THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015 SPORTS Asian teams go on transfer spending spree SINGAPORE: Emirati champions Al Ain tipped to fill the quota with either Chelsea “We (Asia) have only started the profes- Javier Aguirre next season and have signed 26, from England’s Tottenham Hotspur for a signed Dutch winger Ryan Babel yesterday, midfielder John Obi Mikel, 28, or 25-year- sional era in 2008. I would like to see that 31-year-old Chile midfielder Jorge Valdivia, similar fee. while Guangzhou Evergrande closed in on old Brazilian Fellipe Bastos from Gremio. our clubs have the same financial power who is looking forward to the Copa America Current Brazil forward Robinho, 31, for- Brazil’s Robinho as the money-spinning bat- Improving standards and the lure of big that enables us to pay as much as the final against Argentina on Saturday. merly of Real Madrid and AC Milan, appears tle between Chinese and Middle Eastern wages have helped make the United Arab European sides to take the best players to Former English-based Brazilians Jo, 28, to be the next Guangzhou arrival under clubs for foreign talent gathered pace. Emirates a popular choice with players in play in Asia,” While there is little hope of and Denilson, 27, have signed for Emirati World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe The 28-year-old Dutch international recent years, with the age demographic of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo pulling on clubs, whose growing popularity is Scolari despite reported interest from Abu winger and former Ajax Amsterdam and the arrivals no longer restricted to old leg- an Al Ain or Al Sadd shirt anytime soon, matched by China. Dhabi’s Bani Yas. Liverpool player joined Ghana striker ends looking for one last pay day. there is no denying the improved standards Shanghai Shenhua this week spent “I’m already seeing a change from a Asamoah Gyan and South Korea’s Lee It was a trend predicted by former Asian of the arrivals as clubs in a region rich with around $15 million on Senegal striker ‘retirement’ league to a development’ Myung-joo at the wealthy Abu Dhabi club. Football Confederation president Mohamed resources realise their growing market pow Demba Ba, 30, a respected goal scorer in league,” Shanghai SIPG coach Mads Arabian Gulf League rules permit four Bin Hammam of Qatar. “No, I’m not mad,” Abu Dhabi based side Al Wahda will be England and Germany, while champions Davidsen told Football Channel Asia earlier foreigners in each side and Al Ain had been the Qatari said five years ago. managed by former Japan and Mexico boss Guangzhou snapped up Brazilian Paulinho, this year. — Reuters PRAGUE: Sweden’s team celebrates with the trophy after winning the Euro U-21 soccer championship final match between Sweden andPortugal, at the Eden stadium. — AP Sweden captures first Euro U-21 title PRAGUE: Goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren saved His Portuguese counterpart Jose Sa, who let “I had a feeling he’d go for that side, I went the Five minutes later, Sergio Oliveira hit the low shot from 25 metres and another substi- two penalties in a shoot-out to lead Sweden to in a single goal in the entire tournament, only right way and saved the penalty.” Swedish crossbar from a free kick. Sweden, tute, Iuri Medeiros, missed the target. victory over Portugal and their first European managed one save in the shoot-out. Portugal had swept past Germany 5-0 in the who last played an under-21 final in 1992, ven- Joao Mario sent his shot over the bar five Under-21 title in Prague on Tuesday. Carlgren was elated at his side’s success. “It’s semi-final, but Sweden’s defence proved a tured forward on 12 minutes when Isaac Kiese minutes from time and Guidetti’s close-range The AIK Stockholm stopper sent a vocifer- insane, completely insane to win a Euro cham- harder nut to crack. Playing their first under-21 Thelin headed into Sa’s hands. Sweden striker shot was denied by Sa, who also intercepted a ous yellow-clad crowd at Prague’s Eden stadi- pionship. We’re writing Swedish history,” he final since 1994, Portugal created more scoring John Guidetti, who spent last season at Celtic, pass aimed by Guidetti at Kiese Thelin in front um into raptures when he saved attempts by told uefa.com. “It was a fantastic match from chances and went on an attacking spree early half-volleyed just over the bar on 52 minutes in of goal. Sweden put Portugal under pressure in Ricardo Esgaio and William Carvalho for a 4-3 beginning to end. We knew they’d have a lot of in the game