Of 172 runners participating in an ultramarathon through northwest China on Saturday, 21 were killed when severe weather swept through the area.
Freezing rain, hail, and high winds killed 21 ultramarathon runners, including two of China’s elite marathon athletes, during a 62-mile cross-country mountain race in northwest China, local officials reported on Sunday.
“A front moved through the area and that could have caused those strong winds and hail to happen,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Robert Richards said.
“In a short period of time, hailstones and ice rain suddenly fell in the local area, and there were strong winds. The temperature sharply dropped,” Baiyin City Mayor Zhang Xuchen said.
China Xinhua News @XHNews · May 23 China state-affiliated media The death toll has risen to 21 after extreme weather hit a 100-km cross-country mountain marathon race in northwest China’s Gansu http://xhtxs.cn/fk2
Some of the runners suffered from hypothermia, and Zhang said earlier that eight people were being treated for minor injuries and were in stable condition, Xinhua reported.
“My whole body was soaked through, including my shoes and socks. I couldn’t stand up straight because of the wind, I was very worried I’d be blown over. The cold became more and more unbearable,” one survivor was quoted in local media.
At around 2 p.m. local time, weather conditions worsened and the race was called off, Zhang said.
The deaths have sparked public outrage over the lack of contingency planning.
“Why didn’t the government read the weather forecast and do a risk assessment?” one commentator wrote. “This is totally a manmade calamity. Even if the weather is unexpected, where were the contingency plans?”
Baiyin officials bowed and apologized at a news briefing saying they were saddened by the tragic deaths of the runners and that they were to be blamed, Reuters reported.
“As the event’s organizer, we feel a deep sense of guilt and self-blame, express our deep mourning for the victims and deep condolences to their families and the injured runners,” Zhang said.
“The weather appears to be dry for the next few days there,” Richards said.
Montserrat captain Lyle Taylor speaks with FIFA.com
He talks about the Emerald Boys’ historic 1-1 draw with El Salvador
“It’s massive to get the result, but there’s more to come from us”
Montserrat 1- 1 El Salvador.
Perhaps it is a scoreline lost in the deluge of FIFA World Cup™ qualifying results and storylines from the past week. But it is by far one of the most significant results of the 108 qualifiers that were played in the past week.
Montserrat, an island with a population hovering just around 5,000 and ranked 183rd in the world, punched above their weight on two occasions. First, they drew 2-2 with Antigua and Barbuda on 24 March, a team 57 places above them on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
But the real headliner was to come three days later in Willemstad, on the island of Curaçao. Trailing 1-0 in the 89th minute against El Salvador – a nation who have featured at two World Cups and sit 113 places above them – Lyle Taylor fulfilled his role as the team’s talisman and delivered in the crucial moment, just as he had done by scoring both goals against Antigua. Timing his run to perfection, Taylor latched onto Jamie Allen’s cross and headed in the equaliser.
After two heartbreaking defeats to El Salvador in the Concacaf Nations League – Taylor was unable to play on both occasions – the third time was indeed the charm. The celebrations were fitting of a World Cup Final. And even better, his young brother Joey, who he seldom gets to play alongside his sibling, was on the pitch when for the decisive goal [Editor’s note: Another pair of brothers play on the team in Brandon and James Comley].
Nearly 9,000 kilometres away from the Lewandowski’s, Kanes, and Gnabrys of the world scoring on the same day in somewhat routine wins, history was made.
As the 70th-ranked team in the world, El Salvador is the highest-ranked side Montserrat have ever drawn against, and by some distance. Curaçao was ranked 159th when they drew in Russia 2018 qualifiers and Antigua are currently 126th.
FIFA.com caught up with Montserrat’s man of the hour, who was back in Nottingham fresh off a cross-Pacific flight from Curacao via an eight-hour layover in Amsterdam, to put the achievement into context and to learn where their ambitions lie next.
Love it, Lyle 👏@lyletaylor90 scored this leveller to secure a point for Montserrat against El Salvador last night 🇲🇸⚽️ #NFFC
FIFA.com: Lyle, this past week of World Cup qualifying must be up there in terms of career highlights for you, is that right?
Lyle Taylor: It’s definitely up there. I’ve been at the training ground at Nottingham Forest and everyone’s been asking me how it was, and it’s just so different from my day-to-day footballing job. I get to play with my brother and with, I call them “brothers”. We are a family. The majority of the group has been together for about six years. It’s definitely special.
I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t more special than club football because it’s representing where I’m from and where my family has been and everything that makes us “us” as a family. It is very, very special and to be able to captain a country and walk the boys out and to go to war as we do every time we step on the pitch is a special feeling.
What’s your feeling of how Montserrat performed in your first two qualifiers, now that you’re back home and had some time to reflect?
The instant feeling was that we should’ve beaten Antigua and we expected to. And I mean this in no demeaning or derogatory way of Antigua and their national team, but we expect to beat them. So for us, that’s a disappointment. We thought if we went out there and did everything possible that we could beat El Salvador, which is over 100 places above us, so I think that says a lot about how far we’ve come.
We’re not going into these games as whipping boys. We’ve got enough in this dressing room to win, so let’s go out there and show everyone that we’re good enough. We know the World Cup in Qatar is pie in the sky. That is a long way from this. We’ve got a lot of work to do just to get to the next qualifying group before the impossible dream of getting there, let’s be honest. Little ol’ Montserrat getting to the group qualifying stages would be massive. But that’s where we want to get.
People may look at two draws in the standings and not think much of that, but can you put those results into context and describe what they mean to the island?
I made my debut six years ago last week in Curacao against Curacao. Arguably we should’ve beaten them. We were unlucky then. We had a period of inactivity for about three or four years and we’ve come back ready to prove a point. I’d like to take the last three years and say where are now compared to where we’ve been is streets ahead. Ninety percent of that is down to Mr. Cassell (Montserrat FA President Vincent Cassell). The work he’s put in and the effort he’s made to allow us to simply play and to get to the position where we are expecting to win games is amazing and that’s down to him and what he’s put in.
