US advance to Peace Queen Cup Finals

The US women showed the Netherlands the door as they beat them 2-0 to sit alone in the first spot in Group B, however, they did not know if that would be enough. The reason, Denmark was playing their match after the US match and with a win by enough goals, they would have climbed over the US for the top spot in Group B.

Luck went the America's way as Denmark won, but only by a single goal, meaning the US advance due to goal difference.

Here is the run down on the two US goals.

"The first goal came in the 27th minute when forward Natasha Kai, who was making her second career start, rose to meet the service from Kacey White and powered a header toward the goal from about 10 yards out. With her back to the goal, the ball hit Tarpley in the thigh, but she was able to whirl on the bouncing ball and drill it with her left foot into the left side-netting from four yards out past a Dutch defender who was standing helplessly on the goal line. It was Tarpley’s 13th career international goal.

"The USA’s second goal came at the very end of stoppage time of the first half. The corner kick came from the left side as Aly Wagner rushed to take it with the seconds ticking away. The service was cleared to the top of the penalty area where Whitehill brought it down and powered her way through the simultaneous tackles of two defenders before smacking a left-footed shot from just on top of the penalty arc. The shot from straight-away center of the goal curved into the lower right corner. It was the 11th career goal for the defender and her fifth of the year, by far a career high."

But it was not all good news for the team as Abby Wambach was forced to leave due to injury in the 82nd minute. It is not sure if Wambach will be available for Saturday's final.

Kristine Lilly was sent off in the 78th minute due to a red card, but she will be allowed to play in the final.

So the US will now face Canada in Saturday's final. This game should be interesting as it might happen again at the end of the month when the two teams compete in the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, which will also decide the teams that advance to next year's World Cup in China.