1997 Algarve Cup

The 1997 Algarve Cup was the fourth edition of the Algarve Cup, an invitational women's association football tournament. It took place between 10 and 16 March 1997 in Portugal with Norway winning the event for the third time in its history, defeating the PR China, 1-0 in the final-game. Sweden ended up third defeating Denmark, 6-5 following a penalty shootout, in the third prize-game.

1997 Algarve Cup

Tournament details
Host country	Portugal
Teams	8 (from 2 confederations)
Venue(s)	9
Final positions
Champions	Norway (3rd title)
Runners-up	China
Third place	Sweden
Tournament statistics
Matches played	16
Goals scored	41 (2.56 per match)
Best player(s)	Marianne Pettersen
← 1996 1998 →

Format

The Netherlands returned to the tournament, replacing Russia.

The eight invited teams were split into two groups that played a round-robin tournament. On completion of this, the fourth placed teams in each group would play each other to determine seventh and eighth place, the third placed teams in each group would play each other to decide fifth and sixth place, the second placed teams in each group would play to determine third and fourth place and the winners of each group would compete for first and second place overall.

Points awarded in the group stage followed the standard formula of three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.

Group A

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Norway	9	3	3	0	0	14	1	+13
Denmark	6	3	2	0	1	6	4	+2
Finland	3	3	1	0	2	3	7	−4
Iceland	0	3	0	0	3	1	12	−11

March 10, 1997

Denmark	4–1	Iceland

Silves

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March 10, 1997

Norway	5–1	Finland

Silves

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March 12, 1997

Norway	6–0	Iceland

Olhão

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March 12, 1997

Denmark	2–0	Finland

Olhão

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March 14, 1997

Norway	3–0	Denmark

Alvor

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March 14, 1997

Finland	2–0	Iceland

Montechoro, Albufeira

Group B

Team	Pts	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
China	9	3	3	0	0	6	0	+6
Sweden	6	3	2	0	1	8	2	+6
Netherlands	3	3	1	0	2	1	5	−4
Portugal	0	3	0	0	3	0	8	−8

March 10, 1997

China	3–0	Portugal

Faro

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March 10, 1997

Sweden	4–0	Netherlands
Bengtsson Svensson Jonsson Andersson	SvFF report (in Swedish)

Faro

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March 12, 1997

China	1–0	Netherlands

Portimão

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March 12, 1997

Sweden	4–0	Portugal
Allberg Swedberg Andersson	SvFF report (in Swedish)

Lagoa

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March 14, 1997

China	2–0	Sweden
	SvFF report (in Swedish)

Albufeira

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March 14, 1997

Netherlands	1–0	Portugal

Montechoro, Albufeira

Seventh Place

March 16, 1997

Iceland	0–0 (4–3) (PSO)	Portugal

Faro

Portugal finished bottom of their group for the fourth year in a row and lost the seventh place play-off on penalties to Iceland.

Fifth Place

March 16, 1997

Netherlands	1–0	Finland

Faro

Third Place

March 16, 1997

Sweden	0–0 (6–5) (PSO)	Denmark
	SvFF Report (in Swedish)

Loulé

1996 runners up Sweden finished in third place overall after winning a penalty shootout following a goalless game.

Final

March 16, 1997

Norway	1–0	China
75' (pen.) Riise

Loulé

Norway won the competition for the third time thanks to Hege Riise's 75th-minute penalty.

Awards

1997 Algarve Cup
Norway Third title

Best player
Marianne Pettersen

External links

• 1997 Algarve Cup on RSSSF