10
Dimapur
SPORTS
Tuesday 1 July 2014
The Morung Express
Costa Rica beat Greece in shootout
RECIFE, JunE 30 (AP): With his team down to 10 men for nearly an hour, Keylor Navas made sure Costa Rica's last line of defense held firm. The goalkeeper came through with a string of stops in regulation and extra time and then made the only save in a penalty shootout to send Costa Rica through to the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday with a win over Greece. After Navas dived to his right to push out the effort by Theofanis Gekas, Costa Rica defender Michael Umana scored the decisive spot kick for a 5-3 win in the shootout, sending the team sprinting down the pitch to embrace its goalkeeper. The game had finished 1-1 following extra time, after Greece equalized in second-half injury time. "It was only a dream for us, a dream that became a reality," Navas said. "A dream that was dreamt by an entire country." Costa Rica will play one of the tournament favorites the Netherlands in the quarterfinals on Saturday in a surprising appearance in the last eight for the small country that has a quarter of the population of Brazil's biggest city and which hardly anyone picked to even make it past the group stage. "To the entire people in Costa Rica, those at home and out on the streets, this is for you," Costa Rica's Colombian coach Jorge Luis Pinto said. "This is a people that love
Costa Rica's goalkeeper Keylor Navas makes a save on Greece's Fanis Gekas penalty shot during a shootout after regulation time in the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Costa Rica and Greece at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Sunday, June 29. Costa Rica defeated Greece 5-3 in penalty shootouts after a 1-1 tie. (AP Photo)
football and they deserve it. ... We will continue fighting. We will go on. We see beautiful things." The victory also delighted the majority of the just over 41,000 fans in Recife as the Brazilian lo-
cals shouted for Costa Rica throughout the game and often broke out into chants of "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ticos!" — using the common nickname for Costa Ricans. Greece was often booed. Costa Rica went
ahead in the 52nd minute with a coolly taken goal by captain Bryan Ruiz, but the game changed when Oscar Duarte clumsily lunged at Greece's Jose Holebas in the 66th and was sent off with a second yellow
card. Pouring forward, the Greeks did beat Navas in injury time when defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos smashed in a rebound to make the team's numerical advantage eventually pay. Yet Navas kept denying the
Greeks through extra time and then, crucially, when he dived, threw up a hand and pushed Gekas' spotkick away at the end. "Obviously he has to be congratulated," Greece coach Fernando Santos
said of Costa Rica's 'keeper. "If it weren't for (him), the results would have been different." Santos was sent to the stands by Australian referee Ben Williams just before the penalties and said he watched the shoot-
out on a television inside the stadium. "Sadness," he said of Greece's elimination and his last game in charge of the team. "Definitely sadness. Not much (else) goes through your mind at that time." The red card for Duarte changed the game — which Costa Rica had slowly begun to control — and Greece surged forward for most of the remainder of the match. But, with the exception of Papastathopoulos' goal, they just couldn't get past Navas as shot after shot was blocked. Greece had 13 shots on target to Costa Rica's two. Navas smothered a volley from Dimitris Salpingidis from point-blank range in the first half. After the equalizer, he threw himself high to tip over a header from substitute Konstantinos Mitroglou that would have surely been the winner in the dying seconds of regulation time. He then made three crucial stops in extra time, when Costas Katsouranis, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos and Mitroglou were all denied. During the shootout, the Costa Rican squad knelt in a line. They then burst onto their feet to race over to Navas and smother him in a huddle when Umana's shot hit the net and Costa Rica made the last eight at the World Cup. "We will not stay on the quarterfinals," coach Pinto said. "Rest assured that we will not get eliminated there."
Uruguay President slams Chris Gayle rested, Pollard 28th Mkg District Badminton FIFA over Luis Suarez ban recalled to Twenty20 squad Open Championship concludes
London, JunE 30 (AgEnCIES): The Uruguayan President has branded FIFA "a bunch of old sons of bitches" in the latest outraged response in his country to the ban imposed on Luis Suarez for biting. Jose Mujica, a wellloved figure in Uruguayan politics, waded into the debate after Suarez was suspended by FIFA from all football-related activity for four months following his bite on Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 World Cup group win over Italy last week. With Suarez already back home in Uruguay, his side were eliminated from the tournament by a 2-0 defeat to Colombia in the last 16 on Saturday. At the reception to mark the rest of the squad's return to their home country Mujica, popular due to his humble lifestyle, was asked by a reporter for his thoughts on football's world governing body. Video of the incident shows Mujica saying "FIFA are just a bunch of old sons of bitches", before putting his hand over his mouth pretending to be shocked at what he said. When the journal-
ist asks if he can publish the quotes Mujica, 79, replies: "Yes, publish." Later in the short video he returns to add: "They could have punished [Suarez], but not given him this fascist ban." The ban has sparked anger among the Suarez's fellow countrymen, with Uruguay head coach Oscar Tabarez resigning from his FIFA role in protest and newspapers accusing Italy and England of "crucifying" the striker. Suarez, who has twice been banned for similar biting incidents, claimed in a defence to FIFA that the incident has been completely misunderstood - maintaining implausibly that he simply lost his balance and accidentally collided with Chiellini's shoulder. The ban means Liverpool forward Suarez will miss at least 12 games of the domestic season and the club are understood to be considering legal action against FIFA. But while Liverpool are yet to make a formal comment on Suarez's future, former director of football Damien Comolli has joined the chorus of support for the striker.
