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Monday, January 30, 2012

HOT CELEBRITIES: Orden de las Artes de Francia entrega a Shakira insignia de caballero en Cannes


La intérprete de Pies descalzos, muy agradecida del gesto respondió en francés que tenía una "conexión especial" con el país europeo, añadiendo que su corazón "también es francés".

28/01/2012 - 16:35
Shakira junto al ministro de Cultura galo, Frédéric Miterrand.
La Orden de las Artes y las Letras francesas entregó hoy a la cantante Shakira la insignia  de caballero, en uno de los actos inaugurales de la 46° edición del Mercado Internacional del Disco y de la Edición Musical (Midem) en Cannes.
La artista, que en la ocasión fue acompañada por sus padres, declaró estar "feliz" por recibir "uno de los honores más altos en las artes y las letras, pues viene de un país como Francia, que tiene una herencia cultural tan importante", indicó.
A esto la cantante colombiana añadió que este "es uno de los momentos que más honrada me ha hecho sentir en mi carrera".
El ministro de Cultura galo, Frédéric Miterrand, fue el encargado de entregarle esta distinción a la cantante, presentándola como un "símbolo de la cultura a nivel planetario", destacando que gracias a su "generosidad y encanto" ha sido capaz de hacer partícipe a la gente de su "jovialidad".
Miterrand comparó a Shakira con otras estrellas latinas como Gloria Estefan o Jennifer López y, yendo más allá del discurso político, destacó "su combinación de voz, latinidad, determinación y de una ardiente femeneidad".
La intérprete de Pies descalzos, muy agradecida respondió al gesto, diciendo en francés que tenía una "conexión especial" con el país europeo, añadiendo que su corazón "también es francés".
Hace un año y en ese mismo lugar, Shakira se convirtió junto a los Black Eyed Peas en la gran ganadora de los premios musicales NRJ, que son votados por el público de esa emisora radial gala. En dicha ocasión se llevó los galardones a la mejor artista internacional y a la mejor canción internacional de 2010,  por la pegajosa canción Waka, waka.
En la inauguración del Midem 2012, Miterrand, distinguió también a su compatriota Patricia Kaas con el título de Oficial de la Orden de las Artes y las Letras, así como al músico británico Brian Ferry, que no estuvo presente en el acto.

Madonna estrenará nuevo video MDNA en American Idol


Se trata del trabajo para su sencillo Give me all your luvin, la carta de presentación del próximo álbum de la cantante, MDNA.

30/01/2012

Madonna presentará su nuevo video clip este jueves durante un episodio de American Idol.
Así lo consigna el sitio web de la revista Rolling Stone, donde añaden que se trata del trabajo para el sencillo, Give me all your luvin, el primero del nuevo álbum de la cantante, titulado MDNA.
Además, la canción será lanzada en formato digital el día viernes, y será la que Madonna interprete durante su participación en el show de medio tiempo del Superbowl, este domingo.

MDNA es el primer álbum de la cantante en colaboración con Live Nation e Interscope, y tiene su lanzamiento programado para el 26 de marzo.

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Justicia brasileña ordena que familiares de víctimas de derrumbes vigilen operativos de búsqueda


La alcaldía de Río de Janeiro deberá coordinar la medida. Esto luego de constatarse el robo de bienes.

30/01/2012
La Justicia brasileña ordenó que la alcaldía de Río de Janeiro permitir a los familiares de los 17 muertos y 5 desaparecidos en el derrumbe de edificios controlar la búsqueda tras comprobar el robo de bienes.

La jueza Angélica dos Santos Costa mandató al municipio permitir a la Asociación de Víctimas de la (Avenida) 13 de Mayo (donde ocurrió el siniestro) que observen el trabajo de los bomberos y empleados municipales que buscan cuerpos y bienes, publicó hoy Folha de Sao Paulo.

Tres edificios de 20, 10 y 4 pisos se derrumbaron con un saldo provisorio de 17 muertos y 5 desaparecidos el miércoles pasado, cuando la municipalidad cercó el área impidiendo que la prensa y los familiares observen directamente las tareas de los rescatistas.

