Sports FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015 Japan set up US rematch England ‘heartbroken’ after World Cup defeat EDMONTON: Holders Japan swiped a Mark Sampson as she walked off the field, dramatic 2-1 victory over England thanks the Lionesses stunned, shocked and cry- to an injury-time own-goal by defender ing at the heartbreaking final turn. “It’s OK Laura Bassett on Wednesday, setting up a to cry. They left everything on the field,” Women’s World Cup final rematch Sampson said. against the United States. The Asian Sampson was especially proud of champions, who defeated the Americans Bassett, whose heroics helped England to on penalty kicks in the 2011 champi- the brink of the championship match. onship match, take on the two-time win- “Laura Bassett has epitomized this ners on Sunday in Vancouver after the US England team this tournament,” he said. women beat Germany 2-0 in a Tuesday “She has been courageous, strong... she semi-final at Montreal. kept this team together. She didn’t England and Japan looked to be deserve that. She’ll be remembered as a heading for extra time deadlocked after hero.” But Japan coach Norio Sasaki saw captain Aya Miyama scored a penalty on the goal more as one created by the good 33 minutes only for Fara Williams to level work of his players rather than an English for England five minutes before the break, error. “Own goal, it was not really an own also from a penalty kick. But two minutes goal because we created the situation into injury time, Bassett sent the ball into because we had a really strong counter her own net to end England’s dream run attack and (Yuki) Ogimi was there and to their first World Cup semi-final. Bassett, that’s why she (Bassett) was forced to do 31, was in tears after the final whistle and what she did,” he said. “Nahomi had to be consoled by England coach Kawasumi and Yuki Ogimi were the ones who created this goal. In the end we were the ones who were able to obtain such a dramatic goal.” Lionesses roaring As with the first semi-final which was marked by a penalty missed by Germany EDMONTON: Jill Scott #8 of England challenges Aya Sameshima #5 of Japan during the 2015 FIFA and one scored by the Americans, Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 Semi Final match between Japan and England at Commonwealth Wednesday’s game was also one of Stadium on July 1, 2015. — AFP penalties early before the late drama before 31,467 spectators in Edmonton’s in a tackle which started outside the box. threatening on 66 minutes. Sasakai that ball went over the line but our first Commonwealth Stadium. England were Miyama stepped up and, taking her time brought on Mana Iwabuchi 20 minutes point of call is look after you own. “Laura the only team to defeat Japan at with a stuttering run, slotted the penalty from time and the electric Bayern Munich is one of us, she’s one of our team, we get Germany 2011, winning 2-0 in the group in as Karen Bardsley dived the wrong way forward proved a real danger. She around her, we console her, we let her cry stage during the Nadeshiko’s charge to in the England goal. But eight minutes lat- whipped in a cross after 77 minuets but and we tell her how proud we are of her their maiden world crown. And the er, England were back level after captain Mizuho Sakaguchi’s header went wide. because without her we wouldn’t be in Lionesses had come out roaring with Steph Houghton fell easily in the box fol- this semi-final.” Sunday’s championship Jodie Taylor having the first shot at goal lowing little contact by Japan forward ‘What a tough one’ match will be a third clash for a major title after just one minute when she fired from Ogimi. With the clock ticking down, Japan between Japan and the United States. In 25 yards but sent just wide of Ayumi Williams rifled the penalty into goal made one final break down the right the 2011 final in Frankfurt, Japan won on EDMONTON: England’s Laura Kaihori in the Japanese goal. past Kaihori to equalize for the sixth- flank and Bassett’s stretch to cut out a penalities but the Americans went on to Bassett sheds tears after the Japan dominated possession for the ranked English. Toni Duggan rattled the cross only served to turn the ball into her take Olympic gold in 2012 by beating team’s 2-1 loss to Japan in a FIFA first half hour and finally got the break- crossbar just after the hour mark, and sec- own goal off the underside of the bar. Japan in the final. England now prepare Women’s World Cup soccer tour- through on a penalty, awarded when onds later a diving Kaihori did well to “What a tough one, what a tough one to to meet former two-time winners nament on Wednesday, July 1, Claire Rafferty brought down Saori punch clear substitute Ellen White’s curl- take,” said Sampson. “Every single mem- Germany in Saturday’s third-place playoff 2015. — AP Ariyoshi, who was charging towards goal, ing goalward shot, with Jill Scott also ber of our group was devastated when match in Edmonton.