sign in sign up
<<
Home , Aya Miyama, Claire Rafferty, Erin McLeod, Gonzalo Jara, Jorge Valdivia, Karen Bardsley

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015 SPORTS England dump hosts collapse in tears

VANCOUVER: England scored twice in three first-half minutes then held on to beat hosts Canada 2-1 on Saturday and book a spot in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals against . The hosts had been hoping to secure the semi-final spot against the defending champions on Canada Day, July 1, in but instead it was England who moved into the last four of a World Cup for the first time. England coach paid tribute to the opposi- tion and fans. “I have never been in a stadium as loud, as pas- sionate for their team as that was, they couldn’t have pushed us any further we had to really, really dig deep today to get the result we wanted,” he told reporters. “They’ve shown a desire I have never seen in an England team before to hang on in there and get us through to the next round.” Without a men’s or women’s World Cup title since 1966, and exasperated by another failure at the men’s U21 European Championships, the “Lionesses” have become the toast of England. “We’re history makers again, only the third England team to get to a semi-final, we have now joined that 1966 and 1990 club, very, very proud of the whole group,” beamed Sampson. EDMONTON: Japan’s Nahomi Kawasumi (9) and ’s Samantha Kerr (20) battle After conceding just one goal in four matches, Canada sur- for the ball during second half of FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final action. —AP rendered two in three minutes early in the opening half. England opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Canadian defender slipped on the ball, Japan in World Cup semis leaving a clear path to the goal. She made no mis- EDMONTON: A late goal from substitute tame effort went straight at Kahori. Japan take, whipping a low shot past a diving Erin McLeod. put holders Japan into the continued to look dangerous but Miyama Three minutes later sent a shudder through semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup on and Yuki Ogmi both missed in front of goal. the capacity crowd 54,027 when her looping header sailed Saturday with a 1-0 win over Australia. Sasaki brought on Iwabuchi for Ohno after 72 over McLeod’s outstretched hand, deflected off the crossbar Iwabuchi, 22, got the breakthrough after minutes and she finally got the winner from and into the net. 87 minutes in a tense quarter-final dominated close range off a corner after Azusa Canada pulled one back just before the break when by Japan in sweltering temperatures of 31 Iwashimizu’s shot had been blocked. England goalkeeper could not handle Ashley degrees celsius in Edmonton. “Even though it took us a long time to Lawrence’s shot and , Canada’s all-time lead- It put the 2011 champions through to the score, our patient playing resulted in this win ing scorer, was there to pounce on the loose ball and drive it last four where they next meet England who and has given us confidence for our next home. beat Canada 2-1 in on game,” said Sasaki. “We hadn’t written the script to be 2-0 down that early,” Saturday.The second semi-final will see Said Australian coach Alen Stajcic, said Canada coach . “I’m proud of my girls, they and the United States, both former “Certainly the better team won. It’s a heart- give you everything, it just wasn’t good enough tonight and two-time winners, playing in Ottawa. breaking experience for all of us. “Even the dream is over. “As the Australian players were tired I said though they scored off a scrappy goal and a “We knew it was going to be a physical contest tonight, to Mana when I sent her in: ‘you are going to set piece in the 88th minute they were proba- you get the English fighting spirit against the Canadian grit.” decide it’,” explained coach of the bly better at more aspects of the game than Soaking up the energy of the sold-out crowd, Canada pushed forward who came on after 72 minutes. we were. “We expelled a lot of energy defend- forward in the second half but could not unlock England’s It will be England’s first ever World Cup ing in that first 20 minute period. They were a defence and test , who came on for semi-final and captain said: lot more composed throughout the 90 min- Bardsley in the 49th minute after the starting goalie had an “We know it’s going to be a massive game on utes.” It was a fifth win in as many games in allergic reaction that caused her eyes to puff up and affect her VANCOUVER: Canada’s (left) and England’s vie for the Wednesday