BRIdgEtown, JunE 30 (IAnS): Flamboyant opener Chris Gayle has been rested and Kieron Pollard is back in the West Indies Twenty20 squad for the two-match series against New Zealand next weekend in Dominica. The 34-year-old Gayle has struggled with injury in recent months but still managed to score two halfcenturies in the ongoing three-match Test series, reports CMC. He sought medical treatment in Germany prior to the current series but has not yet returned to full fitness. In his absence, West Indies will have Kieron Pollard who is now set for his first taste of international cricket in nearly a year. Pollard, too, has been plagued by injury and only returned to action in the domestic tournament for Trinidad and Tobago in
April this year, before turning out for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, the West Indies will have to do without all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, the one-day captain, who is yet to recover from the injury that made him unavailable for selection for the current Test series. He injured his shoulder during the IPL and was limited to just one game but then picked up a hamstring injury which is yet to heal. Stylish left-hander Darren Bravo and all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, neither of whom have played T20s for West Indies in over a year, have both been recalled to the squad. There is no room, however, for batsmen Marlon Samuels and Johnson Charles, and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, all of whom were part of the West In-
dies failed campaign in the Twenty20 World Cup in Bangladesh this year. Samuels managed just 86 runs in five innings during the tournament and was subsequently dropped from the Test squad after a poor first Test against New Zealand at Sabina Park three weeks ago. Darren Sammy, axed as Test captain ahead of the New Zealand series, returns to take charge of the unit. Both T20s will be played at Windsor Park on July 5thAand 6th.
MoKoKCHung, JunE 30 (dIPR): The 28th Mokokchung District Badminton Open Championship cum selection was held on June 27 and 28 at the Mokokchung Multi-Sports Complex. SP Mokokchung, Vikram Khalate, speaking at the closing ceremony, encouraged youngsters to devote their time dedicating their life by avoiding all undesirable habits. Lipok Jamir, Convenor, Organizing Committee MDBA pronounced the selected names for the forthcoming Inter District Tournament. The programme ended with a word of thanks by Yanger Pongen, EE PHED.
The squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Christopher Barnwell, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith.
1. Under 13 Boys Singles:Champion - Imlimanen Runners Up - Kilangkumba
Runners Up - Imnasunep
4. Under 13 Girls Singles:Champion - Imnuksungla Runners Up - Ankita 5. Under 13 Girls Doubles:Champion - Ankita & Imnuksungla Runners Up - Jentirenla & Limatula 6. Under 17 Girls Singles:Champion - Mapulila Runners Up - Watinaro 7. Under 17 Boys Singles:Champion - Nehal Rai Runners Up - Temjentoshi 8. Under 17 Boys Doubles:Champion - Nehal Rai & Imnaakum Runners Up - Tiayanger & Imnasunep 9. Men’s Doubles:Champion - Imnayanger & Impoti Runners Up - Chubamongba & Imliakum.
