SPORTS
Slick Spain Beat England to Win women’s World Cup
Spain are the FIFA Women’s World Cup champions after a dominant and deserved 1-0 win over England at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Captain Olga Carmona emerged as La Roja’s history-making heroine with a superb strike that secured the team’s first major title and completed a unique clean sweep of FIFA crowns at U-17, U-20 and senior level.
Finals are notorious for being tense and cagey affair but this was high-energy, high-quality and end-to-end from the very first whistle.
And while the Spanish created the better chances – and more of them – it was England who registered the first effort of note.
This was when Lauren Hemp crashed a left-foot shot against the bar with a quarter-of-an-hour played.
La Roja always looked dangerous though, particularly in wide areas, and they should have moved in front two minutes later.
This was when Salma Paralluelo raced down the left and curled in the most tantalising of crosses.
Teresa Abelleira seemed certain to convert at the back post but her first-time effort lacked direction and allowed Mary Earps to stick out a hand and divert the ball to safety.
Spain continued to grow in confidence, though, and on 29 minutes they broke the deadlock with a beautifully constructed goal.
Having dispossessed Lucy Bronze as the wing-back charged forward and infield, the Spanish midfield combined intelligently and speedily to work the ball into the space Bronze had vacated.
Mariona Caldentey then maximised the opportunity with a perfectly weighted pass into the feet of Carmona, who obliged with an equally flawless first-time finish, drilled low, hard and just inside Earps’ left-hand post.
The goal was no more than Jorge Vilda’s side deserved, and Paralluelo came within a whisker of doubling their lead.
With the last kick of the half – she clipped the outside of the post with a smart first-time effort.
Sarina Wiegman clearly wasn’t happy with what she was seeing and reacted decisively with a double substitution at the interval, bringing on Lauren James and Chloe Kelly.
The pattern of Spanish dominance was maintained, however, and only a brilliant one-handed save from Earps prevented Caldentey from curling in a second within four minutes of the restart.
The England goalkeeper has been outstanding at the World Cup and again came to the Lionesses’ rescue.
This was after a Keira Walsh handball was penalised with the awarding of a penalty following a VAR review.
Jenni Hermoso struck her left-foot kick firmly enough but Earps was already on the move and, having guessed right, was able to hold the shot and offer Wiegman’s side renewed hope.
In truth, though, the European champions rarely looked like forcing their way back into this final.
Spain remained comfortable and composed throughout the remainder of the match and celebrated wildly at full-time, having emerged as impressive and worthy champions.
The result meant Spain ended their World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand, not just as champions but as leading goalscorers, having found the net 18 times.
La Roja also became just the second team to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
This was after suffering a defeat on their way to winning the competition. Japan previously achieved this by triumphing in 2011, having lost 2-0 to England in the group stage.
Having won the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cup last year, Spain have become the first nation to hold all three global titles simultaneously.
Paralluelo who won the youngest player of the tournament award is the first player to win all three of these FIFA competitions. (NAN)
Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Saturday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in a pulsating North Central derby.
The matchday 16 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiere Football League (NPFL) was played at the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa State capital.
The Makurdi side had adopted the Lafia Township Stadium as their home ground for the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
The only goal of the match was scored by Qamar Adegoke in the 12th minute of the match to give all three points to the Lafia side.
Adegoke’s goal, who joined the Lafia team recently, was his second in four matches.
The Nasarawa attacker capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent’s backline and hit the back of the net to give Nasarawa United the advantage.
In a post-match interview, Kabir Dogo, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, hailed his players for taking all three points.
He explained that his team had improved by scoring five goals in their last three matches and expressed optimism that they would do better in subsequent games.
“We had a problem in the area of goal scoring in the past, but this has changed in our last three games,” he said.
With the win, Nasarawa United climbed to 14th on the NPFL table, while Lobi Stars remain on 17th position. (NAN)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organising a two-day National Coaching Seminar, with the theme: “Leadership and Management Skills”.
The event will take place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, at the Additional Sports and Entertainment (ASEP) Pro Limited, in Mowe, Ogun State.
The seminar will enhance the capabilities of Nigerian table tennis coaches, with a particular emphasis on female coaches, aligning with the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Initiative.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, on Tuesday, said that the seminar was part of the one-week sports and leadership boot camp titled “Awaken the Giant, She Can 4.
0,” proudly supported by NTTF.“This seminar will also represent the third stage of the 2024 “My Gender, My Strength” programme, which has table tennis star Abosede Akinsete, as a beneficiary.
“NTTF President,Tikon Ishaku, Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, and other board members are dedicated to initiatives that support the development of coaches.
“Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and President of ITTF-Africa, reaffirms his commitment to empowering women in sports, in line with the GEDI Initiative.
He explained that the seminar would feature people, who would speak on leadership and management skills, to enhance the abilities of coaches to identify and develop talents, as well as encourage the development of high-performance table tennis players capable of competing globally. (NAN)
Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday returned to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) summit as strong rivals Remo Stars FC faltered on Match Day 13.
Report says that Rivers United beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 after an Ndifreke Effiong 58th minute goal from the penalty kick spot.
Effiong’s goal in the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium helped them to move to 25 points from 13 matches, after seven wins, four draws and two losses.
Former leaders Remo Stars dropped to second with 23 points from 13 matches after seven wins, two draws and four losses, following a 0-2 loss to hosts Katsina United.
Plateau United of Jos beat visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-0 to bolster their position.
Shooting Stars Sports Club also struggled to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenago.
A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan gave them the win.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri had on Saturday beaten Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 to move into third place on the table with 22 points from 13 games.
Enyimba International of Aba remained in fourth place with 20 points from 12 matches, with their week 13 game against Sunshine Stars of Akure on hold.
Rangers International of Enugu are in fifth place with 20 points also, after a goalless draw with hosts Heartland FC ain Owerri on Saturday.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had also beaten Kwara United of Ilorin 3-1, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew 2-2 with visiting Kano Pillars in Lafia.
NAN reports that the league will enter Match Day 14 on Wednesday.(NAN)
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