Following an electric 3-0 win over Denmark to open the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Jersey, the U.S. Women’s National Team made it two wins in two group stage games with a resounding 7-1 victory over Nigeria on June 24, 1999 at famed Soldier Field in Chicago.
With a massive crowd of 65,080 in the stands, the match got off to a rocky start for the Americans as Nigeria took the lead just 73 seconds into the match off a sliding goal from midfielder Nkiru Okosieme.
Energized despite the early set back, the USWNT offense quickly came alive, erupting for a World Cup record six goals in the first half. An own goal by Nigeria leveled the score at 1-1 in the 19th minute and then Mia Hamm gave the Americans the lead for good in the 20th, scoring her second goal of the tournament. Tiffeny Milbrett netted her first of two goals on the evening in the 23rd minute and Kristine Lilly (32nd), Michelle Akers (39th) and Cindy Parlow (42nd) also added first half goals to give the USA a 6-1 lead after 45 minutes.
Milbrett completed her brace in the 83rd minute to round out the scoring and vault the Americans into first place in Group A with one match remaining in first round play. In a showcase of the depth and balance of the U.S. roster, seven different players were directly involved in goals, led by Parlow with one goal and two assists. Milbrett had two goals while Hamm and Lilly each had a goal and an assist. Akers finished the evening with one goal while Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain were also credited with assists in the victory.
In celebration of the 25-year anniversary of the 1999 World Cup, the 1999 Women’s World Cup team will be honored on July 13 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. prior to kickoff of USWNT vs Mexico in the “Impact 99” legacy match, presented by New York Life.
The “Impact 99” match will feature a U.S. Soccer-organized reunion of all 20 players on the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Team in celebration of the 25th anniversary summer of their historic run to the championship of a tournament that changed the course of women’s soccer history in the USA and globally. Tickets for the July 13 match are available for purchase at ussoccer.com/tickets.