LYON: Sophia Smith scored the winning goal in extra time as the United States beat Germany 1-0 on Tuesday to advance to the Olympic women’s football final.
Smith settled a close-fought but poor semifinal in Lyon by firing past Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to finally break the deadlock five minutes into extra time.
The USA, record four-time gold medallists, will go to Paris for the final on Saturday against either World Cup holders Spain or Brazil, who play their last-four tie later.
Germany, who won gold in 2016, can still claim the consolation of bronze as they stay in Lyon for the third-place play-off on Friday against the loser of the second semifinal.
The Germans had been the more accomplished side in normal time although quality was desperately lacking in the final third from both teams on a stiflingly hot day.
Emma Hayes’s USA, meanwhile, played at a level far removed from their clinical display in beating Germany 4-1 in the group stage in Marseille.
However, once again the quality of their attack made the difference.
In Saturday’s quarter-final win over Japan, it was right-winger Trinity Rodman who scored the only goal of the game in extra time.
This time it was Smith who was the match-winner, firing past Berger after being picked out by a Mallory Swanson through ball.
It was a third goal at the tournament for the Colorado-born forward who will turn 24 on the day of the final — her other two strikes came against Germany in the group stage.
Contrast that cutting edge with Germany, who were dealt a serious double blow ahead of the game when ill captain Alexandra Popp and the injured Lea Schueller, the two most prolific and experienced goal-scorers in their squad, were ruled out.
The Americans had chances in the 90 minutes, including from a late Lindsey Horan header that was kept out by Berger.
Swanson even had the ball in the net, although she was well offside and the flag was raised early.
But they found a way through in extra time, and Smith was then only denied a second goal by a good Berger save.
There was drama right at the death, with USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saving at close range to deny Laura Freigang an equalizer before Smith almost got a second on the break.
The USA won the last of their four women’s football gold medals at London 2012. They claimed bronze three years ago in Tokyo and were also silver medallists in 2000.
Germany, whose coach Horst Hrubesch was in charge of the men’s team that won silver in Rio in 2016, will now hope to leave with Olympic bronze for the fourth time.
USA edge Germany in extra time to reach Olympic women’s football final
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USA edge Germany in extra time to reach Olympic women’s football final
- Smith settled a close-fought but poor semifinal in Lyon by firing past Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to finally break the deadlock five minutes into extra time
- Germany, who won gold in 2016, can still claim the consolation of bronze as they stay in Lyon for the third-place play-off on Friday
Italy beat Israel in Nations League
BUDAPEST: Italy continued their post-Euro 2024 recovery on Monday with a tight 2-1 Nations League win over Israel in Budapest.
Goals in each half from Davide Frattesi and Moise Kean were enough for Italy to win in a subdued atmosphere at the Bozsik Arena which hosted the Israel home fixture due to the security situation in the Middle East.
Luciano Spalletti’s team have reacted well to their disastrous European Championship title defense, which ended at the last-16 stage, and were deserved winners on a soaking night in the Hungarian capital.
The crowd of 2,000 fans meant Monday’s match didn’t have the feel of a senior international match, with the main off-pitch event coming during Israel’s national anthem ahead of kick-off, when a small group of Italy fans turned their backs to the pitch.
The Azzurri were slow starters as they were in Friday’s 3-1 win over France in Paris, but were not punished by Israel and grew into the match.
By the time Frattesi chested home Federico Dimarco’s pinpoint cross in the 38th minute, his sixth international goal since Spalletti replaced Roberto Mancini just over a year ago, Italy were firmly on top.
Sagiv Jehezkel should have levelled for Israel just after half-time when he failed to divert Dor Peretz’s scuffed shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range.
But in the 62nd minute Fiorentina striker Kean scored his first Italy goal in almost exactly three years to seal the points, with Mohamed Abu Fani’s strike in the final minute too late for Israel to mount a comeback.
France beat Belgium with Kolo Muani and Dembele goals
LYON: Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele scored the goals as France bounced back from a home loss to Italy at the weekend by beating Belgium 2-0 in the UEFA Nations League on Monday.
It was not a full-strength French team that took to the field for the game in Lyon, with captain Kylian Mbappe dropping out as one of eight changes made by coach Didier Deschamps.
France lost 3-1 to Italy in Paris on Friday despite taking the lead inside 13 seconds, while Belgium came into this match fresh from beating Israel by the same scoreline.
This game was a repeat of the Euro 2024 last-16 tie which France won 1-0 in Duesseldorf thanks to a late own goal.
Les Bleus went ahead here just before the half-hour mark, Kolo Muani applying the finish after Dembele’s mishit shot was pushed out by Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
A Belgian side captained by Kevin De Bruyne could not find an equalizer and France scored again on 57 minutes thanks to a fine individual effort by Dembele.
The Paris Saint-Germain winger skipped inside from the right wing before blasting a shot into the net on his left foot.
Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Michael Olize were among the players who came off the bench for France in the second half, as they saw out a victory which will boost confidence after the disappointing defeat by Italy.
The Italians are on top of Group A2 with six points out of six after beating Israel 2-1 on Monday.
France and Belgium have three points apiece, while Israel are bottom without a point.
The next matches are in October, including Italy playing Belgium in Rome, and Israel meeting France on neutral territory in Budapest.
De Silva hails hundred hero Nissanka as Sri Lanka end England drought
- Nissanka made 127 not out as Sri Lanka cruised to the target of 219, before lunch on the fourth day as they won third Test by eight wickets
- The victory was a significant moment for Sri Lanka whose last Test-match win over England was a 100-run success at Headingley back in 2014
LONDON: Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva said Pathum Nissanka had proved himself the “best batsman” in the country after the opener’s superb century at the Oval helped the team end their 10-year wait for a Test win over England.
