US opens World Cup with win

Associated Press

DRESDEN, Germany

Once, twice, three times and then a fourth, Lauren Cheney launched a shot with her foot only to watch it go right into the hands of the North Korean goalkeeper.

Finally, she used her head. And just like that, the Americans looked more like a team that could contend for a third Women’s World Cup title than the one that took a self-described “bumpy” road to Germany.

“I wasn’t frustrated,” said Cheney, whose goal in the 54th minute sparked a 2-0 win on Tuesday. “I knew if I kept going, I’d get one. I’m pretty happy I did.”

It was the fourth straight time the teams had met in group play at the World Cup, and the Americans have won all the games but one.

North Korean coach Kim Kwang Min blamed his team’s failings in the second half on a June 8 lightning strike during training in Pyongyang that sent “more than five” players to the hospital. Goalkeeper Hong Myong Hui, four defenders and some of the midfielders were the players most affected, Kim said.

“The physicians actually said the players were not capable of playing in the tournament,” Kim said. “They’re not physically ready for this match, but they had a strong will.”

The North Koreans didn’t seem as if anything was amiss, nearly matching the Americans in possession (53 percent to 47 percent) and getting seven shots on goal.

Sweden 1, Colombia 0

LEVERKUSEN, Germany

Sweden scored in the 57th-minute on a goal by Jessica Landstrom. Colombia is playing in the tournament for the first time. Before the game, reserve goalkeeper Yineth Varon failed a drug test taken Saturday.