An ill-tempered women’s under-19 match between China and Australia ended with a mass brawl and accusations of cheating on Monday, Chinese media reported.
It was another blow for the reputation of Chinese soccer two weeks after a referee was attacked by players in a men’s inter-provincial tournament, resulting in one player being banned for life.
China won the Asian under-19s championship match 2-1, holding on for victory despite a late appeal for a penalty from the Australians, who were aghast to see the referee award a free kick outside the box.
PHOTO: AP
Australia’s Jessica Seaman was dismissed on full time and a bench-clearing brawl ensued, with the Wuhan crowd joining in by pelting the visitors with water bottles as they left the pitch.
China coach Gao Rongming blamed his team’s inexperience for their part in the incidents, but Alen Stajcic, head coach of the Australian under-20 women’s team, said the match was an embarrassment for the hosts.
“We’ve prepared for 12 months to have an embarrassing sporting event take place like that in China,” Stajcic told the Asian Football Confederation Web site, www.the-afc.com.
“That’s not sport. Sport’s played by two equal teams battling for sporting supremacy, not that kind of behavior,” Stajcic said. “On the field, off the field, it’s not good enough. It’s not good enough. I’d be embarrassed if I were the host of this event after that game. It’s not good enough.”
The tournament also acts as a qualifier for FIFA’s under-20 World Cup and the defeat makes Australia unlikely to secure a spot in Germany for next year.
“We created many opportunities, but some non-sporting factors decided this match,” the Beijing News quoted Stajcic as saying.
“Our opponents held up the game by faking dives and injuries, which caused our loss,” Stajcic said.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Alex Michelsen on Thursday rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 upset victory over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti in the men’s singles, converting his seventh match point to reach the fourth round of the Canadian Open. Michelsen reached the last 16 of a Masters 1000 for the first time with his second win over a top-10 player in eight attempts. The 20-year-old American survived nearly 50 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break chances, but it was enough to vanquish Italy’s Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist ranked 10th in the world. “It feels really good,” the 26th-ranked Michelsen said. “I’ve put
RSS