Nissanka made 127 not out as Sri Lanka cruised to the target of 219, before lunch on the fourth day as they won the third Test by eight wickets. England took the three-match series 2-1 after victories at Old Trafford (by five wickets) and Lord’s (by 190 runs).
The victory was a significant moment for Sri Lanka whose last Test-match win over England was a 100-run success at Headingley back in 2014.
“This is one of the happiest moments in my career and my life,” said de Silva.
“We had a tough time in the last two weeks so to come here and get a win in English conditions against an English team, it is a very good moment for me, my team, and my country as well.”
The victory was a personal triumph for Nissanka, who only returned to Test cricket following a two-year exile at Lord’s. The 26-year-old was named player-of-the-match after also making a fine 64 in Sri Lanka’s first innings at the Oval.
“The moment he came in, he proved he is the best batsman in Sri Lanka right now,” said De Silva.
England captain Ollie Pope, meanwhile, admitted his side “shot ourselves in the foot” after two poor batting displays cost them the chance of a first home Test sweep since 2004 after a rejuvenated team overwhelmed the West Indies 3-0 earlier in the season.
Pope, on his Surrey home ground, scored his first century since stepping as skipper for the injured Ben Stokes at the start of this series.
Despite his 154, England declined from 261-3 to 325 all out in their first innings. Worse followed as they were dismissed for a mere 156 in just 34 overs second time around.
“It’s been disappointing, on the third day we shot ourselves in the foot,” said Pope.
“With the bat we weren’t good enough and, in the second innings, we weren’t up to it.”
When play resumed on Monday, Sri Lanka needed only 125 more runs for victory, while England required nine wickets.
Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson showed the strain of playing six Tests in a relatively short space of time, while the 20-year-old duo Josh Hull and Shoaib Bashir never threatened to derail Sri Lanka’s run chase.
Atkinson, who had been carrying a quad injury, was subsequently withdrawn from the one-day squad to face Australia, with Olly Stone taking his place.
Atkinson, a 26-year-old Surrey quick, made his debut during England great James Anderson’s international farewell in July and has enjoyed a sensational start to his Test career, taking 34 wickets in six matches at an average of just 20.17.
Atkinson appears set for a key role during England’s tour of Pakistan next month, with county colleague Pope saying: “Obviously there’s a few of our guys carrying a few small injuries but credit to them on the way they fronted up and cracked on.”
Joe Root, who passed the England record of 33 Test centuries held by Alastair Cook with twin hundreds at Lord’s, tried to put Monday’s loss in context by telling the BBC: “I don’t think we played our best cricket this week and that is going to happen from time to time.
“Coldplay can’t be number one every week.”
Mancini says Saudi Falcons ready for match against China in Asian 2026 World Cup qualifiers
RIYADH: Saudi national football team manager Roberto Mancini spoke at a press conference on Monday about the Green Team’s preparations for the upcoming match against China in the second round of the third stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
He said: “The Chinese team has a good squad despite their recent loss against the Japanese team. I expect that the Chinese team will be better than the last match tomorrow, so we must be prepared well and take advantage of all opportunities.
“We are training intensively on scoring, and we must continue to create opportunities. I am confident that we will make better use of chances in the upcoming matches.
“Our match against the Chinese national team will be different for both teams. I hope our performance will be the same as it was in the second half of the last match and that we will create opportunities and score.”
Player Saleh Al-Shehri also addressed the match, saying: “It will be a tough match. We must be well-prepared tomorrow and work hard because the match will not be easy.”
Dubai Duty Free joins inaugural Dubai Premier Padel P1 as official sponsor
- The world’s best male and female players will compete this November at Dubai’s first Premier Padel event
DUBAI: Gallop Global, the organizer of this November’s first-ever Dubai Premier Padel P1 tournament, has confirmed Dubai Duty Free as the official sponsor of the inaugural event.
With the first-ever Dubai Premier Padel P1 event taking place Nov. 3-10 at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Garhoud, the sponsorship agreement will see the emirate’s new padel tournament team up with the brand synonymous with several international sporting competitions, including the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Part of the newly unified 25-event Premier Padel tour, which spans 18 countries across five continents this year, Dubai Premier Padel P1 will feature the world’s top male and female players contesting a prize pool of €470,000 (1.89 million dirhams). As a top-ranked P1 classified tournament, the sport’s leading male and female players are obligated to compete.
Dubai Duty Free already owns and organizes the city’s annual ATP and WTA events since their inception more than 30 years ago. Horse racing has also played a key role in the company’s sponsorship strategy and continues to hold a prominent position in a world-class global portfolio that includes tennis, golf, rugby and basketball.
“Bringing together Dubai Duty Free and Dubai Premier Padel P1 is a significant milestone for our inaugural event,” said Ivan Modia, tournament Director and CEO of Gallop Global. “Dubai Duty Free has decades of experience collaborating with major sporting associations and events, which we plan to leverage in our efforts to optimize the city’s inaugural Premier Padel event. Partners such as Dubai Duty Free empower our ambitious plans to elevate Dubai’s P1 event to a marquee position on the global padel calendar, underscored by memorable experience for fans and athletes alike.”
Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free, said: “We are pleased to further expand our diverse sponsorship portfolio through this alliance with Dubai Premier Padel P1. As padel’s popularity in the UAE and around the world continues to grow, we are committed to playing our part in cementing Dubai as a leading destination on the international padel calendar, in line with the city’s already established reputation for hosting major global sporting events.”
The week-long tournament, which will take place under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Sports Council, is a collaborative effort supported by the UAE Padel Association, the Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Sports Council, Premier Padel and Gallop Global.