As captain, I’m privy to everything that goes on behind the scenes. I can’t overstate how hard Mr. Cassell works, and there’s a lot to come. It’s amazing what I’ve seen this team start as and turn into. Down to the smallest things like kits. We used to wear FIFA-donated kits and now have a sponsorship with Bol. The new kit is amazing and it’s special to us and what we are as the Emerald Boys. Everything from that to the dormitories being built at the stadium, the standard of the pitch and facilities we’re given, and hotels we stay in when we go away is 100 percent down to him. He waited over 40 years to see us win a game, and we’ve done that in recent years.
What the boys have put in is unbelievable. Bear in mind we’ve had a lockdown for football below step 2 for about five or six months. We have over half our squad playing at that level. They’ve not been able to play or train for that period of time and they still turn up and bust their balls and get the results. It is absolutely unbelievable. We’ve had so many obstacles thrown at us and it almost feels like there are powers that don’t want us to succeed, but we are going to make it to a major championship, whether that’s a Gold Cup or the next stage of the World Cup qualifying. When we do make it, it’s going to send shockwaves through world football.
The standout result was of course the draw against El Salvador with you scoring in the last minute. Is that the finest moment in your career, or at least up there?
I’ve played in front of some big crowds at Wembley and I’ve got a lot to be thankful for, but there is nothing like playing with family and we are all a family in the national team. To pick up a point against an El Salvador team, that really we have no right to be going toe-to-toe with, is massive. To do it the day before my birthday was a perfect storm and I’m so thankful that six years ago I accepted the call to be a part of this.
What
more could I ask for…? 31 years young, in the most beautiful part of
the world, playing football, scoring goals, alongside my brother and my
brothers… #EmeraldBoys#Montserrat#664 💚3d
michaeluk2018This
Forest fan is very proud and pleased for you mate…Would love to see
you start every game for the reds..I just know you possess the quality
we need.2d
What does getting a point off El Salvador do for the team from a mental standpoint?
This is the first time I’ve played against them. The boys were telling me how tough it would be, and I was thinking about the games we played against teams that had beaten us big before, and you turn up and you graft and you give it absolutely everything and you get a result because that’s how football works. We were still confident. It’s always going to be in the back of some people’s minds, especially when you concede late goals to a team that, let’s be honest, is superior.
To be able to go out there, stand toe-to-toe and give away a poor goal by our standards, and to dominate the second half as we did is just amazing. It’s a taste of their own medicine to them because of what they’ve done to us previously. It’s massive to get that result, but there’s more. The next time we play, we will be winning.
From the level of football I’ve come from here in the UK to the level I’m at now, I was never going to be called up for England. It was never an option. The day I got the message I was on the train on the way up to Sheffield playing for Scunthorpe United at the time in League One. My dad and I had been talking about it that weekend and joking how Joey, my little brother, could play left-back, I’ll play up front and my dad could go in goal! And that weekend I got the message asking about my Montserratian heritage. As soon as I was asked, the answer was ‘yes’. It was a chance to represent where my grandparents are from and I was never, ever going to say no to that.
How much pride do you have in being a central figure on this team and in perhaps taking Montserrat to the next level of World Cup qualifying or a major tournament?
I don’t think anything I’ve done in life would be bigger than that achievement. That’s how big it would be and how high it would rank on my list. That would be the best thing ever. I’d give so much for us to be able to play in the latter stages of World Cup qualifying. If it’s the biggest highlight in my career, it would be up there at the very, very top for the other boys. That’s what it would mean, and there’s only one way for it to happen and we have to go out and make it happen, so we’ve got some work to do.
Dr. Denzil Douglas shares two lofty ideals that his in-coming government stands for
Beresford
Mack speaks with Dr. Denzil Douglas who prepares to take back the Government of
St. Kitts-Nevis
Dr. Denzil Douglas
In the spirit of expanding partnership with those in the
diaspora and sharing good governance responsibility, the Political Leader of
the NextGen St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party, Dr. Denzil Douglas outlined his
leadership vision and governance strategy for the Federation.
Dr. Douglas sat down for an interview with award-winning freelance journalist Beresford Mack and gave these insights.
BM: Dr. Douglas,
what are some of the things that you and your NextGen Labour team think are
most important for an ordered society?
Dr. Douglas: My young and vibrant
colleagues and I hold two goals and lofty ideas as sacred. First, the rule of
law must be an essential ingredient in maintaining our democracy. When others
have demonstrated a reckless disregard and disrespect for the dignity of the
court, we respect the rule of law and the judiciary and take great pride in our
long tradition of the fair administration of Justice.
Second, we believe that our in-coming government must
create wealth through the enormous benefits we will be bringing to the good
people of St. Kitts and Nevis on returning to government.
BM: What are some of the major projects
that will create employment opportunities in construction and ignite sustained
economic growth across all sectors of the economy starting in 2021?
Dr. Douglas: We are anxious to deliver a
bridge between St. Kitts and Nevis, which will open big opportunities and
create an economic zone at both ends. This project is designed to consolidate
and expand our tourism industry especially with an emphasis in medical tourism.
We will also construct a highway from western Basseterre
to the Whitegate Development area. This will bring us additional economic
activity for the expansion of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College campus in
Nevis and the western campus in St. Kitts, thus offering our young people a
first-class education foundation nearer to their homes.
To further improve our infrastructure, we will build a brand-new airport terminal with several jet bridges to increase the number of new airlines that we will woo to our lovely Federation.
BM:
What is NextGen Labour’s vision for sports development?