El sábado la prensa publicó que 4 personas contratadas por la Municipalidad robaron bienes encontrados entre los escombros que habían sido trasladados a un depósito en la zona portuaria.

El caso sumó más críticas al alcalde Eduardo Paes, quien ya había sido cuestionado por la falta de controles en las obras que se realizaban en los predios derrumbados y que serían la causa del siniestro.

"Allí está retratada la miseria humana, es increíble que alguien en una situación como esta pueda robar,esto es robo, yo veo esto con tristeza con una cierta rabia", declaró Paes.

Sin embargo la Alcaldía no confirmó hasta el momento si acatará la orden de la jueza o interpondrá una apelación, publicó Folha.

LATIN AMERICAN REPORT: Hugo Chávez amenaza con nacionalizar bancos de Venezuela


El presidente venezolano, Hugo Chávez, amenazó con nacionalizar los bancos privados que se nieguen a financiar los proyectos agrícolas apoyados por su gobierno.

por BBC Mundo - 30/01/2012 - 12:28
Chávez dijo que algunos de los bancos más importantes del país fallaron en el cumplimiento de la legislación local que establece normas para el financiamiento agrícola y otros proyectos en el país.

"Yo estoy dispuesto si ellos no cumplen, a nacionalizar esa banca (...) no, no tengo ningún problema, lo vuelvo a repetir", dijo el mandatario.

En su discurso semanal, el mandatario venezolano también aseguró que dará paso a la expropiación de latifundios para dar tierra a los pequeños agricultores.

Los tres principales bancos privados en Venezuela son Banesco, Mercantil y el Provincial del BBVA.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL: Novak Djokovic wore down Rafael Nadal in the longest Grand Slam singles final in the history of professional tennis, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 after 5 hours, 53 minutes



MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Novak Djokovic wore down Rafael Nadal in the longest Grand Slam singles final in the history of professional tennis Sunday, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 after 5 hours, 53 minutes to claim his third Australian Open title.
Djokovic sealed victory at 1.37 a.m. local time and became the fifth man since the Open Era began in 1968 to win three straight Grand Slam finals.
The 24-year-old Djokovic tore off his shirt in celebration after one of the most dramatic finals in the history of the game. He went to his support camp and repeatedly thumped the side of the arena in delight and relief.
Djokovic's win maintained his mastery of Nadal, who has lost seven straight finals against the Serb since March last year.
In the most devastating of circumstances, Nadal became the first man in the Open Era to lose three straight major finals. He lost in four sets to Djokovic at last year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
After coming from 5-3 down to win the fourth-set tiebreaker, Nadal was up a break at 4-2 in the fifth set against Djokovic, who seemed to be tiring.
But the No. 1-ranked Djokovic, who needed almost five hours to win his semifinal against Andy Murray, somehow responded. He broke for a 6-5 lead and saved a break point before finally claiming the win.
The previous longest major singles final was Mats Wilander's win over Ivan Lendl at the U.S. Open in 1988, which lasted 4 hours, 54 minutes.
The longest Australian Open final also involved Wilander in 1988, when the Swede beat Pat Cash.
Nadal rested on the net before the trophy presentation.
“Good morning, everybody,” Nadal said, earning laughs and loud applause from the stadium. “Congratulations to Novak and his team. They deserve it. They are doing something fantastic, so congratulations.”


Nadal se resigna ante "Nole": "Es casi imposible ganarle"

El español, que perdió su tercera final de Grand Slam consecutiva ante el serbio, declaró en todo caso que "nunca olvidará" la definición de Australia.

