World Cup favorites the United States cruised into the semi-finals with a 3-0 victory yesterday over England.
The US will meet the winner of today's quarter-final between Brazil and Australia in a semi-final on Thursday in Hangzhou.
Second-half goals by Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx and Kristine Lilly in Tianjin put the Americans through after a tight first half.
The US scored three goals in 12 minutes and improved their unbeaten run to 51 games dating back almost three years.
Wambach banged in a header in the 48th, directing home a corner from Lilly before a small crowd of about 18,000 at the 60,000-seat Olympic Center Stadium.
Midfielder Boxx made it 2-0 in the 57th. She stripped a ball near midfield from England's Jill Scott and scored on a long-range shot, the ball going in off the fingertips of England keeper Rachel Brown.
In the 60th, US captain Lilly broke through with her first goal of this tournament -- and her eighth in World Cup play. A long ball from across midfield bounced high and fooled Brown, who was far off her line. She leaped and could only tip it, with Lilly running in behind to knock it home.
Although England had more possession and frustrated the US with their pressing defense in the first half, they failed to muster any serious chances.
The US are seeking their third World Cup to go with titles in 1991 and 1999.
The Americans have never failed to reach the semi-finals. Four years ago they lost to eventual champions Germany 3-0.
The final of the 16-team tournament is Sept. 30 in Shanghai.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two