MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2016 SPORTS Costa Rica see red in draw with Paraguay ORLANDO: Two-times South American Romero. Romero, an old-fashioned style champions Paraguay were held to a goal- winger, entertained the crowd with some less draw by Costa Rica in sultry conditions delightful touches, clever dribbling and at the Citrus Bowl on Saturday in Copa intelligent passing, but Paraguay were America Centenario Group A. Costa Rica unable to turn their possession and creativ- ended the game with 10 men after defend- ity into real chances. er Kendall Waston was sent off in injury Costa Rica, quarter-finalists in the World time for a wild challenge on Nelson Valdez. Cup two years ago, played a more direct The result leaves Colombia who beat style, looking to find forwards Joel the United States in Friday’s opener, alone Campbell and Ruiz quickly, but they were at the top of the group with three points. unable to find much in the way of fluidity Waston will be suspended for Costa Rica’s to their play. Ruiz was a threat with a flash- game on Tuesday in Chicago against the ing header but it went straight into the United States. The intense heat and humid- arms of Paraguay’s veteran goalkeeper ity, with the temperature at kick-off around Justo Villar. 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees celsius) At the other end, Benitez won posses- was blamed by both teams for what was, in sion inside the Costa Rica half and showed the end, a disappointing spectacle in front great pace as he burst goalwards, but his of a disappointingly small crowd of 14,334. right foot shot flashed wide of the post. Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz said it was After the break, the two sides struggled to “crazy” to have scheduled the match to be pick up their rhythm again and it was not played at 5pm local (Eastern) time. “The until the 71st minute that there was a real needs of players need to be taken into threat on goal when Paraguay defender account they are the ones who put on the Gustavo Gomez had a header from a Derlis spectacle,” he told reporters. Costa Rica Gonzalez corner well saved by Costa Rica forward Bryan Ruiz agreed saying: “The keeper Patrick Pemberton. heat definitely effected the game, it could With three minutes left, Costa Rica sub- have been a much better game in differ- stitute Christian Bolanos caused Villar prob- ent conditions.” lems with a low shot from over 25 years out Given those conditions, both sides were which bounced awkwardly in front of the wary over over-exerting themselves but it 38-year-old keeper who pushed it wide. was Paraguay who got an early grip on pos- “We struggled in the first 20 minutes session Striker Jorge Benitez, who plays his when they really controlled the game,” said PARIS: Spain’s Garbine Muguruza receives the trophy after winning the final of the French Open tennis tournament against SerenaWilliams of club football in Mexico for Cruz Azul, Costa Rica coach Oscar Ramirez. “But I the US, rear, in two sets 7-5, 6-4, at the Roland Garros stadium. — AP showed some excellent footwork to create thought that after the break we were able space inside the box in the ninth and his to dominate them in the way they had low cross was almost turned into his own dominated us and in the end we had the Champ Muguruza grew up admiring net by Costa Rica defender Celso Borges. chances to win the game. It feels like two points lost rather than a point gained,” he Old-fashioned style winger said. Argentine Diaz disagreed: “If I analyze Williams, now takes title from her Paraguay went close again when Paulo the whole game, I think we were the ones Da Silva flashed a header wide after a well- who could have won it. I was pleased with PARIS: Garbine Muguruza grew up watching the Williams lost to Roberta Vinci in the semifinals of Spanish woman to win Wimbledon, in 1994, and timed run to meet a corner from Oscar the way the boys played.” — AFP Williams sisters win Grand Slam titles and trans- the US Open, where Flavia Pennetta wound up now the captain of the country’s Davis Cup and form the way women’s tennis was played. with her first major championship (and last, Fed Cup teams. “Serena does that, too.” Muguruza admired them. She loved the way the because she then announced her retirement); to Martinez had this to add about Muguruza: American siblings played. The way they compet- Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open final, “I’m sure she is going to win more Grand Infantino weighs complaint ed. The way they carried themselves. “I really like and now to Muguruza. Slams.” Few would argue, especially when hear- that they were very