29/01/2012 - 12:29
 
 
Tras disputar con 5 horas y 53 minutos la final más larga en la historia de los Grand Slam ante Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal apenas tuvo energías para hablar. Sin embargo, el español dedicó sus pocas palabras a su rival, expresando su resignación tras caer por tercera vez consecutiva ante el serbio en la definición de uno de los cuatro torneos grandes del ATP.
"Novak es un tenista muy bueno que está en un momento increíble, es casi imposible ganarle", comentó el manacorí, agregando que sólo tuvo fondo físico para afrontar el partido gracias a su cuerpo técnico y asistentes. "Sin mi equipo no podría siquiera haberle dado pelea. Si pude pelear el partido fue gracias a ellos", expresó.
A su vez, el número dos del mundo se mostró orgulloso de la final que presentaron en la Arena Rod Laver, pese a su derrota. "Aún perdiendo, fue un duelo fantástico. Djokovic y yo pasamos a la historia, así que nunca olvidaré este partido", señaló.
Cabe destacar que Rafael Nadal se transformó en el primer tenista en la historia en perder tres finales de Grand Slam consecutivas, tras caer ante "Nole" en Wimbledon, el US Open y hoy en Australia.


Djokovic dedica el triunfo a Nadal: "Hicimos historia, esta final es de los dos"

El tenista serbio aseguró además que es "un honor" para él haber logrado la final más larga de la historia de los Grand Slam junto a Nadal

por La Tercera y Agencias - 29/01/2012 - 12:17

Extasiado se pudo ver a Novak Djokovic tras ganar su tercera corona en el Abierto de Australia. Pese al cansancio, el tenista serbio expresó su felicidad no sólo por ganar el torneo, sino también por entrar en la historia al jugar la final   más larga de todos los Grand Slam, con 5 horas y 53 minutos. Un récord que, en todo caso, quiso compartir con su oponente, Rafael Nadal.
"Rafa es un jugador increíble, de los más respetados del circuito. Tener este récord con él es un honor. Sólo espero que nos encontremos en otra final de Grand Slam esta temporada para que volvamos a reeditar la historia", comentó el número uno del mundo, añadiendo que "pese a que yo gané, esta final es de los dos".
Respecto del torneo en sí, "Nole" admitió que jugar el torneo oceánico es especial para él, pues es una de las plazas más cariñosas con los competidores en general. "Ganar Australia es especial por el cariño que la gente te muestra aquí. Siempre será un placer jugar este torneo, donde además me va bien", sostuvo el campeón.
Cabe recordar que Djokovic venció a Nadal en la final más larga en la historia de los Grand Slam, superando la definición entre Mats Wislander e Ivan Lendl en el US Open de 1988, que duró 4 horas y 54 minutos. Además, el serbio rompió también récords económicos, pues se llevó el mayor premio otorgado en uno de los cuatro torneos grandes del ATP, US$ 2,45 millones de dólares.

