WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 1999

The third Women's World Cup was held in the USA in 1999, and for the first time saw sixteen teams take part in the finals, now in four groups of four teams each. In Group A, the hosts made a very comfortable start to their bid for a second title, with three comfortable wins, the highlight being a 7-1 win over Nigeria where they actually trailed after just two minutes. Despite that thrashing, Nigeria joined the Americans in the quarter finals with wins over North Korea and Denmark.

Brazil and Germany were expected to qualify from Group B and did not disappoint. However, the Germans were frustrated by a draw with Italy and then another with Brazil after conceding a last minute equaliser, which gave Brazil first place and left Germany with a much harder quarter final against the USA. Italy's consolation victory over a Mexico side who were out of their depth at global level was not enough to take them through.

Defending champions Norway cruised through in Group C, with the closest opposition coming from debutants Russia. After a narrow 2-1 defeat to Norway, the Russians easily defeated Canada and Japan to take second place, leaving the other two teams with just a point a piece from their drawn game. Group D took a similar pattern, with China coming from behind to beat Sweden in their opening game, and going on to win the group with a 100% record. Sweden recovered to beat Australia and Ghana to finish second. The two outsiders again had the consolation of one point each after a 1-1 draw.

Goals either side of half-time gave China a comfortable 2-0 win over Russia in their quarter final, and they would next face the holders after Norway beat neighbours Sweden 3-1. The USA faced a huge struggle against Germany in their quarter final, trailing 1-0 after an early own goal and then, having equalised, 2-1 at half-time after a stoppage time goal. A second American equaliser early in the second half turned the match, however, and the hosts went on to win 3-2 to reach the last four. There they would face Brazil, who let a 3-0 half-time lead slip against Nigeria before sneaking through with an extra-time golden goal.

Brazil were up against it from the start in the semi final against the USA, trailing as early as the fifth minute and unable to find a reply. A late penalty gave the hosts a 2-0 win and a place in the final. Their opponents would be China, who ended Norway's defence of the title with surprising ease as they took a 2-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes and went on to complete a thumping 5-0 win. Norway suffered further frustraion when after a goalless third place match, they were beaten 5-4 on penalties by Brazil.

The final, at Pasadena's Rose Bowl, was watched by a crowd of more than 90,000, a record for a women's sporting event anywhere in the world. However, just like the men's World Cup final in the same stadium five years earlier, neither side was able to make a breakthrough in intense heat and the title would be decided on penalties for the first time. The first four kicks were successfully converted, and then American goalkeeper Briana Scurry made the crucial save from Liu Ying's kick. With America's last penalty, Brandi Chastain coverted to give the hosts a 5-4 shootout win and their second world title.