U.S. WOMEN ROUT KIWIS
The stunning loss Wednesday didn’t shake the United States women’s soccer team in its quest to become the first squad to follow up a World Cup title with an Olympic gold medal.
If anything, the one-sided loss to Sweden, which snapped a 44match winning streak, provided motivation and created desire. And Saturday morning, the top-ranked Americans responded like champions.
They bludgeoned New Zealand, 6-1, in their second match at the Tokyo Olympics. In front of First Lady Jill Biden at Saitama Stadium, the Americans notched their most goals scored and largest margin of victory in an Olympic match.
Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Christen Press and Alex Morgan each scored a goal for the U.S., while the other two scores were credited as own goals against New Zealand.
“I think we came into Game 2 knowing that we don’t go from being a really great team two days ago to not being a great team anymore,” starting left back and Long Island native Crystal Dunn told reporters. “I think we were a little bit more composed and a little bit more patient on the ball this game, and we know it’s going to be challenging chasing that gold medal. So we’re not taking anything for granted.”
As long as the United States can defeat Australia in its final game of Group G play, it should advance to the knockout round. It would even move on with a tie, since it owns a decided advantage in goal differential.
World mark for Aussies
Australia set the first swimming world record of the Tokyo Games in the women’s 4x-100meter freestyle relay. The Aussies touched in 3 minutes, 29.69 seconds, breaking the mark of 3:30.05 they set in 2018.
The winning team included sisters Bronte and Cate Campbell, who took the lead and anchor legs. They were joined by Meg Harris and Emma McKeon.
Canada was second in 3:32.78, while the Americans took bronze in 3:32.81. Simone Manuel swam the U.S. anchor leg.
DeChambeau tests positive
Bryson DeChambeau, the sixth-ranked golfer in the world, tested positive for COVID-19 before his departure for the Tokyo Olympics and will be replaced in the United States men’s golf team by Patrick Reed, USA Golf said.
The first round of the competition will begin Thursday at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
U.S. eyes softball gold
Amanda Chidester hit a game-ending, two-run single in
the eighth inning, Monica Abbott struck out 13 and the United States beat Australia, 2-1, in Yokohama to clinch a berth in Tuesday’s Olympic softball gold medal game.
The top-ranked U.S., which has scored just six runs in four games, plays defending champion Japan on Monday, but No. 2 Japan (3-0) could have clinched a berth in the final when it played Canada (2-1) later Sunday.
COVID-19 cancelation
The first event of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament was canceled because Czech player Marketa Slukova tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week. The Japanese team of Megumi Murakami and Miki Ishii won by default after qualifying via the entry reserved for the host country.
Djokovic advances
Novak Djokovic’s bid for a Golden Slam is alive and well following a routine 6-2, 6-2 win over 139th-ranked Hugo Dellien of Bolivia in the opening round of the Tokyo tennis tournament.
The top-ranked Serb is attempting to become the first man to win all four major tennis tournaments and an Olympic singles gold medal in the same year.
Murray out of singles
Britain’s Andy Murray withdrew from the men’s singles competition ahead of his first round match at the Olympic Games due to a right quad strain, according to a statement from Tokyo 2020.
He will continue to compete in the men’s doubles tournament with Joe Salisbury, Team GB said in a separate statement.
Barty falls in first round
Top-ranked Ash Barty has been upset by 48th-ranked Spanish opponent Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Tokyo tennis tournament.
Barty won a doubles match with Storm Sanders on Saturday. The defeat comes 15 days after Barty won Wimbledon for her second Grand Slam title.