for in a 1-0 victory over Nigeria yesterday, a win that puts the No. 1-ranked US into the women's World Cup quarter-finals.

Chalupny's goal after only 55 seconds sets up a quarter-final against England on Saturday in the northern city of Tianjin. The US have won six of nine games against England (with two losses and a tie). The last game was a 1-1 draw eight months ago.

Sluggish in the first two games against North Korea and Sweden in Group B, the US raced ahead in a heavy downpour at Hongkou stadium and pushed their undefeated streak to 50 games.

Off a long throw-in, Abby Wambach headed a ball to midfielder Chalupny, who settled it off her chest and then chipped a close-in right-footed shot that deflected off a Nigerian player behind keeper Precious Dede. It was her fifth goal for the national team.

Looking for their third title to go with World Cups in 1991 and 1999, the US finished with seven points in Group B -- the toughest in the tournament.

The wet field and driving rain slowed many attacks and kept the crowd down to several thousand in the 34,000-seat Hongkou stadium.

Nigeria had other problems before the game.

Nigeria players refused to practice for several days following Friday's 2-0 loss to North Korea. A dispute with the Nigeria Football Association over pay and bonus money was settled on the eve of the match.

Meanwhile, today's matches at the women's World Cup have been postponed as a typhoon, bringing gale-force winds and driving rain, bears down on China.

The crucial Brazil versus Denmark match in Hangzhou has been pushed back from today to tomorrow as Typhoon Wipha barrells towards China.

The Norway-Ghana showdown in Group C will also be moved to tomorrow, with the match relocated from Shanghai to Hangzhou.
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