2. Under 13 Boys Doubles:Champion - Imlimanen & Kilang- 10. Sub-Veteran:kumba Champion - Sashiwapang & Chuba Lkr Runners Up - Imtitong & Tongpang- Runners Up - Sendongyanger & Imkongyapang. nungba 11. Most Promising Player:3. Under 15 Boys Singles:Girls - Limatula Champion - Tiayanger Boys - Limasunep
Justin Rose wins US PGA National White, rich fill Brazil WCup stadiums
BEtHESdA, JunE 30 (AFP): Britain's Justin Rose won for the first time since capturing last year's US Open, parring the first playoff hole to defeat Shawn Stefani and capture the $6.5 million US PGA National. The 33-year-old Englishman and American Stefani, seeking his first PGA triumph, finished 72 holes level atop the leaderboard on four-under par 280 after both fired one-under 70s on Sunday. Rose hit into the trees and the water at the last regulation hole but sank a 15-foot bogey putt to stay tied for the lead, then watched Stefani find the same watery fate at 18 on the first playoff hole. A Congressional Country Club layout that hosted three US Opens, most recently when Rory McIlroy won in soggy conditions in 2011, played hard and fast and as formidable as many majors in the final round. "I think Congressional wanted its reputation back," Rose said. "It tested all of us getting to fourunder par to win this tournament." In the playoff, Stefani pulled his tee shot left into trees while Rose smacked his in the fairway. Justin Rose, of England, second from right, poses with his family and the winning trophy after Stefani took relief from he won the Quicken Loans National golf tournament on June 29, in Bethesda, Md. Also seen a temporary immovable are his wife Kate, top left, daughter Charlotte, bottom left, and son Leo, at right. (AP Photo)
obstruction, a grandstand, and moved the ball back inside the trees, but then sent his approach into the same water left of the green that Rose had found earlier. With a second chance, Rose put his approach on the green and two-putted for par and the victory. Rose took a $1.1 million winner's prize and will take a week off before playing the Scottish Open as his final warm-up for the 143rd British Open at Royal Liverpool starting July 17. Rose won his first major title last year at Merion and on Sunday won his sixth US title, including the 2010 National when it was played at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia. Congressional rewarded Rose's consistency and swatted aside third-round leader Patrick Reed, who shot 77 and lost for the first time when leading after 54 holes. Reed, who was seeking his fourth PGA title in 10 months, led by two strokes when the day began and the 23-year-old American went on a roller coaster run that still saw him two ahead to open the back nine.Rose, meanwhile, took a bogey at the third, but answered with birdies at the par-5 sixth and ninth holes.
RIo dE JAnEIRo, JunE 30 (AP): A poll published Sunday on the wealth and race of fans who attended a World Cup match in Brazil illustrated what any TV viewer in the nation has seen: Those attending games are overwhelmingly white and rich. That's particularly striking in Brazil, with its highly mixed population that has more blacks than any country with the exception of Nigeria. More than half of Brazil's population self-identified themselves as black or of mixed-race in the 2010 census. A Datafolha polling group survey published in the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper showed that at Saturday's Brazil versus Chile match, 67 percent of attendees classified themselves as white and 90 percent came from Brazil's top two economic classes, which represent about 15 percent of the country's population. Similar trends have been seen at other Cup matches, though no polls were carried out previously. The Datafolha poll was based on interviews with 693 fans at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte and had a statistical margin of error of 4 percentage points. "Sure, there are only whites
in the stadium. It comes down to money," said Ana Beatriz Ferreira, a 27-yearold parking attendant in Rio de Janeiro, who is black. "Nobody I know could find affordable tickets." That's become a common refrain in Brazil — where the billions spent to build new or upgrade existing football stadiums both raised public ire about how the money was spent and has already caused ticket prices for Brazilian national soccer league matches to rise sharply. Some fans complain that's turned what were once affordable, raucous stadium experiences in Brazil into more costly and less spontaneous visits to storied stadiums like Rio's Maracana. Ferreira added that while the entire Brazilian population has suffered during preparations for the World Cup, mostly because of big construction projects that have snarled traffic and extended already long commutes for the poor who live on the outskirts of cities, she feels like only the rich are reaping the benefits of the real World Cup experience. "All I got was an extra hour on the bus to work, but I can't get a seat at the stadium," she said as she directed cars toward a mall's parking garage in Rio's
wealthy southern zone. Face-value prices for the Brazil versus Chile match officially ranged from $200 to $25 for Brazilians, the cheapest tickets making up roughly 5 percent of those sold. They were only available for students, senior citizens or poor people who participate in a government welfare program. The prices are tough for ordinary Brazilians to afford. The minimum wage in the country is $330 a month, just about what Ferreira said she earns. In an emailed statement, FIFA said that during group stage matches, it sold a total of 143,364 of the cheapest tickets, which amounted to roughly 3,000 such tickets available per match. Those quickly sold out, locking out the vast majority of fans in soccer-mad Brazil. Marcos Carvalho, an 18-year-old Brazilian fan who was hanging out near the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia before Brazil played Cameroon earlier this week, said that he "didn't even try getting tickets, they were too expensive." "There was no way we could afford them," he said. "We'll just watch the match at home, it's all we can do. We are seeing everyone going to the stadium, everyone happy, but we won't be going."