THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 SPORTS Japan shock Kiwis as Williams exits Games RUGBY RIO DE JANEIRO: Japan upset the odds with a thrilling upset over New Zealand in BASKETBALL their opening match of the Olympic rugby sevens Tuesday as All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams sustained a tournament-ending Achilles tendon injury. The Brave Blossoms’ shock 14-12 victory Argentina go 2-0, echoed Japan’s famous victory over South Africa in the 15-a-side World Cup last year, Spain lose again the biggest shock the sport has ever seen. “It’s unbelievable, you never see a min- RIO DE JANEIRO: Argentina and Lithuania stayed now team come here and beat a team sup- unbeaten but two-time runner-up Spain’s Olympic posed to be a gold medal contender,” said basketball hopes took a hit Tuesday with a surprise Japan’s New Zealand-born playmaker loss to hosts Brazil. Lomano Lemeki. Luis Scola scored 13 of his 23 points in the first- There was worse news to come for New quarter to stake an early lead for the Argentines, who Zealand as Williams was ruled out with a were more in-synch than Croatia and buoyed again partial Achilles rupture and replaced in the by boisterous fans from their nearby homeland. 12-man squad by Sione Molia. Joe Weber Argentina stretched the advantage to as much as 20 was also ruled out with a shoulder injury. in the third quarter before holding off a late Croatian New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said push in a day of Group B play. “It’s like a home game,” his squad, who play unbeaten Britain in guard Carlos Delfino said of the pulsating fan sup- their final pool match on Wednesday, was port. “I think only Brazil might have that kind of sup- “obviously depleted”. “It’s devastating for port (at the Rio Games).” Sonny to lose him so early in the tourna- For the second straight game, Spain went down ment, and Joe Weber, both influential play- on a last-second play. Brazil’s Marcus Marquinhos ers as well. “Sonny Bill’s a great professional, tipped in a missed shot with five seconds left for a he’s very infectious, he certainly helps the thrilling 66-65 victory in front of a charged-up home younger players and has a great work ethic. crowd. Spain’s Sergio Llull then missed from inside It’s such a shame because he’s got to RIO DE JANEIRO: New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams (2nd L) is helped from the field in the men’s rugby sevens match between the paint at the buzzer to seal a contest that dropped understand the game of sevens so well. New Zealand and Japan during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Deodoro Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday. — AFP the Spaniards to 0-2. Spain-Olympic runners-up to He’s absolutely shattered. “I’d be surprised C. “We’ve got a chance to get into the quar- Truya Goto squeezed past Rieko Ioane’s around the big guys would tire somewhere the United States in 2008 and 2012 — also lost to if he didn’t play sevens again.” ters tomorrow,” Tietjens said. tackle to dot down in the corner to open and they did.” Lemeki added: “We’ve just Croatia 72-70 when a shot by NBA star Pau Gasol was Tietjens was magnanimous in defeat, Japan’s account. Their lead was short-lived, shown that any team can win in sevens.” blocked at the buzzer. showering the Japanese with praise. “It FIJI, S AFRICA ALSO TOP POOLS however, as Gillies Kaka exchanged passes Asked if he thought the Kiwis had taken The USA team of NBA players is heavily favoured was disappointing, it’s obviously the first Two-time defending World Sevens Series with Akira Ioane before putting in skipper the Japanese too lightly, Lemeki said: “I to win the tournament for the third straight time Japan have beaten us,” he said. champions Fiji and South Africa also fin- Scott Curry. Ioane crossed for New think they might have, but I don’t think Olympics. “But that’s sevens rugby, the gap has ished unbeaten in an enthralling day of Zealand’s second but Kameli Soejima they’ll be doing that again!” Seeing They are 2-0 and in command of Group A after closed considerably and if you’re not up for high-octane action at a packed, sun-kissed scrambled over to draw the scores level, Williams, a two-time World Cup winner defeating China and Venezuela by a combined 101 it on the day, you’ll be beaten.” Deodoro Stadium. Fiji saw off Brazil (40-12) Katsuyuki Sakai’s conversion pulling the with the All