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SPORTS Saturday 7 March 2020

Norway's Aleksander Aamodt Kilde speeds down the course during training for an alpine ski,
men's World Cup downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway, Friday, March 6, 2020.
Associated Press

World Cup skiing finals in Cortina

England during a She Believes Cup soccer match in Orlando, canceled because of virus
United States' Carli Lloyd celebrates after scoring a goal against
Fla., Thursday, March 5, 2020.
Associated Press By ANDREW DAMPF letes, teams and everyone Corinne Suter courtesy of
The U.S. opens the AP Sports Writer associated with the World that hundredth of a sec-
ond that cost me the victo-
Mikaela Shiffrin's chances Cup as well as the gen-
of extending her three-year eral public must be our ry in La Thuile last Saturday."
SheBelieves Cup with reign as overall champion top priority," FIS president The cancellation leaves
took another hit when the Gian Franco Kasper said. only two weekends of
2-0 win over England alpine skiing World Cup Fi- "We must respect this very racing left for the men,
nals in Italy were canceled serious situation. We look with Alexis Pinturault lead-
on Friday because of the forward to recognizing the ing the overall standings,
virus outbreak. winning athletes at a later 26 points ahead of Alek-
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — in the last eight matches. Shiffrin already lost her lead date when we can prop- sander Aamodt Kilde, and
Christen Press and Carli She had five goals in the re- in the standings because erly celebrate their accom- 107 points ahead of Henrik
Lloyd scored in the sec- cent CONCACAF Olympic of a month-long absence plishments." Kristoffersen.
ond half to give the United qualifying tournament and following the death of her Shiffrin announced on The title will be decided
States a 2-0 victory over was named the event's father. Thursday she was returning by speed races in Kvitfjell,
England in the SheBelieves MVP. The Italian Winter Sports to the circuit in Europe but Norway, this weekend,
Cup on Thursday night. It was the 123rd career Federation was hoping to she has only one set of rac- and tech races in Kranjska
Alyssa Naeher made three goal for Lloyd, who led the host the finals, scheduled es left in Åre, Sweden — if Gora, Slovenia, next week-
saves to keep England team in scoring last year for March 18-22 in Cor- she enters — to try to erase end.
scoreless and extend the with 16 goals. tina d'Ampezzo, without her 153-point deficit to Ital- The cancellation of the fi-
top-ranked Americans' un- Julie Ertz came close to spectators. But during an ian rival Federica Brignone. nals means Beat Feuz of
beaten streak to 29 games. scoring in the 78th minute emergency International "It's an inconclusive way to Switzerland clinched the
Spain beat Japan 3-1 earli- but the United States was Ski Federation (FIS) board finish the season," Brignone downhill title for a third
er Thursday at Orlando's Ex- offside. Ertz was making meeting on Friday, every said. "What really hurts me straight year. He leads
ploria Stadium to open the her 100th appearance with nation besides Italy voted will be the loss of the prize Thomas Dressen of Germa-
tournament. The winner of the national team, becom- to cancel the event, the celebrations, which repre- ny by 194 points.
the four-team round-robin ing the 40th national team Italian federation said. sent a special moment to If she races, Shiffrin will be
tournament is determined player to reach the mile- "It's with great disappoint- share with the entire team, among the favorites in the
on points. stone. The game was a ment that I accept this and the pleasure of hear- three races in Åre begin-
The two teams were score- rematch of the World Cup decision," Italian federa- ing your national anthem ning next Thursday: A par-
less in the first half. The semifinal last summer in tion president Flavio Roda play. allel slalom, giant slalom
World Cup champion U.S. France. The United States said. "Every member of the "I'm really upset. We were and slalom.
team applied pressure but held on for the 2-1 win after board made their decision looking forward to racing The American skier an-
England goalkeeper Carly Naeher smothered Steph based on limitations that in front of our fans in order nounced in a video posted
Telford kept the Americans Houghton's penalty kick in their respective govern- to finish this great season in on Instagram that she was
from finding the back of the 84th minute. ments have imposed in re- the best manner possible." flying to Scandinavia this
the net. Spain, ranked No. 13 in lation to the virus." "It's even more disturbing if week.
Press' curling shot from dis- the world, plays the United World Cup rules prevent the I think about how well I've "I have no promises if I'll
tance into the upper right States on Sunday when finals from being moved to been skiing lately, and how actually be able to race,"
corner put the United State the tournament shifts to another location. every race was an oppor- Shiffrin said in a six-minute
up in the 53rd minute. A Red Bull Arena in New Jer- "This was an extremely dif- tunity to post good results. video message that ad-
few moments later, Lloyd sey. No. 10 Japan will face ficult decision for us to ... I'm also upset because it dressed the emotions
added another. sixth-ranked England in the make, but ultimately wel- means I finish second in the about her father, Jeff, who
Press has scored eight goals other match.q fare and health of the ath- super-G standings behind died on Feb. 2.q