By Keir Radnedge, Chairman AIPS Football Commission
LONDON, February 28, 2014 - The draw for the qualifying stages of the top-heavy 2016 European Championship left little room for satisfaction. Particularly inmpatient was a Chilean accountant who believes he can refresh the competitive system.
Leandro Shara has come up with a sort of football version of the Rubik's Cube: except that in the case of Shara's systems, the solution is always guaranteed.
Some 23 of the 54 members of European federation UEFA will reach the finals in France in two years' time.
Not only that but hosts France will compete the preliminaries even though automatically through to 'their' final as host nation.
The reasoning is two-fold:
1, The most important: UEFA has created a 'week of football' concept with matches of the top nations staggered to fuel the centralised sale of television rights - every nation had to be on board and thus France had to be included in the competitive schedule;
2, the concern that a host nation, lacking competitive football, slip down the world rankings which are being afforded increasing importance in tournament seeding.
Inevitably, many of the qualifying matches will be considered academic and UEFA risks seeing a lack of interest, with poor attendances, in the closing stages with certain nations long since through to the finals.
Not only that, but the Week of Football concept which sees matches being played on unusual days – England start against Switzerland on a Monday – risks provoking a drop in live attendances.
The ‘fault’ lies in a lack of imagination: international federations remains wedded to the concept of qualifying competitions build around self-contained mini-leagues of four, five or six teams.
The groups are drawn, for the sake of fair play, on a basis of coefficients (computed points per games from previous games). However this ‘fairness’ is only skin-deep. In fact, the use of coefficients fixes nations in various 'classes' of competitive worth – just as financial fair play will ‘stream’ clubs.
For example, nations who land up in the third or fourth 'pot' will always be drawn against better teams and, therefore, will have ever-reduced opportunities of scaling the ladder of competitive opportunity. They become trapped in a hopeless Never-Never-Land.
Shara believes his MatchVision company could be the Peter Pan which comes to the rescue of an increasingly stultifying system.
The trick is to find a new qualifying system which offers nations wider potential for progress on their merits along with more ‘headline’ matches between leading teams.
Shara believes this is possible. He has already been in discussions with several federations and confederations, including CONCACAF, as well as governing bodies in other sports, notably tennis.
He says: “International federations continue to use 100-year-old formats which encourage teams to compete on a not-losing rather than on a need-to-win basis. It is a system which does not match top teams against each other on enough occasions.
“Do you know, for example, that Brazil and Germany have met only once in a World Cup and that Argentina have never played against Spain? This is not right for the greatest tournament in football.
“We would like to invite football - and other sports - to open themselves up to new possibilities.”
As Sara points out Paraguay, notoriously, reached the final of the last Copa America without winning a single game. They could even have won the 2011 tournament without a single victory if the final against Uruguay had gone to penalties.
He says: “New models do exist which allow tournaments to be real all-against-all competitions, in which participants will play the same three initial games, yet in which uncertainty about reaching the next round is reduced from the current 50pc to 17pc.
“Having increased uncertainty, competition will increase, efforts to score goals will increase and, moreover, the business around sports will be dramatically enhanced: Each match in the tournament will have real impact on the final ranking of each participant.
“TV will draw more ratings and everybody will talk about a real global competition from the first game on. Teams will play to obtain the maximum number of points rather than the minimum to advance.”
Shara’s systems are based on fixtures computed across, say, three ‘pods’ so that teams have a much wider range of opposition. This, in theory, offersgreater potential for movement within the restrictive levels imposed by imprisonment of the coefficients system.
At a time when national team football is losing ground to the club game, Shara may have the formulae to lead a revival. All it needs now is for a little lateral thinking . . . for the good of the game.
La actriz de Canal 13 y protagonista de la nueva
teleserie, Mamá mechona, obtuvo una amplia mayoría. La coronación se
realizará este 27 de febrero, mientras que el tradicional piscinazo será
el 28.
por P. Reyes -
26/02/2014 - 22:05
La actriz Sigrid Alegría se convirtió en la nueva reina del Festival de Viña 2014. La artista de 39 años superó ampliamente a sus contrincantes obteniendo 152 votos de un total de 276, recibiendo la victoria sobre la ex chica Mekano, Karen Paola de Mega (54 votos), Javiera Acevedo de TVN (47 votos) y la representante mexicana de la competencia internacional del certamen, Ninah (11 votos).
