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TECHNOLOGY Friday 6 OctOber 2017

In danger of missing World Cup, U.S. needs win over Panama

By RONALD BLUM three berths from North ras in Arena’s first qualifier
AP Sports Writer and Central America and after he replaced Jurgen
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — the Caribbean. Costa Rica Klinsmann. One of Arena’s
Months and months of has 15 points heading into more intriguing roster de-
stumbles have put the Unit- its game against visiting cisions was to bring back
ed States in a precarious Honduras and is on the 32-year-old midfielder Ben-
position. The Americans verge of clinching. ny Feilhaber, who hasn’t
could miss the World Cup Panama is third with 10 appeared in a qualifier in
for the first time since 1986. points, and the U.S. has eight years.
Preparing for Friday’s nine and leads Honduras “He’s a good passer, and
crucial qualifier against on goal difference. Trini- in the final third of the field
Panama, the U.S. held a dad has three points and is he has some qualities that I
closed-doors scrimmage all-but-eliminated. think we’re lacking,” Arena
Wednesday against Orlan- The top three nations qual- said.
do City’s B team. A victory ify, and fourth place has a Christian Pulisic, the star
Friday would put the U.S. home-and-home playoff American midfielder who
on track to reach its eighth next month against Austra- just turned 19, has been United States men’s national soccer team head coach Bruce
straight World Cup with lia or Syria — which plays its repeatedly fouled by op- Arena speaks to the media during a press conference in Or-
a win or possibly a tie at home games in Malaysia. ponents, and the U.S. will lando, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. Panama and the U.S. meet in
Trinidad and Tobago next “People can come in and be seeking more offensive a World Cup qualifying match in Orlando on Friday.
week. Less than a victory say it’s just another game, outlets. Associated Press
against the Panamanians but the reality is it’s not just Bradley said the goal is “to centage of the crowd at asked about players had
could lead to either a play- another game,” winger make sure that from the Red Bull Arena backed Los discussed any signs of unity
off next month or elimina- Paul Arriola said. “We can beginning we play in a way Ticos.American players are or protest, such as the ones
tion. be out. We could really, re- where the bar tilts in our fa- hoping for a better atmo- in the opening weeks of
“There’s been a real sense ally complicate ourselves if vor, where we’re mobile sphere in Orlando. the NFL season.
of urgency,” captain Mi- we don’t get three points and aggressive.” “I’m expecting it to be a The U.S. Soccer Federation
chael Bradley said. “Obvi- this next game against After an 0-2 start in qualify- home game. We’re in the said it had received per-
ously you get to the end Panama.” ing, the U.S. climbed back United States,” Arriola said. mission from FIFA to hold a
and our margin for error is The U.S. has scored just 12 into contention before last “This time I hope that it’s moment of silence before
virtually gone.” goals in eight matches in month’s 2-0 home loss to filled with all Americans.” the match in memory of
Mexico has 18 points and the hexagonal, half in a Costa Rica in Harrison, New Bradley let a question go the victims of the Las Ve-
has clinched one of the home rout over Hondu- Jersey. A significant per- by without an answer when gas shootings.q

Rafael Nadal advances to quarterfinals of China Open

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN of the China Open. having a lot of success, hit-
Associated Press The top-ranked Spaniard, ting a lot of winners, return-
BEIJING (AP) — who won the French Open ing very well.”
Rafael Nadal earned his and U.S. Open this year, Second-seeded Alexander
season-leading 58th victo- saved all six break points Zverev also advanced to
ry on Thursday by beating he faced and increased his the quarterfinals, beating
Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-3 lead over Roger Federer at Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-2.
to reach the quarterfinals the top of the rankings. The German will next play
Andrey Rublev, who de-
feated seventh-seeded To-
mas Berdych 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.
In the women’s tourna-
ment, Jelena Ostapenko
advanced after Peng Sh-
Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return shot against Karen Khacha- uai, the last Chinese player
nov of Russia during their second round of the men’s singles in the competition, retired
match in the China Open tennis tournament at the Diamond from the match while trail-
Court in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. ing 3-0.Also, third-seeded
Associated Press Sorana Cirstea defeated
Nadal will next face John one against Isner,” Nadal fourth-seeded Karolina
Isner. said. Pliskova 6-1, 7-5, Caroline
The big-serving American “John is a very good play- Garcia beat Alize Cornet
defeated Leonardo Mayer er from the baseline, too. I 6-2, 6-1, and Petra Kvitova
6-0, 6-3. saw him today. beat former No. 1 Caroline
“Tomorrow will be a tough He played so aggressive, Wozniacki 6-1, 6-4.q