Netherlands reach first World Cup final

LYON: A long-range strike from Jackie Groenen sent European Champions the Netherlands into their first women’s World Cup final as they edged Sweden 1-0 after extra time in their last-four clash on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old midfielder scored in the 99th minute when she collected a deflected pass outside the box and struck it expertly into the bottom right corner of the goal to put the Dutch into Sunday’s final against holders the US.The game marked the first time a women’s World Cup semi-final had gone to extra time and it proved a tight contest between the two sides, who last met in the quarter-finals of Euro 2017 when the Dutch won 2-0 before going on to win the competition.

While the 48,452 spectators in attendance fell a few thousand short of those who watched the US beat England 2-1 the previous evening, there was still a cacophony from ‘ultras’ of both Sweden and the Netherlands behind each goal. The match build-up had focused on the talented Netherlands forwards such as all-time top scorer Vivianne Miedema (60 goals) and the pacy attack of 2016 Olympic silver medallists Sweden, featuring Stina Blackstenius who had scored the winner against Germany in the previous round.

However, it was the goalkeepers who found themselves the busiest players throughout the regulation 90 minutes. Sweden were the brighter side in the first half but could not find a way past Netherlands stopper Sari van Veenendaal. The captain routinely tipped over dangerous in-swinging corners and instinctively saved with her foot a close-range toe poke from Lina Hurtig shortly before halftime.

The Netherlands had to replace Lieke Martens, still suffering with a toe injury, with Jill Roord at the break but then the match began to open up.

Sweden defender Nilla Fischer hit the post 10 minutes after the restart and Miedema had her header tipped on to the bar by the fingertips of Hedvig Lindahl.

Lindahl tipped over a fierce strike from the pink-haired Van den Sanden in second-half stoppage time. However, her resistance was finally broken by an excellent quickfire strike from Groenen in the first period of extra time.—Reuters

Sonia bags top position

KHANISPUR: Sonia Shah from Hyderabad secured first position while Masood Khan from Peshawar was second and Asifa Ali from Muscat claimed the third position in the Advance III throwball and rocball course held here at Khanispur in the KPK province from June 27-28 with collaboration of Punjab and KPK associations.

It was jointly organised under the auspices of the Pakistan Throwball Federation and Pakistan Rocball Federation. As many as 75 participants from different provinces and departments including coaches, referees and sports coordinators attended the course.

Muhammad Razzaq Gill, Secretary Wapda Sports Board, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony and distributed the certificates among all participants. Razzaq assured that Wapda will soon get the affiliation from the Pakistan Throwball Federation and will participate in the upcoming national throwball championships.

PTF secretary Maqbool Arain announced that position holders of the course will be nominated in the Asian Throwball Seminar scheduled to be in March 2020 in Singapore. Besides, Pakistan men and women throwball teams will be participating in the Asian Throwball Championships which will be held in Malaysia from Aug 30 to Sept 2. PRF general secretary Ume Laila announced that Pakistan teams will be competing in the Asian Rocball Championship in Bangladesh from November 20-24.—Agencies

Independence Day Shootingball from Aug 16

KARACHI: The Independence Day Shootingball tournament will be held between August 16-18 here in the metropolis in which the leading teams of the metropolis will participate. This tournament will be organised under the auspices of Sindh Police.

This was announced by DIG East Amir Faruqi at the prize distribution ceremony of the SSB Shah Bhitai Sindh-Balochistan Shootingball tournament held at the shootingball complex in Korangi where on Wednesday. Tando Allahyar team clinched the shootingball title while the event was organised by PSWA. A number of sportspersons, officials and organiser attended the ceremony. Amir said police department has produced many talented players and sportsmen while Pakistan’s great fast bowler Fazal Mahmood and ex-hockey Olympian Munir Dar also represented the department.—Agencies

Three matches decided in U-16 cricket

LAHORE: Three more league matches were decided in the ongoing LRCA Inter-zonal Under-16 One-day Cricket Tournament here on Thursday.

Summarised scores:

East Zone Greens beat West Zone Greens by seven wickets at Township Ground.

WEST ZONE GREENS 120 in 36.2 overs (M. Moiz 51 not out; Mohammad Talha 2-12, Ali Bukhari 2-20, Rana Faizan 2-22, Osama Zahid 2-24); EAST ZONE GREENS 124-3 26 overs (Ismail Farooq 75, Saad Javed 30).North Zone Greens beat West Zone Reds by 10 wickets at New Ittefaq Ground.

WEST ZONE REDS 109 in 30.4 overs (Musa Khan 34, Oman Shahid 29; Umar Bezza 2-16, Javedullah 2-19); NORTH ZONE GREENS 113-0 14 overs (Abdul Wahab 49 not out, Aizad Asad 38 not out).

North Zone Reds beat East Zone Reds by 29 runs at LCCA Ground.

NORTH ZONE REDS 158 in 31 overs (Hamza Shakeel 29, Danial Gohar 27; Umar Hayat 3-20, Fahad Akram 3-31, Subhanullah 2-25); EAST ZONE REDS 119 in 33.2 overs (Haider Sohail 39; Hamza Shakeel 3-11, Danial Gohar 2-11, Laraib Anjum 2-29).

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2019