Sports
2014 AWC: Nigeria, Cameroon In Crunch Finals ’Morrow
Cameroon will meet Nige
ria in tomorrow’s final of the African Women’s Championship after both teams won their semi-finals by a 2-1 scoreline.
It also means the pair have qualified for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Nigeria overcame South Africa in Wednesday’s earlier kick-off, with a first-half brace from Asisat Oshoala setting them on their way to victory.
Jane Refiloe reduced the deficit for the South Africans but the Super Falcons held on.
In the other semi-final, Cameroon needed extra-time to beat Ivory Coast and reach the final for the first time.
Captain Christine Manie hit the winner in the 118th minute, heading in from a corner.
Only twice since the first African Women’s Championship in 1991 have Nigeria failed to win the trophy. Equatorial Guinea are the only other winners – in 2008 and 2012
Gaelle Enganamouit had opened the scoring for Cameron on 60 minutes, only for Ines Tia to equalise from close range.
Cameroon’s success in reaching the Women’s World Cup for the first time can transform the game in the country, according to their coach.
Enoh Ngatchu told Tidesports source: “We have more girls playing soccer, we are better organised – with this qualification, many things will change.”
He said he hoped members of his squad would benefit financially from their success so far – with professional contracts potentially on offer to some of his stars.
“Nobody expected us to reach this level,” he added. And it is clear he believes the Super Falcons of Nigeria are the favourites for Saturday’s showpiece, even though Cameroon’s record in the women’s game is a strong one.
“They’re still the best – but we’ll do everything possible to make the game difficult [for them] and grab the trophy,” he declared.
For eight-time champions Nigeria, winning back the trophy is only part of the challenge.
They want to translate continental dominance into success on the global stage – and in young striker Oshoala they may have the talent to do just that.
She was the top scorer in the recent U20 Women’s World Cup, in which Nigeria were beaten finalists – and has been in good form at this tournament in Namibia.
“I was at the Nations Cup two years ago in Guinea – but I didn’t play,” she told the BBC.
“[The U20 World Cup] has really upped my game – I was able to try one or two things and it came out fine, so I’m very happy.”
With Africa having three places at the senior Women’s World Cup next year, South Africa and Ivory Coast, the beaten semi-finalists here, still have a chance of making it with victory in the third-place match.
Sports
Galaxy Win Sixth MLS Title
LA Galaxy won a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title as they beat New York Red Bulls to delight a home crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The MLS Cup is the showpiece match at the end of the US season, pitching the champions of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference finals together.
This was the first MLS Cup between two sides from the largest cities in the United States, Los Angeles and New York, and it produced a hectic opening with all three goals scored in the first half-hour.
Red Bulls were the lowest seed to ever reach the final after finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and their underdog status initially showed as Galaxy dominated the 29th MLS Cup early on.
Galaxy led after nine minutes when Joseph Paintsil squeezed his shot under goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, and it was 2-0 soon after as Dejan Joveljic ran through the Red Bulls defence and finished with the outside of his boot.
Both men celebrated by holding up the shirt of team-mate Riqui Puig, the former Barcelona player who ruptured his ACL in the Western Conference Final which Galaxy won to reach this championship game.
Galaxy threatened to overwhelm their opponents as Sean Nealis headed a free-kick against his own crossbar.
But Red Bulls centre-back Nealis pulled his team back into the game after 28 minutes when he chested down and volleyed in from 15 yards when Galaxy players failed to clear a corner.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the second half: Galaxy right-back Miki Yamane struck the outside of the post, before Emil Forsberg curled an effort off the upright for Red Bulls.
But Galaxy, who had home advantage because of their better record in the regular season, held on to win their first MLS Cup since 2014.
Red Bulls remain without an MLS Cup title in their history after losing on what was their second appearance in the championship game.
Sports
Bayern Extend Bundesliga Lead To Six Points
Bayern Munich continued their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season with a 4-2 win against Heidenheim.
A double from Jamal Musiala and goals from Dayot Upamecano and Leon Goretzka saw Bayern extend their lead at the top of the table to six points as closest challengers Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a 2-2 draw by Augsburg.
Vincent Kompany was without the injured Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, Mathys Tel and Serge Gnabry, with Musiala starting on the bench.
Leroy Sane spurned two excellent early chances from close range before Upamecano headed the hosts in front from a Joshua Kimmich corner.
Bayern enjoyed 86% possession and completed 10 times as many passes (503) as the visitors (51) in the first half, yet Alphonso Davies hit the post with the only other clear chance created.
To their credit, Heidenheim didn’t wilt and drew level when Mathias Honsak rounded stand-in Bayern goalkeeper Daniel Peretz after Upamecano under-hit a backpass.
Kompany immediately introduced Musiala from the bench and was rewarded five minutes later when the 21-year-old drove into the box and beat Kevin Muller with a low strike.
Bayern looked to have secured the three points when Goretzka’s shot deflected past Muller, but the visitors halved the deficit almost immediately through a Niklas Dorsch tap-in.
Any nerves soon dissipated when Musiala ran half the length of the pitch unchallenged to slot home the fourth and final goal.
Bayern will face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League tomorrow before returning to domestic duty away against Mainz on Saturday.
Sports
La Liga: Barca Stumble Again
Robert Lewandowski continued his superb start to the season but could not prevent Barcelona dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Real Betis.
Lewandowski scored his 16th goal of the league campaign before Ferran Torres cancelled out Giovani Lo Celso’s penalty – but Assane Diao snatched a point for Betis with a late equaliser.
Real Betis could have easily scored twice in the opening three minutes but Raphina cleared Diego Llorente’s header off the goalline before Abde Ezzalzouli – formerly of Barcelona – saw his one-on-one effort saved by Inaki Pena.
Lamine Yamal wasted a good chance to break the deadlock from close range but team-mate Lewandowski made no such mistake.
The Poland international converted Jules Kounde’s cross from close range to finish a fine team move and score for the 23rd time in 21 games in all competitions.
Betis emerged from half-time with renewed energy but spurned three more clear chances.
Sergi Altimira and Lo Celso sent headers wide of Pena’s post before the Barcelona goalkeeper was called upon to tip Chimy Avila’s snap-shot wide.
Betis finally got their just reward when Lo Celso converted from the penalty spot after Barca substitute Frenkie de Jong felled Vitor Roque – on-loan from the Catalans – as he raced into the area.
Barca pushed for a winner and found it when substitute Torres beat the offside trap to latch on to Yamal’s reverse pass and finish past Fran Vieites.
It looked like Barca would see out the win, but in the fourth minute of injury-time 19-year-old substitute Diao swept home to rescue a point for the hosts.
The draw sees Barca surrender control in the title race. Flick’s side are five points ahead of closest challengers Real Madrid but Los Blancos have played two games fewer.
Barca will be in Champions League action against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday (20:00 GMT kick-off) before facing Leganes in La Liga on Sunday, 15 December.
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