BREAKING NEWS: The Shafia Family Found Guilty of First Degree Murder

KINGSTON, ONT.—This is Canada. They won’t be “hoisted onto the gallows.” But they’re going to prison for life.
Mohammad Shafia: Guilty on four counts of first-degree murder.
Tooba Mohammad Yahya: Guilty on four counts of first-degree murder.
Hamed Shafia: Guilty on four counts of first degree murder.
On Sunday afternoon, after 15 hours of deliberation, the jury of five men and seven women returned with their verdict.
Justice — 31 months removed from mass homicide at the Kingston Mills Locks.
Justice and vindication for Zainab, Sahar and Geeti Shafia, for Rona Amir Mohammad.
Justice — the best defence they could afford and presumption of innocence for all the accused — but a final day of reckoning for them at the Frontenac County Courthouse.
They’d waited for the verdict in the basement cell. It arrived shortly before 2 p.m.
Guilty across the board and no chance of parole for 25 years.
Mohammad Shafia is 59.
Tooba Mohammad Yahya is 42.
Hamed Shafia is 21.
The Shafia sisters were still in their teens when their lives came to an end in the early morning hours of June 30, 2009. Gorgeous Zainab was 19. Sultry Sahar was 17. Rebellious Geeti was 13. And Rona – sad, doomed, betrayed Rona — was 52.
Remember them.
The jury did.
Before his arrest, patriarch Mohammad Shafia had declared boastfully, oozing self-righteousness: “Even if they hoist me up onto the gallows … nothing is more dear to me than my honour.’’
No doubt that thought will keep him warm at night in his jail cell.
This is the price of “honour.” This is the price exacted for an “honour killing.”
As trials go, jurors faced a complex task. They had to consider more than three months of proceedings, including the testimony of 58 witnesses, 165 exhibits, physical evidence, forensics, wiretaps, laptop searches and diametrically opposing arguments from the Crown and the defence.
At the core of the trial was the key question: Were the deaths the result of a tragic car accident, as the defence contended, or murder driven by outrage over family honour besmirched?
A precise starting point for the saga is difficult to decipher. Could have been the moment that Zainab fled the family’s home in Montreal and sought sanctuary at a women’s shelter, triggering the “downward spiral of turmoil in that household.” Could have been when photographs of Sahar in her boyfriend’s embrace were discovered and shown to Sahar — prints of those pictures were found by police in the family’s Lexus and in the side-pocket of Hamed’s suitcase, packed for a getaway to Dubai that was prevented by his arrest. Could have been, arguably, when the clan of 10 immigrated to Canada in 2007 — settling amidst an alien culture where the social mores would remain forever cold-shouldered — setting in motion all subsequent events, every happenstance and choice that led ultimately to four bodies inside a vehicle at the bottom of the Rideau Canal.
The criminal chronicles, however, of Zainab, Sahar, Geeti and Rona began on the morning of June 30, 2009, when the family’s newly purchased — $5,000 — second-hand Nissan Sentra was found submerged in a lock at Kingston Mills. A civilian diver subsequently discovered there were people floating inside.
The victims were three Shafia daughters: Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, and 13-year-old Geeti, along with Shafia’s first wife in a clandestinely polygamous marriage, Rona Amir Mohammad, 52.
This grisly discovery would eventually lead to first-degree murder charges for each of the defendants and national hand-wringing over the phenomenon of “honour killings” imported to Canada from abroad.
And the plot had originated with Mohammad Shafia, said Crown attorney Laurie Lacelle in her closing submissions: “It was Shafia who set the plan in motion and offered the first concept for the murders – drowning.”
At trial — where opening statements began on Oct. 20 — the prosecution would formalize its theory that this was not just a mass murder but a mass honour killing, provoked by the victims’ behaviour, conduct so offensive to parents and brother (and, in Rona’s case, a husband) that homicide was the only remedy, a toxic salve for the Shafia reputation.
The teens were disobedient and defiant, Zainab and Sahar took boyfriends, all three girls wore revealing clothing — adolescent Geeti was actually sent home to change after showing up for class in a sweater cut too low — and, at various points, told authorities of problems at home. Zainab fled, which the Crown said was the “catalyst” for the murder plan.
Rona, meanwhile, the barren and eclipsed first wife — pushed out of the marital bed by preferred and fertile Tooba (a point she emphasized from the witness stand, insistent that Shafia had no further conjugal relations with his first missus when the second arrived on the scene) — had spoken of divorce and become a burden. The handsome woman who’d brought a considerable dowry to the union had asked Shafia for money — variously cited as $50,000 to $500,000 — to start her life anew near siblings in France. Shafia allegedly offered her $5,000.
It is intriguing that, as Montreal immigration lawyer Sabine Venturelli testified at the preliminary hearing, she’d been offered $10,000 by Shafia to close the file on Rona’s application for permanent residency status and have her sent back to Afghanistan. Though Venturelli did testify at trial, this detail was never heard by the jury because defence lawyers successfully argued it was hearsay. The offer had allegedly been relayed to Venturelli, on Shafia’s behalf, by an aunt of Tooba who lived in Montreal. At that point, Rona’s application had been progressing. She’d joined the family five months after everyone else had arrived in Montreal. Shafia came to Canada under the immigrant investor program, essentially a way of buying into the country, as permanent residents, for the well-heeled.
Justice Robert Maranger had instructed the jury they were to find the defendants guilty of either first-degree or second-degree murder or not guilty. A finding of manslaughter was not an option.