La instancia superó la votación del año anterior, donde sufragaron 262 periodistas que año tras año eligen a la reina del certamen viñamarino.
A modo de broma, también obtuvieron votos el animador Luis Jara (4
votos) y el periodista de Canal 13, Francisco Saavedra (2 votos).
La coronación se realizará este 27 de febrero, mientras que el tradicional 'piscinazo' se efectuará en viernes 28, en la piscina del Hotel O'Higgins.
Alegría protagoniza la nueva teelserie de las 20.00 horas de Canal 13, Mamá mechona, que comenzará la próxima semana y cuya candidatura al cetro de Viña se convirtió en una promoción del proyecto.
Sofia Vergara wears her monokini on vacation and on-screen. Credit: Ramey Photo
Who needs a costume designer? Sofia Vergara certainly doesn’t!
The 41-year-old actress, who plays Gloria on "Modern Family," has taken her sassy character's style into her own hands and has been regularly plucking pieces from her personal wardrobe to outfit Gloria.
On Thursday, the cast of the Emmy-winning ABC sitcom hit Bondi Beach in Australia to film scenes for an upcoming episode. Vergara, aka Gloria, poured her curves into a neon Agent Provocateur Mazzy monokini and looked sizzling hot as she pranced around in the sand with co-star Ty Burrell. She paired her on-screen ensemble with a purple, pleated beach skirt. The swimsuit, which features sexy bandage-style cutouts and lime green, tangerine, and pink paneling, is none other than Vergara's.
Vergara stepped out in a nearly identical ensemble one year ago during an off-screen vacation to Greece with her fiancé Nick Loeb. At the time, she teamed her $450 swimsuit with a green pleated beach skirt.
This isn't the first time the Emmy-nominated actress has hunted through her closet for Gloria's clothes, either. During Season 4 when Gloria was pregnant with her second child, Vergara snatched sexy blouses from her Sofia by Sofia Vergara for Kmart line for Gloria to wear.
Vergara told Yahoo in an interview in 2012 that she's been styling her character for years.
"Most of the ideas for Gloria’s style are my ideas. I kind of created the way that Gloria dressed," the Latin bombshell dished. "Gloria's been wearing all these shirts and dresses from Kmart. The outfit I wore on last night’s episode is a [rose-printed] shirt from the collection. The bigger the belly gets … the more of these blouses I’ve been using on her because they stretch."
Sofia wears two pieces from her Kmart collection on the set of Modern Family. Credit: INFDaily.com
The Fall 2012 Kmart collection green dress and rose-printed blouse are definitely situated at a more affordable price point than her bathing suit. Most of the items in Vergara's collection, which she launched in 2011, cost less than $50.
While the show can certainly afford to pay for Gloria's wardrobe, perhaps giving Vegara's Kmart clothing line free product placement was part of her negotiations with ABC following a lawsuit in 2012. She and her co-stars fought for a salary increase from $65,000 an episode to $170,000 and won. Today, Vergara is television's highest paid actress and rakes in a sizable $30 million per year.
Regardless of whether the show would spring for Vergara's wardrobe purchases, one thing is for sure: She knows what fits and makes sure Gloria has access to her favorite looks.
El entrenador de la selección chilena, Jorge Sampaoli, oficializó la nómina de jugadores que viajarán a Stuttgart para medirse a la selección de Alemania, el próximo 5 de marzo.
Entre las novedades, figura el regreso de los delanteros Mauricio Pinilla (Cagliari) y Fabián Orellana (Celta).
El casildense llamó a 19 jugadores del medio extranjero y completará la lista con valores del medio local.
Entre los ausentes del último llamado figuran el lateral del Malmo sueco, Miiko Albornoz, y el delantero del Baniyas, Carlos Muñoz.
Revisa la nómina de la "Roja" para el amistoso ante Alemania:
1. Claudio Bravo - Real Sociedad (España) 2. Gary Medel – Cardiff City (Gales) 3. Marcos González – Flamengo (Brasil) 4. Gonzalo Jara - Nottingham Forest (Inglaterra) 5. Eugenio Mena – Santos (Brasil) 6. Mauricio Isla – Juventus (Italia) 7. Carlos Carmona - Atalanta (Italia) 8. Marcelo Díaz – Basilea (Suiza) 9. Francisco Silva - Osasuna (España) 10. Jorge Valdivia - Palmeiras (Brasil) 11. Charles Aránguiz - Internacional (Brasil) 12. Arturo Vidal – Juventus (Italia) 13. Felipe Gutiérrez - Twente (Holanda) 14. Matías Fernández - Fiorentina (Italia) 15. Eduardo Vargas - Valencia (España) 16. Alexis Sánchez - Barcelona (España) 17. Fabián Orellana - Celta (España) 18. Mauricio Pinilla - Cagliari (Italia) 19. Jean Beausejour - Wigan Athletic (Inglaterra)
Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring and winning the Women's Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game between Canada and USA at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 20, 2014.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
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Another chapter in a classic hockey rivalry is in the books. And it ended in the most dramatic fashion.
