Connect with us

Sports

Korea Rep Hit Four Goals Past Ghana

Published

on

Korea Republic grabbed another three points in an enthralling struggle between two skilful, spirited sides in Dresden and booked their place in the quarter-finals. For Ghana, who twice had the lead before succumbing to a 4-2 defeat, the situation is more complicated as they have only a single point to show from their two games in Group D.

Ghana led 2-1 early in the second half but allowed their opponents to score three times in the final 28 minutes with the fourth coming from Ji So-Yun, her second of the game adding to the hat-trick she scored in the 4-0 win over Switzerland on Wednesday.

Early on Ghana succeeded in keeping the talented Ji quiet, one, two and even three defenders quick to close her down. However she did manage to evade her markers in the 7th minute as she got on the end of Kim Jin-Young’s cross but in came Juliet Acheampong with a great block.

The game really got going in the 26th minute when Kim Hye-Ri and then Ji had a sight of goal but finished too high. However it was the African team who then went away and scored, a neat pass from Mercy Myles putting Deborah Afriyie in position to the left of goal and she managed to loft a shot out of the reach of Moon So-Ri.

In the 41st minute it was back level pegging again as Kim’s inswinging free-kick saw Ji get the slightest touch on it to score. In added time Elizabeth Cudjoe struck the post for Ghana with a low shot.

Korea found it easier to create opportunities in the second half. There were two good openings for Lee Hyun Young at the far post during the second period which she snatched at and they looked to be costly misses when in the 56th minute Ghana went ahead again when Cudjoe scored from a loose ball.

The lead lasted just six minutes and this time an outstanding free-kick from Kim brought the scores level again. It gave Korea Republic a surge of belief and they went on to score two more to finish well in front.

In the 70th minute good combination work from Ji and Jung Hae-In put in Kim Jin-Young who stabbed the ball home. Madson and Afriye came close in the same move and then with three minutes remaining Ji popped up to score with a precise header to make the game safe for Choi In Cheul’s side.

Continue Reading

Sports

Rivers-born Chess Player Clinches Third Position At World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship 

Published

on

A veteran Rivers State chess player, Apollos Akomaka, has finished in joint 3rd place at the just-concluded World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship held in Abuja.
Akomaka, who is the director of physiotherapy at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, overcame a shaky start to secure a podium finish in the 11-round rapid event that began on August 2.
The tournament featured top chess players from several countries.
After losing his opening game, the defining moment for Akomaka came between Rounds 7 and 11.
He raised his game and began defeating some of the top-ranked players in the event.
The Rivers-born player ended the championship tied for 3rd place in the U2000 category with 6.5 points out of 11, alongside Cameroon’s national champion, Noumbo Vidal.
His final game was against Vidal, with the Nigerian playing the black pieces.
Vidal opened with a queen’s gambit but quickly transposed into an English opening with a double fianchetto attack.
Akomaka responded sharply with a king’s Indian defense and soon launched a kingside attack from a defensive position.
The pressure paid off, resulting in an immediate material gain, a knight for a rook, and leaving Akomaka with a strong attacking advantage.
Vidal fought hard to avoid mate and managed to steer the game into an endgame, where he found some respect. At that point, the Cameroon champion offered a draw, which Akomaka accepted.
Speaking after the event, Akomaka said that he is resilient and determined after the poor start but happy that he finished on the podium.
He expressed optimism that in subsequent competitions he will make Rivers State proud and Nigeria at large.
Akomaka has won both local and national chess championships in recent times.
He is passionate about chess; besides, he has equally sponsored several national chess tournaments in Nigeria.
The World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship concluded with Akomaka of Rivers State,
Nigeria, battling back from an early loss to end among the top three in his category
Tonye Orabere/Kiadum Edookor
Continue Reading

Sports

Team Nigeria Secures Women’s 4x100m, 4x400m Finals at World U20 Championships

Published

on

Team Nigeria continued its impressive showing at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, securing places in both the women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay finals after strong performances in the heats.
The Nigerian quartet of Becky Ebiyadi, Jecinta Lawrence, Tejiri Praise Ugoh and Faith Ezechukwu booked their place in the women’s 4x400m final after clocking a season’s best of 3:35.28.
Nigeria finished third in the heat behind Italy and Great Britain, doing enough to advance to the final and remain firmly in contention for a medal.
In the women’s 4x100m, Ugoh joined Lucy Nwankwo, Chigozie Nwankwo and Oluebube Ezechukwu as Nigeria produced another season’s best, clocking 43.65 seconds to secure an automatic ticket to the women’s 4x100m final.
The qualification was sealed by a sensational anchor leg from Ezechukwu. Receiving the baton nearly 20 metres behind the United States, the Nigerian launched a determined charge down the home straight, rapidly closing the gap before edging the Americans at the line to claim the third automatic qualifying position.
Nigeria stopped the clock at 43.65 seconds, just 0.02 seconds ahead of the United States, who finished in 43.67 seconds.
The performances mean Nigeria will now contest both women’s relay finals, further strengthening the country’s medal prospects at the championships.
In Saturday’s evening phase of the event, Success Uyibo will compete in the 200m women’s final while the 4x100m compete in the women’s final.
Continue Reading

Sports

Poor welfare forced me to dump Delta for Enugu, says world – Nwachukwu

Published

on

World Record holder and Commonwealth Games champion, Goodness Nwachukwu, has revealed why she dumped Delta State for Enugu State.

The sudden departure of Nwachukwu, a multiple gold medallist, from Team Delta to the Coal City, Enugu , sparked controversy within the sports family, with officials of Delta State Sports Commission accusing the president of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, of manipulating the system for the athlete to dump the state.

But Nwachukwu, who broke the World Record to win a gold medal for Team Nigeria in the Women’s Discus F42 event at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has cleared the air on the circumstances that led to her movement to Enugu State.

Speaking with The Tidesports source report, shortly after winning the gold medal, Nwachukwu said: “It is not true that anybody aided my movement from Delta State to Enugu. Rather, it was Delta State that forced me to leave because of poor remuneration.

 

Continue Reading

Trending