U.S. Women to Go Against Rest of the Best
The four most powerful countries in women’s soccer -- China, Germany, Norway and the United States -- will play in the Four Nations Cup in China starting Jan. 23, exactly eight months before they seek to win the Women’s World Cup, also in China.
The four have won every gold and silver medal at the first three women’s world championships and the first two Olympic women’s tournaments.
The Four Nations Cup will be played as three doubleheaders Jan. 23, 26 and 29, with the defending world champion U.S. opening against Olympic champion Norway at a site to be determined, then playing European champion Germany in Wuhan and closing against World Cup host China in Shanghai.
“It will be an opportunity to put some younger players on the field in an environment that will supply the most pressure they will experience until the [Sept. 23-Oct. 11] Women’s World Cup.” U.S. Coach April Heinrichs said. “It will be a great environment to see how our players respond.”
Galaxy Radio
The Galaxy and Radio Korea announced an agreement Tuesday under which Los Angeles-based Korean-language station KYPA (1230 AM) will broadcast the Major League Soccer champion’s games in 2003, starting with the April 5 opener against the Columbus Crew in which South Korea’s four-time World Cup defender Hong Myung-Bo will make his MLS debut for Los Angeles.
Champions League
Ajax Amsterdam and Inter Milan scored impressive European Champions League victories, but Arsenal was held to a scoreless tie and Barcelona was rained out.
A young but stylish Ajax outplayed AS Roma in front of a vocal crowd of 51,342 at the Amsterdam Arena and won, 2-1, on goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jari Litmanen. Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta scored a late goal for AS Roma to jangle Dutch nerves.
Inter was made to battle by Bayer Leverkusen, last season’s Champions League runner-up, before winning, 3-2, in front of 36,342 in Milan, where Luigi Di Biagio scored twice for the winners.
There were 34,793 at Highbury to see Arsenal dominate Valencia but fail to find a way to beat backup goalkeeper Andres Palop, even though the Spanish team’s Miguel Angel Angulo was red-carded in the 72nd minute for throwing an elbow at Pascal Cygan.
Heavy rain made the Nou Camp field unplayable and caused the postponement of Barcelona’s game against Newcastle United until today, when four other Champions League matches also are scheduled.
Quick Passes
Barcelona and Juventus will play an exhibition at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on July 27.... The Spanish soccer federation ordered Barcelona to close Nou Camp for two league games after crowd violence during the team’s match against Real Madrid last month.... 1997 winner Schalke 04 of Germany was ousted from UEFA Cup when it lost at home to Wisla Krakow of Poland, 4-1....Werner Lorant resigned as coach of Fenerbahce in Turkey, after his team -- fourth in the Turkish league -- was knocked out of the Turkish Cup by a second-division team.
