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Wambach leads U.S. women's soccer to win

Forward scores twice, has an assist in 4-3 victory over Brazil

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updated 9:12 p.m. ET Sept. 26, 2004

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Abby Wambach couldn’t have written a better script for her return to her hometown.

Wambach, whose header in the Olympic gold medal game lifted the United States women to victory over Brazil, scored two goals and assisted on another as the U.S. squad defeated Iceland 4-3 Saturday night before a capacity crowd of nearly 15,000 at Frontier Field.

The match was the first of 10 games the U.S. team will play as part of its “Fan Appreciation Tour.” It will also serve as a farewell tour for departing veterans Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett.

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Hamm is the career goal-scoring leader in international soccer, Foudy played every minute of the last three Olympics and World Cups and Fawcett anchored the American defense that led it to the gold medal in Athens last month.

Iceland overcame a 3-0 deficit, tying the score with three goals in a span of five minutes in the second half. But Heather Mitts tapped in the deciding goal after a corner kick in the final minute of injury time to lift the Americans to victory.

“It just goes to show you how special this team really is,” said Wambach, who assisted on Hamm’s goal in the 52nd minute. “This team fights to the last second.”

The U.S. squad will continue its tour Sept. 29 in Pittsburgh.

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