SPORTS
July 1, 2019
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 7
Thailand scores first World Cup goal in loss to Sweden
GOAL GRATITUDE. Thailand’s Kanjana Sungngoen (#21, left)
celebrates after scoring her side’s first goal during the Women’s World
Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Thailand at Stade de
Nice in Nice, France. “Everyone was very happy that we at least scored
one,” Kanjana said through a translator. “The whole team is very glad.”
(AP Photo/Claude Paris)
By Rob Harris
The Associated Press
ICE, France — A couple of seconds elapsed before
a disbelieving Kanjana Sungngoen raised her
arms in celebration.
It really happened.
Thailand had finally scored at the Women’s World Cup.
By the time Sungngoen found the net against Sweden in
the first minute of stoppage time, Thailand was already
trailing 0-4.
But simply scoring was a triumph after Thailand’s
humiliating 0-13 opening loss to the United States.
Coaches embraced on the bench and Thai flags were
raised in the stands on the French Riviera.
They were still beaming after the final whistle, even
after Elin Rubensson scored with the final kick of the
game from the penalty spot to seal a 5-1 victory for
Sweden, which advanced to the Round of 16 with a game
to spare.
“Everyone was very happy that we at least scored one,”
Kanjana said through a translator. “The whole team is
very glad.”
Even if it was only a consolation goal and the team
remained at the bottom of Group F.
“It was a difficult goal and playing a great team like
Sweden, it meant so much,” Thailand coach Nuengrutai
Srathongvian said through a translator. “It meant that all
of our preparation paid off. We had a lot of chances today.
This one goal made us laugh, made us smile, and makes us
happy.”
Even Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, through the
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disappointment of not keeping a clean sheet, could see
what scoring meant to the Thais.
“We are all human,” Lindahl said, “and having had that
defeat they had against the U.S., and now scoring their
goal, you can feel some empathy for them.”
It helped that her teammates had already scored four
times by the time Sungngoen got on the end of a high ball
on the right flank and cut in before beating Lindahl at her
near post.
The first of the five Swedish scorers netted in the sixth
minute in Nice, with Linda Sembrant heading past
Waraporn Boonsing.
The Thai goalkeeper did manage to palm away Anna
Anvegard’s shot in the 19th minute but she couldn’t
recover the ball to prevent Kosovare Asllani scoring.
Boonsing couldn’t stop the 41st-minute strike from
Fridolina Rolfö curling into the top corner.
Just like in the game against the United States, it was
0-3 at halftime. Unlike in Paris, Thailand didn’t concede
another four times in the opening 11 minutes of the second
half.
In fact, it took Sweden until the 81st minute to find the
net again through Lina Hurtig’s header before being
beaten by Thailand on the counterattack.
So when the final whistle blew, the Thai squad was able
to bow to its fans. Some pride had been restored.
“Our defeat in the [U.S.] game was massive,”
Srathongvian said. “We were disappointed, but scoring
one today we made some success. We still need to develop
and we need to improve and make it better. We need to get
as close to other super teams. We need to play better so we
can enjoy it more.”
Japan out of Women’s World Cup after stoppage-time PK
By Rob Harris
France 2019
The Associated Press
ENNES, France — Tears were still flowing from Saki
Kumagai’s eyes more than 30 minutes later.
With victorious Dutch rivals passing her on the way out
of the stadium, Japan’s captain seemed to find solace in speaking
about the penalty long after it cost her team a place in the
quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup.
With the game entering the 90th minute locked at 1-1,
Kumagai’s outstretched left arm blocked the shot Vivianne
Miedema had aimed into the right side of the net.
“It hit my hand for sure,” Kumagai said. “It’s difficult to accept,
but it’s also sad. I know that is football.”
Referee Melissa Borjas pointed to the penalty spot and Lieke
Martens netted her second goal of the game in the 90th minute to
seal a 2-1 victory that sent the Netherlands into the quarterfinals
for the first time.
“We have made history,” Martens said. “I’m not usually taking
the penalties but I felt really good this game. I asked Sherida
Spitse if I could take it and she gave it directly to me and I felt
quite relaxed about it.”
It was journey’s end for Japan, which won the 2011 tournament
and was the runner-up four years later.
The strength of the second-half display counted for nothing.