— AFP Liberia host international US seeks extradition game as Ebola ban lifted of seven FIFA officials JOHANNESBURG: International football returns to pensions reportedly deflated morale and finding GENEVA: The United States has demanded the vice presidents. Costa Rican Eduardo Li was sup- Liberia this weekend when they host Guinea in a replacements delayed the departure of the team extradition of seven FIFA officials detained in May posed to join the FIFA executive committee in May. 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier from Monrovia, forcing the first leg in Bamako to be setting off what could become a prolonged legal There was also Brazilian football federation chief Jose after the lifting of an Ebola-induced ban. The 13- postponed 24 hours. Amadou Camara bagged a battle over the handling of the major corruption Maria Marin, Nicaraguan Julio Rocha and Costas month suspension was scrapped in May by African first-half brace for Guinea and after Allison Dweh case. Swiss authorities said yesterday that the US Takkas, a Briton who worked for the Cayman islands football governing body CAF and Guinea will be the halved the deficit, Ibrahim Sory Sankhon restored embassy in Bern had sent an extradition request the federation and Rafael Esquivel, president of the first foreign side to play in Monrovia since that deci- the two-goal advantage. Liberia are traditionally day before. The seven were detained in a dawn raid Venezuelan Football Federation. sion. Liberia defeated Lesotho at home in May last poor at overtaking arrears and their best chance of on a Zurich hotel on May 27 as a FIFA congress was year in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. survival may be to win 2-0 and squeeze through on about to start. FIFA leader Sepp Blatter was reelected Prolonged battle But as the epidemic spread-leading to a World the away-goal rule. to a new term at the congress but amid a storm of All are accused by US authorities of involve- Health Organization-estimated death toll of 11,207 - Zimbabwe take a 2-0 lead and a 100 percent controversy over parallel US and Swiss investiga- ment in more than $150 million of bribes given for Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea were prevented away record of six victories in three previous quali- tions, he announced four days later that he would marketing deals for football tournaments in North from hosting international football. The bans on fying competitions to the Comoros. However, the stand down. Blatter has not been accused by either and South America. The seven are among 14 peo- Sierra Leone and Guinea remain and after being island nation will draw hope from restricting the inquiry and again strongly denied involvement in ple-officials and sports marketing company execu- declared Ebola-free two months ago, Liberia suf- hot favorites to a one-goal advantage in Harare corruption in a German media interview released tives-that US authorities have charged. Four others fered a setback this week with a fresh outbreak. until Tatenda Mudewe scored a minute from time. Wednesday. have already made deals with US prosecutors. While the ban was in force, Liberian national teams Midfielders Ronald Chitiyo and Wisdom Mutasa The US legal authorities had until July 3 to make Zurich police will now question the seven officials and clubs staged matches at neutral venues or for- and strikers Thomas Chideu and Evans Rusike miss their request and a Swiss federal justice office state- again and they will have 14 days to respond to the feited home advantage. Coach James Debbah will the return match after being invited for trials out- ment said the embassy action was “within the time- extradition request, the federal justice office said. appreciate playing at home as his team must over- side the country. “It will be challenging working frame set down in the bilateral extradition treaty” Experts said the battle over their extradition could come a 3-1 first-leg deficit in the competition for with new players,” admitted coach Callisto between the two countries. The seven officials-all take more than a year with hearings running home-based footballers. Pasuwa, “because developing combinations takes from South and North America-have all indicated alongside the election for a new FIFA president.