Sports Thursday, July 23, 2020 15 Portman, Williams celebrities behind new women’s pro soccer team AFP The founding investor Buehler, - such as the “Time’s Up” move- substantive impact on our Los Angeles Hoch and ; ment against sexual abuse in community, committing to group includes Williams’ actors , Uzo the entertainment industry, extending access to sports for A group of celebrities led by young daughter Olympia, Aduba, and said that the franchise hopes young people in Los Angeles.” Hollywood star Natalie Port- and several former US ; venture “to make a The NWSL, which had man has founded a women’s Women’s National capitalist Kara Nortman; its inaugural season in 2013, professional soccer team set and co-founder was the first US professional to debut in 2022, the wom- Team players including . sports league to restart ac- en’s pro soccer league said , Lauren “Today we take an excit- tivities amid the novel on Tuesday. Cheney Holiday and ing step by announcing the coronavirus pandemic. Big-names involved in first women majority-owned The league’s Chal- the effort include tennis Abby Wambach. and led ownership group,” lenge Cup tournament megastar , Gaming entrepreneur said Portman, who won an has been held since as well as Hollywood stars Julie Uhrman will be Oscar in 2011 for her role in June 27, with teams Jessica Chastain, Eva Lon- the franchise president. “Black Swan.” playing in two sta- goria, and “Sports are such a joyful diums in the state of Jennifer Garner. way to bring people togeth- Utah without specta- “A majority woman- “the group has formally er, and this has the power tors and without some founded group” led by coined itself ‘Angel City’ in Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian – as well as their to make tangible change for of its biggest stars, Portman “has secured the honor of its planned home young daughter Olympia – are all part-owners of a new football club. female athletes both in our including Megan exclusive right to bring a in Los Angeles,” the state- community and in the pro- Rapinoe. professional women’s soc- ment said. The founding investor Abby Wambach. Gaming en- fessional sphere,” she said. The tournament’s cer team to Los Angeles to It would become the 11th group includes Williams’ trepreneur Julie Uhrman will Portman, who has final game is scheduled kick off in Spring 2022,” the team in the NWSL. Current- young daughter Olympia, be the franchise president. been active in causes for Sunday. National Women’s Soccer ly, there are nine teams in the and several former US Wom- Others included are for- The United States is a League said. league, but one other team – en’s National Team play- mer US women’s national Oscar-winning Hollywood powerhouse of women’s The team’s formal name the Louisville FC – is set to ers including Mia Hamm, team stars Mia Hamm, Julie actor . soccer and the current is yet to be announced, but rejoin the league in 2021. Lauren Cheney Holiday and Foudy, , Rachel (AFP) world champions.

Man Utd hold Chinese West Ham 1-1, Super edge closer This is our moment: Liverpool League to to Champions kick-off after League captain Jordan Henderson six-months AFP Manchester in 2011, taking over from Roy delay While rejoicing on winning the first Premier Hodgson, and he was respon- Manchester United edged League title for Liverpool since 1990, sible for signing Henderson DPA closer to qualifying for the Jordan Henderson also reflected from Sunderland when he was Beijing Champions League as Ma- just 21-years-old. son Greenwood rescued a 1-1 on the past criticisms which he used as The England international, Germany, England, Italy and draw against West Ham on motivational fuel to lift two other trophies now 30, is sidelined for the Spain have completed or all Wednesday. season with a knee injury. He but completed their domestic Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side last year in the 2019 Champions League reflected on the past criticisms football season amid the coro- fell behind to Michail Antonio’s and the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar. that he used as motivational navirus pandemic while China penalty in the first half at Old fuel to lift two other trophies is only just about to start. Trafford. But teenage forward last year in the 2019 Cham- And the Chinese Super Greenwood struck after the in- DPA son who we all love,” Hender- pions League and the Club League will also not follow the terval to lift United into third London son told the BBC. World Cup in Qatar. Bundesliga, Premier