1997 Algarve Cup

1997 Algarve Cup

Tournament details
Host country	Portugal
Teams	8 (from 2 confederations)
Venue(s)	9
Final positions
Champions	Norway (3rd title)
Runners-up	China PR
Third place	Sweden
Tournament statistics
Matches played	16
Goals scored	39 (2.44 per match)
Best player	Marianne Pettersen

The 1997 Algarve Cup was the fourth edition of the Algarve Cup, an invitational women's association football tournament. It took place between 10 and 16 March 1997 in Portugal with Norway winning the event for the third time in its history.

Format

The Netherlands returned to the tournament, replacing Russia.

The eight invited teams were split into two groups that played a round-robin tournament. On completion of this, the fourth placed teams in each group would play each other to determine seventh and eighth place, the third placed teams in each group would play each other to decide fifth and sixth place, the second placed teams in each group would play to determine third and fourth place and the winners of each group would compete for first and second place overall.

Points awarded in the group stage followed the standard formula of three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.

Group A

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Norway	9	3	3	0	0	14	1	+13
Denmark	6	3	2	0	1	6	4	+2
Finland	3	3	1	0	2	3	7	−4
Iceland	0	3	0	0	3	1	12	−11

March 10, 1997	Denmark	4–1	Iceland	Silves

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March 10, 1997	Norway	5–1	Finland	Silves

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March 12, 1997	Norway	6–0	Iceland	Olhão

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March 12, 1997	Denmark	2–0	Finland	Olhão

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March 14, 1997	Norway	3–0	Denmark	Alvor

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March 14, 1997	Finland	2–0	Iceland	Montechoro, Albufeira

Group B

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
China PR	9	3	3	0	0	6	0	+6
Sweden	6	3	2	0	1	8	2	+6
Netherlands	3	3	1	0	2	1	5	−4
Portugal	0	3	0	0	3	0	8	−8

March 10, 1997	China PR	3–0	Portugal	Faro

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March 12, 1997	Sweden	4–0	Netherlands	Faro

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March 12, 1997	China PR	1–0	Netherlands	Portimão

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March 12, 1997	Sweden	4–0	Portugal	Lagoa

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March 14, 1997	China PR	2–0	Sweden	Albufeira

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March 14, 1997	Netherlands	1–0	Portugal	Montechoro, Albufeira

Seventh Place

March 16, 1997	Iceland	0–0 (4–3) (PSO)	Portugal	Faro

Portugal finished bottom of their group for the fourth year in a row and lost the seventh place play-off on penalties to Iceland.

Fifth Place

March 16, 1997	Netherlands	1–0	Finland	Faro

Third Place

March 16, 1997	Sweden	0–0 (6–5) (PSO)	Denmark	Loulé

1996 runners up Sweden finished in third place overall after winning a penalty shootout following a goalless game.

Final

March 16, 1997	Norway	1–0	China PR	Loulé
	75' (pen.) Riise

Norway won the competition for the third time thanks to Hege Riise's 75th minute penalty.

Awards

1997 Algarve Cup
Norway Third title

Best player
Marianne Pettersen

External links

• 1997 Algarve Cup on RSSSF