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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, March 15, 2007

U.S. soccer women win title, 2-0

Associated Press

The U.S. women's soccer team won the Algarve Cup for the fifth time, beating Denmark, 2-0, in yesterday's final on goals by Kristine Lilly and Carli Lloyd at Vila Real De Santo Antonio, Portugal.

Lilly scored in the 12th minute after Abby Wambach chipped the ball over the defense. Goalkeeper Heidi Johansen came off her line and Lilly, the U.S. captain, scored from 24 yards, her 119th international goal.

Lloyd scored her fourth goal in four games from 30 yards in the 51st minute. Her shot hit the bottom of the crossbar, bounced down and into the net.

"It gives us confidence, and that's what we need right now, confidence going into training for the next four or five months to get ready for the World Cup," Lilly said.

Natasha Kai, a Kahuku High and University of Hawai'i alum, had a shot on goal for the U.S.

Lloyd was top scorer at the tournament and was selected Most Valuable Player, an award previously won by Shannon Boxx (twice) and Tiffeny Milbrett.

The United States also won the Algarve Cup in 2000 and from 2003-05.

TENNIS

NO. 4 DAVYDENKO UPSET

Andy Murray added to his strong start this season with a 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over Nikolay Davydenko in yesterday's fourth round of the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, Calif.

Murray has won 18 of 21 matches in 2007, including successfully defending his title at San Jose.

On another 90-plus degree day at Indian Wells, No. 14 Murray had 10 aces, with his serve topping out at 136 mph, against his fourth-ranked foe from Russia.

Meanwhile, Tommy Haas defeated Fernando Gonzalez, 6-3, 6-2, and David Ferrer of Spain defeated countryman Carlos Moya, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3, in another fourth-round match.

In a night match, Daniela Hantuchova defeated Shahar Peer, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (5), in a 2 hour, 43-minute duel to move into the women's semifinals. Earlier, Li Na downed Vera Zvonareva, 6-4, 7-5, in their quarterfinal.

POKER

TOURNEY ENTRANTS UP

World Series of Poker organizers are preparing for 10,000 entrants to this year's main event in Las Vegas, a 14-percent increase from last year, despite a U.S. crackdown on online gambling sites that have boosted the tournament's popularity.

Organizers said yesterday that the number was for planning purposes only, and did not reflect confidence that last year's 8,773 entrants would be topped. Half of last year's record number of entrants were estimated to have won their seats in online qualifier events.