First-degree murder would imply premeditation. In the case of second-degree the planning element would not apply. Both mean life sentences but with no chance of parole for 25 years in first-degree murder and parole after anywhere from 10 to 25 years for second-degree, at the discretion of the judge.
Would that have made a difference for these convicted felons? For Hamed, no doubt, but even facing a quarter century behind bars, he’d still be only in his mid-40s upon release. And pious self-certitude – our murders, right or wrong – was a quality in abundance among the suspects, from the moment police planted bugs in their car and home phone.
Referencing sexy photos of voluptuous Zainab and Sahar — cellphone pics they’d taken of themselves — Shafia was both apoplectic and dead certain of having done the right thing. “Whenever I see those pictures, I am consoled. I say to myself, ‘you did well. Would they come back to life a hundred times, for you do to the same again.’ That is how hurt I am.
“Tooba, they betrayed us immensely. They violated us immensely. There can be no betrayal, no treachery, no violation more than this.
“They committed treason themselves. It was all treason. They committed treason from beginning to end. They betrayed kindness, they betrayed Islam, they betrayed our religion and creed, they betrayed everything.
“They brought about their rightful deaths.’’
And what did Tooba ever say in defence of the daughters she’d borne?
“I know Sadaf (Zainab) was already done, but I wish two others weren’t.”
Of Rona – well, Wife No. 1 was never on Tooba’s conscience.
A finding that one or more of the accused aided or abetted the principle offender in the case would still apply to either first- or second-degree murder had explained to the jury last Friday, in his lengthy instructions.
He also reminded the jury, as did the Crown, that although an abundance of evidence was presented to that effect, a “motive’’ — honour killing as argued by the Crown — was neither needed not proof required.
The case had revolved, as the judge noted, a “great deal of circumstantial evidence.”
The Crown said that all three defendants participated in and contributed to a planned mass murder. They searched the Internet on such subjects as “where to commit a murder,” and scouted out sites, prosecutors documented. They chose the locks at Kingston Mills on a return family trip from Niagara Falls. They drowned their intimates somewhere on the site, placed them in the Nissan, and attempted to tip that vehicle off the precipice of the northern-most lock. The Nissan got up on the concrete ledge, however, and the Lexus was deployed to push the smaller vehicle into the water.
That episode — unplanned, obviously — caused damage to the Lexus’ headlamp, pieces of which were found at the canal and in Montreal where Hamed admitted to staging an accident with a guard rail in a parking lot, specifically to cover up damage absorbed by the SUV. Damage to the two vehicles would later be matched up by accident reconstruction experts.
Intercepted communications also recorded Shafia using caustic language to refer to his daughters, calling them “treacherous’’ and “whores.”
Shafia seemingly justified the murders on one intercept: “No, Tooba, they messed up. There was no other way. Tooba, for the love of God, look at what they did. No, Tooba, they were treacherous to both themselves and us. For the love of God, Tooba, damnation on this life of ours, on these years of life that we lead.”
And he was unrepentant: “Even if they come back to life a hundred times, if I have a cleaver in my hand, I will (them) to pieces. Not once but a hundred times. As they acted that cruel towards you and me, for the love of God, what had we done (to them)?: We had excess had we committed that they … undressed themselves in front of boys?
“If we remain alive one night or one year, we have no tension in our hearts, (thinking that) our daughter is in the arms of this or that boy, in the arms of this or that man. God curse their graduation! Curse of God on both of them (Zainab and Sahar), on their kind. God’s curses on them for a generation.
“May the devil sh-- on their graves! Is that what a daughter should be? What a daughter be such a whore?’’
For the trio of defence counsel, this was always portrayed as a dreadful accident, with a confused Zainab, who had no licence, at the wheel, driving the Nissan catastrophically into the canal.
That it was an honour killing, Patrick McCann – who represented Hamed (who never took the stand) – said was “preposterous.”
As the family maintained from the start, Zainab took the keys to the Nissan after the family had checked into two rooms at the Kingston East Motel, taking the car for a joyride with three passengers, Rona purportedly in search of phone cards – at 2 a.m.
Defence lawyer Peter Kemp, for Shafia, offered a timeline that suggested four people couldn’t have been drowned with enough time to spare, such that Hamed could be back in Montreal by 6.48, when he took a call on his cellphone in that city.
The prosecution dismantled that proposal, countering with a different timeline.
Hamed never took the stand. Tooba did and tried to deflect suspicion from her oldest boy, even if that meant throwing her husband under the bus.
And Shafia, who dabbed a handkerchief to his eyes at various junctures of the trial, he maintained innocence on the stand but cut the victims – Zainab and Sahar especially – no slack for their sins.
His conscience, as the intercepts had shown beyond a doubt, was at peace: “I (am) happy and my conscience is clear. They haven’t done good and God punished them. My conscience, my God, my religion, my creed, aren’t shameful. Even if they hoist me up onto the gallows … nothing is more dear to me than my honour.’’
Father had advised and reassured son: “We are not ashamed of our conscience, neither you nor I nor your mother. Be like a man. Your mother is also like a man … Even if God forbid, they hoist us onto the gallows.
“Don’t think about it, don’t worry about it, whatever the eventuality, it is from God. We accept it wholeheartedly.
“There is nothing more valuable than our honour.”

