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SPORTS Thursday 1 december 2022

Iran win another step as U.S. soccer tries to boost interest

By RONALD BLUM of the feelings that I felt as a
AP Sports Writer fan in 2010. And to be able Group C
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Ameri- to have a say in the result 0 - 2 nov 30
can soccer hopes to be as- that gets us through to the POL ARG
cendant, to challenge the next round is huge — it was 1 - 2 nov 30
NFL, Major League Baseball just very emotional for a lot
and the NBA in the compe- of reasons for me.” KSA MEX
tition for U.S. market share. The American lineup
Reaching the final 16 with against Iran was the young-
Tuesday night’s 1-0 win est of any team at this Group D
over Iran was another step year’s tournament and the 1 - 0 nov 30
for a team whose success youngest for the Americans TUN FRA
is measured in television since 1990, averaging 24 1 - 0 nov 30
viewers and buzz along years, 321 days. Iran coach AUD DEN
with final scores. Carlos Queiroz, a former
“I don’t know the final num- United States’ Yunus Musah, right, Aaron Long, center, and United U.S. Soccer Federation ad-
bers, but I’m sure there was States’ goalkeeper Sean Johnson celebrate after defeating viser, praised their pace, Group E
a lot of people watching,” Iran in the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and which forced his team to
U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, adjust. _ - _ dec 1
Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022.
said. “You see how resilient Associated Press “When we play a team with JAP ESP
this group is. You see how Ferraris who need space to _ - _ dec 1
unified this group is. You “They did it! God love ‘em,” and playing the way we accelerate, the best way CRC GEL
see what type of energy Biden said. have been this entire tour- to play against them is to
and output they put into A victory on Saturday nament. And I think good close the highways so they
every single game. And against the Netherlands things will come out of it.” can’t gain speed,” he said. Group F
then along the way, there’s would put the U.S. in the Matt Turner, the first U.S. A daunting task against the _ - _ dec 1
some pretty good soccer. quarterfinals for the first goalkeeper with consecu- Dutch is ahead: The U.S. CRO BEL
That’s the American spirit, time since 2002. The sta- tive World Cup shutouts has five losses and six draws _ - _ dec 1
the way this group plays, tus of Christian Pulisic is since 1930, was overcome in 11 World Cup matches CAN MAR
and I think people will ap- uncertain after he bruised with emotion at the final against European oppo-
preciate that, especially his pelvis crashing into the whistle. Turner thought nents since upsetting Portu-
back home.” goalkeeper while scoring back to how the U.S. per- gal 3-2 in a 2002 opener.
The Americans opened against Iran. The U.S. Soc- formance in 2010 helped “It’s a great opportunity ARUBA
with a 1-1 draw with Wales cer Federation did not convert him to soccer. but it’s not something that
that was seen by 11.7 mil- make Pulisic available to He was a high school base- we’re going into it thinking CLEAN
lion on English- and Span- media on Wednesday but ball player who played soc- it’s an honor. We deserve
ish-language U.S. broad- posted a video of him drib- cer fulltime, then switched to be in the position we’re
casts and followed with a bling a ball. “We may be emphasis. Turner’s journey in and we want to keep
0-0 tie against England that the underdog,” said Bren- took him to a Major League going,” Berhalter said. “So
was viewed by 19.98 mil- den Aaronson, who re- Soccer debut in 2018, a for us, it’s about how we re-
lion on Black Friday, when placed Pulisic at the start transfer to Arsenal last sum- cover from this game and
schools were off and many of the second half. “The mer and now success on prepare to play against a
offices closed. Dutch are a world power soccer’s biggest stage. very good Dutch, very well
President Joe Biden took and they’ve been that for “This is just an unbelievable coached, ton of quality all
note of the victory over Iran many, many tournaments. experience for me, given over the field, and we have IS MORE
when speaking in Bay City, So I think for us, it’s just go- my story,” he said. “Almost to come up with an idea of DUSHI
Michigan. ing in there with no fear everything is a carbon copy how to beat them.”q

Penguins D Letang out indefinitely after

2nd stroke

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pitts- experiencing “any lasting my body well enough to
burgh Penguins defense- effects” and is undergoing recognize when something
man Kris Letang is out in- further testing. Hextall add- isn’t right,” Letang said in a
definitely after suffering a ed the stroke doesn’t ap- release. “While it is difficult
stroke for the second time pear to be “career threat- to navigate this issue pub-
in his career. ening.” licly, I am hopeful it can
General manager Ron Hex- This is the second stroke Le- raise awareness. ... I am
tall announced Tuesday tang has suffered during his optimistic that I will be back
that the 35-year-old Letang 17-year career. The three- on the ice soon.”
initially reported symptoms time Stanley Cup cham- Letang, a six-time All-Star,
to the team’s training staff pion missed more than has been one of the most
on Monday. He was held two months in 2014 after a durable players in the NHL.
out of Tuesday night’s 3-2 stroke, which doctors de- He’s averaged well over 25
overtime loss to Carolina termined was caused by a minutes of playing time per Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kris Letang plays during the third period of
with what the team called small hole in the wall of his game since returning from an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins Saturday, April
an illness. heart. his initial stroke eight years 16, 2022, in Boston.
The team said Letang is not “I am fortunate to know ago.q Associated Press