Dr. Douglas: The Next Gen SKN incoming government is also anxious to begin the construction of a National Sports Academy, through which our young, highly talented and skillful men and women will be prepared to compete professionally in basketball, soccer, tennis, netball, golf, volleyball, swimming, track and field, and netball. They will also be prepared with the social graces, leadership skills, commitment to excellence and resilience, all-important skills and attributes that they will need as productive citizens in their adult lives.
BM: How will local stakeholders benefit from this new economic development vision?
Dr. Douglas: Our building and construction policy is geared towards cooperation with local businesses and international investors so that we provide a fair and transparent framework of conditions that bring solid but sustainable benefits to everyone. Therefore, we envision resuscitating the La Vallee Development Project while at the same time complete the construction of three boutique hotels at Kittitian Hill and building a state of the art Technical Training Institute. I want our people to keep abreast of the latest knowledge and techniques in their fields to perform beyond expectations.
BM: What about healthcare?
Dr. Douglas: The Next Gen SKN incoming government is already engaged in dialogue with several players in the global healthcare industry to build a state of the art hospital, a medical complex, upgrade community clinics and integrate various medical and nursing programs to the deliver the best education and cutting edge health care services to our people. We must be better able to cope with and minimize the impact of global outbreaks on our citizens.
BM: I know that you are a staunch integrationist. What role
do you see for St. Kitts and Nevis as a regional player?
Dr. Douglas: I want St. Kitts and Nevis to play a vital role in
shaping regional politics and economics. I will promote the formation of a
CAPITAL MARKET as an important instrument to raise the finances to fund several
of these major projects. My young, innovative and energetic team and I,
envision our Federation working together with CARICOM and the Organization of
Eastern Caribbean States to confront global challenges and share equal
responsibility for adapting to new priorities and challenges as they arise.
Beresford Mack is a strategic communications consultant, award-winning freelance journalist and social media marketing specialist. He has worked in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and the USA. He has won a Sony Radio award (which is described as the UK Radio Oscars) and a whilst working at London’s biggest Urban Radio Station Choice FM which has now been rebranded as Capital Xtra.
February 17, 2020, GIU, Davy Hill, Montserrat– For the first time, the National Honours and Awards, will include a National Youth Awardee—Lionel Baker will be bestowed with the first National Youth Awards on Montserrat for excellence in sports.
Lionel Baker gleeful in action
Mr. Baker will be awarded for his involvement and
contribution to sports on Montserrat, and particularly for his involvement in
cricket. In 2008, Baker became the first
cricketer from Montserrat to represent the West Indies at Test Cricket. He made history when he debuted for the West
Indies in a one-day international match against Pakistan in November 2008.
The Premier, Honourable Joseph Farrell said he is pleased to be able to confer the first National Youth Award on a young Montserratian who has made noticeable contributions to Montserrat, through sports. He also noted that it is important for youth to be acknowledged for their contributions as it serves as motivation for continued nation-building, and instills a sense of national pride.
Mr. Baker will receive the prestigious award during the 6th National Honours and Awards Ceremony, which will be held at the Montserrat Cultural Centre on Sunday, March 8, 2020.
The National Youth Awards will now be a regular part of the National Honours and Awards ceremony and is aimed at recognizing the contribution of youth on Montserrat to national development, community, and nation-building.
Mr. Baker will join the other awardees who are being
bestowed with National Honours during the ceremony.
The other awardees, as was previously announced are Mr.
Justin “Hero” Cassell for his service and achievements towards the advancement
of music regionally and internationally; and, Mr. Charles “Jim” Allen for his
contributions and achievements in the field of sports, specifically
Cricket. Both will be receiving Orders
of Excellence.
Two persons will be awarded the Order of
Distinction. They are Mr. Alric Taylor,
for his contributions in the areas of civil service and education; and Mrs.
Vera Weekes, for her service in the area of education.
The Order of Merit for meritorious contributions to
Montserrat is being bestowed upon Mr. Charles “Nick” Ryan for his contribution
and service in the field of Disaster Management; and Mrs. Margaret Browne for
her commitments to education development.
The National Honours and Awards Ceremony is organised by
the National Honours and Awards Planning Committee under the remit of the
Office of the Premier.
Kobe Bryant died yesterday in a helicopter crash along with his daughter and seven others. Here is what we know about the crash so far:
Foggy Conditions Were Present – During the time that the helicopter crashed, visibility was low enough that Los Angeles police had grounded their own helicopters.
Helicopter Had Flight Clearance – Despite the foggy weather conditions, the helicopter that Kobe was on was operating under “special visual flight rules,” as outlined in an update below.
The Investigation and Recovery Efforts Are Proving Difficult – The crash site is remote, so investigators are having trouble recovering the victim’s bodies and finding clues about what happened.
Helicopter Was Operating Under ‘Special Visual Flight Rules’
LiveATC.net has captured an air traffic control audio conversation with the pilot of Kobe’s aircraft, and found that it was operating under “Special Visual Flight Rules.”
What this means: A Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR) clearance is something given to pilots that allows them to fly in worse weather conditions than typically allowed.
David Beckham Honors Kobe Bryant on Social Media
Beckham, a British soccer legend, was one of the countless fans who shared photos on Instagram this morning in honor of Kobe Bryant’s passing.
In the post, Beckham said, “Sometimes I would only go to games just to watch that clock go down to the last 2:00 minutes knowing that we were about to witness something special.”
“This was one special athlete, husband, father, and friend,” he added.
‘Kobe Bryant Park’ Spotted at NYC’s Bryant Park Subway Stop
Someone posted the word “Kobe” over the 42nd Street-Bryant Park stop in New York City, so it now reads “Kobe Bryant Park.”
Ryan Seacrest shared a photo of the makeshift sign on Twitter.
Congress Pays Tribute, ‘Los Angeles is mourning the loss of one of our most beloved legends’
California Rep. Maxine Waters issued a statement following the death of Kobe Bryant. Some of her statement reads:
“He was our champion, a living legend, and an inspiration to countless fans and aspiring athletes around the world. His loss is felt by millions of grieving fans who are in shock and disbelief by the tragic passing of such a prolific athlete, devoted husband, and loving father.”