Friday, January 27, 2012

WOMEN SOCCER OLYMPIC QUALIFYING: United States got tickets to London 2012 with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica




























VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The United States earned its fifth straight trip to the Olympics, beating Costa Rica 2-0 Friday night in the semifinals of CONCACAF women's qualifying.

Goals by Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan provided the smallest margin of victory for the United States in the tournament, having won three previous games by a combined 31-0.

The three-time and defending Olympic champion Americans earned the first of two berths from CONCACAF, with the other to be decided in the second semifinal between Mexico and Canada.

It was the eighth victory for the Americans in eight meetings against the Ticas, but it matched the closest the Costa Ricans had come to the United States in 11½ years of matches. Twice before Costa Rica had lost 3-0 to the United States - in 2008 and 2010.

Heath gave the United States the lead in the 17th, Lloyd scored her sixth goal to add the insurance in the 72nd and Morgan completed the tally in the 89th.

Costa Rica started brightly with high pressure that disrupted the United States' possession in the first half. It hit the bar midway through the first half, but appeared to fatigue in the second half, when the Americans repeatedly threatened the Ticas goal.

Heath scored her second of the tournament and fifth in her international career when Lauren Cheney curled a corner kick to the far post. Abby Wambach bounced a header that keeper Erika Miranda palmed away but right to Heath, who headed it in.

Miranda was one of five changes Costa Rica coach Karla Aleman made to her starting lineup from Monday's match against Canada. Besides getting Katherine Alvarado back from her concussion suffered in the group stage and Daniela Cruz from a knee injury, Miranda replaced Julieth Arias, who had played the first three matches but allowed a howler in the loss to Canada.

The United States had the better of play in the remainder of the first half, but Costa Rica had its chances. U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo had to race off her line to the top her penalty area to block a sprinting Raquel Rodriguez in the 25th, and Cruz unleashed a 35-meter effort that struck the intersection of the post and crossbar in the 27th.

The Americans, however, began to dominate in the second half, generating four corner kicks in the first 14 minutes.

They doubled the lead when Wambach was able to break in alone on Miranda and attempted to chip a ball over her. Miranda was just able to get a hand to it and Cruz was able to clear off the line. But the ball went to Lloyd, who shot from the top of the area past a scrambling Costa Rica defense.

Morgan, who replaced Heath in the 63rd capitalized on a clearly tiring Costa Rica defense, beating both Wendy Acosta and Carol Sanchez to the byline, turning inside and flicking past Miranda.

The United States, which had only two shots on goal by the 27th minute, outshot Costa Rica 21-7 in the final tally and continued its streak of being the only team from CONCACAF to play in every Olympics since women's soccer was introduced in 1996.






