Midfielder Carli Lloyd scored on a first-half volley to lead the US women’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over Japan and put the Americans’ Olympic title defense back on track at the Beijing Games.
The US looked far from gold-medal form, but did enough against a dangerous Japanese side to pick up a much-needed three points in Group G after dropping its opener against Norway.
The Americans created a host of scoring opportunities, but were only able to capitalize in the 27th minute, when Lloyd volleyed a cross from defender Stephanie Cox just under the crossbar.
■GERMANY 1, NIGERIA 0
AP, SHENYANG, CHINA
Defender Kerstin Stegemann scored a second-half winner as world champions Germany escaped with a 1-0 win over Nigeria.
Stegemann netted the winning goal from close range after a well-timed cross by substitute striker Anja Mittag.
Stegemann sneaked behind the Nigerian defenders at the far post, sending the ball into the top of the net.
Germany got the win despite struggling throughout yesterday’s match at Shenyang Olympic Stadium. Nigeria had some of the best scoring opportunities.
■SWEDEN 1, ARGENTINA 0
AP, TIANJIN, CHINA
Nilla Fischer capitalized on one of Sweden’s numerous scoring opportunities early in the second half yesterday, giving the Scandinavians a 1-0 victory over Argentina and reviving their Olympic hopes.
Fischer knocked in a looping header from the middle of the penalty area from Therese Sjorgan’s 30m free-kick in the 57th minute, enabling Sweden to recover from a 2-1 loss to China in their opener on Wednesday. That had been Sweden’s fourth straight defeat in an Olympic opener.
■BRAZIL 2, N KOREA 1
AP, SHENYANG, CHINA
Marta and Daniela scored a goal each to help Brazil defeat North Korea and stay on track for their first major title.
Daniela opened the scoring in the 14th minute after a mistake by North Korean goalkeeper Jon Myong-hui, who gave the ball away to the striker while trying to keep it from going over the touchline for a corner kick.
Two-time FIFA Player of the Year Marta scored her first goal of the tournament with a left-foot shot from close range in the 22nd minute, beating Jon to the ball inside the area before firing a high shot inside the far post.
■CHINA 1, CANADA 1
AFP, TIANJIN, CHINA
China and Canada ground out a draw yesterday, with both sides missing chances to seal a victory that would have put them in prime position to make the knockout round.
In hot and humid conditions, a frantic three minute burst sparked life into the game with two goals and Canada hitting the crossbar.
Canadian captain Christine Sinclair made the breakthrough 11 minutes before halftime when Kara Lang neatly chested the ball down and lobbed it into her path, leaving the Vancouver Whitecaps star to slot it past keeper Zhang Yanru.
Two minutes later Xu Yuan pulled China level, latching onto a through ball and rounding goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
Less than 60 seconds later, Rhian Wilkinson smashed a shot off China’s crossbar.
■NORWAY 1, N ZEALAND 0
AP, QINHUANGDAO, CHINA
Forward Melissa Wiik headed in an early goal as Norway beat New Zealand and wrapped up a spot in the quarter-finals in women’s soccer at the Beijing Games.
Wiik darted past defender Katie Hoyle to head in a cross from forward Leni Larsen Kaurin in the eighth minute.
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
A baseball team from New Taipei City won the US Pony Palomino Division World Series yesterday in Laredo, Texas, defeating the US West representative team from Azusa, California, 2-1. Ku-Pao Home Economics and Commercial High School earned the right to represent Taiwan in the Pony Palomino (17 to 18 age group) World Series after winning this year's Wang Chen-chih Cup, a competition named after Taiwanese-Japanese baseball legend Wang Chen-chih (王貞治), also known as Sadaharu Oh. In the championship game against Azusa, Ku-Pao's starting pitcher Luo Yu-yan (羅于晏) was erratic early, giving up two hits in the bottom of the first inning, followed
NEXT ROUND: World No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka opened their title defenses with straight-sets wins, while Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz also advanced Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka got their title defenses off to smooth starts as they powered into the third round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The men’s and women’s top seeds, each ranked No. 1 in the world, were both competing for the first time since Wimbledon, where Sinner lifted the title and Sabalenka bowed out in the women’s semi-finals. Sinner crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in steamy afternoon weather, while Sabalenka beat 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 under the lights of the night session. Sabalenka needed 54 minutes and a service break in the final game
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