US soccer defeats Denmark 2-1 to win Algarve Cup for record 6th time

AP Photo/Steven GovernoUSA women's national soccer team player Christine Rampone, left, holds up the Algarve Cup trophy for a baby to see after their 2-1 win over Denmark in the final match Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at Vila Real de Santo Antonio's stadium, in the Algarve, Portugal.

AP Photo/Steven GovernoUSA women's national soccer team player Christine Rampone, left, holds up the Algarve Cup trophy for a baby to see after their 2-1 win over Denmark in the final match Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at Vila Real de Santo Antonio's stadium, in the Algarve, Portugal.

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VILA REAL DE SANTO ANTONIO, Portugal " Abby Wambach scored her 88th international goal Wednesday to help the United States win the Algarve Cup for a record sixth time with a 2-1 victory over Denmark.

Wambach scored the winning goal in the 49th minute, sprinting down the right flank and breaking two tackles before exchanging passes with Natasha Kai and sending a low drive into the corner.

Kai gave the Americans the lead with a header in the 14th, but Denmark's Cathrine Sorensen scored in the 30th.

The United States, which plays in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Mexico next month, scored 12 goals in four games, improving on its previous record of 11 in the 2000 tournament.

"If our performances continue to improve as they have done, I feel we will do well," Wambach said. "Getting to Beijing is on all our minds."

The Americans and the Danes went 3-0 in group play without giving up a goal ahead of the final.

It was a rematch of last year's title game, which the Americans won 2-0.

Kai headed in a cross from Carli Lloyd to put the Americans ahead, but Denmark kept up the pressure and leveled when Sorensen controlled the ball on her chest and volleyed a shot past goalkeeper Hope Solo.