She continued, “Los Angeles is mourning the loss of one of our most beloved legends and icons. Though Kobe Bryant is no longer with us, our city will never forget what he meant to us, and we will keep his legacy alive forever.”
LAX Airport Honors Kobe, Lights Pylons in Purple and Gold
LAX Airport posted a photo on Twitter showing how Kobe Bryant is being honored in the form of the airport’s pylons being lit up in shades of purple and gold in his memory.
Tonight, LAX’s pylons will be lit in purple and gold in memory of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and all those who were with them in today’s unthinkable accident. Kobe was in many ways a symbol of Los Angeles and we join his family, fans and city in mourning all who were lost today.
Final Moments of Kobe Bryant’s Last Game Resurfaced
A video has surfaced that shows the final three minutes of Kobe Bryant’s retirement game in 2016. During the match, Kobe took 50 shots and spent 42 minutes showing the world why he is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
The
United States remained supreme in women’s soccer Sunday, repeating as
World Cup champions and winning for the fourth time by defeating the
Netherlands, 2-0.
In the Americans’ most difficult test of the month-long competition, Megan Rapinoe converted a penalty kick in the 61st minute after video replay overruled the referee’s initial decision.
There was no controversy eight minutes later. Rose Lavelle,
the Washington Spirit midfielder who at age 24 enjoyed a breakout
tournament, doubled the lead with an assertive run and 17-yard shot
before a pro-U.S. sellout crowd at Stade de Lyon.
This
championship adds to a portfolio of glory featuring world crowns in
1991, ’99 and 2015, and Olympic gold medals in 1996, 2004, ’08 and ’12.
Germany is the only other country to win multiple Women’s World Cups.
USWNT history in Women’s World Cup
A victory parade is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday on the streets of Manhattan.
The Americans have won 13 straight matches and are unbeaten in 16 since losing a friendly at France in January.
Jill Ellis, a native of England
who starred at Fairfax’s Robinson Secondary School and William &
Mary, became the first coach to win two Women’s World Cup titles. The
only time it has occurred on the men’s side was in 1934 and ’38, by
Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo.
For just the second
time in women’s tournament history, the coaches of both finalists were
women: Sarina Wiegman has overseen the Dutch squad for 2½ years.
“It’s
good that women get the opportunity to develop — as players, as coaches
or in other parts of football and in society,” Wiegman said on the eve
of the match. “But I also think the women need to have the guts to make
choices and take risks to go for higher positions. What we need to do as
women is show we have qualities.”
‘My greatest dream come true’: Fans celebrate women’s World Cup win
Fans in New York reacted to the U.S. women’s national soccer team beating the Netherlands in the World Cup on July 7.
(Allie Caren/The Washington Post)
Both teams had shown their qualities
through four weeks, running through the tournament without blemish in
six matches apiece. The Americans took a harder road, edging the host
country and England in the previous two matches.
In
the days and hours leading to kickoff, questions surrounded both
lineups because of injuries. As it turned out, all three ailing players
(two Americans, one Dutch) were cleared to start.
Rapinoe
returned from a one-game absence caused by a strained hamstring and
Lavelle was cleared after limping off in the second half of the
semifinal. Dutch attacker Lieke Martens overcame a toe injury to regain
her starting job.
The Netherlands began on a
positive note by not conceding a goal in the first dozen minutes. In
fact, there were not any serious threats.
In each of their previous outings here, the Americans had roared out of the gates and scored an early goal.
Netherlands
was physical and unafraid, disrupting U.S. forays and attacking without
reservation. Promising space in the attacking third of the field,
however, was quickly closed by the anticipatory Americans.
The
United States probed for ways to unlock the Dutch defense but ran into
firm road blocks. The challengers also applied pressure on the ball in
midfield, resulting in wayward passes and giveaways.
The reigning champions were in for a more difficult day than many observers thought.
The
first genuine U.S. chance did not come until the 28th minute when, off
an uncleared corner kick, goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal blocked Julie
Ertz’s rising one-timer from 11 yards.
Veenendaal
was busy the rest of the half, making a reflex stop on Samantha Mewis’s
glancing header, stopping Alex Morgan’s one-timer at the near post with
her right foot and making a wonderful diving save on Morgan’s
thunderous bid from 20 yards that seemed destined for the lower right
corner.
The Dutch absorbed the pressure and
launched counterattacks with minimal success. They were, however, good
enough in possession to worry the United States and stout enough
defensively to leave the Americans scoreless at halftime for the first
time in the tournament.
At
halftime, the United States was forced to make a change as right back
Kelley O’Hara left with a head injury, suffered in a collision moments
before intermission. Ali Krieger, the Northern Virginia native in her
third World Cup, entered.
Ellis had not planned
to switch defenders, leaving her with two substitutions among her
wealth of attacking options on the bench.
Another
defender, Becky Sauerbrunn, required treatment to the forehead after a
collision left her bloodied. She returned wearing a headband.
The first video replay led to the penalty kick.
In
challenging Morgan in the penalty area, Stefanie van der Gragt raised
her right foot and caught the U.S. player in the upper right arm. Morgan
went down.
French referee Stephanie Frappart
did not whistle a foul, but as the United States prepared for a corner
kick, Carlos del Cerro Grande, the video assistant referee, recommended a
review.
Had
van der Gragt made contact with Morgan’s neck or head, there would have
been no doubt. But had the Dutch defender committed a foul?
Frappart returned from the sideline with the verdict: penalty kick.
As van Veenendaal went one way, Rapinoe delivered the other way for her sixth goal of the tournament.
It was only the second penalty kick awarded in a women’s final and the first converted.
Eight minutes later, Lavelle extended the lead. The Dutch defense parted and the slight midfielder took full advantage.
