Wambach’s finale a rare U.S. defeat
Career leader with 184 goals bows out in 1-0 loss to China
Abby Wambach threatened to score several times in the final game of her extraordinary career, but China shut out the World Cup champion United States 1-0 on Wednesday night in New Orleans to hand the Americans their first loss on home soil in more than a decade.
Wambach played 72 minutes, managing two threatening headers and a shot from inside the penalty area before subbing out of a match for the final time.
“It’s kind of symbolic; I get 70 minutes and we don’t score a goal,” Wambach said, alluding to why it’s time for her, at 35, to retire.
The career leader in international play — for men and women, with 184 goals — kicked off her cleats and hugged each teammate on the field before walking to the bench, smiling, to embrace her coaches and remaining teammates as the crowd chanted her name.
The U.S. had gone 104 home games without losing (92-0-12) since falling 3-1 to Denmark in 2004.
More than 1 billion n people watched the 2014 World Cup final, according to FIFA figures. A total of 1.013 billion saw at least one minute of Germany’s 10 win over Argentina in extra time in Rio de Janeiro, according to research by FIFA and Kantar Media.
Fighting for their careers n in soccer politics, Michel Platini plans to boycott his hearing at the FIFA ethics court on Friday and Sepp Blatter is expected to attend his on Thursday. Platini is protesting the hearing because he believes his case has been prejudged, his lawyers said in a statement.
College football
USC junior linebacker Su’a Cravens announced in a Twitter post that he will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
Cal has signed four n junior college players who will enroll in January.
The Bears landed defensive end Rusty Becker from Minnesota State Community and Technical College, cornerback Marloshawn Franklin of Mesa (Arizona) Community College, wide receiver Jordan Veasy of Golden West College and offensive lineman Dwayne Wallace of Riverside City College.
Cal linebacker Michael n Barton announced on Twitter that he will get his degree in the spring and attend graduate school elsewhere for his final season of eligibility.
Coach Ken Niumatalolo n has decided to stay at Navy after visiting BYU earlier this week.
Boxing
Hector “Macho” Camacho, who overcame the mean streets of Spanish Harlem to become a three-division champion, was among a group of nine inductees announced for enshrinement in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Camacho, who was shot and killed three years ago at age 50 in his native Puerto Rico, heads a class that also includes two-division champions Lupe Pintor of Mexico and Hilario Zapata of Panama.
Miscellany
A federal appeals court said it had decided not to reconsider its ruling striking down a plan to pay college football and basketball players. The payment plan emerged from a lawsuit against the NCAA by former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon.