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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Kai scores in U.S. win over China

Advertiser News Services

U.S. women's soccer team coach Greg Ryan came to Guangzhou in southern China searching for a third striker, and production from his midfielders.

He found both Tuesday in a 2-0 victory over China: goals from midfielder Lori Chalupny and striker Natasha Kai, a former University of Hawai'i and Kahuku High star, that gave the Americans a record fifth Four Nations tournament title — a warmup for the World Cup in China this fall.

"She (Chalupny) hit a bomb, and just where she wanted it," Ryan said of her 20-yard goal during first-half injury time.

Chalupny — nicknamed "Chalupa" or "Chalups" — stepped up when teammate Lindsay Tarpley stripped a Chinese player of the ball 40 seconds into first-half injury time.

"It kind of just popped up to me and I took a touch on it and shot," said Chalupny. "I just tried to hit it hard and on-frame."

The ball sailed high into the corner, over the left shoulder of startled Chinese goalie Han Wenxia.

Kai is one of about five forwards Ryan tried in China. All are vying for a starting spot alongside top scorers Abby Wambach and Kristine Lilly.

Kai scored in the 56th minute, chipping in a shot off a corner kick.

"Our first two games here we were a little rough, but we stepped it up a notch and the young players all showed they can play," Kai said.

The Americans tied Germany 0-0 in their first game, and then tied England 1-1 on a goal by Heather O'Reilly.

BASEBALL

BONDS GIVES GIANTS RIGHT TO END CONTRACT

Barry Bonds gave the San Francisco Giants the right to terminate his $15.8 million, one-year contract if he is indicted.

The unusual provision could set off a legal test between the individual player contract and the union's collective bargaining agreement. The language, included in the deal that was completed Monday night, is designed by the team to protect itself in case Bonds is charged in the federal government's steroids investigation.

As part of the agreement, if Bonds is indicted the Giants have the right to terminate it under two sections of the Uniform Player Contract, a baseball executive said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team didn't announce that detail.

RANGERS SIGN SOSA TO MINOR LEAGUE DEAL

Sammy Sosa is back in baseball — and back to fielding the same steroids questions that dogged him when he left the game more than a year ago.

Sosa and the Texas Rangers agreed to a minor league contract Tuesday, giving the former slugger his first crack at the major leagues since the 2005 season with Baltimore, when he hit .221 with 14 home runs in 102 games.

If he makes the Rangers' roster at the end of spring training — and Sosa said there's only a "one in a million" chance that he won't — he would get a $500,000, one-year deal. He could also earn up to $2.1 million more in performance bonuses.