She
surged into an acre of space, forcing van der Gragt off-balance before
veering to her left and stamping a left-footed shot from 17 yards out of
van Veenendaal’s reach and into the far corner.
The
flood gates had opened. With the Dutch desperately pressed forward, the
United States had ample opportunity to turn the match into a rout.
However, the touch inside the box was off and van Veenendaal made a
terrific save on Crystal Dunn slaloming into the box.
Rapinoe
left to a roaring ovation in the 79th minute, replaced by Christen
Press. Carli Lloyd, the hat-trick hero of the 2015 final in Vancouver
who will turn 37 this month, entered in the 87th minute.
All
that was left to do was wait for Frappart’s closing whistle. In
anticipation, the players on the bench gathered in a line at the edge of
the sideline, arms hung over one another’s shoulders. When the whistle
sounded, they spilled onto the field and repeated a celebration four
years in the making.
In-game highlights
by Emily Giambalvo in Chicago
Final: USA 2, Netherlands 0
The
United States defended its Women’s World Cup title and won it for a
record fourth time overall. It caps a dominant showing by the U.S.
women, whose performance in France sparked larger conversations about
gender, equity and patriotism.
The underdog Dutch were playing in just their second World Cup and had never reached the final.
87th minute: U.S. substitution
Carli Lloyd replaces Tobin Heath.
Lavelle’s goal sets mark
79th minute: Rapinoe comes off
Megan
Rapinoe, who missed the last game with a hamstring injury only to score
the opening goal of this final, subs out of the game late in the second
half. Christen Press replaces Rapinoe, who will finish this tournament
with six goals, tied for the overall lead, and three assists.
77th minute: Dutch shot on goal
The
Netherlands records its first shot on target with a shot from Lineth
Beerensteyn from outside the box, forcing U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher
to make her first save of the final. Naeher began the tournament as one
of the questions about this U.S. team. But she has impressed in key
moments during this World Cup, most notably when she saved England’s
84th-minute penalty kick that would have tied the semifinal game.
76th minute: Scoring chance for Dunn
American
defender Crystal Dunn cuts around a Dutch defender for an opportunity
to score, but goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal comes up with another stop.
Van Veenendaal has saved six U.S. shots, but she’ll need help from the
Dutch attack for the Netherlands to threaten the Americans’ 2-0 lead.
73rd minute: Dutch substitution
Shanice van de Sanden comes into the game for Anouk Dekker.
70th minute: Dutch substitution
Jill
Roord replaces Lieke Martens, the forward who dealt with a toe injury
before this game and was part of a head-to-head collision late in the
first half.
69th minute: Goal, USA
Rose Lavelle
scores to extend the Americans’ lead. Lavelle split two defenders with
her shot that sailed just to the right of goalkeeper Sari van
Veenendaal. Lavelle, 24, has scored three times in her first World Cup.
61st minute: Goal, USA
Megan
Rapinoe nails her shot from the penalty spot. The U.S. leads, 1-0.
Rapinoe sent the ball to the right while Dutch goalkeeper Sari van
Veenendaal crouched toward the left.
The
Americans received the penalty after video review in the 60th minute
after Alex Morgan was hit on the shoulder by Stefanie van der Gragt, who
was given a yellow card.
Rapinoe has six goals
in this tournament, five of which have come in the knockout round. This
is her third goal of the tournament on a penalty kick. The U.S. has
scored the first goal in every World Cup match, while the Netherlands
trails for the first time in France. Its scoreless streak ends at 317
minutes.
57th minute: Sauerbrunn returns
The defender was bandaged and medically cleared and has returned to the game.
54th minute: Sauerbrunn is cut in collision
U.S.
defender Becky Sauerbrunn is down on the field with blood running down
her face after a head-to-head collision. The Americans are playing a man
down while the medical staff tends to Sauerbrunn on the sideline but
she has not been replaced.
Halftime substitution for U.S.
Ali Krieger is in the game in the place of Kelley O’Hara, who collided head-to-head with Lieke Martens late in the first half.
Krieger,
who was also part of the 2011 and 2015 World Cup teams, hadn’t received
a call-up to the national team for two years until this year’s
preparation matches before the World Cup. Now she opens the second half
as part of the Americans’ back line in the most important game of the
tournament.
Halftime: USA 0, Netherlands 0
The
teams head to the locker room after a scoreless first 45 minutes of
play. The U.S. threatened with a handful of promising chances late in
the half, but Dutch goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal had standout moments
to thwart the American attack. Van Veenendaal notched four saves, three
of which came in a three-minute span, to keep the Americans out of the
net. Meanwhile, the Netherlands didn’t record a shot until stoppage time
and had a few chances off a corner just before halftime. But the Dutch
defense has shined, managing to keep this usually early-scoring U.S.
team under control.
The
Americans have led at halftime during every game in this World Cup
except the round-of-16 match against Spain, when the teams opened the
second half tied at 1. But in this final, the U.S. is facing a team that
hasn’t conceded many goals in this World Cup and a goalkeeper who’s
excelling. The Dutch have been a second-half team, having won all six of
their matches after coming out of intermission tied in each.
45th minute + 2: A collision
During
stoppage time, American defender Kelley O’Hara and Dutch forward Lieke
Martens both went down to the turf after a head-to-head collision. The
referee immediately signaled for medical attention, and both players
were assessed on the field. Both players were held back from play for a
moment but quickly returned. The Dutch put late pressure on the U.S.
goal but the halftime whistle was blown shortly after
40th minute: Americans increase pressure
The
U.S. just had a flurry of chances but couldn’t score. In the 38th
minute, Dutch goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal saved a chance that
Samantha Mewis tried to head in off Megan Rapinoe’s cross. Tobin Heath’s
shot soon after was blocked. Moments later, Alex Morgan’s shot off a
pass from Rapinoe landed in the lap of van Veenendaal, who notched two
saves in the span of one minute to keep the U.S. from scoring.
In
the 40th minute, Morgan had another shot on goal assisted by Julie
Ertz, but again, van Veenendaal made the save. All four of the
Americans’ shots in this game have been on target, while the Netherlands
has still yet to take a shot.
28th minute: Quality chance for U.S.
Off
a corner kick, the Americans finally had a promising scoring
opportunity when Julie Ertz recorded the team’s first shot on target.
But Dutch goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal came up with the save on a
half-volley to deny the U.S.
The
Oranje still haven’t taken a shot, but just before the Americans had
their first chance, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher cleared a dangerous
ball that was primed to give the Netherlands a one-on-one opportunity to
score.
Opening ‘drought’ for U.S.
The
Americans did not score in the opening 13 minutes of play. That’s the
longest they’ve gone this tournament without scoring to start a game.
The Dutch defense is using a 4-4-2 defensive shape to stifle the
American attack. The Oranje hasn’t conceded a goal since its round of 16
match against Japan.
The earliest the U.S.
scored in a World Cup game this year came when Lindsey Horan scored in
the third minute against Sweden. Before this game, Thailand was the team
that kept the U.S. out of the net the longest. In that opening game of
the tournament for the Americans, the first goal game when Alex Morgan
scored in the 12th minute.
10th minute: Yellow card
The Netherlands’ Sherida Spitse receives an early yellow card for a bad foul.
And we’re off
The
U.S. women’s national team has begun its pursuit of a fourth World Cup
championship and its second straight title, while the Netherlands is
playing in its first final. Neither team has trailed at any point during
this World Cup, but the U.S. is heavily favored in this match. Since
the Women’s World Cup began in 1991, the Americans have played in five
of the eight finals.
Americans Alex Morgan and
Megan Rapinoe are in the race for the Golden Boot, given to the
tournament’s top goal scorer. Morgan enters the final with six goals,
five of which came in the opening match against Thailand, while Rapinoe
has scored five times. The Netherlands’ top scorer in France is Vivianne
Miedema, who comes into the final with three goals.
If
Morgan doesn’t score in this game, she will finish tied with England’s
Ellen White. Morgan, however, would win the tiebreaker since she has
three assists and White finished the tournament without any.
The
teams will compete in front of a packed Lyon Olympic Stadium, which is
dominated by U.S. fans. It’s another hot day in France with temperatures
nearing 90 degrees at kickoff. Rapinoe and Dutch goalkeeper Sari van
Veenendaal are the captains for this game.
In pregame video, Dutch thank USWNT
A
pregame hype video released by the Dutch national team featured scenes
of American soccer and the stars of this national team. The clip that
aired during Fox’s pregame show said, “You proved to us that dreams do
come true. Thanks for that,” before shifting to a burst of Dutch
highlights. Watch it here:
Megan
Rapinoe is back in the lineup for the U.S. after missing the semifinal
game against England with a minor hamstring strain. She joins Birgit
Prinz of Germany as the only players in tournament history to start in
three finals, according to Fox Sports.
Rose
Lavelle, who left the last game in the 65th minute due to a hamstring
injury, is also back in the starting 11. In the midfield, Lavelle is
joined by Julie Ertz and Samantha Mewis, while Lindsey Horan will start
the game on the bench.
It’s the same starting lineup Jill Ellis called upon in Americans’ highly anticipated quarterfinal match against France. The U.S. won that game, 2-1, with Rapinoe scoring both goals. Ellis also chose this starting 11 for the first game of the knockout round, a 2-1 victory over Spain.
For
the Dutch, star Lieke Martens will start. Martens has played in all six
games and scored twice in the tournament, but the forward had to leave
the semifinal against Sweden at halftime with a toe injury.
Setting the stage
by Steven Goff in Lyon, France
The
United States carries high standards into every Women’s World Cup.
Anything short of an appearance in the championship match is regarded as
an epic failure.
And so when the Americans were locked in tight games at each step of the knockout phase
this summer, there were genuine questions about whether this squad
would make it Sunday’s final and continue its quest for a fourth
championship.
Each time they were tested,
though, the Americans responded. This marks a record third consecutive
time — and fifth since the tournament was founded in 1991 — that they
find themselves in the title game. Narrow victories over Spain, France and England secured passage.
The
United States is expected to win by multiple goals, thanks to
experience, depth and darn-good players. In their second World Cup, the
Dutch have a bright future but seem a little ahead of their time.
If
you’re looking for an early indicator, watch the clock. The Americans
have taken the lead within 12 minutes of every match here. A Dutch stand
would thicken the plot. Conversely, a quick U.S. goal could open the
floodgates.
The teams will perform before an expected sellout of more than 53,000 — many of whom traveled here from the United States.
Regardless
of the outcome, the match is a victory for one particular cause: Both
coaches are female, the first time that’s occurred since 2003.
“It’s
a wonderful statement,” U.S. boss Jill Ellis said on the eve of the
match. “There aren’t enough of us coaching in the game. We need more.
There are a lot of young women and former players who want to coach. To
see coaches doing it is really important.”
Postgame Reading
U.S. women’s national soccer team chases fourth World Cup title, and gender equality
Members of the U.S. women’s
national soccer team talk about their fight for gender equality ahead of
the Women’s World Cup in France.
(Breanna Muir/The Washington Post)
Interest
in the women’s soccer has spiked worldwide during this exceptionally
well played tournament, raising hopes that the sport can enter a new era
of corporate investors, media coverage and stable, successful
professional leagues. But it remains to be seen if the momentum is
sustainable. (Read more)
The
team is on the verge of a momentous achievement, defending its world
championship against stiffer competition while taking on off-field
causes such as gender equality and brushing off other distractions.
Sunday’s final against the Netherlands represents the last step. (Read more)
Four
summer ago, as the U.S. women’s national soccer team played Japan for
the World Cup trophy in Vancouver, Rose Lavelle was 140 miles south
eating pizza. Four years on, Lavelle is in position to help the United
States win another championship, as long as her troublesome hamstring
does not betray her. (Read more)
The
Americans have advanced to Sunday’s final because of depth and desire,
experience and expertise. They are also in this position for the third
straight time because Crystal Dunn, a natural attacker, has resisted
instinctual urges to race ahead and, instead, embraced a disciplined
role at left back. (Read more)
The
Dutch beat Sweden on Wednesday, but the United States will arrive at
Stade de Lyon as the heavy favorite to win a second consecutive trophy.
The Americans have beaten the Dutch six consecutive times by a 22-2
count, but the sides haven’t clashed since 2016. And in that space, the
Dutch won the 2017 European Championship and began placing more players
at notable clubs, such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Arsenal. (Read more)
A day after watching the Women’s World Cup semifinal from the sideline with a hamstring injury,
Megan Rapinoe stepped back into the spotlight Wednesday with an
impassioned defense of her comments and actions about politics and
patriotism. (Read more)
To
get past England — their final hurdle in earning a spot in Sunday’s
championship match — the top-ranked U.S. women had to tap every tactic
in their repertoire, summon the best from lightly tested players and,
yet again, draw on the stone-cold conviction that there was no situation
they couldn’t overcome. (Read more)
Think
about these amazing, defiant and relentless women as part of a
potentially watershed period for both their sport and gender, writes
columnist Jerry Brewer. Think of them drafting off the impact of #MeToo,
being further galvanized by the political threats against abortion
rights and Planned Parenthood and strengthening their determination over
time to put up an even greater fight against the attitudes, sexism and
unfair business practices of a male-dominated sports system. (Read more)
It’s
time to discard, finally, the nagging, jersey-tugging, chronic,
small-minded doctrine that we must “contextualize” everything the U.S.
women’s national team does as “relative” to the men’s game, writes
columnist Sally Jenkins. Sweet kicking Jesus, what titans these players
are. (Read more)
The
unparalleled investment into the Olympique Lyonnais superteam is
expected to have a profound impact on the future of women’s soccer in
the United States and around the world. In paying top dollar for top
talent and providing facilities and working conditions on par with what
men receive, the club has created a winning formula and established a
model for women’s professional soccer across Europe and the United
States. (Read more)
14 June 2019, Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis – Five netball teams from across the OECS will compete for the first Gloria Ballantyne Championship Trophy in the inaugural OECS/ECCB International Netball Series, which will be held in St Vincent and the Grenadines from June 15 – 21 .
The Eastern Caribbean Central
Bank (ECCB), in collaboration with the OECS Commission, the Caribbean Netball
Association and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association, will
host the OECS/ECCB International Netball Series under the theme: Excellence and Empowerment Through Sports. This Series replaces the OECS/ECCB Under-23
Netball tournament, which the ECCB sponsored from 1991-2018.
The ECCB’s sponsorship of the OECS/ECCB
International Netball Series demonstrates the Bank’s vision of fostering
regional integration and its commitment to the overall development and
empowerment of the region’s women through sports.
Governor of the ECCB, Timothy N. J. Antoine said: “The ECCB remains fully committed to
the development of our young women through the sport of netball. After 28 years
of sponsorship, our Bank is pleased to help take the sport to a higher level
through enhanced support for the launch of the International Netball Series.”
The OECS/ECCB International
Netball Series will provide the participating teams with the opportunity to
play international netball matches and gain world netball ranking. It will also
highlight elite netballers in the OECS on the international platform and
establish pathways for OECS netballers to enhance their competence in the
sport.
The Series will commence with the Official Opening Ceremony on 15 June, following which teams Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines will compete for netball supremacy at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex. The championship trophy is named in honour of Gloria Ballantyne of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who has been influential in regional netball for several decades.
The netballers will also participate in a developmental session on the theme: Charting a Course: A Financial Guide for Women. Villette Browne, Managing Director of the KP Group of companies in St Vincent and the Grenadines, will conduct the session. They will also have the opportunity to engage in discussion with the netball officials about the future of the sport in the region.
DRV Edwards, his official name as the headline of article below shows is another Montserrat icon who has left this live, making four such within the past year, three of whom were legislators
Another legend gone: Edwards’ death continues tough
year for Montserrat
D.R.V. “Frank” Edwards,
known mostly for his involvement in cricket and real estate, passed away
Friday, June 7, 2019.
For the third time in the past four
months, Montserrat is mourning the loss of a mega-figure. Franklyn Edwards, who
impacted real estate, sports, politics and several other areas on the island,
died Friday night in Florida after a long illness. He was 81 years old.
In early February, Montserrat lost
former scholar, musician and social engineer Dr. George Irish; two months
later, former government minister Margaret “Annie” Dyer-Howe passed away. News
of Edwards’ passing prompted an outpouring of condolences on social media, with
many people sharing stories of how Edwards mentored or assisted them.
Known for his quiet demeanor, strong
leadership skills and trademark bald look, Edwards made his biggest impact in
sports and real estate. After graduating from the Montserrat Secondary School
in the early 1950s, he began working for Montserrat Company, which held a
virtual monopoly in real estate and agriculture on the island. Montserrat
Company was started in 1857 by Joseph Sturge, patriarch of the powerful Sturge
family. The company was renamed Montserrat Real Estate Company (MORECO) in
1961.
During an interview in 2017, Edwards
spoke about how he once held the title of Comptroller (financial officer) and
later managing director. In the 1960s and ’70s, Montserrat underwent a
real-estate evolution that saw expansion of areas such as Richmond Hill, Foxes
Bay, Isles Bay and Old Towne. Edwards and MORECO were heavily involved in those
developments.
