1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The final of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup final was an association football match that took place on July 10, 1999, to determine the winner of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. The host United States
and China
played to a scoreless draw. After extra time, the United States won the match with a 5-4 penalties victory.
The match represented one of the most important events in the history of American athletics. It was played before over 90,000 fans in what remains the largest crowd ever to watch a women's sporting event. The iconic image of Brandi Chastain
celebrating the clinching goal that was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated
became one of the defining images of women's athletics in the United States.
. China had won the silver at the 1996 Olympics and had defeated the United States in the final of the 1999 Algarve Cup
. The teams featured two of the superstars of women's soccer, strikers Mia Hamm
of the United States and Sun Wen
of China.
The United States was bidding to become the first team to win a world championship on home soil, something China had failed to do in 1991, as well as the first team to win multiple championships. China, meanwhile, was attempting to join the United States and Norway
as World Cup Champions.
China were the first Asian
national team to reach the FIFA Women's World Cup Final. This was also the first final not involving a European
team.
qualifier. They would not fail to win a CONCACAF championship again until 2010. China had qualified by winning their sixth straight AFC Women's Championship
in 1997
.
Once at the finals, the United States reached the knockout stage by easily winning Group A. After trailing 2-1 at halftime, they advanced through the quarterfinals by defeating 3-2. The United States then defeated 2-0 to reach the final.
China reached the knockout stage by winning Group D. They shut out in the quarterfinals, then easily defeated defending champion 5-0 to reach the final.
Final standing
e class="wikitable" style="text-align:center">
Team
3
3
0
0
12
2
+10
9
3
2
0
1
6
3
+3
6
3
0
1
2
3
7
−4
1
3
0
1
2
1
10
−9
1
Opponent
Result
Knockout stage
Opponent
Result
3-2
Quarterfinals
2–0
2-0
Semifinals
5-0
in Pasadena, California
. The United States and China played to a scoreless draw during regular and extra time. The United States won the match 5-4 on a penalty shootout
. The win gave the United States its second world cup title.
The game was tightly played, with neither side getting many chances. Perhaps the best chance for either team to score came in extra time, when China's Fan Yunjie
hit a header toward the post that was defended by Kristine Lilly
.
After both teams failed to score, the teams squared off for a shootout to decide the winners of the cup. China shot first, and Xie Huilin
scored, only to be matched by the United States' Carla Overbeck. In the second round, Qiu Haiyan's goal was matched by Joy Fawcett.
Liu Ying
was China's third-round shooter, but her shot was saved by United States goalkeeper
Briana Scurry
. Kristine Lilly then got a shot past Chinese goalkeeper Gao Hong
to give the United States the advantage.
Zhang Ouying
, Mia Hamm
, and Sun Wen
each converted their penalty opportunities, leaving the United States' Brandi Chastain
with a shot to win the tournament. She put the ball past Gao, leading to an ecstatic celebration by the Americans, who had clinched the title on home soil.
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
and China
China women's national football team
The China women's national football team represents the People's Republic of China in international women's football.- Records :China had held the record of going for 442 minutes without conceding a World Cup goal, until it was broken by Germany on September 26, 2007, when Germany beat Norway 3-0...
played to a scoreless draw. After extra time, the United States won the match with a 5-4 penalties victory.
The match represented one of the most important events in the history of American athletics. It was played before over 90,000 fans in what remains the largest crowd ever to watch a women's sporting event. The iconic image of Brandi Chastain
Brandi Chastain
Brandi Denise Chastain is a professional American soccer defender and midfielder who plays for the team California Storm of Women's Premier Soccer League and is a former member of the United States women's national soccer team....
celebrating the clinching goal that was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
became one of the defining images of women's athletics in the United States.
Finalists
The match featured two powerhouses of women's association football. The United States had won the first FIFA World Cup championship and the gold medal at the 1996 OlympicsFootball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The association football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia....
. China had won the silver at the 1996 Olympics and had defeated the United States in the final of the 1999 Algarve Cup
Algarve Cup
The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's football . Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious women's football events, alongside the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football...
. The teams featured two of the superstars of women's soccer, strikers Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm
Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female,...
of the United States and Sun Wen
Sun Wen
Sun Wen may refer to:*Sun Yat-sen, Chinese revolutionary and political leader*Sun Wen , Chinese footballer...
of China.
The United States was bidding to become the first team to win a world championship on home soil, something China had failed to do in 1991, as well as the first team to win multiple championships. China, meanwhile, was attempting to join the United States and Norway
Norway women's national football team
The Norway women's national football team represents Norway in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Norway, are former European, World and Olympic champions and thus one of the most successful national teams...
as World Cup Champions.