Blacks, being helped off with points. Next up for Argentina is a battle for Group B New Zealand rebounded to beat Kenya and Argentina (21-14) to top Pool A, while Japanese two points clear for a famous win. his injury in the second-half was a “boost”, supremacy with Lithuania, which moved to 2-0 with 28-5 in their second pool match to set up a the Blitzboks zeroed Spain (24-0) and “As we played on, the boys started to the Japanese players admitted. “I think the a 89-80 defeat of Nigeria. Mantas Kalnietis and Jonas crunch game against unbeaten Britain on France (26-0) to finish the day atop Pool B. get more confident,” said Lemeki. “New Japanese boys started to smile a little bit Maciulis each scored 21 points for Lithuania, which Wednesday. The British team beat Kenya But the moment of the day belonged to Zealand started to struggle a bit there so because they wouldn’t have to tackle him!” held off a late Nigerian rally. 31-7 before edging Japan 21-19 to top Pool Japan in their historic victory over the Kiwis. we thought if we keep moving the ball Lemeki joked. — AFP Argentina is the only country since 1988 to take home Olympic gold other than the USA, winning in 2004. The Brooklyn Nets’ Scola, 36, 39-year-old Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs, and Delfino-veter- American women’s winning ans of the 2004 team-are leading what will be their final Olympic quest. RUDE HOSTS Spain’s Gasol, who finished with 13 points and 10 streak halted by Colombia rebounds, was so mercilessly taunted by Brazilian fans that it prompted a post-game apology from game-winner Marquinhos. front, but their winning streak stretching “I understand the crowd. We are hosting the back to a group stage defeat to Norway in Olympics,” Maquinhos said. “But I would like to apol- Beijing eight years ago was ended when Solo ogise in the name of the Brazilian people. I know that flapped at another dipping Usme free-kick in it was not disrespectful. Here in Brazil we tend to go SOCCER stoppage time. The USA face old coach Pia after the best player of the other team.” Sundhage’s Sweden in the quarter-finals. The raucous crowd appeared to unsettle Gasol, RIO DE JANEIRO: The USA women’s foot- Sundhage led the States to gold in Beijing who was just 5-of-12 from the free-throw line. ball team’s Olympic winning streak was and Athens. Despite the point Colombia Spain had once talked of dethroning the USA and ended by a horror show from controversial join South Africa, Zimbabwe and New it entered as Group B favourites but must now strug- goalkeeper Hope Solo in a 2-2 draw with Zealand in bowing out at the group stage. gle to simply reach the quarters. They will try to Colombia on Tuesday. Brazil, who had put their struggling male resuscitate those flagging hopes in their next game Brazil’s darling Marta only appeared as a counterparts to shame with thrilling wins against fellow 0-2 Nigeria. second-half substitute as the hosts were over China and Sweden, failed to shine as “I trust my teammates. We don’t have to be in a also held 0-0 against South Africa to secure Marta was only introduced after the break bad way,” Spain’s Rudy Fernandez said. “We have a top spot for the hosts in Group E. to keep her fresh for a last eight meeting chance to win the title if we win the next three Meanwhile, two-time world champions with Australia. games.” Brazil captain Marcelinho Huertas led his Germany, Australia, France, Sweden and Two-time world champions Germany team with 11 points and seven assists. — AFP China all booked their places in Friday’s sneaked into the quarter-finals despite quarter-finals. Solo has been taunted by Melissa Tancredi’s double maintaining chants of “Zika” in Brazil for extravagant Canada’s perfect record in Brazil with a 2-1 social media posts showing her draping a win in Brasilia. Canada topped Group E as mosquito net over her head to avoid the Tancredi cancelled out Melanie Behringer’s virus at the Games and let two Catalina early penalty before striking the winner on Usme free-kicks escape her grasp on her the hour mark for the 2012 bronze medal- 201st international appearance. lists. Germany edged out Australia for sec- A big crowd in the Amazonian city of ond place by just one goal on goal differ- Manaus nearly 3,000km from Rio, revelled ence after the Matildas smashed in Solo’s pain when she let Usme’s first Zimbabwe 6-1. Gold Silver Bronze Total effort between her legs to hand Colombia U.S.