Cubs beat Bouchard finally Dodgers, Royals finds rhythm march

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 201515 18 US down Colombia

EDMONTON: Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd both 174th cap for the United States, surpassing Briana The breakthrough came eight minutes after the scored to put the United States into the World Cup Scurry’s 173 between 1994-2008. break when Morgan received a pass in the penalty quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2-0 win over 10- The real action came immediately after the area and fired through Castano’s hands. Lloyd’s woman Colombia on Monday. break with Perez sent off for fouling Morgan, who penalty doubled their advantage. The 28th-ranked South Americans were a player was through on goal. Stefany Castano stepped into “It was a huge match for us, a confidence down for most of the second half after new goal- goal with forward Ingrid Vidal coming off, but the booster as they’re not an easy team to play keeper Catalina Perez was sent off for a diving tack- Colombians-in the Women’s World Cup for the firw- against,” said Lloyd. “We were confident the le on US forward Morgan two minutes after the st time-could not reproduce the heroics that saw chances would come. We just have to put them break. them shock third-ranked 2-0 in their group away. We haven’t peaked yet. We still have a few stepped up to take the penalty match. more games to go for that.”—AFP but the superstar striker dramatically sent the ball left of goal, denying her a record-equalling 15th Women’s World Cup goal to match Brazil star Marta. Morgan finally broke through after 53 minutes with Bronze lifts Lloyd getting a second 13 minutes later from a penalty after was fouled inside the box by defender Angela Clavijo. The USA, ranked to World Cup q-finals second in the world and winners in 1991 and 1999, next meet in Ottawa on Friday for a place in OTTAWA: English women’s soccer finally has a few the football history of England forever,” Sampson the semi-finals. The Americans have never failed to World Cup moments that deserve remembering. In said. “But I reiterate, we want this journey to keep reach the Women’s World Cup semi-finals. 15 stunning minutes, the Three Lionesses over- going.” came a 1-0 deficit, the blistering heat on a sun- It was another disappointing World Cup exit for ‘DECISIONS TO MAKE’ baked artificial turf field, and their own disappoint- the 11th-ranked Norwegians, who won the 1995 It was, however, a costly game for the Olympic ing and brief tournament history. They beat championship under coach . champions with key midfielders Rapinoe and Norway 2-1 on Monday, delivering England its first finished fourth in 2007, then was eliminated in the Lauren Holiday set to miss the China game after col- tournament knockout-stage victory. group stage four years ago. Not even Pellerud’s lecting yellow cards. “The first emotion I’m feeling is a real sense of return as coach in 2012 could make a difference. “We’ve obviously got decisions to make, but pride for team,” coach said. “To “To lose a game is something you always have we’ve invested significantly in players over the last show that character and resilience to come back to accept in football, but this was a hard way to six months,” said US coach . “We’ve dealt with from a goal down in this tournament is an incredi- lose it,” Pellerud said. “It was really disappointing for injuries so I feel very confident in the players we ble achievement.” The win began with stellar goal- all of us. It feels not good.” have to able to come on and contribute and I know keeping from , who helped England The difference was Norway’s inability to capital- they will be confident to be able to step up and weather Norway’s first-half push and keep the ize on its chances in the first half. The help us advance.” game goalless. And then, after falling behind on Scandinavians had three shots on goal off seven It was the first World Cup match for Perez, who ’s goal off a corner kick in the directed at the net. was replacing first-choice goalkeeper Sandra 54th minute, England’s offense finally found its was in alone in the 11th Sepulveda, sitting out the game after a second yel- range. tied it by heading in Fara minute, only to be stopped by a left foot save from low card in their 2-1 loss to England. “If we had not Williams’ corner kick in the 61st minute. And Bardsley. Bronze misplayed the ball in the 39th had our goalkeeper sent off, the outcome would defender , from just outside the penal- minute, and the turnover allowed Ada Hegeberg to have been different,” said Colombia coach Fabian ty area, won it in the 76th minute with a hard, line- have a wide-open shot to the left of the net, only to Taborda. “She’s a great goalkeeper. I think she drive shot that glanced in off the hand of goal- be stopped by Bardsley. “Without counting or played well. Unfortunately she was shown a red keeper . being very precise, I think we had six or fantastic card. It’s the first time she has gotten one.” “We showed an amazing amount of character opportunities before England had one,” Pellerud The 20-year-old, who plays college soccer for the today,” said Bardsley, who stopped four shots and said. “If you don’t capitalize on them, that is going University of Miami, pulled off three impressive was votes player of the match. “We went very, very to be a problem.” saves in the first half. Wambach thought she had deep to make it happen.” Houghton tied the game when she outjumped the opening goal minutes into the game at the And they have an opportunity to go even deep- two defenders and from about 6 yards headed in Commonwealth Stadium but her rebound off a er. After failing to win a knockout match in three the ball off the far post. , a 54th-minute Perez stop was ruled offside. previous World Cup appearances, sixth-ranked substitute, then fed a perfect pass to Bronze, who Perez also kept out a Wambach volley, and England advanced to a quarterfinal Saturday was alone just atop the penalty area. Bronze tipped Morgan’s downward header over the cross- against host Canada at Vancouver, British punched a hard shot that glanced off a hand of CANADA: Colombia’s Yoreli Rincon wipes away a tear following their 2-0 loss to the United bar. At the other end of the pitch, Hope Solo was Columbia. “The individual players are now inked in Hjelmseth and into the net.—AP States in their FIFA Women’s World Cup Group of 16 match. —AFP rarely tested in the US goal as she earned a record