As befitting a meeting of the Asian and European champions,
the game produced some of the slickest action of the World Cup. A
backheel flick set up Martens to send the Dutch in front in the
17th minute and Yui Hasegawa equalized in the 43rd to complete
a slick passing move.
But the post, crossbar, and goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal
thwarted Japan’s pursuit of a winning goal.
“I think we lacked the clinical edge,” Japan coach Asako
Takakura said. “We have to accept the result, we’re defeated,
we’re very disappointed and for all the players I feel very sorry for
them and frustrated.”
With the last Asian team eliminated, the Women’s World Cup
had a record seven European teams in the quarterfinals.
Martens flicked in the opener after evading her marker to meet
Knockout rounds:
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Round of 16
June 22
Germany 3, Nigeria 0
Norway 1, Australia 1
(Norway win on PKs, 4-1)
June 23
England 3, Cameroon 0
France 2, Brazil 1
(France win after extra time)
June 24
DRAMATIC DEFEAT. Japan’s Saki Kumagai kicks the ball away from
Vivianne Miedema of the Netherlands during the Women’s World Cup Round of
16 soccer match at Roazhon Park in Rennes, France. The Netherlands defeated
Japan, 2-1. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
a corner and send the ball through the legs of Yuika Sugasawa
into the net.
Sugasawa had a quick chance to tie, only to hit the post. But
Japan did equalize by completing an intricate move.
Hina Sugita squared across the penalty area to Yuika
Sugasawa, who passed back to Mana Iwabuchi on the edge of the
penalty area. After holding off Jackie Groenen on the turn,
Iwabuchi slipped the ball through to Hasegawa, who was free to
delicately dink a shot over Van Veenendaal into the corner of the
net.
It was some way to make the most of a first shot on target for a
team that failed to score in two of its three group stage games.
Van Veenendaal came to the rescue of the Dutch in the second
half by denying Emi Nakajima as Japan chased the winner.
“Japan is a world class team and you saw that today,” Miedema
said. “In the second half you can see they have loads of quality on
the pitch.”
Australia eliminated in penalty-kick shootout
By Daniella Matar
The Associated Press
ICE, France — Goalkeeper Ingrid
Hjelmseth proved to be a shootout
hero once again as Norway beat
Australia on penalties to advance to the
quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup.
Hjelmseth saved Emily Gielnik’s kick
and Ingrid Engen, who is playing in her
first World Cup, hit the decisive penalty as
Norway won the shootout 4-1 after the
match finished in a 1-1 draw.
Australia captain Sam Kerr, who was
frustrated by Norway most of the night
despite several opportunities, fired her
penalty shot high and wide.
“It was a great win,” Hjelmseth said. “I
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Women’s World Cup
was just focusing and picking a side when
they put the ball down. I was just telling
myself, ‘OK, I will go to the right,’ and then
I took a chance and it was good for us, it
was the right side.”
Hjelmseth saved two penalties in her
last shootout — the semifinal of the 2013
European Championship.
“That was a good one,” she said. “I think
when you’re a goalie you can only be a hero
so it’s just about picking a side and just
finding the right timing to go so you don’t
get the VAR [Video Assistant Referee]
stuff.”
The shootout came after a game during
which neither team had a clear advantage,
though Norway succeeded in keeping
Australia’s Kerr from being much of a
factor. Kerr had a goal ruled out in the
second half after offside was called.
Australia also had two penalties denied on
video review in normal time.
The game went to extra time after
Australia’s Elise Kellond-Knight scored
from a corner to make it a 1-1 game in the
83rd minute.
Forward Isabell Herlovsen put Norway
up 1-0 with a goal in the 31st.
Australia had to play the final 16
minutes of extra time at a numerical
disadvantage after defender Alanna
Kennedy was sent off on a red card for
hauling down Norway forward Lisa-Marie
Utland. Norway peppered Australia’s goal
but was repeatedly denied by goalkeeper
Continued on page 9
Spain 1, USA 2
Sweden 1, Canada 0
June 25
Italy 2, China PR 0
Netherlands 2, Japan 1
***
Quarterfinals
June 27
Norway 0, England 3
June 28
France 1, USA 2
June 29
Italy 0, Netherlands 2
Germany 1, Sweden 2
***
Semifinals
July 2, noon
England vs. USA
July 3, noon
Netherlands vs. Sweden
***
Third place
July 6, 8:00am
***
Championship
July 7, 8:00am