The defending champion U.S. Women's Soccer team has defeated Denmark, 1-0, to post its second win of the Algarve Cup tournament in Ferreiras, Portugal. U.S. midfielder Angela Hucles scored in the 60th minute, her third goal in two games to give the U.S. women the victory. The Americans scored a 5-1 win over France in their opening match Sunday.
Meanwhile, France defeated World Cup runner-up Sweden, 3-0, in another Group-A match.
In a Group-B match, Norway defeated Italy, 3-0 on goals from Lene Jenssen, Gitte Andersen, and Louise Hanson. Finland suffered its second loss of the tournament, 4-0, to China. Norway defeated Finland in its opening match, 4-1.
The U.S. team leads group A with six points from two games and can reach the title match with a draw of a low-scoring loss to Sweden. Norway leads the group B standings three points ahead of China.
This is the ninth time the U.S. women have competed in the Algarve Cup in Portugal. The American women take on World Cup finalist Sweden in their next match Thursday.
The 12-nation tournament is divided into three groups of four teams each, but only the top finishers in Groups A and B will compete in the finals. Group C teams will compete for seventh to 10th place.