League, in the Premier League. “Waiting 30 years is a long “Ultimately, you will get Serie A and Primera Division United are ahead of fourth Liverpool captain Jordan time. They’ve had good man- criticised, whether that’s in the who used the traditional for- placed Chelsea on goal differ- Henderson says being award- agers and good teams in the past, now or in the future as a mat of home and away games ence, but the Blues would re- ed the Premier League trophy past and it just hasn’t hap- footballer,” said Henderson. for the remaining games. gain third if they avoid defeat by club legend Sir Kenny Dal- pened, so to be part of a team “People (were) telling me The only similarity is that against champions Liverpool glish later on Wednesday will that has been able to do it is a I was not good enough or not the matches in China from later on Wednesday. “make it more special.” really special feeling.” big enough for Sunderland, Saturday onwards will also be Regardless of the result The Reds played Chelsea Liverpool were the runa- Liverpool, England - I’ve al- held behind closed doors. at Anfield, United will finish in their final home game and way leaders from January, ways had questions marks. The cautious Chinese are in the top four if they draw or were then to be ceremonially with as much as a 25-point “As you get older, you just rather playimng in hubs, like win in their decisive showdown crowned as Premier League lead over second-placed Man- use it in a different way. Now I basketball’s NBA and ice-hock- with fifth placed Leicester on champions in a special pres- chester City. “I don’t normally look for the criticism because ey’s NHL in North America. Sunday. United are one point entation at Anfield. like referencing the length of it gives me the extra motiva- All 16 teams will be play- ahead of Leicester going into Juergen Klopp’s men have time Liverpool has endured tion to prove people wrong.” ing in two cities, Dalian and their last game of the season at had a record-breaking season before claiming this title,” said When Liverpool were Sozhou, in two groups of the King Power Stadium. Sol- by winning the title in June Klopp wrote in his matchday confirmed as champions last eight. The top four of the skjaer’s team were well below with seven games to spare – programme notes ahead of the Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson lifts the 2019 FIFA Club World month, there were some inju- round robin stage advance their best against West Ham, the earliest, in terms of fixtures Chelsea game. “So often when Cup trophy at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha in December. ries after a large gathering. into a championship round, but they are now unbeaten in 13 completed, that a team has working to clinch it my mes- Henderson urged fans to and the bottom four into a league matches and will com- ever claimed the richest league sage was to ignore the weight Wednesday’s presentation will title. They sacrificed, individu- stay at home and obey corona- relegation round. plete an impressive surge into in European football. It will of that gap.” be a moment to savour. ally and collectively, and they virus restrictions for “the health The league reported on the Champions League if they be Liverpool’s first league title However, their wait was “This achievement is their have their rewards. This is our and safety of the country.” Wednesday that all 1,870 Cov- emerge unscathed at Leicester. since 1990 when Dalglish was a prolonged with just two wins achievement. Their focus. moment. We have all earned it. “They might not be in id-90 tests conducted ahead Scoreline: Manchester player and manager of the club. from clinching the title in Their dedication. Their talent. So embrace it and cherish it.” Anfield tonight in person of the start have returned United 1 (Greenwood 51) West “He’s an iconic figure at March due to coronavirus. Their hunger,” Klopp added Dalglish had a second but their spirit can be felt,” negative, and teams will have Ham 1 (Antonio 45+2-pen). this football club, a huge per- Manager Klopp says “That’s what has delivered this spell as Liverpool’s manager added Klopp. to follow strict safety and hy- giene measures. Players and officials will be confined to their hotels, the training field and stadi- ums only, and harsh sanction beIN SPORTS viewers in for exhilarating sports offering would be imposed on those who breach the regulations. take place on Saturday 1 Au- until Sunday 13 September. “Our measures are very Coupe de