against Japan. We’ve got to Canada for the fourth-ranked Japanese, who vision. —Reuters ball during the first half of FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final soccer action. —AP respect them, they’re obviously the world beat Australia 1-0 in the Asian Cup final last champions for a reason. year. The Matildas, at 10th, the lowest ranked “Now it’s all about recovering obviously team left in the tournament, go home after enjoying this moment tonight then travel to getting past the knockout rounds for the first Edmonton and trying our best to get into a time in their history by beating 1-0 in Pacific ‘Clasico’ as final.” The Japanese were dangerous early but the last 16. had little to show for their efforts during the Japan coach said they were trying to first 20 minutes in the Commonwealth recreate the emotion of winning in 2011 Stadium. when they claimed a dramatic penalty shoot- Forward threatened for the out win against the United States to lift the take on Peru ‘Nadeshiko’ but hit over the crossbar, and spirits of their nation recovering from a dev- soon after sent just wide. Matildas goalie astating earthquake and tsunami. : The latest installment of one of 1977 Peru ended Chile’s hopes of qualifying for Sources have indicated Jara could face a tourna- proved solid as she pushed “The emotion that we created in 2011 we South American football’s fiercest rivalries plays the 1978 World Cup; Chile had inflicted the ment-ending five-match ban. Any suspension of Japan captain ’s shot on goal over certainly would like to be able to recreate that out at the Copa America today when hosts Chile same misery on Peru in qualifiers for the 1974 Jara, who has formed an effective partnership the bar on 33 minutes. for the Japanese people,” said Sasaki. Stajcic face Peru with a place in the final at stake. tournament. with Inter Milan’s , will give Chile Just before the break Australia had a said it had been hard for his young side. Matches between the two neighbors are Chile have the stronger pedigree in recent coach a major headache. chance to break the deadlock only for Kyah “Their starting lineup would probably known as the “Clasico del Pacifico” and are tournaments, qualifying for the last two World “Jara is crucial,” said Chile’s reserve goalkeeper Simon’s long range effort to go straight into average 28-29 years and ours 22-23,” he said. played against a backdrop of historical enmity Cups, reaching the last 16 in 2014. Peru has not Paulo Garces on Saturday. “Hopefully he will be the hands of Ayumi Kahori in goal. “They have already won a World Cup and that dates back more than a century to the 1879- qualified for the World Cup since 1982. available.” Chile face a Peru side which is brim- Australia allowed their best chance go Asian Cup, silver at the Olympics, you can tell, 1883 War of the Pacific. Chile will start as clear favorites for Monday’s ming with confidence after recovering from a 2- abegging when a Mizuho Sakaguchi error on their chemistry’s fantastic, they’re technically Chile and Peru also fought a long-running semi-final as they aim to take another step 1 defeat in their opening game against Brazil to 54 minutes let through but her superb.” —AFP legal battle over the two nations’ disputed mar- towards ending their 99-year wait for Copa reach the last four. itime border. On the football field, at least, the America glory. Los Incas swept aside Bolivia in the quarter- rivalry began in 1935, but the animosity pre- However the hosts are nervously awaiting the finals 3-1, with Brazil-based striker Paolo , Sweden set up dates that first encounter by several decades. outcome of a disciplinary case opened against Guerrero scoring a hat-trick. Flamengo forward Most famously, differences of opinion remain key defender on Saturday over his Guerrero, who has spent the past three years in to this day over which country is responsible for lurid off-the-ball assault on Uruguay striker Brazil after spells in Germany with Bayern final clash at Euro U21 the invention of the bicycle kick. Chileans say during the quarter-finals. and Hamburg, is on course to be the they invented it in a 1914 match, christening the Photos and camera footage clearly showed tournament top scorer following his superbly OLOMOUC: Portugal swept Germany and corner of Ter Stegen’s goal. overhead volley as “La Chilena”. Jara attempting to shove a finger into Cavani’s taken treble against the Bolivians. Sweden beat Denmark in the semi-finals of Joao Mario made it 4-0 just after the Peruvians see it differently, arguing that in backside shortly before the Paris