Hamm shows the way as US win big

Only two games into the Women’s World Cup, one thing is certain about the United States: just about everything Mia Hamm touches turn to...

Only two games into the Women’s World Cup, one thing is certain about the United States: just about everything Mia Hamm touches turn to goal. Take, for instance, how she scored her second goal 12 minutes into the Americans’ 5-0 thrashing of Nigeria last night. Hamm took a 35-yard free kick from the left side that floated over goalkeeper Precious Dede to the far post.

“Honestly,” she admitted afterwards, “I was trying to serve the box.” That’s the way Hamm is playing these days. In the United States 3-1 group A win over Sweden on Sunday, Hamm was instrumental in all three goals.

Yesterday in Philadelphia, Hamm continued to put talk she doesn’t come up big in important games behind her with another virtuoso performance. “Mia’s play on and off the ball was just magnificent,” US coach April Heinrichs said. “She was at a whole another level that we haven’t seen.”

The United States, with six points from two matches, lead Sweden and North Korea by three points in the group A standings and need only a draw against North Korea in columbus, Ohio, on Sunday. “To us, it was an important game,” said Hamm, whose all-time international goal record is at 144 and counting. “Nigeria is one of those teams that they’re so unpredictable. You have to be focused and ready.”

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The United States can thank Hamm and Cindy Parlow, who took a lot of punishment to set up Hamm’s heroics. After Bunmi Kayode and Florence Omagbemi made a Parlow Sandwich in the penalty area, Hamm slotted home a penalty in the sixth minute. After Parlow was fouled 35 yards out, Hamm converted that free kick. Hamm paid back Parlow, sending a corner that the forward headed home in the 47th minute.

Hamm became the second player and the first American to score in all four World Cups after Germany’s Bettina Wiegmann. Hamm’s streak of being involved six consecutive goals was finally broken on Abby Wambach’s 65th-minute goal. Julie Foudy joined Hamm as a four-Cup scorer, converting a penalty in the 89th.