US claim CONCACAF title over Canada
Jamaica earn World Cup trip on penalties after draw
The United States celebrate after winning the CONCACAF Women’s Championship final match against Canada at Toyota Stadium on Oct 17 in Frisco, Texas. (AFP)
FRISCO, Texas, Oct 18, (AP): Rose Lavelle is still trying to regain some of the confidence that was shaken when she was injured.
Lavelle has been back to full strength for a while since battling a nagging hamstring injury, but it’s the mental part that she’s been working hard to overcome.
On Wednesday night she scored within the first two minutes and the US women beat rivals Canada 2-0 in the championship match of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament.
“It’s a little weird because it’s been a while since I’ve been back, I’ve been back for a couple of months now. I really didn’t think it would take that long,” said Lavelle, who at 23 is one of the team’s young stars. “I think when I’m playing my best I’m not thinking, and things are coming naturally. I’m not quite there yet. I think I’m getting there, and I know I’ll get there, but I’m not there yet.”
Alex Morgan also scored for the United States, which outscored the field 26-0 to improve to 16-0-2 so far in 2018. The team has gone undefeated in 26 straight matches (23-0-3) dating to last year.
Alex Morgan #13 of the United States celebrates her goal against Canada in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship final match at Toyota Stadium on Oct 17 in Frisco, Texas. (AFP)
Morgan collided with Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe on a good US chance in the 61st minute. Morgan recovered to take a shot that was diverted away by Shelina Zadorsky.
Morgan was just wide on another effort in the 80th minute, but finally broke through with her goal in the 89th. She has 24 goals in her last 24 games.
Morgan was the top scorer of the tournament with seven total goals. The United States did not concede a goal in the five matches.
“Canada made it hard for us at times tonight. I just think part of this, when you play your rivals in a tournament like this, it’s sometimes very much about heart, and will. So I think to get the late goal was incredible rewarding for the mentality piece. It’s something you can take away and lean on later.”
Panama midfielder Katherine Castillo (4) slides in with a challenge against Jamaica midfielder Khadija Shaw during the first half of the third place match of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament on
Oct 17 in Frisco, Texas. (AP)
“To go back to Milwaukee up 3-2 as opposed to being down 3-2 is huge for us,” Kershaw said. “It’s been a battle every single game we’ve played them so far and we don’t expect anything different when we go back.”
Game 6 is Friday night in Milwaukee. The Brewers will start left-hander Wade Miley, who walked Cody Bellinger to open Game 5 before getting pulled in an interesting piece of strategy by manager Craig Counsell. Lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu will go for the Dodgers.
“We’re in a good spot, man,” Counsell said. “We’re going back home, to me, in a position of strength.”
The Dodgers haven’t been in backto-back World Series since losing to the Yankees in 1977 and ‘78. They were beaten by Houston in Game 7 last year.
The teams reconvened less than 15 hours after the Dodgers eked out a 2-1 victory Tuesday night on Cody Bellinger’s RBI single with two outs in a 13-inning
Canada midfielder Sophie Schmidt (13) and USA midfielder Julie Ertz (8) head the ball in the first half of the finals of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship on Oct 17 in
Frisco, Texas. (AP) Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Five of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on Oct 17 in Los Angeles, California. (AFP)
game that lasted over five hours.
Kershaw was well-rested and masterful in allowing one run and three hits over seven. He struck out nine, all on breaking pitches, and walked two.
Kershaw recovered from the shortest postseason start of his career. He lasted just three innings in losing the NLCS opener while giving up five runs – four earned – at Miller Park.
“I don’t know if it was that much better, just a little bit better execution maybe,” Kershaw said of his repertoire. “Maybe I threw some more curveballs today than I did in Game 1.”
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner pitched in and out of trouble in the third, when the Brewers loaded the bases and scored their lone run. Kershaw struck out Jesus Aguilar to end the third, the first of 13 consecutive batters that the left-hander retired.
Curtis Granderson hit an RBI double in the ninth. Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers’ third pitcher of the ninth, came in for the last two outs and the save.
Brewers star Christian Yelich, who nearly won the NL Triple Crown this