DATE=09/25/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=WWC GROUP C (L)

NUMBER=2-307878

BYLINE=PARKE BREWER

DATELINE=COLUMBUS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The women's soccer teams from Germany and Canada were victorious in World Cup Group C matches, Wednesday night in Columbus, Ohio. V-O-A Sports Editor Parke Brewer is there and has details.

TEXT: Germany is clearly the strongest of the four teams in this group, after having won its first two games by three-goal margins.

The Germans followed up Saturday's four-one victory over Canada with a three-nil shutout of Japan. Forward Birgit Prinze led the way against Japan, scoring once in each half (36th and 66th minutes). Sandra Minnert had the other goal (23rd minute).

German Captain Bettina Wiegmann says -- although her teammates they may have not played as well as they did against Canada -- they did what they needed to do to win.

// WIEGMANN ACTUALITY //

I think Japan has a very good team. They played very well and we had some problems with them. But, in the end, we won three-nil and that's the main important thing for us.

// END ACTUALITY //

In the second game of the doubleheader here, the two teams which had lost their opening games met. Canada beat Argentina, three-nil. Captain Charmaine Hooper converted a penalty kick in the 19th minute for Canada's first goal and Christine Latham tallied in both the 79th and 82nd minutes.

Before Latham got her two goals, late in the game, the match was in the balance. Canadian coach Even Pellerud said that made it tense.

// PELLERUD ACTUALITY //

That was not an easy game from the bench. We, of course, had hoped to score more goals in the first half, so we could relax and play a more confident type of game. But we suffered from not executing the goal chances we had. So, we had some problems and we should have scored more in the first half, but it's just a fact that it was a difficult game for us.

// END ACTUALITY //

But the win over Argentina does keep Canada's hopes alive for a berth in the women's World Cup quarterfinals. Both Canada and Japan are now one-and-one. They meet Saturday to determine which will advance. With two wins, Germany has already clinched a place in the quarterfinals, no matter how it does in its final Group C match against winless Argentina. (signed)

NEB/SPTS/PARKE/ WD