By Rupen Fofaria, Globe Correspondent, 07/05/99

FOXBOROUGH - And then there were two: China vs. the United States in the '99 World Cup final.

China was always a contender. No one doubted its status. But come on now, who really expected this?

China came out and attacked Norway, and one of two brave soldiers leading the charge was veteran Liu Ailing. Liu, who has been on the national team since its inception, scored two goals in China's rout of Norway.

''[She was] very good,'' said Sun Wen, using a translator provided by the team. Sun also had two goals in the match and earned MVP honors. ''She played to her level of experience and as the nucleus of our team.''

Although Sun scored the first goal of the game, Liu's goals were perhaps the most distressing to Norway.

After controlling the ball at the top of the box Liu ripped one to the top of the goal with her right foot and put China ahead, 2-0, in the 13th minute.

China took that lead into halftime, having taken 11 total shots and eight shots on goal while Norway had none. And before the Norwegians could make a serious threat to cut the lead to one, Liu put in her second goal of the game, in almost the same fashion but with the other foot, six minutes into the half.

''[I usually shoot] with the right foot, but my left foot is not too bad,'' she said.

Norway seemed winded after that goal.

Liu's presence was felt much more than by her direct contributions to the scoreboard. On the first scoring drive, it was her perfectly played ball that put Jin Yan in good position to score. Norway goalie Bente Nordby managed to deflect that attempt, and Sun finished the job.

Liu was a model of efficiency. She took three shots. Two of them were on goal. Two of them were goals.

''[Liu is] perhaps the oldest player on the team,'' said China coach Ma Yuanan, ''and also the very best player on the team.''

Both teams expected a close game, as in the other four games the teams have played. What they got was a blowout. But this will not make Liu overconfident when her team plays the US next weekend at the Rose Bowl.

''Of course the US is a very strong team,'' she said, ''but any team that makes it to the quarterfinals is a strong team.''

This story ran on page D07 of the Boston Globe on 07/05/99.
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