LA MANGA, Spain (February 15, 2008) - The U.S. Under-23 National Team tied Germany, 1-1, in its final match at the La Manga Tournament in La Manga, Spain. A 1-0 victory would have given the USA the tournament title, but the Americans finished second in the competition with the draw.

Germany was playing primarily with their U-20 team that will play in this year's U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup in Chile, and battled the USA to a scoreless deadlock through 70 minutes before substitute Susanne Hartel gave her team a 1-0  lead.

The USA gamely fought back and got an equalizer through substitute Elizabeth Eng just three minutes from the end of the game. Ameera Abdullah got the assist on the goal, receiving the ball inside the center circle before dribbling through some German defenders. She laid the ball to Eng who took a touch and shot from about 15 yards into the upper left corner.

The Germans were playing a woman down when the USA equalized after Hartel, who had an eventful match in just 23 minutes, got two yellow cards in a four-minute span and was ejected in the 82nd minute.

In the day's other match, Norway pounded England, 5-0, to finish third. England finished fourth despite defeating the USA in the opening match.



U.S. UNDER-23 WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME REPORT

Match-up: USA vs. Germany
Competition: La Manga Tournament
Venue: La Manga, Spain
Date: February 15, 2008; Kickoff - 4:30 p.m. local / 10:30 a.m. ET
Attendance: 60
Weather: Cloudy, Windy -- 55 degrees

Scoring Summary:

           1   2   F
USA   0   1   1
GER   0  1   1

GER --Susanne Hartel (Sylvie Banecki) 70th minute.
USA -- Elizabeth Eng (Ameera Abdullah) 87.

Lineups:
USA: 18-Val Henderson, 22-Meghan Schnur, 25-Becky Sauerbrunn, 23-Nikki Krzysik - Capt., 19-Lindsey Ozimek; 20-Yael Averbuch, 13-Brittany Klein; 14-Michele Weissenhofer (16-Elizabeth Eng, 66), 26-Kiki Bosio; 30-Kasey Moore, 9-Ashlee Pistorious (5-Ameera Abdullah, 54).

Subs not use: 1-Kelsey Davis, 7-Ashley Nick, 10-Kerri Hanks, 21-Carrie Dew.

Head coach: Bill Irwin

GER: 1-Alisa Vetterlein, 2-Bianca Schmidt (16-Christina Schellenberg, 66), 3-Lena Goessing, 4-Stefanie Draws, 5-Carolin Schiewe, 7-Janiela Lowenberg (17-Susanne Hartel, 59), 9-Isabel Kerschowshi, 10-Nadine Kessler - Capt; 11-Jessica Wich (13-Sylvie Banecki, 54), 14-Pia Marxrord, 15-Josephine Scwanke

Subs not use: 18-Stephanie Goddard, 12-Jana Burmeister, 6-Imke Wubbenhorst.

Head Coach: Maren Meinert


Statistical Summary:

          USA / GER
Shots: 9 / 6
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 2 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 8 / 8
Offside: 1 / 1


Misconduct Summary:
GER - Nadine Kessler (caution) 39th minute.
GER - Susanne Hartel (caution) 78.
GER - Susanne Hartel (caution) 82.
GER - Susanne Hartel (ejection) 82.

U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team Standings
La Manga Tournament -- La Manga, Spain

Team      W      L    T    Pts.    GF    GA    GD
GER         2      0    1      7        4       2     +2
USA          1      1    1      4        4       4      0
NOR         1      2    0      3        5       3     +2
ENG         1      2    0      3        4       8      -4


U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team Results
La Manga Tournament -- La Manga, Spain

Date           Match-Up                                          Venue
Feb. 11      U-23 USA 1, U-23 England 3        La Manga, Spain
Feb. 13      U-23 USA 2, U-23 Norway 0         La Manga, Spain
Feb. 16      U-23 USA 1, U-23 Germany 1      La Manga, Spain