27 Sports Thursday, June 20, 2019 Record-breaker Marta representing women after firing Brazil into WCup knockouts Australia goes Kerr-azy after four-goal blitz at World Cup VALENCIENNES: Marta said she was representing choose who you play,” insisted Marta. women in football after becoming the leading scorer in “We have this thing now, we need to do what we the history of the men’s and women’s World Cups on need to do to keep this thing going in the competition Tuesday by firing home the penalty that downed Italy and then whoever we have to play we will be pre- and secured Brazil’s place in the last 16 of this year’s pared.” The Aussies will play Norway in Nice in the tournament in France. next round on Saturday after they made sure of qualifi- The 33-year-old, widely considered the best player cation on Monday with a scrappy 2-1 win over elimi- in the history of the women’s game, slammed home nated South Korea that came thanks to two penalties. from the spot in the 74th minute against Group C win- Having lost their opening match with Italy they ners Italy to secure qualification and take her World looked dead and buried as they headed towards half- Cup tally to 17 after Debinha was bundled over by time against Brazil two goals down, but clawed back to Elena Linari. win 3-2 before comfortably seeing off the Jamaicans, That puts her one ahead of former Bayern Munich who finish the group stage with no points to their name and Lazio striker Miroslav Klose in the all-time rank- despite Havana Solaun scoring the Reggae Girlz’ first ings, and the veteran attacker said the goal was more ever World Cup goal four minutes after the break. than just a personal triumph. Kerr became the first Australian woman to score a “The feeling is a joyful one, definitely, not only for World Cup hat-trick when she tapped home in the 69th breaking the record but for being able to represent minute following two first half headers, and her fourth women in doing so,” she said. “And for being able to was the goal that secured second spot. Italy meanwhile help my team which is what matters most, qualifying for will take on one of the four best third-placed finishers the next stage of the tournament.” after topping the group ahead of Australia on goal dif- Marta’s record-breaking spot-kick wasn’t enough to ference, while Brazil have to wait to know their oppo- secure second place in the group however, as Sam nent. “It’s hard to think of such a thing as a ‘good Kerr’s incredible four-goal haul in Australia’s 4-1 ham- defeat’, but you could say that we’re happy for qualify- mering of Jamaica saw the Matildas leapfrog Brazil on ing and finishing first in the group,” said Italy coach goals scored as three sides finished on six points. Milena Bertolini. It means they could face either France or Germany England take centre stage as they attempt to match VALENCIENNES: Brazil’s forward Marta (C) celebrates after scoring a goal during the France 2019 in the next round, a tough test for a team that has at Italy in finishing first in Group D when they take on Women’s World Cup Group C football match between Italy and Brazil, at the Hainaut Stadium in times spluttered in the group stage. “I think that when Japan, while Argentina look to squeeze into the next Valenciennes, northern France. — AFP you play a big competition like a World Cup, you can’t round when they take on bottom side Scotland. — AFP US defeat Guyana 4-0 in Gold Cup opener SAINT PAUL: The United States got their Gold Cup title defence off to a flying start with a 4-0 win over Guyana in Saint Paul, Minnesota on Tuesday. The United States opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Weston McKennie delivered a pass to Paul Arriola, who found the back of the net to fire up the crowd at Allianz Field. Tyler Boyd made it 2-0 in the 51st minute, taking a long pass from Michael Bradley and rifling the ball FIFA World Cup for Netherlands Ladies Football team home despite appearing to be in an offside position. The tournament is not using Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology so the play was not By His Excellency Frans Potuyt, for 50 years women were not allowed to reviewed. Boyd’s goal was the 1,000th scored by the Ambassador of the play on football fields and had to use US Men’s National Team, who played their first match Netherlands to Kuwait rugby fields instead. in August 1916. Gyasi Zardes pushed the lead to 3-0 In 2019 Women’s football has made a 10 minutes into the second half when a deflected shot KUWAIT: The Netherlands are lead- full return and teams from around the hit him hard in the face and sailed into the goal. The ing in women sports. Two years ago globe are preparing to take home the 27-year-old appeared shaken but continued playing. the Orange Lionesses (the Dutch foot- World Cup. With the rise in popularity Boyd struck again from distance in the 81st minute ball team) became European champi- comes a rise in equality. In the to complete the rout. ons. At the World tournament in Netherlands, one of the favorites for the “We knew we had to get started on the right foot France they are considered by the title and ruling European Champions, and after breaking the ice, we were able to break bookmakers as favorites for the title. private sector companies are very keen them down,” Arriola said. “The most important thing The team qualified for the 1/8 finals. on supporting the Orange Lionesses (as was to win with confidence and clarity and I think we They want to be an inspiration for all the Dutch National Women’s team is did that today. It’s a great start for us but it’s just one women and girls worldwide, and not called) with sponsorships. The Royal game.” The victory, which came on the back of two only on the soccer field! Dutch Football Association is working on defeats in friendlies against Jamaica and Venezuela, was the biggest yet for US head coach Gregg equal pay for male and female players. Berhalter, who was hired in December after the Women with goals: FIFA Through these developments we see United States failed to make last year’s World Cup. World Cup 2019 how a rise in popularity of this sport One concern for the team was a left hamstring injury The FIFA World Cup tournament leads to women empowerment. suffered by 20-year-old midfielder McKennie late in started on the 7th of June. Not the one Also for entrainment purposes women the game. The United States next face Trinidad and for men, but for women! This year football becomes more and more popu- Tobago in Cleveland on Saturday. Women’s World Cup will be in France lar. Women scored in general more often It will be the first meeting between the two since and is the eighth time the tournament and earlier in the game. With regard to Trinidad and Tobago’s victory in October 2017 ended is held. fouls men and women are in number the order for Kuwait to get on the level of and its challenges. Gender equality is the United States’ qualification campaign for the For as long as football exists the game same, however the women are a lot less the Dutch team women and girls should one of the United Nations’ sustainable World Cup in Russia. has been played by women. It was docu- nasty. The more aggressive, testosterone be encouraged to start playing. Women development goals and all countries In the other Group D game, Guyana will face mented that women played football dur- driven, fouls resulting in yellow or red like Lieke Martens of FC Barcelona and should be working towards implement- Panama, who defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 ear- ing the Han Dynasty (25-220 CE) in cards happen a lot less. 2017’s best player of the world, can ing them. With the talented women in lier in the day. The United States are looking for their China. The female variation of the sport The Women’s Football League in hereby serve as an inspiration like Messi Kuwait and the up and coming women’s seventh Gold Cup title while Guyana are making their has also suffered some backlash at times. Kuwait was founded in 2017 and the and Ronaldo have that role for boys. football culture, good opportunities can first appearance at the competition, which is held During the 1920’s women’s football in the Kuwait women’s national football team As we see in the Netherlands, be created to work on women empow- every two years and crowns the continental champion United Kingdom was more popular than has competed in international duels. women’s football provides opportunities erment. Women that score goals reach of North America, Central America and the men’s. This was seen as problematic and However, there is room for growth. In to talk about global women equality women’s goals! Caribbean. — Reuters header. Hulk rampaged through in first-half stop- SIPG peg back page time with a chance to put SIPG in front after Neymar three-match Champions being fed by Elkeson’s header.