14 January 1996 - Chastain Is (A) Back

On 14 January 1996, the US women's national team crushed Russia 8-1 in a match that marked the return of Brandi Chastain after a 3-year absence.

Chastain had made 17 appearances for the national team from 1988 t0 1993 as a forward and was part of the team that won the 1991 Women's World Cup. But she dropped off the national radar in 1993 after contributing only 7 goals and 2 assists. She was called back in 1996, but as a defender.

Her first match back was the blowout win against Russia in the Torneio do Brasil, held in Campinas. Chastain was part of a stout backline that helped the US to a close victory over Brazil (3-2) and a shutout win over the Ukraine (6-0). They met Brazil again in the Final, winning on penalty kicks, 1-1 (3-2).

As a defender, Chastain secured her place in the national team, earning a total of 192 caps before retiring in 2004. In the time she scored over three times as many goals as defender (23) than she had as a forward, including her memorable penalty kick that won the 1999 Women's World Cup Final over China.

22 May 1999 - The World's Greatest International Goalscorer

On 22 May 1999, forward Mia Hamm scored her 108th goal for the US women's team, making her the all-time leading scorer in international history.

The record-setting goal came a the end of the first half in a friendly against Brazil, played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The score was tied at 0-0 when teammate Cindy Parlow sent the ball into the path of Hamm in the Brazilians' penalty area. Hamm cut to the right, fought off a defender, then shot the ball through the legs of Brazilian keeper Dida to put the US ahead 1-0.

Brazil applied intense pressure in the second half, forcing a handful of acrobatic saves from US keeper Brianna Scurry, but were unable to find the back of the net. The hosts then extended their lead to 2-0 when forward Kristine Lilly received a 72nd-minute corner kick and kneed it home. The US scored the final goal in the 87th minute as Brandi Chastain took a quick throw that caught the Brazilians off guard. The throw went in the box to Lilly, who headed it down to Tiffany Milbrett for a strong volley into the goal.

The match was a warm-up for the 1999 World Cup, which opened the next month. The US went on to win their second World Cup trophy beating China in the Final. Brazil finished in third.

It was Hamm's 172d match for the US. Before her retirement in 2004, she made a total of 275 US appearances and extended her scoring record to 158.