ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, APRIL 2-3, 2021 SPORTS 14

Under new COVID-19 control measures Chelsea advance to Women’s Governor of Osaka wants to cancel Oly torch legs in area Champions League semifi nals TOKYO, April, 1, (AP): The gov- Experts have raised concerns ernor of Osaka prefecture said on about Osaka’s rapid spike and the Thursday that he wants to cancel burden on its medical infrastruc- the torch relay legs going through ture. An international figure skat- Osaka later this month, less than ing event is scheduled in mid- four months before the the open- April in the city of Osaka. ing of the Tokyo Olympics. had 474,773 cases and Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura 9,162 deaths as of Wednesday, said the prefecture is coming according to the health ministry. under new COVID-19 control Osaka reported 599 daily new measures cases Wednesday, surpassing because of Tokyo’s 414. rising case numbers. He said that OLYMPICS will mean people Japan has handled the virus bet- being asked ter than many countries, but not as to stay well as most in Asia. home Dr. Ryuji Wakita, director-gen- except for eral of the National Institute of essential outings. Yoshimura Infectious Diseases who heads a “I think government COVID-19 advisory the torch relay through the middle board, said Wednesday that a new of Osaka should be canceled,” he upsurge has already started in said. parts of the country, including The Olympic torch relay began western and northern Japan. March 25 in northeastern He said infections from new Fukushima prefecture. It is criss- variants of the virus believed to be crossing all of Japan with 10,000 more contagious are rapidly on the runners and arrives at the opening rise in the Osaka region. ceremony at the new National Olympic organizers are trying Stadium in Tokyo on July 23. to conduct the relay by asking It is scheduled to go through the people to social distance, wear Osaka area on April 13 and 14. masks. and limit cheering as run- Tokyo organizers were contact- ners pass. They have said they will ed but did not immediately reply. reroute or cancel legs if needed. Nine host cities announced Barcelona reach semis for ’23 Women’s World Cup , April 1, (AP): The 2023 The schedule for the event will Women’s World Cup will be spread be announced later this year, FIFA Barcelona’s Mariona Caldentey, (left), and City’s battle for the ball during the Women’s Champions League match between Man- across nine cities in and said in announcing the host cities chester City Women and Barcelona Femenino at the Manchester City Academy Stadium, Manchester, England, on March 31. (AP) . Wednesday in Zurich. The selec- The opening match will take place tion follows an eighth-month process at in Auckland, with Syd- with the member federations from Barcelona outlast Manchester City to reach semis ney’s hosting the each country. fi nal. The two semifi nal matches will “Building on the incredible suc- BUDAPEST, Hungary, April 1, (AP): Chelsea and Wolfsburg played their quarterfinal Chelsea was the “away” team. be split between Australia and New cess of France 2019 both on and Chelsea and Barcelona advanced to legs in Budapest because of travel restrictions. Harder, who joined Chelsea from Wolfsburg in Zealand. off the pitch, the FIFA Women’s September, sent a long ball for Kerr, who was That format is similar to other World Cup 2023 and nine host cit- the semifi nals of the Women’s Cham- taken down by defender Sara Doorsoun. From the World Cup tournaments in other ies across Australia and New Zea- pions League. penalty spot, the Denmark captain then sent goal- sports, including most recently in land will not only showcase the Pernille Harder scored against her former keeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek the wrong way, roll- 2015 when Australia and New Zea- world’s very best players, but will team to lead Chelsea to a 3-0 win over Wolfs- ing the ball into the corner. land shared hosting of the cricket also provide a powerful platform to burg, and 5-1 on aggregate. Barcelona outlasted Kerr scored in the 32nd minute, collecting a World Cup. unite and inspire people, transform Manchester City, losing the second leg 2-1 but chipped pass with her back to the goal. The lives and create a lasting legacy advancing 4-2 on aggregate. Australia striker turned and fired a right-footed SOCCER for women’s football in Australia Chelsea will face either Bayern Munich or shot low just inside the post. and New Zealand and around the Rosengård in the semifinals. Bayern defeated the Kirby worked a give-and-go with Ji So-Yun and world,” FIFA President Gianni Swedish club 3-0 in the first leg. beat Kiedrzynek from close range in the 81st minute. It will be the fi rst-of-a-kind World Infantino said in a prepared state- In Manchester, swept in a loose Cup, co-hosted by members of dif- ment. ball after a corner kick in 20th minute to give City ferent confederations. Australia The host cities and stadiums are: SOCCER hope of a comeback. joined the Asian confederation after , Hindmarsh Stadium; But just before the hour mark, Barça striker qualifying for the 2006 men’s World Auckland, Tamaki Makaurau-Eden Barcelona awaits either five-time defending Asisat Oshoala tapped in from close range for a Cup, leaving New Zealand as the Park; , Brisbane Stadium; champion Lyon or Paris Saint-Germain. The Lyon- crucial away goal. She had earlier come close to largest member of the Oceania con- Dunedin, Otepoti-Dunedin Stadium; PSG second leg was moved to April 18 after a scoring several times but had been denied by federation. Hamilton, Kirikiriroa-Waikato Sta- coronavirus outbreak in the Lyon squad. of Chelsea (right), and Al- defender and goalkeeper Ellie This World Cup will also be the dium; Melbourne, Melbourne Rec- In Budapest, Harder converted a penalty in the exandra Popp of Vfl Wolfsburg (left), in action Roebuck. fi rst to feature 32 teams, up from tangular Stadium; Perth, Perth Rec- 27th minute and doubled the lead five during the UEFA Women’s Champions League American international converted a the 24 that participated in the 2019 tangular Stadium; Sydney, Stadium minutes later. Both players had scored last week in quarter-fi nal soccer match Vfl Wolfsburg vs penalty in the 68th minute for City. women’s tournament in France. The Australia and Sydney Football Sta- the first leg. added the third goal in the Chelsea in the Ferenc Szusza Stadium in Buda- The final is scheduled for May 16 in , U.S. women’s national team is the dium; Wellington, Te Whanganui-a- second half. pest, Hungary, on March 31. (AP) . defending champion. Tara-Wellington Stadium.