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Hamilton clinches Greipel wins British Grand Prix Tour stage MONDAY, JULY 6, 2015 18 19 Will history repeat itself? US women hope not Page 19 SANTIAGO: Chile’s players hold up the Copa America trophy after the final soccer match against Argentina at the National Stadium. — AP Chile stun Argentina to win Copa crown SANTIAGO: Chile wrecked Lionel Messi’s dream of a after winning everything at club level with Barcelona. Argentina’s players meanwhile were left pondering Argentina almost grabbed an opener in the 20th first international title with a dramatic penalty shoot- But the 28-year-old superstar was to suffer more dis- another heartbreaking loss. Midfielder Javier minute when Sergio Aguero met a Messi free-kick with out victory over Argentina to end their 99-year wait for appointment, only 12 months after enduring another Mascherano has now played in three losing Argentina a close range header that Bravo parried away. a Copa America crown here Saturday. agonising extra-time defeat in last year’s World Cup final teams in Copa America finals, and was also a member of On the stroke of half-time Argentina probed again Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez struck the winning spot- against Germany in Brazil. Chile’s win was their first ever the team beaten in the World Cup final. and Javier Pastore set up Ezequiel Lavezzi whose shot kick for Chile, as the hosts clinched a 4-1 shoot-out vic- victory over Argentina in the Copa America. “Three Copa America finals, three defeats ... I can’t was blocked by Bravo. tory when the game ended goalless after extra time. “It is a dream come true. We have worked so hard for explain the losing streak,” a dejected Mascherano said. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Sanchez chipped the decisive penalty down the mid- this,” said Chile star Arturo Vidal. The midfielder said “We just didn’t seem to have that little bit of luck that clear-cut chances thin on the ground as defences dle past Sergio Romero to spark wild celebrations in Chile had been determined to win the Copa America you sometimes need to have to win in finals. Is it karma? remained on top. Sanchez went close for Chile on 82 front of a 45,000 capacity crowd at the Estadio Nacional after exiting the World Cup last year on penalties. “We I don’t know.” Argentina coach Gerardo Martino mean- minutes but hooked his volley just wide of the post. in Santiago. talked about it in Brazil that we were going to win the while lamented his side’s failure to take chances. “They Argentina almost snatched a dramatic victory in the Chile took control of the shoot-out when Gonzalo Copa America,” Sanchez said. were very clear chances that should have changed the dying seconds with a well-worked move that began Higuain blazed his penalty over the bar before Chile “This is really a great generation, we deserve this.” outcome of the game,” Martino said. after Messi skipped clear of the Chile defence and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo saved Ever Banega’s spot-kick. Chile’s Argentina-born coach Jorge Sampaoli said his Earlier, Chile had begun the final at a ferocious pace released Lavezzi on the left flank. Lavezzi found Argentina captain Messi, aiming to inspire the South side had deserved to win. before Argentina gradually managed to gain a foothold Higuain-on for Aguero-at the far post but the Napoli American giants to a first international title in 22 years, “We had to play a great game against one of the in the game. While Chile pressed forward relentlessly striker couldn’t finish from a tight angle and shot into could only look on distraught as Chile celebrated. The world’s best teams for the quality of players,” Sampaoli and launched a series of forays into Argentinian territo- the side netting as Chile escaped. In extra-time Sanchez four-time world footballer of the year had repeatedly said. “We should have won in 90 minutes, but ended up ry, it was the tournament favourites who had the better almost punished a rare slip by Mascherano but shot spoken of his desperation to win a title with Argentina getting justice.” chances in the first half. over the bar. — AFP Williams seals bronze for Messi-Maradona debate England, edge Germany rumbles on after Copa woe EDMONTON: A 108th-minute penalty kick by Fara Williams gave SANTIAGO: Another tournament, Maradona in almost every department, England their first ever win over top ranked Germany and a third place another shattering defeat, and another with 46 goals in 103 international finish at the Women’s World Cup on Saturday. round of unfavourable comparisons to appearances compared to Maradona’s The 1-0 victory after 120 minutes of gritty battle at Edmonton’s Diego Maradona. 