QINHUANGDAO, China — Norway jumped on the United States from the opening whistle, getting two goals in the first four minutes Wednesday to beat the U.S. women’s soccer team 2-0 at the Beijing Olympics.
Leni Larsen Kaurin outjumped and outmuscled U.S. defender Lori Chalupny to head the ball over charging goalie Hope Solo and into an open net in the second minute. Two minutes later, Melissa Wiik latched onto a deep pass on the right side after the U.S lost the ball in midfield. The Norwegian forward then outraced U.S. captain Christie Rampone and curled a right-footed shot past Solo and just inside the far post.
“I’m happy that it’s the first game and not the last, so we still have two more games to go, and we’ll take out this part — the second half — for when we play against Japan and New Zealand,” U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said.
Lomong to carry flag
DALIAN, China —Lopez Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, will carry the flag for his adopted nation, leading the U.S. Olympic team at the opening ceremony Friday night.
Lomong won a vote of team captains to earn the honor of leading America’s contingent into the 90,000-seat Bird’s Nest stadium.
The 1,500-meter track runner will be the flagbearer 13 months after becoming a U.S. citizen.
“It’s more than a dream,” Lomong said. “I keep saying, I’m not sure if this is true or not true. . . . There are no words to describe it.”
Olson named captain
BEIJING — Boulder judo competitor Brian Olson, who retired after the 2004 Games only to come back for a chance to medal in Beijing, was elected team captain by his fellow athletes.
“Coming off a three-year layoff and this being a younger team with a lot of first-time Olympians, I’m very honored that everybody had come to a group consensus that I should be the captain,” said Olson, 35.
Footnote.
Juliana Felisberta Silva, one-half of the top women’s beach volleyball team from Brazil, pulled out of the Games with a knee injury.
Denver Post wire services