France, gust at the famous Wembley The worlds most famous strict, and those who violate stadium as London rivals Ar- tennis players will be competing them could be kicked out of FA Cup final, senal and Chelsea go head to against each other in one of the the league for this season,” head for a chance to win the toughest tennis tournaments. Super League official Qi Jun UEFA Champions coveted trophy. Both Mikel beIN SPORTS’ studio has been quoted as telling Arteta and Frank Lampard coverage for all the world Chinese state media. League, NBA and will also want to lift their first class competitions will be China is taking no chanc- trophy in their managerial ca- across beIN SPORTS’ chan- es as it slowly starts domes- US Open to be reers. Arsenal head to their nels in English, Arabic and tic sports again. The Super broadcast live 21st FA Cup final having won French; as well as beIN League was originally to start a record 13. Chelsea head into SPORTS’ 4K channel – pro- in late February. and exclusive their 14th FA Cup final having viding viewers with incred- won 8. ible trilingual coverage. Tribune News Network beIN guests and talent will Doha UEFA Champions include Egyptian legends Mo- League hamed Aboutrika and Wael As fans await the final match- In a completely new format Gomaa; Algerian expert Lakh- es of the English Premier unlikely to ever be replicated, dar Berriche; Tunisian football League and Serie A – beIN viewers and fans will get to see legend Tariq Dhiab; former SPORTS, the global sports the best teams in Europe com- Moroccan football star Yousef channel, continues to host ex- peting against each other over Chippo; and many others. hilarating live sport for view- 90 minutes in just over two Commenting on an excit- ers to enjoy exclusively across weeks of football (7 August to ing summer of sports on beIN the Middle East and North Af- competition in the world, is the United States Open Ten- Champions League resumes. 23 August). SPORTS, Jonathan Whitehe- rica (MENA) – with the Coupe set to take place on Saturday nis Championship (US Open) A total of 11 thrilling ad, Head of Sports for beIN de France final, FA Cup final, 1 August at 20:00 Mecca Time kicks off featuring the best NBA matches will be played in just MENA, said: “This summer UEFA Champions League, (GMT +3) with special cover- tennis players in the world. The restart of the National 16 days – with the quarter- on beIN SPORTS is definitely NBA and US Open all set to be age and dedicated studios. Basketball Association is set finals, semi-finals and final one of the most exciting yet. broadcasted live throughout The UEFA Champions Coupe De France Final for Monday 31 July with 5 all played in Portugal and in beIN SPORTS will be show- this summer. League will also resume on In the 103rd season of the games set to be played on single-leg fixtures. casing some fantastic finals On Friday, 24 July, French Friday 7 August with the Coupe de France, French pow- that day. beIN SPORTS will Four matches remain in and world class tournaments Players and coaching staff from giants Paris Saint Germain round of 16 second leg. erhouse Paris Saint Germain be broadcasting all the games the round of 16 second leg of to viewers across MENA. the Wuhan Zall football team ar- will face Saint-Etienne in Also, on Friday 31 July, the meets Saint-Etienne in the live and exclusively to its view- the UEFA Champions League. Our world class content will rive in Suzhou, in China’s eastern the Coupe de France final at National Basketball Associa- final this Friday 24 July. The ers and fans across MENA as provide our viewers and Jiangsu province on July 18.Wuhan 22:00 Mecca Time (GMT +3) tion (NBA) will resume with French champions, led by Ky- well as on the dedicated NBA US Open subscribers with fascinating Zall, the club from the coronavirus live and exclusively on beIN the Los Angeles Lakers facing lian Mbappe and Neymar, will channel. The US Open, known as one of coverage including dedicated epicentre, will play on the opening SPORTS. their rivals the Los Angeles want to add another trophy to the oldest tennis championships studios and beIN guests and day of the Chinese Super League The FA Cup final, known Clippers. their name as they look to gain FA Cup Final in the world, is set to kick of on legends from across the re- in a symbolic start to the delayed as the oldest national football On Monday 31 August, confidence before the UEFA The 139th FA Cup final will Monday 31 August and will run gion and world.” season from Saturday. (AFP)