Team Canada faced off against the U.S. for the gold medal in the women’s Olympic hockey tournament.
Canada was looking for its fourth Olympic gold medal in a row, and they got it eight minutes into an intense overtime period.
Thursday’s game – characterized by penalties and goaltending – tipped in the favour of the U.S. throughout the first two periods, with the Americans leading Canada 2-0.
Both teams upped the intensity in the third period, and with minutes left in regulation, Canada added two goals, tying the game up 2-2.
Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin scored the golden goal in overtime – giving Canada the gold medal.
First period
The first period was physical, with both teams heading to the penalty box multiple times.
Goalie Shannon Szabados kept Canada alive, making huge saves while the Americans were on consecutive power plays.
Canada took its third penalty of the period 14 minutes in. Tara Watchorn got two minutes for tripping, her second penalty of the game.
The U.S. took two penalties in the first period.
The Americans outshot Canada 11-9 in the first, neither team managed to make the scoreboard.
Second period
The U.S. opened the scoring nearly two minutes into the second period. Meghan Duggan got the goal (her first of the tournament), with Jocelyne Lamoureux assisting.
The Canadians had a huge opportunity to even the score as the U.S. took two penalties 30 seconds apart, giving Canada the two-player advantage. But Canada was unable to capitalize and the U.S. went back to full strength with the score still 1-0.
Canada outshot the U.S. 8-5 in the second period.
Third period
The U.S. widened its lead to 2-0 with a power play goal from Alex Carpenter, assisted by Hilary Knight and Kelli Stack.
Both teams upped the intensity in the third, Canada switching up their line combinations and the U.S. continuing to play a physical game, the U.S. defence shutting down the Canadian attackers, playing one of their best games of the tournament. As the clock ticked down, the speed of the Americans became more and more evident.
With three and a half minutes to go in the game, Canada’s Brianne Jenner got her first goal of the tournament, making it a one-goal game.
Szabados headed to the bench to give Canada the extra attacker, with a minute and a half left on the clock.
With less than a minute left on the clock Canada’s Poulin scored, sending the game to overtime.
Overtime
Because it’s a gold medal game, the teams went to a 20-minute, sudden death overtime.
Canada took a penalty in OT, Catherine Ward got two minutes for cross-checking. The U.S. took a slashing penalty seconds later, evening it up to three-on-three hockey (Olympic OT is played four-on-four).
On a breakaway play for Canada, American Hilary Knight took a cross-checking penalty, giving Canada a fourth attacker back on the ice.
Poulin got the golden goal for Canada on the power play, reviving memories of 2010 when she scored Canada’s only two goals in the final game against the U.S., a game they won 2-0.
Canada’s Olympic flag-bearer Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette now join Soviet biathlete Alexander Tikhonov and German speedskater Claudia Pechstein as gold medallists in four consecutive Winter Games.
Hilary Knight #21 of the United States fights for control of the puck against Meaghan Mikkelson #12 and Shannon Szabados #1 of Canada during the Ice Hockey Women’s Gold Medal Game on day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
US Alex Carpenter (C) celebrates after scoring during the Women’s Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game between Canada and USA at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 20, 2014.
ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images
Brianne Jenner #19 of Canada celebrates scoring a third-period goal against the United States with teammate Catherine Ward #18 during the Ice Hockey Women’s Gold Medal Game on day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Martin Rose/Getty Images
Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin (R) celebrates after scoring during the Women’s Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game between Canada and USA at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 20, 2014.
ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images
Canada’s Hayley Wickenheiser (R) vies with US Hilary Knight during the Women’s Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game between Canada and USA at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 20, 2014.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring and winning the Women’s Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game between Canada and USA at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 20, 2014.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
Marie-Philip Poulin #29 of Canada celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the United States in overtime as Anne Schleper #15 and Michelle Picard #23 of the United States react during the Ice Hockey Women’s Gold Medal Game on day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Caroline Oullette #13 and Melodie Daoust #15 of Canada celebrate after defeating the United States 3-2 in overtime during the Ice Hockey Women’s Gold Medal Game on day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Meaghan Mikkelson #12 of Canada celebrates after defeating the United States 3-2 in overtime during the Ice Hockey Women’s Gold Medal Game on day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Gold medalists Canada celebrate during the flower ceremony for the Ice Hockey Women’s Gold Medal Game on day 13 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 20, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Harry How/Getty Images
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Gold medal game lineup
Szabados started in net for Team Canada. She was on the gold-medal winning team in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, getting two shutouts in the tournament, including in the gold medal game against the U.S.
Szabados also got a shutout in Sochi against Finland, and let one across the blue line in Canada’s 3-1 win against Switzerland.
Jessie Vetter started in net for the U.S. (she was also in net during the final game of the 2010 Olympics). Vetter has played in three of four games for the Americans in Sochi, with a record of two wins and one loss (against Canada).
Leading up to the gold medal game
Thursday’s matchup comes as no surprise – Canada and the U.S. have dominated the women’s hockey tournament since its inclusion in the Winter Olympics in 1998.
Canada and the U.S. were once again the dominant teams throughout the Sochi games; Canada goes into the gold medal game with a perfect record and the only game the U.S. lost was to Canada in a thrilling preliminary game.
The Canadian women are going for their fourth straight Olympic gold medal, but the Sochi tournament has had its ups and downs.
Their best game of the tournament so far has been against the U.S. in the preliminary round, where they won 3-2.
But the team took a lot of penalties against the Swiss during their semifinal game, something head coach Kevin Dineen is concerned about.
While they can get away with taking penalties against weaker teams, it will be a different story against the fast and talented American squad. Watch the video below: Canada, US women’s hockey teams go for gold again
In other hockey news
In a dramatic finish, Switzerland scored four goals in the third period, beating Sweden 4-3 after trailing by two goals through the first two periods.
Switzerland takes the bronze medal in the women’s Olympic hockey tournament; it’s the team’s first medal in Olympic hockey
Canada's Haley Irwin takes a shot on USA's goalie Jessie Vetter during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Team USA's players celebrate Meghan Duggan's goal in the second period as Canada's Tara Watchorn and Catherine Ward skate back to their bench during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Al Charest/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency OLY2014
during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Team Canada players gather at the bench during the women's ice hockey gold medal game against the US at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
USA's Kelli Stack knocks over Canada's goalie Shannon Szabados during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Team USA celebrates a goal against Team Canada during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Canada's goalie Shannon Szabados makes a save during the women's ice hockey gold medal game against Team USA at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Team Canada gather at the net before the women's ice hockey gold medal game against Team USA at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
USA's Meghan Duggan takes a shot on Canada's goalie Shannon Szabados during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
USA's Meghan Duggan watches the puck in front of Team Canada's goal during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
USA's Meghan Duggan watches the puck in front of Team Canada's goal during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Canada's Genevieve Lacasse fights off USA's Michelle Picard during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Team USA's goalie Jessie Vetter makes a save during the women's ice hockey gold medal game against Canada at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Canada's goalie Shannon Szabados makes a save during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Team USA's goalie Jessie Vetter makes a save during the women's ice hockey gold medal game against Canada at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Team USA's bench during the women's ice hockey gold medal game against Team Canada at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Team Canada's bench during the women's ice hockey gold medal game against Team USA at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Team Canada players celebrate their game tying goal against Team USA during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) scores the gold medal winning goal in overtime against Team USA's goalie Jessie Vetter (31) and Anne Schleper (15) during their women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh (RUSSIA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY OLYMPICS)
Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates after scoring in overtime on Team USA's goalie Jessie Vetter (31) to win their women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games February 20, 2014. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor (RUSSIA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY OLYMPICS)
Team Canada players celebrate their game tying goal against Team USA during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin scores the tying goal against Team USA during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (front) celebrates her game-tying goal against Team USA during the women's ice hockey gold medal game at the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. Ben Pelosse/Journal de Montreal/QMI Agency OLY2014
SOCHI, RUSSIA - To think it came that close to ending
A wobbling puck bounced off the post of an empty net with 83 seconds left in the game of a lifetime, Canadian goaltender Shannon Szabados was on the bench for an extra attacker and an American team that for 58 minutes had played near-perfect hockey was up 2-1.