34 goals in 91 games. Commonwealth Stadium gave the sixth-ranked ‘Lionesses’ their first Lionel Messi was left reflecting on At club level Messi has amassed 412 win over the European champions on their 21st attempt. another bitterly familiar failure here goals in 482 games, compared to It also helped bury the heartache of the injury time own-goal by Saturday after Argentina suffered an Maradona’s 312 in 588 matches. Messi defender Laura Bassett which had ended their title bid during a 2-1 agonizing penalty shoot-out defeat to has won three European Cups with semi-final loss to defending champions Japan. Chile in the Copa America final. Barcelona; the famous trophy is conspic- “It feels a lot better to be sitting here after that than it did the other It was the second time in 12 months uously absent from Maradona’s CV. day,” said England coach Mark Sampson. “To bounce back from what Messi had finished on the losing side in Messi has been named world foot- was a real, real blow for us, it’s an incredible result for the team. a major final following Argentina’s extra- baller of the year four times; Maradona “We knew the challenge we faced today from a world class time loss to Germany at the World Cup earned the accolade only once. Yet the Germany team. “I’m just incredibly proud of all the players and staff, to EDMONTON: England players, including Laura Bassett (6), cele- last year. arguments invariably circle back to tro- achieve a third place finish, to go home as the top European nation, to brate after defeating Germany 1-0 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup “This generation is desperate to win phies at international level. finally beat Germany, it was a real big statement for us today. third-place soccer match. — AP a title with the national team,” Messi had Although Messi played a key role in “It’s something that these players will be remembered for forever.” Karen Bardsley following a Bianca Schmidt header across goal. said before this year’s Copa America. “As Argentina reaching the final of last The third place play-off had gone into extra time after the teams were Within a minute Sasic had a chance to extend her tournament lead- a team, we deserve to win something year’s World Cup in Brazil, his achieve- locked 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes. ing six goals but her weak shot was held by Bardsley. Forward Ellen and it would mean so much after the ments at international level have not But England were awarded a penalty just minutes into the second White headed over the bar after 26 minutes, and Germany’s Sara World Cup where we came so close.” seared themselves in the memory in the period of extra time after Lianne Sanderson was pulled down by Tabea Daebritz missed a chance to break the deadlock just before halftime Saturday’s defeat will reignite the way that Maradona’s did during his dis- Kemme. but Potter blocked her shot. debate about where Messi deserves to plays in the 1986 World Cup. And Williams slotted in past former world goalkeeper of the year After the break Germany had the best scoring chance on 53 min- be ranked in the pantheon of the very Maradona is largely credited with sin- Nadine Angerer, who playing her final match for Germany, dived the utes when Sasic crossed to Daebritz whose volley was kept out by a greatest players to have graced the gle-handedly guiding Argentina to that wrong way. diving Bardsley. sport. World Cup title in Mexico, scoring a “It didn’t surprise me as we have seen what England could do over Eniola Aluko came off the bench on 61 minutes and had a solo run For many, his extraordinary achieve- series of memorable individual goals the course of this tournament,” said Germany coach Silvia Neid. towards goal three minutes from time but Angerer recovered the ball. ments at club level with Barcelona over against England and Belgium along the “They really wanted it today, they were very clever in their game.” But England continued to push with Jill Scott failing to finish with only the past decade have already guaran- way. Germany, winners in 2003 and 2007, lost 2-0 to the United States in Angerer to beat, while Williams saw her goal-bound effort cleared by a teed him a place alongside Pele and Even in the 1986 final, when he was their semi-final. defender. Diego Maradona. well-shackled by Germany’s Lothar England had never gotten past Germany with their most recent loss But the game was finally decided with the clocking ticking when Others insist that his failure to lead Matthaus, Maradona was able to prove a 3-0 drubbing at Wembley Stadium last year during which World Cup was Kemme was judged to have pulled down substitute Sanderson, his country to international glory puts a decisive influence, supplying the sub- top scorer Celia Sasic scored twice.