1991 FIFA Women's World Cup final

The 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup final was an association football match that took place on 30 November 1991 at Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou, China. It was played between Norway and the United States to determine the winner of the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup.[2] The United States beat Norway 2–1, with two goals from Michelle Akers-Stahl, to become winners of the first ever FIFA Women's World Cup.[3][4]

1991 FIFA Women's World Cup final
Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou hosted the final.
Event1991 FIFA Women's World Cup
Date30 November 1991 (1991-11-30)
VenueTianhe Stadium, Guangzhou
RefereeVadim Zhuk (Soviet Union)
Attendance63,000[1]
1995

Background edit

The final was contested by Norway, who rebounded from a stunning 4–0 defeat by host nation China PR to qualify from their group. They then dispatched Italy and historic rivals Sweden in the knockout rounds to reach the final. The other team in the final was the United States, who went undefeated throughout the competition, thrashing highly rated Germany 5–2 in the semi-final.[5][6]

Route to the final edit

Norway Round United States
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
  China 0–4 Match 1   Sweden 3–2
  New Zealand 4–0 Match 2   Brazil 5–0
  Denmark 2–1 Match 3   Japan 3–0
Pos Team Pld Pts
1   China (H) 3 5
2   Norway 3 4
3   Denmark 3 3
4   New Zealand 3 0
Source: FIFA
(H) Hosts
Final standings
Pos Team Pld Pts
1   United States 3 6
2   Sweden 3 4
3   Brazil 3 2
4   Japan 3 0
Source: FIFA
Opponent Result Knockout stage Opponent Result
  Italy 3–2 Quarter-finals   Chinese Taipei 7–0
  Sweden 4–1 Semi-finals   Germany 5–2

Match edit

Details edit

Norway  1–2  United States
  • Medalen   29'
Report
Attendance: 63,000[1]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Norway[7]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States[7]
GK 1 Reidun Seth
SW 8 Heidi Støre (c)
CB 16 Tina Svensson
CB 4 Gro Espeseth
CB 5 Gunn Nyborg
DM 2 Cathrine Zaborowski   79'
CM 7 Tone Haugen
CM 6 Agnete Carlsen
RW 9 Hege Riise
CF 10 Linda Medalen
LW 11 Birthe Hegstad
Substitutions:
MF 13 Liv Strædet   79'
Manager:
Even Pellerud
 
GK 1 Mary Harvey
SW 4 Carla Werden
CB 9 Mia Hamm
CB 14 Joy Biefeld
CB 8 Linda Hamilton
DM 11 Julie Foudy
CM 3 Shannon Higgins
CM 13 Kristine Lilly
RW 2 April Heinrichs (c)
CF 10 Michelle Akers-Stahl   54'
LW 12 Carin Jennings
Manager:
Anson Dorrance

Assistant referees:
Ingrid Jonsson (Sweden)
Gertrud Regus (Germany)

Match rules:

  • 80 minutes.
  • 20 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Maximum of two substitutions.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup China '91 – Technical Report" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  2. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup – China PR 1991". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Combating a myth from Women's World Cup '91". Sports Illustrated. 14 July 1999. Archived from the original on 19 August 2000. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  4. ^ Basler, Barbara (28 November 1991). "American women in final in soccer". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  5. ^ Basler, Barbara (1 December 1991). "Soccer; U.S. women beat Norway to capture World Cup". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  6. ^ Basler, Barbara (29 November 1991). "Sports Weekend; U.S. women's soccer team's message: 'No one will get in our way'". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Tactical Line-up – Norway-United States" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. pp. 50, 54. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2013.

External links edit