ambitious,” Muguruza said. It is the first time since 2011-12 that three ing Muguruza talk about how she knows there of ‘theft’ of FIFA recording “Every time they were playing, those girls, they consecutive major trophies went to a first-time are parts of her game that she wants to really (wanted) to win. They’re very powerful. women’s champion. “I thought about it. I improve, starting with her serve. As for GENEVA: FIFA President Gianni Infantino data for its case against Blatter, former sec- They intimidate the other people.” thought about it yesterday. I’m like, ‘Come on. ... Williams, it’s never a good idea to write her off, claims he could make a criminal complaint retary general Valcke - who already have Now, at age 22, Muguruza is a major champi- You can do it,’” Muguruza said. “When you see even if she is 34 and already the oldest woman over an unauthorized recording of a meet- criminal proceedings opened against them on herself, taking the French Open title away people that are winning, and there’s new faces, to be No 1, along with the oldest to win a ing that revealed comments damaging his - and “further persons unknown.” from Serena Williams with a 7-5, 6-4 victory in (it) makes you think, like, ‘I can be one of those Grand Slam title in the Open era. reputation. Infantino told Sunday’s edition Within 24 hours, FIFA outlined the pay the final Saturday to do it. And Muguruza made faces.’” There is no doubt that she is. Graf’s mark is still out there, still something to of Swiss daily Le Matin he had “a good idea” raises, World Cup bonuses and other finan- clear afterward that she wants to continue to chase, still within reach. “It’s not easy to match how details of a FIFA Council meeting in cial incentives that Blatter, Valcke and collect her sport’s most important trophies. “Of Climbing the ranks records,” said Williams’ coach, Patrick Mexico City last month had leaked. Kattner received in recent years. FIFA sug- course I’m very happy, but I’d like to have more,” When the new WTA rankings come out today, Mouratoglou. “We’ll get there. It will take the “I reserve the right to make a complaint gested some clauses guaranteeing Valcke Muguruza said. “My dream is to continue and Muguruza will move up from No 4 to a career- time that it takes. As long as we’re in Grand Slam about theft of sensitive data,” said Infantino, and Kattner termination pay and indemnifi- win more tournaments, similar tournaments, best No 2, with only Williams ahead of her. The finals and semifinals, we’ll have many opportuni- whose three-month-old presidency has cation for future legal costs could breach and to dominate.” Spaniard demonstrates the same sort of deter- ties to do it.” He continued: “If she did this with exposed rifts at FIFA where Sepp Blatter’s Swiss law. Kattner’s already-lengthy con- That’s what the younger Williams has done mination on a court that she observed in ease, she wouldn’t be human.” 17-year reign ended mired in scandal. tract was extended in May last year for years. She owns 21 Grand Slam champi- Williams and her sibling, hitting hard ground- Muguruza’s coach, Sam Sumyk, was asked Leaks to German-language newspapers in through 2023 just four days after a sprawl- onships, one shy of Steffi Graf’s Open-era record, strokes, aiming for lines, taking risks that bring whether this was the end of the Williams era. recent days showed Infantino describe a $2 ing American indictment of FIFA and mar- but has been having a hard time getting No 22. real rewards. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You’re jumping the million salary offer as “insulting” and keting officials was revealed. For a stretch of four major tournaments, up “She likes to go for her shots. And in gun there. No, no, no, no. She is still here,” detailed Council talks about getting FIFA Switzerland’s federal prosecution office through a victory over Muguruza in the moments where, you know, you could be tense, Sumyk replied. “She will be around for a long audit and compensation panels chairman confirmed Friday that FIFA has not yet filed Wimbledon final last year, Williams went unbeat- and some other players would be tense, she time, I hope. She is a fantastic player, and we Domenico Scala to leave. criminal complaints over the contracts. FIFA en, taking every title. Since then, though, goes for it,” said Conchita Martinez, the only need her.” — AP “My enemies want to make me look has said documents that justified firing greedy, it’s stupid,” said Infantino, who Kattner were found only in mid-May as part insists he is negotiating a salary of less than of an ongoing year-long internal inquiry by Minnows Guinea-Bissau $2 million.