Conciliation Center issues 73,000 agreements in H1 2025    Saudi Arabia identifies key dust storm hotspots    Chief of staff inspects THAAD air defense unit in Jeddah    Saudi Arabia imposes SR2.1 million in anti-concealment fines in Q2 2025    Saudi Arabia tops global tourism revenue growth in Q1 2025    Ministry of Commerce recalls over 2,000 Baseus power banks over fire risk    PIF launches Tasama to boost Saudi business services sector    Saudi minister meets innovators, researchers in London to advance tech-driven economy    Macron condemns US tariffs, urges swift EU countermeasures    Taiwan–US tariff talks enter 'crucial moment,' negotiator says    Israel to present new Gaza withdrawal map in Qatar ceasefire talks    Russia and North Korea blame U.S. military activity for tensions on Korean Peninsula    France's Lady Liberty artwork goes viral as a new Statue of Liberty could be in the works    Abdullah Al-Qaisoom wins silver at Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship    Aubameyang's future at Al Qadsiah in doubt after cryptic post comparing Saudi League strikers    Theo Hernández: Al Hilal can compete with Europe's best    SFDA approves 'Winrevair' for rare pulmonary hypertension treatment    HONOR returns to Esports World Cup as Official Smartphone Partner for 2025 The renewed commitment will see HONOR elevate mobile esports competition with cutting-edge AI technologies and industry-leading hardware    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



China celebrates with 2-1 win
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 08 - 2008

Han Duan scored her 101st goal, enabling host China to celebrate the start of competition at the Beijing Olympics with a 2-1 victory over Sweden on Wednesday.
Han's goal in the 72nd minute sparked an eruption by the boisterous crowd of 37,902 at Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium, and started a parade of about 30 flag-waving Chinese fans around the lower level.
Norway outplayed the defending Olympic champion United States 2-0.
Other gold medal contenders Germany and Brazil drew 0-0 in a game that could well have finished 2-2 and Canada beat Argentina 2-1.
“This was a tough opponent and there was big pressure for us in the first match,” China coach Shang Ruihua said.
“It was a classic start. After we scored, we were a little bit nervous.” After a furious first half, the game settled in the final 45 minutes and seemed headed for a draw. Lotta Schelin finished a rapid counter in the 38th with a classic finish, equalizing for Sweden after a sixth-minute strike by Xu Yuan.
Han finished one of the few quality chances by either side in the second half. Second-half substitute Wang Dandan played the ball into the penalty area to Xu, who dropped it back for Han to strike with her left foot into the opposite side netting.
The animated crowd roared from the moment the teams emerged from the dressing rooms. Armed with inflatable cheer sticks and whistles, they howled at kickoff and every time the Chinese brought the ball past midfield, jeering the Swedes on each foray they made near the penalty area.
European clubs win
appeal to CAS
Three European clubs won their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday to keep their players out of the Olympic football tournament.
CAS ruled that Lionel Messi, Diego and Rafinha can be kept out of the Beijing Games by their clubs - FC Barcelona, Werder Bremen and Schalke.
Messi plays for Argentina, and Diego and Rafinha play for Brazil. Argentina opens on Thursday against the Ivory Coast in Shanghai and Brazil plays Belgium in Shenyang.
CAS secretary-general Matthieu Reeb said the three-member panel ruled in favor of the clubs because the Olympic tournament is not on FIFA's match calendar, and because there was no evidence that the football body's executive board obliged the clubs to release the players.
FIFA ruled on July 30 that the players must be released for the Olympic tournament because they are under 23.
“Theoretically the clubs could ask their players to go back to Europe. Reeb urged the clubs and FIFA to sit down and negotiate a deal.


Clic here to read the story from its source.