Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Saturday 23 March 2019

Berhalter starts 3-0 as U.S. beats Ecuador 1-0 on fluke goal

By RONALD BLUM “I told the guys these two
AP Sports Writer games will be the most
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — challenging games we’ll
Gregg Berhalter’s vision have together as a group
for the U.S. national team because of the lack of
started to unfold as the time,” Berhalter said. “If
Americans passed the ball we’re positioned well
from side to side, played enough, like we were for
diagonal balls long and most of the game, I think
short. Possession is his key to we’ll be OK.”
success. Paul Arriola had two ex-
The style was more pleas- cellent chances, getting
ing. But the only goal of stopped by goalkeeper Al-
night was pretty weird. exander Dominguez in the
Gyasi Zardes’s shot from 26th minute and then put-
about 25 yards deflected ting the ball in the net in the
off a defender, looped 30th only for Jordan Morris
over a 6-foot-5 goalkeeper to get ruled offside during
and ricocheted in off the the buildup. The U.S. scored
crossbar in the 81st minute, after 31-year-old defender
giving the U.S. a 1-0 exhibi- Tim Ream, playing his first
tion win over Ecuador on international match since
Thursday night. That made September 2017 and cap-
Berhalter only the second A kick by United States forward Gyasi Zardes (9) gets past Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander taining the U.S. for the first
American coach to win his Dominguez (22) for a score during the second half of an international friendly soccer match time, intercepted Gabriel
first three games, the first Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. Archiller’s clearance at-
since Bob Bradley in 2007. Associated Press tempt at midfield and
Failure to qualify for the camp to really understand minute when he jumped hope that it’s not as severe played the ball to Zardes.
2018 World Cup was fol- it,” star midfielder Christian to head a bouncing ball, as it could be.” Zardes dribbled toward
lowed by a year of de- Pulisic said. “It’s for the big- Ecuador’s Carlos Gruezo While the U.S. showed some goal and from near the arc
buts and drift under interim ger picture, and we have failed to leap and McKen- of the fluidity and offensive took a shot that bound-
coach Dave Sarachan. big things that he’s working nie tumbled over him and spark Berhalter sought, out- ed off Robert Arboleda.
Players are starting to envi- towards.” landed awkwardly. After a shooting Ecuador 5-1 and Dominguez, standing
sion the future of this year’s Pulisic, Weston McKennie few minutes down, he hob- finishing with a 6-1 advan- about 6 yards off his line,
CONCACAF Gold Cup and and Tyler Adams, a trio of bled to the corner flag with tage in corner kicks, the backpedaled slowly and
the start of World Cup qual- 20-year-olds who have be- assistance, grimacing, and Americans were exposed was unable to tip the ball
ifying in 2020. come regulars in the Ger- then needed a stretcher to for defensive gaps that over the crossbar. Zardes’
“He’s going to be the man Bundesliga, started to- come off the field. stronger opponents would seventh international
coach for a while. He gether for the first time with McKennie was to have an exploit. South American goal was his first since he
wants to really implement the national team. McKen- X-ray and MRI. champion Chile figures to scored against Ecuador in
a system, and he wants all nie limped off after twist- “We believe it’s a sprained provide a more difficultly the 2016 Copa America
the guys that come into ing his left ankle in the 63rd ankle,” Berhalter said. “We on Tuesday in Houston. quarterfinals.q

Semenya ‘optimistic’ of victory in appeal against IAAF rules

By GERALD IMRAY will declare the IAAF’s regu- regulations require athletes
AP Sports Writer lations unlawful, invalid and to suppress their high levels
Caster Semenya is “optimis- of no effect,” her lawyers for at least six months prior
tic” of victory in her appeal said in a statement. “This to competing at world-class
against IAAF rules designed outcome would prevent events like the Diamond
to control naturally high women athletes from ever League, world champion-
levels of testosterone in fe- having to undergo medi- ships or the Olympics. But
male athletes, the two-time cal interventions in an at- the CAS decision will now
Olympic 800-metre cham- tempt to comply with these come five months before
pion’s lawyers said Friday. regulations.”The statement this year’s world champion-
The rules proposed by track came a day after the CAS, ships in Doha, Qatar.
and field’s governing body, sport’s highest court, said a The IAAF said if it wins the
which haven’t yet come decision in the pivotal case CAS case, and its regula-
into effect, would require would be delayed until the tions are upheld, Semenya
female athletes with natu- In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 file photo, Caster Semenya of South end of April to allow for and other affected athletes
rally high levels of testoster- Africa celebrates winning the women’s 800m at the IAAF track more legal debate. would be given a “spe-
one to lower those levels and field Continental Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The delay, which is down cial transition provision” to
either by medication or sur- Associated Press to extra evidence being comply with the new tes-
gery in order to be eligible is also a three-time world them an unfair advantage submitted by both sides, tosterone limits. They will
to compete at top track champion. She’s the most over other female athletes. raised a possible complica- have one week from the
meets. The regulations famous of a number of fe- Semenya has challenged tion for Semenya and other date the CAS decision is re-
would apply to distances male athletes who have the IAAF’s proposed rules athletes with what the IAAF leased to comply, the IAAF
ranging from 400 meters to high levels of naturally oc- at the Court of Arbitration refers to as “differences of said, and if they do they will
one mile. curring testosterone. The for Sport. “Caster Semenya sexual development.” be eligible to compete at
South African Semenya IAAF argues that gives remains optimistic the CAS The proposed testosterone the worlds. q