Edwards was also a standout
cricketer and cricket administrator. He played for Montserrat from the
mid-1950s to mid-1960s — usually as captain — when the team featured other
stars such as batsman Kingsley Rock and fast bowler George Edwards. A top-order
batsman and part-time bowler, Edwards also captained the Leeward Islands team
in 1955 and later played for Combined Islands, including a first-class match
against the touring India Test team in 1962 in St. Kitts.
“He was a person you can easily deal with. He never argued. I learned a lot from him. It was an honor to work with him.” –— Alfred Christopher, longtime friend and colleague of Franklyn Edwards
In the 1970s he became one of the
most powerful cricket administrators in the Caribbean. Already president of the
Montserrat Cricket Association, he was elected president of the Leeward Islands
Cricket Association, replacing Calvin Wilkin of St. Kitts. That post gave him a
crucial seat with the West Indies Cricket Board and heavy influence over player
selection. Edwards once spoke about how he had to navigate the fine line of
fielding the best Leeward Islands team possible but also lobby for Montserrat
cricketers. In February of 1973, Leeward Islands played a warm-up match against
the Australian Test team in Antigua. Four of the 11 Leewards players on that
squad were from Montserrat: Jim Allen, George Allen, Alford Corriette and
Vendol Moore.
Franklyn Edwards was born Daniel
Rudolph Valentine Edwards on September 12, 1937. He grew up in the heart of
Plymouth in Water Lane, an area nicknamed Boobie Alley. “Franklyn is my jumbie
name,” he said smiling during a 2017 interview when asked about his many names.
His father, Freddy Edwards, was a butcher. His mother Margaret, affectionately
known as “Nenen”, was a housewife.
In 1962, Edwards was a member of the
Montserrat Jaycees that organized the first official year-end festival. The
other members included Cedric Osborne, Bertrand Osborne, Kenneth Allen, Kenneth
Cassell and Sir Howard Fergus. Edwards later served as president of the
Jaycees. He was also known for his long association with the Endeavour Club and
its cricket team.
In 1964, Edwards married Eileen
Tonge. They had three daughters: Beverly, Sharon and Dawn. The couple would
have celebrated their 55th anniversary in July.
‘Franklyn’ DRV Edwards
Frank Edwards is pictured on September 27, 2012 at the Cultural Center in Montserrat during a tribute to retiring umpire Basil Morgan. Photo credit: The Montserrat Reporter
Alfred Christopher, who knew Edwards
since they were teenagers and worked alongside him while both were with the
Montserrat Jaycees, says Edwards was one of the greatest leaders he ever met.
“He was a person you can easily deal
with,” Christopher says. “He never argued. If he had something to tell you, he
would say it and that would be the end of it. I learned a lot from him. It was
an honor to work with him.”
In his later years Edwards ran a
successful real estate company and also served as chairman of Bank of
Montserrat. He also had a stint as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. On
March 16, 2016, Edwards was presented with the Order of Excellence medal during
the National Awards for his distinguished service and contribution to the
development of Montserrat.
“He was always a very unassuming,
quiet person,” said Cedric Osborne, who knew Edwards for more than 60 years and
served with him on the board of Montserrat Electricity Services (MONLEC) for
more than a decade. “We used to play a lot of tennis together. He was a
fantastic friend.”
Edwards is survived by his wife
Eileen, daughters Beverly, Sharon and Dawn, brother Arnold in Canada, and
several grand children.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jun 11, CMC – The Court of Appeal
Tuesday dismissed a judicial review by former international football
official, Austin Jack Warner, challenging his extradition to the United
States where he is wanted on charges of fraud arising out of a
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) bribery
scandal.
Warner, a former government minister, had earlier appealed the ruling
by High Court judge James Aboud, who had dismissed the claim for
judicial review.
Austin Jack Warner (File Photo)
Warner had challenged the process by which the extradition
proceedings against him were being carried out and sought to quash the
authority to proceed (ATP) which was signed in 2016 by Attorney General
Faris Al-Rawi.
The ATP gave the magistrate the green light to begin committal
proceedings. Warner also challenged the legality of the Extradition
(Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) Act, and the treaty signed
between this country and the US.
But in dismissing the latest claim, the three-member Appeals Court,
stayed the magisterial proceedings for 21 days pending an application by
Warner for permission to argue his case at the London-based Privy
Council, the country’s highest and final court.
In the 40-page written decision, the Court of Appeal comprising
Justices Gregory Smith, Prakash Moosai and Andre des Vignes said the
extradition treaty had not been shown to lack conformity with the Act
and there was no merit in Warner’s case that the US order which declared
that country as a declared foreign territory was not valid.
“Therefore, the pending extradition proceedings in respect of the
appellant before the magistrate are valid,” the Court of Appeal ruled,
adding that “there was no denial of justice in the issuance of the ATP
by the Attorney General”.
Warner, who is on TT$2.5 million (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) bail,
was indicted by US authorities over allegations of racketeering, wire
fraud and money-laundering conspiracies spanning 24 years.
Warner, who served as FIFA vice-president for several years, is
charged with 12 offences related to racketeering, corruption and money
laundering allegedly committed in the jurisdiction of the United States
and Trinidad and Tobago, dating as far back as 1990.
But Warner claims the case against him is politically motivated and
accuses the United States of seeking revenge because it lost to Qatar in
its bid to host the 2022 World Cup.”
He surrendered himself to police here on May 27, 2015, after learning of the provisional warrant.
Another freeze is on the way tonight, and with the potential for patchy fog developing, some light icing on roads will be possible. Take it slow if you have to be out and about early! We will climb above freezing by mid-morning again, but don't let your guard down before then.
Sean Dyche looks to recreate Everton’s 1980s spirit in battle against relegation https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/feb/03/sean-dyche-looks-to-recreate-evertons-1980s-spirit-in-battle-against-relegation?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1675464628
Chinese automobile technology has found its way in to the Americas, as their trolley buses can now be found in Mexico's capital city. Powered by overhead lines and running along fixed routes, these vehicles are clean, quiet and comfortable.
