Netherlands ends Africa’s run; US faces Sweden test

SYDNEY—The Netherlands secured a spot in the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals by ending South Africa’s historic run with a 2-0 win in Sydney on Sunday, ahead of a blockbuster last-16 showdown between holders the United States and Sweden.

Cray boosts stock for world tourney

FIL-AMERICAN sprinter Eric Cray could join the country’s top pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

The 34-year-old Cray is now no. 49 in the World Athletics rankings after joining the Ed Murphy Classic over the weekend at the Wolfe Track and Field Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

Cray finished 5th with a clocking of 50.24 seconds in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, thereby boosting his ranking points.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary-general Edward Kho said Cray can join the world meet once he breaches the top 40 rankings.

Cray has been earning points since joining the Asian Championships in Bangkok, the #True Athletes Classic in Leverkeusen.

Obiena, who has dropped to world no. 3 this week, is already a sure entry in the world meet.

Christopher Nilsen of the United States has returned to the no. 2 spot after performing his best jump of the season two weeks ago.

That was when Nilsen beat world Obiena and Armand “Mondo” Duplantis in the Monaco Diamond League. Peter Atencio

The Dutch, runners-up in 2019, will now face Spain in the last eight but they suffered some anxious moments in front of 40,000 fans in Sydney and had goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to thank for making several important saves in the first half.

Jill Roord scored after nine minutes to put the Dutch on their way against a team that sits 45 places below them in the world rankings and was featuring in the knockout rounds for the first time.

South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart then made a mess of an innocuous Lineth Beerensteyn shot midway through the second half to gift the Dutch a second.

The African champions will be kicking themselves after having numerous chances in the opening 45 minutes, almost all of them falling to their livewire captain Thembi Kgatlana.

Midfielder Roord nodded in the opener from close range following a corner for her fourth goal of the tournament.

The Netherlands then stood firm before adding their second goal on 68 minutes when Swart’s blunder let Beerensteyn’s tame effort slip through her hands.

“Daphne saved us a few times and I was happy to lead 1-0 at half-time,” said Dutch coach Andries Jonker.

“We did much better in the second half and had much more control of the game.

“We deserved to score again and in the end deserved to win.”

His team will now return to New Zealand for Friday’s lasteight game in Wellington against Spain, who outclassed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday.

South Africa coach Desiree Ellis was proud but felt her side should have won.

“We had a lot of chances, especially in the first half, to kill off the game,” she said.

“The chances we created should have put us out of sight.”

The USA go into their meeting with Sweden in Melbourne, which kicks off at 0900 GMT, looking to improve on some lacklustre performances in the group stage as they chase an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title. AFP