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FOXBORO, JULY 6: China had just won 5-0, matching the biggest margin of defeat ever for the Norwegian women's soccer team. Could the Chinese possibly play better than they did in Sunday's women's World Cup semifinal?
``Very possible,'' China coach Ma Yuanen said.
The Chinese and the Americans will find out on Saturday when they meet for the World Cup title at The Rose Bowl.
Two goals in the first 14 minutes on Sunday gave China control. And Norway didn't manage a shot for the entire first half. Then the Chinese put three shots in the first 27 minutes of the second half past goalkeeper Bente Nordby, who allowed just three goals in Norway's previous four games.
The Chinese coach, though, wasn't satisfied. ``After we led 2-0, some of the team members were making constant errors,'' Ma said. China, though, was still impressive enough to earn the nod from Norwegian coach Per-Mathias Hogmo. ``China have already beat USA twice, so I think they will be favourite in the final.''
Tie ousts Bolivia,Japan
PEDRO JUAN CABALLERO: Bolivia were knocked out of the Copa America yesterday after being held to a 1-1 draw by Japan, who picked up their only point of the competition and were also eliminated.
Bolivia, who would have advanced with a win, were leading 1-0 until the 73rd minute when Brazilian Wagner Lopes equalised from the penalty spot following a foul on Shoji Jo by Luis Cristaldo.
Erwin Sanchez had opened the scoring for Bolivia, who played the entire second half with 10 men after defender Oscar Sanchez was sent off for a wild, two-footed tackle on Toshiya Fujita in the 44th minute.
Sanchez scored in the 53rd minute from a powerful kick from the edge of the area, which flew past the Japanese wall and into the corner of the goal.
Asia's gain, Europe's loss?
LOS ANGELES: Asia will get its half berth in the 2002 World Cup finals, and at Europe's expense, according to a member of FIFA's executive committee.
A deal has been reached to give Asia a chance to play for a fifthberth in the 32-team finals, with an expected two-leg playoff against the last-placed European team.
The deal removes the threat of a strike by the Asian Football Confederation to withdraw from qualifying if its demand for an additional team in the final was not met.
``It has been decided that Europe and Asia will play for half a place,'' Jack Warner, president of CONCACAF, said yesterday. FIFA president (Sepp Blatter) met with (UEFA President Len Nart) Johansson. It is the best way for these things to be decided, to avoid contentious debate.''
Blatter and Johansson, following the first of two meetings of the executive committee late last night, both denied a decision has been reached.
FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen also denied a decision has been made, and said the matter still had to be discussed by the full executive committee today.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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