About 40 minutes in real time later, after improbable scoring, questionable refereeing and stunning shifts in momentum, Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin, who wrote herself into Canadian hockey history, was standing with a Canadian flag and a gold medal around her neck.
Poulin, who tied the game with 55 seconds left in regulation, delivered Canada’s fourth gold medal in a row with an overtime power-play goal at 8:10 of overtime for a 3-2 win after Canada scored two goals in the final three-and-a-half minutes of the third period.
Poulin snapped home a shot from the left wing circle behind U.S. goaltender Jessie Vetter with American Hilary Knight in the penalty box after a bizarre sequence that saw Canadian veteran Haley Wickenheiser break away and be brushed from behind by Knight. Wickenheiser fell down.
British referee Joy Tottman at first appeared to be signalling a penalty shot by pointing to centre ice, then gave Knight a crosschecking penalty.
Poulin then scored her second of the night and triggered a wild swarm of red and white as the Canadians celebrated in the corner to Vetter’s right in the Bolshoy Ice Dome.
It ended some rocky work by Tottman, who had given the Americans a power play at 6:09 of overtime when Canadian defenceman Catherine Ward ran over an American beside the net. She then evened it up with a cheap slashing call on American Jocelyne Lamoureux, who tapped Szabados’ pads after she made a save.
Minutes after winning, the Canadians waved flags thrown to them by Canadians in the stands and listened to an impromtu version of O Canada sung by the crowd.
The Canadians scored two goals in the final 3:26 of the third to tie a game that looked like the Americans had wrapped up in an iron fist.
Canada’s Brianne Jenner got Canada on the board with Szabados on the bench for the extra attacker when her shot went in off the knee of American defenceman Kacey Bellamy and Poulin tied it with 55 seconds to go, burying a forehand shot past Vetter.
The Americans had almost scored on the empty net with 1:23 to go for a 3-1 lead, but a shot from inside the U.S. blue-line by Kelli Stack clanked off that post.
It was that close.
Canada was looking for a successful conclusion to three months of turmoil and controversy, which included the resignation of coach Dan Church in December and the hiring of Kevin Dineen and a change in captains from Wickenheiser to Caroline Ouellette.
They fell behind 2-0 on goals by Meghan Duggan and Alex Carpenter and didn’t look like they would get a sniff.
On Duggan’s goal, the Americans swarmed into the Canadian zone after a turnover along the boards by veteran Canadian defenceman Ward. With U.S. veteran Julie Chu going to the net and battling with Canadian defenceman Tara Watchorn, Szabados never saw Duggan’s fine shot to the top corner on the glove side.
Duggan dropped to her right knee, right elbow tight to her side, fist clenched.
Carpenter made it 2-0 on the power play — Watchorn was in the box serving her third minor penalty of the night — two minutes into the third period when she converted a sublime setup by American forward Hilary Knight.
Working on the left wing, Knight threaded a pass between the skates of Canada’s Laura Fortina and to the blade of Carpenter’s stick at the left post. Carpenter knocked it in off the post.
Canada had trouble getting to the front of the net and had no second-chance opportunities to speak of, making Vetter’s life pretty easy.
Canada’s power play failed to generate any momentum, especially when handed a 5-on-3 advantage just after Duggan had opened the scoring.
Through two periods, Canada had opportunities given to them by Tottman, but couldn’t do anything with them. Canada had a 5-on-3 for 32 seconds in the second period when the U.S. was given a penalty for too many players on the ice and then American defenceman Anne Schleper was sent off.
But the U.S. wound up getting control of the puck off a scrambled draw and shot the puck down the ice, taking almost 20 seconds off the two-man disadvantage.
They didn’t wind up with a single shot through that stretch of power play time and when they look back on what went wrong, that will sting.
chris.stevenson@sunmedia.ca
twitter.com/CJ_Stevenson
fair play will ‘stream’ clubs.
Sofia Vergara wears her monokini on vacation and on-screen. Credit: Ramey Photo
Sofia wears two pieces from her Kmart collection on the set of Modern Family. Credit: INFDaily.com
Pinilla regresa a la selección chilena para el partido ante Alemania. 
Sochi Olympics: Women’s hockey finals schedule 
Switzerland scores 4 in the 3rd period, wins bronze in women’s hockey 
Hockey fans gear up for rival showdowns; Canadian men and women set to play U.S. 
Women’s hockey: Canada advances to gold-medal game 
Canadian women’s hockey team defeats USA 3-2 
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