SILVES, Portugal --- University of Portland junior All-American Stephanie Lopez continued her impressive international play by helping the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 2-1 victory over China in the opening match of the 2007 Algarve Cup. Lopez started in the midfield and assisted on the game-winning goal.

With the match tied at 1-1, Lopez ran onto a ball and nutmegged her defender towards goal She toe-poked a pass back to Lloyd who side-stepped a defender to the inside and cracked a right footed shot from just left of the penalty arc, plowing the ball into the net at the upper left corner from 25 yards out.

The halftime score held as the USA racked up a 15-4 shot advantage and held on for the 2-1 victory.

The USA came out in a 3-4-3 formation with Cat Whitehill sweeping behind markers Christie Rampone and Tina Ellertson, with Stephanie Lopez and Lori Chalupny deployed on the flanks. Up front, the USA started with Abby Wambach and Lilly, who were playing in their first matches of 2007, alongside Heather O’Reilly.

The first U.S. goal came in the 19th minute as Abby Wambach drew a penalty kick. USA veteran Kristine Lilly stepped up and hammered her spot kick into the right corner.

China answered back almost immediately, tying the game on a free kick taken by Liu Sa. Han Duan got the slightest touch to the ball, re-directing her seven yard header low inside the far post.

The USA will next face Finland, a 3-0 loser to Sweden in the other Group B match, at Ferreiras on March 9. Kickoff for that match is 4:15 p.m. local / 11:15 a.m. ET. Fans can follow the match live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.

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

Match-up: USA vs. China
Competition: 2007 Algarve Cup
Venue: Municipal Stadium; Silves, Portugal
Date: March 7, 2007; Kickoff – 4:15 p.m. local / 11:15 a.m. ET
Attendance: 500
Weather: Sunny, windy – 75 degrees

Scoring Summary:
           1     2     F
USA   2     0     2
CHN  1     0     1

USA – Kristine Lilly (penalty kick) 19th minute.
CHN – Han Duan (Liu Sa) 21.
USA – Carli Lloyd (Stephanie Lopez) 38.

Lineups:
USA - 18-Hope Solo; 4-Cat Whitehill, 8-Tina Ellertson, 3-Christie Rampone; 14-Stephanie Lopez, 12-Leslie Osborne, 11-Carli Lloyd, 17-Lori Chalupny; 9-Heather O’Reilly (5-Lindsay Tarpley, 80), 20-Abby Wambach, 13-Kristine Lilly – Capt.
Subs not used: 1-Briana Scurry, 2-Heather Mitts, 6-Natasha Kai, 7-Shannon Boxx, 10-Aly Wagner, 16-Angela Hucles, 19-Marci Jobson, 22-India Trotter.
Head Coach: Greg Ryan

CHN - 18-Zhang Yanru; 3-Li Jie (14-Wang Kun, 86), 4-Weng Xingzhi, 5-Pu Wei – Capt., 16-Liu Yali; 7-Bi Yan (12-Zhang Tong, 70), 8-Zhang Na, 19-Qu Feifei (6-Zhang Ying, 70), 23-Li Dongna; 9-Han Duan, 20-Liu Sa (21-Lou Xiaoxu, 80).
Subs not used: 1-Han Wenxia, 2-Song Guan Nan, 13-Sun Lin, 17-Li Dongling, 24-Guo Yue.
Head Coach: Wang Haiming

Statistical Summary:
USA / CHN
Shots: 15 / 4
Shots on Goal: 5 / 2
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 6 / 2
Fouls: 14 / 20
Offside: 2 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
CHN – Liu Yali (caution) 77.
USA – Abby Wambach (caution) 84.

Group B Standings
Team    W    L    T    Pts    GF    GA    GD
SWE     1     0      0    3        3        0     +3
USA      1     0     0     3        2       1      +1
CHN     0     1     0     0        1       2      -1
FIN       0     1     0     0         0      3       -3

Group B Schedule / Results
March 7
USA 2, China 1
Sweden 3, Finland 0

March 9
USA vs. Finland
Sweden vs. China

March 12
USA vs. Sweden
Finland vs. China