ST. LOUIS (October 29, 2009) – Saint Louis Athletica’s Lori Chalupny helped lead the United States to a 1-0 win over Germany in an international friendly Thursday in Augsburg, Bavaria in front of over 30,000 at a sold out Impuls Arena. Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo kept a clean sheet for the U.S. in a match between the two top-rated countries in the FIFA world rankings. The U.S. came into the match ranked first in the world, just 35 points ahead of Germany.

“It was a great opportunity for us to be in Germany in front of a packed house, playing against what will surely be an important opponent for us in the next World Cup,” said the Athletica captain from Germany Thursday evening. “Today’s win was just a total team effort.”

Solo helped set the tone early in what would become a frustrating day for the Germans. Solo’s diving stop in just the 4th minute of play denied Germany the early opener. Solo punched clear a dangerous ball from the left corner, fully laying out to reach it, and stopped what would be the best German chance of the first half.

Chalupny and Solo teamed up in the 15th minute. This time Chalupny cleared away a loose ball on the edge of the six-yard box. Solo had gotten a hand to the ball, just enough so that Chalupny could come in and relieve the pressure. Later, in the 29th minute, Germany’s Kim Kullig volleyed an 18-yard shot right at Solo who saved comfortably.

Abby Wambach, from the Washington Freedom, would put the U.S. ahead in the 34th minute when she headed in from 12 yards. Wambach was on the end of a cross from Sky Blue FC’s Yael Averbuch that deflected off a German defender. Wambach rose to meet it with a solid header, getting over the top of the German defender and goalkeeper.

The second half started with Chalupny right back in the middle of the action. Chalupny’s 46th minute clearance halted an early German attack. Chalupny dug out the ball from a scrum inside the six-yard box, sending it out of the penalty area and into midfield.

Hope Solo would find herself with some more work to handle in the second half. Solo raced to the edge of the penalty area to prevent a chance from materializing in the 57th minute. One minute later she easily handled a cross from the right that could have become problematic.

Germany had two good chances during the rest of the second half, but Solo stopped each. In the 69th minute Anja Mittag found herself with some space at the edge of the penalty area, but her resulting shot was no test for Solo. Germany’s last good effort came in the 87th minute on a lofted ball straight into the goalmouth. Solo, taking no chances, punched it away. Afterwards Solo had high praise for the Germans.

“I have never seen a team so patient in their attack,” said the Saint Louis goalkeeper. “They attack with so many numbers, and they keep possession in the final third of the field. They are just plain good.”

The game in Augsburg was played at the new Impuls Arena, which will be a venue during the 2011 Women’s World Cup that Germany is hosting. The win by the U.S. will keep them ranked first in the FIFA world rankings.