VANCOUVER, British Columbia — In the end, what matters is that the U.S. women’s soccer team is going to the Olympics. What the players won’t soon forget is how hard they had to work get there.


The Americans booked their way to London on Friday night with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, a game more suspenseful than most anyone expected.

- United States’ Abby Wambach, center, crashes into Costa Rica goalkeeper Erika Miranda, left, during the first half of CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying soccer game action at B.C. Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012.

.Tobin Heath scored in the 16th minute to give U.S. all the scoring it needed, and goals by Carli Lloyd (72nd) and Alex Morgan (89th) put the game away late.

But the top-ranked Americans were less crisp than when they were beating teams by a combined 31-0 earlier in the tournament and drawing criticism for running up the score.

Costa Rica is ranked No. 41 in the world, has never qualified for an Olympics or a World Cup and has never scored on the U.S. in eight meetings. Las Ticas proved to be scrappy opponents, however, occasionally frustrating the Americans with physical play and just missing on two solid scoring chances in the first half in the London-or-bust match. As the possibility of an upset lingered deep into the second half, the underdogs gained the rousing support of the Canadian fans at BC Place.

In the end, a speedy, unflappable quartet of American defenders — Kelley O’Hara, Rachel Buehler, Christie Rampone and Amy LePeilbet — combined with goalkeeper Hope Solo to keep Costa Rica out of the net. Solo played despite a slightly pulled right quadriceps that had been bothering her all week.

The U.S. will be the two-time defending champions in London, having taken gold in Athens in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008. It will be the third straight Olympics in which the Americans will be trying to make amends for World Cup disappointment from the previous year. They finished second at last year’s World Cup in Germany, losing to Japan in the final.

The victory also puts the Americans into the tournament final Sunday, a bragging-rights-only game against the winner of Friday’s late game between Mexico and Canada.

The Americans had scored so easily in the tournament that it seemed odd to see the game scoreless until the 16th minute, when a set piece produced the first goal. Lauren Cheney’s corner kick was headed down at the far post by Shannon Boxx. Goalkeeper Erika Miranda made the save but deflected the ball to Heath, whose looping header was her fifth career U.S. national team goal.

Costa Rica, outscored 34-0 in the seven previous games against the U.S., nearly tied the game after a giveaway by Buehler set up Fernanda Barrantes with a clean look from 15 yards in the 20th minute, forcing Solo to the ground to make the save.

Then, in the 27th, Carol Sanchez launched a 30-yarder that clanged off the frame at the intersection of the post and the crossbar. With Solo on the ground, Buehler fought off Barrantes to keep the striker from getting the rebound with a clean shot at an open net.

Costa Rica finally had its hopes deflated in the 72nd, when Abby Wambach’s chip shot was cleared off the line by Daniela Cruz and out to Lloyd, whose left-footer from the top of the 18-yard box doubled the lead.

Morgan, a second-half substitute, chipped in the insurance goal shortly before the final whistle.

Even with the closer-than-expected result, the Americans have evoked the good old days at this tournament with their mostly lopsided scores. While that’s hardly surprising given the slow development of women’s soccer in parts of North and Central American and the Caribbean, it’s also indicative the U.S. still have the deepest, most talented team in the world.

But Pia Sundhage’s team arrived in Canada with a bit of apprehension. The Americans, having become somewhat complacent from years of uncontested success in the region, were stunned in a World Cup qualifier by host Mexico in November 2010, forcing them into a home-and-away playoff with Italy just to get for the World Cup. Also, the format for Olympic qualifying is such that everything hinges on one game — the do-or-die semifinals — regardless of how a team performs in the rest of the tournament.

Determined to take nothing for granted, the Americans have been full throttle for every game. They set a U.S. team record for goals in a game in a 14-0 win over the Dominican Republic, then nearly matched the feat in a 13-0 rout of Guatemala. Then came a 4-0 win a much anticipated rematch with Mexico to set up the semifinal against Costa Rica.








For live streamlined Tv broadcasting for

CANADA VS MEXICO

tonight, go to:

http://www.concacaf.com/