China were the first Asian
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
national team to reach the FIFA Women's World Cup Final. This was also the first final not involving a European
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
team.
Route to the final
The United States had qualified automatically as host nation. Accordingly, they elected to skip the 1998 CONCACAF Women's Championship, which served as the CONCACAFCONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
qualifier. They would not fail to win a CONCACAF championship again until 2010. China had qualified by winning their sixth straight AFC Women's Championship
AFC Women's Championship
The AFC Women's Asian Cup is a biannual competition in women's football for national teams which belong to the Asian Football Confederation . It is the premier women's football competition in the AFC region for national teams...
in 1997
1997 AFC Women's Championship
-Final:-External links:* at RSSSF.com...
.
Once at the finals, the United States reached the knockout stage by easily winning Group A. After trailing 2-1 at halftime, they advanced through the quarterfinals by defeating 3-2. The United States then defeated 2-0 to reach the final.
China reached the knockout stage by winning Group D. They shut out in the quarterfinals, then easily defeated defending champion 5-0 to reach the final.
| United States | Round | China PR | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | Group stage | Opponent | Result | ||||
| 3-0 | Match 1 | 2-1 | ||||||
| 7-1 | Match 2 | 7-0 | ||||||
| 3-0 | Match 3 | 3-1 | ||||||
| e class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"> | ||||||||
| Team | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | +12 | 9 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 6 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0 | |
Summary
The match was played on 10 July 1999 at the Rose BowlRose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. The United States and China played to a scoreless draw during regular and extra time. The United States won the match 5-4 on a penalty shootout
Penalty shootout
The shootout is a method of determining a winner in sports matches that would have otherwise been drawn or tied. The rules for penalty shootouts vary between sports and even different competitions; however, the usual form is similar to penalty shots in that a single player takes one shot on goal...
. The win gave the United States its second world cup title.
The game was tightly played, with neither side getting many chances. Perhaps the best chance for either team to score came in extra time, when China's Fan Yunjie
Fan Yunjie
Fan Yunjie is a female Chinese football player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics, in the 2000 Summer Olympics, and in the 2004 Summer Olympics....
hit a header toward the post that was defended by Kristine Lilly
Kristine Lilly
Kristine Marie Lilly Heavey is a retired American soccer player who last played for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer and was a member of the United States women's national soccer team for 24 years...
.
After both teams failed to score, the teams squared off for a shootout to decide the winners of the cup. China shot first, and Xie Huilin
Xie Huilin
Xie Huilin is a female Chinese football player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics and in the 2000 Summer Olympics.In 1996 she won the silver medal with the Chinese team. She played all five matches....
scored, only to be matched by the United States' Carla Overbeck. In the second round, Qiu Haiyan's goal was matched by Joy Fawcett.
Liu Ying
Liu Ying
Liu Ying was a son of Emperor Guangwu of Han, and half-brother of Emperor Ming. After becoming Prince of Chu, he was a known supporter of many religions...
was China's third-round shooter, but her shot was saved by United States goalkeeper
Goalkeeper
In many team sports which involve scoring goals, a goalkeeper is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by intercepting shots at goal...
Briana Scurry
Briana Scurry
Briana Colette Scurry is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Scurry was the starting goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team at the 1995 World Cup , 1996 Olympics , 1999 World Cup , 2003 World Cup , 2004 Olympics and 2007 World Cup...
. Kristine Lilly then got a shot past Chinese goalkeeper Gao Hong
Gao Hong
Gao Hong is a composer and performer of the Chinese pipa .Gao has lived in the United States since 1994. She performs traditional and modern Chinese music, with her groups Spirit of Nature and Beijing Trio...
to give the United States the advantage.
Zhang Ouying
Zhang Ouying
Zhang Ouying is a female Chinese football player who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and in the 2004 Summer Olympics.In 2000 she finished fifth with the Chinese team in the women's tournament. She played all three matches....
, Mia Hamm
Mia Hamm
Mariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female,...
, and Sun Wen
Sun Wen
Sun Wen may refer to:*Sun Yat-sen, Chinese revolutionary and political leader*Sun Wen , Chinese footballer...
each converted their penalty opportunities, leaving the United States' Brandi Chastain
Brandi Chastain
Brandi Denise Chastain is a professional American soccer defender and midfielder who plays for the team California Storm of Women's Premier Soccer League and is a former member of the United States women's national soccer team....
with a shot to win the tournament. She put the ball past Gao, leading to an ecstatic celebration by the Americans, who had clinched the title on home soil.