but Pereira Ricardo missed the best scoring chance of the game. extra time-Abdul Rahman Khalili’s shot missed win in the shoot-out following a goalless draw the ball, but we played one hell of a match.” Of Carlgren’s right post narrowly with a low left- Oliveira’s low shot missed narrowly seconds the target narrowly with Sa beaten and his after extra time. William Carvalho’s decisive spot kick, he added: foot shot after two minutes. later, while Carlgren stopped substitute Toze’s next attempt went far wide. — AFP Costa US blank Germany to reach moves to Women’s World Cup final MONTREAL: An inspired performance from time in place of Megan Rapinoe. And min- “It was a great semi-final between two very Bayern Carli Lloyd lifted the United States into their utes later, Lloyd pulled clear of her marker strong teams at high level. Unfortunately second straight Women’s World Cup final to run down the field, crossing to O’Hara, we were not dangerous enough when it KIEV: Bayern Munich have added an with a 2-0 win over top-ranked Germany on who entered in the 75th minute. O’Hara came to the goal area and congratulations additional option to their midfield by Tuesday. fired in the winner from close range, dump- to the United States,” said Neid, who had a buying pacy Brazil international In a battle between the world’s top two ing former two-time winners Germany. “It role in both Germany’s titles in 2003 and teams, the United States largely dominated was clearly outside of the area and it can be 2007. Douglas Costa from Shakhtar in front of 51,000 largely US supporters at seen quite clearly on television,” said Germany next prepare for the third- Donetsk on a five-year deal, the Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. Germany coach Silvia Neid of the penalty place playoff in Edmonton on Saturday. German champions said yesterday. In a dramatic second half, Germany’s awarded against them. “We’re going to have to support Celia,” Neid Bayern did not publish financial Celia Sasic missed a penalty kick on 60 min- “I’m very sad about it but I can’t change added. “She shot two penalties against details but Shakhtar said the utes before Lloyd opened nine minutes lat- it.” Germany had been bidding for a record France. Today she missed. That type of Bundesliga side had agreed to pay 30 er from the spot with defender Kelley third title and to match their men’s team thing happens in sport. She will have got- million euros ($33.3 million) for the O’Hara sealing victory with her first-ever who won the World Cup in Brazil last year. ten over that by Saturday.” —AFP 24-year-old, who joined the goal for the Americans six minutes from Ukrainian club from Gremio in 2010. time. “I came here to win this thing not just “A dream has come true for me be a participant that played in a World Cup,” today,” Douglas said on Bayern’s web- warned the 32-year-old Lloyd, who was site after signing his contract. “I’m wearing the captain’s armband. proud to become a player for Bayern, “It’s a good feeling. I’ve a really confi- following in the footsteps of so many dent feeling in us winning it.” The United States, winners in 1991 and 1999 and magnificent Brazilian players,” he ranked second in the world, will play either added. defending champions Japan or England for “I’m looking forward to playing for the title in Vancouver on July 5. Japan beat this magnificent team and will do the Americans in a dramatic penalty shoot- everything I can to fulfil the expecta- out to take the title four years ago. “We’re in tions placed in me.” a World Cup final, one opponent stands in Under coach Pep Guardiola, our way and for me it doesn’t matter who it Bayern strolled to a third straight is,” said US coach Jill Ellis. “We’ll take either Bundesliga title last season, and their (England or Japan). That sounds arrogant.” 25th German league crown overall. The Americans dominated the first half, However, they came up short in with forward Alex Morgan having the best the Champions League, losing to chance to open but Nadine Angerer held Guardiola’s former club Barcelona, firm in the Germany goal. A second effort from Morgan from close range also failed to the eventual winners, in the semi- find the target. finals. After the break, Germany’s Anja Mittag They were eager to snap up headed wide but on the hour mark the Douglas as an option on the wings European champions had a golden chance with Franck Ribery nursing a long- when US defender Julie Johnston pulled term injury and Arjen Robben turn- down Alexandra Popp as the midfielder ing 32 in January.