Saint-Germain Peru also have one of the players of the tour- the European Under-21 Championship on break with a deflected shot and substitute fact it was first tried in the port city of Callao in star retaliated and was sent off. nament in their ranks, the speedy and skilful Saturday to set up a final clash due tomor- Horta finished the humiliation on 71 min- the late 1800s, being given the name, “La CONMEBOL confirmed Saturday a case had winger Christian Cueva, who scored against row. utes, tipping in the ball from a cross. Chalaca”. More recently, several matches been opened against Jara, with a decision Brazil in the opening match and played a star- Classy Portugal first humiliated German midfielder Leonardo between the two sides have entered folklore. In expected sometime before Monday’s semi-final. ring role against Bolivia.—AFP Germany 5-0 in the eastern Czech city of Bittencourt got sent off for a second book- Olomouc to reach their first final since able offence just after Portugal’s fifth goal, 1994. Sweden then eased past Denmark 4- and only 25 minutes after coming onto the 1 in Prague to make it to their first final pitch as a substitute. since 1992, when they won the tourna- In Prague, Sweden striker John Guidetti, ment. who spent last season at Celtic, converted a Portugal went 3-0 ahead of Germany in penalty in the 23rd minute before setting the first half with goals from Bernardo Silva, up Simon Tibbling for a second three min- Ricardo Pereira and Ivan Cavaleiro, while utes later. Joao Mario and Ricardo Horta rounded off Denmark put the Swedes under pres- the scoring in the second half. Monaco’s sure in the second half and Uffe Bech nar- Silva got the opener on 25 minutes after a rowed the lead on 63 minutes as the quick break into the box, beating Barcelona Swedish defence failed to clear the ball. But ‘keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the their hopes were dashed seven minutes German goal at his near post. from time when Sweden’s substitute Robin FC Porto striker Ricardo added another Quaison, a Palermo midfielder, sprinted in the 33rd minute from close range after through the Danish defence, picked up the Paulo Oliveira helped on a corner. ball and beat ‘keeper Jakob Busk with a Portugal’s third was a beauty as their attack nutmeg. Eindhoven midfielder Oscar dismantled the German defence and Hiljemark made it 4-1 with a breakaway Cavaleiro slammed the ball into the top-left goal just before the final whistle. —AFP Smith looks ahead to final six days as a Hurricane WELLINGTON: After 12 seasons playing in mind his Hurricanes career could have end- a side that has flummoxed fans with their ed on Saturday. “I was particularly nervous maddening inconsistency, Conrad Smith before this game,” Smith told reporters. has six days of his Wellington Hurricanes “You sit around for a week and you think career remaining and the 33-year-old cen- about it. tre hopes to go out on the ultimate high. “But to beat them and then move on to The Hurricanes, despite being heavy on the final is huge but at the same time you All Blacks and imbued with an all-out know you want to go one more.” Victory attacking mentality, have never won a against the Highlanders would a one- Super Rugby title in 20 seasons, their only club Super Rugby career for Smith, who has previous championship match being the dealt with team ups and downs, injuries 2006 ‘Fog Final’ when they lost to the and a controversial clear-out of senior play- Crusaders. ers by then coach Mark Hammett at the Smith played no part in that final after end of the 2011 season. The team has also breaking his leg earlier in the year. On struggled to maintain the interest of the Saturday, however, the Hurricanes gave crowds, who once flocked to home games themselves another shot at the title after and made them the best supported New hammering the ACT Brumbies 29-9 at a vir- Zealand side despite the fickle nature of tually sold-out Wellington Regional Wellington’s weather. Attendances Stadium to set up a final at home against dropped away with results, though the the Otago Highlanders. crowd on Saturday was the largest for a It will be the last Hurricanes match for Super Rugby match at the stadium since Smith, who will join French club Pau at the their 2006 semi-final victory over the New conclusion of the World Cup, though he South Wales Waratahs. “It’s a reward for the acknowledged the thought had crossed his consistency,” Smith said.—Reuters CHILE: Chile’s , Gary Medel, Gonzalo Jara and , jog during a practice session. Chile will play Peru in a Copa America semifinal game today. —AP