Sissi's goal puts Brazil in semis

LANDOVER, Md. - If Sissi keeps this up, she just might challenge Mia Hamm for the unofficial title of best women's soccer player in the world.

Sissi's 22-yard free kick, the first sudden-death overtime goal in Women's World Cup history, ensured that she and Hamm will share the field Sunday. It gave Brazil a 4-3 victory over Nigeria last night before 54,642 at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, setting up a semifinal match against the United States.

''For us, Sissi is the queen of soccer,'' Brazilian coach Wilson Oliveira Rica said.

After blowing a 3-0 halftime lead, Brazil advanced when Sissi's blast in the 104th minute found the upper right corner of the net for her tournament-high seventh goal.

''Certainly, this is an extremely special goal,'' Sissi said, ''one that is going to be remembered for the rest of my life.''

The semifinal against the United States will be played at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif., the same date (July 4) and venue as the Brazil-United States second-round match in the men's World Cup five years ago. Brazil won that match, 1-0, and went on to capture the Cup.

When the women meet, the United States will be favored - but not overwhelmingly so - because of a Brazilian team with plenty of flair and a midfielder with a powerful free kick.

''The United States is a team with no weaknesses, well-trained and well-balanced,'' Rica said. ''But we are sure this will be the best match of the championships.''

Sissi was involved in every Brazilian goal, getting two assists and helping set up another score in addition to her ''Golden Goal.''

Cidinha scored twice and Nene once, all in the first half, for Brazil before Nigeria rallied with goals from Prisca Emeafu, Nkiru Okosieme and Nkechi Egbe against a suddenly flat Brazilian defense.

Sissi set up the first score in the fourth minute with a free kick from the right of the penalty box.

Goalkeeper Ann Chiejine headed the kick to Brazil's Raquel. Raquel's first shot was blocked by a defender, but her second was deflected by teammate Cidinha into the net.

Cidinha got her second goal in the 22d minute, when she headed Sissi's chipped cross at the far post.

Sissi got another assist in the 35th, making the final pass before Nene's 40-yard chip shot from the right of the box. Chiejine jumped too soon, allowing the ball to float over her head at the far post. Four minutes later, she was replaced in goal by Judith Chime.

Nigeria played the final minutes with 10 players after Patience Avre was ejected in the 87th when she received a second yellow card.

As a consolation, Nigeria qualified for the 2000 Olympics with its second-half rally. A 3-0 defeat would have eliminated the Nigerians.

This story ran on page E08 of the Boston Globe on 07/02/99.
© Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.