Japan set-up a rematch of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup final with the United States as Laura Bassett’s late own goal handed them a tense 2-1 victory over England at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

Just as the hard-fought contest looked set for extra-time, Bassett inadvertently sliced her clearance into her own net via the crossbar in the second minute of time added on at the end of the match to hand the defending champions a dramatic victory.

The dramatic conclusion, which was harsh on an England team that had more than held their own throughout the match, came after both sides scored penalties in a thrilling first-half.

Japan's Aya Miyama had broken the deadlock from the spot just after the half-hour mark.

England responded quickly and restored parity on 40 minutes when Fara Williams also converted a penalty.

But, despite England's best efforts, Bassett’s cruel misfortune ensured their World Cup dream ended at the semi-final stage as Japan progressed to the tournament’s showpiece match, where they will have the chance to defend the title they won on penalties in Frankfurt four years ago.

The United States will be out for revenge following their defeat four years ago.

They reached the final by virtue of a 2-0 success against world number one ranked Germany in Montreal yesterday.

The English team began brightly and Jodie Taylor was unfortunate to see her effort from distance fly just wide of the post.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Olympic silver medallists went in front as Claire Rafferty was adjudged to have fouled Saori Ariyoshi in the penalty-area, despite replays clearly showing the incident occurred outside.

Japan captain Miyama stepped up to coolly convert the resulting penalty but England hit back with a leveller five minutes before the interval.

Yuki Ogimi was the guilty party as she was pulled up for a foul on marauding full-back Steph Houghton and Williams followed Miyama’s lead, crashing home her penalty.

The evenly-poised nature of the semi-final continued after the break, although England could have turned the contest on its head but Toni Duggan’s shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

Jill Scott then had a decent chance but she guided her header wide of the post before the introduction of Mana Iwabuchi brought about a momentum change in favour of Japan.

She jinked her way into the area but hit her shot the wrong side of the posts.

With the scores level, Bassett accidentally diverted the ball into her own net, prompting desolate tears from the England defender and elation for Japan, who will meet the United States in the final at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday (July 5).

England, meanwhile, will return to the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton to take on Germany in the third-place play-off on Saturday (July 4).

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VETERAN TRINIDAD and Tobago rifle shooter Roger Daniel is bracing for the challenge he will expect at the Pan American Games, scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, from July 10-26.

At the 2011 edition in Guadalajara, Mexico, the 45-year-old Daniel earned a silver medal in the men’s 10-metre air pistol and, this month, he will be seeking another piece of silverware, in his third Pan Am Games.

During an interview on Monday, the Defence Force standout said, “this time around, I know it’s even more challenging because the rules in the sport (have) changed.

“But I believe this time, a gold is the goal. I feel more confident, I feel stronger, much more secure in the sport,” he added.

The 10-metre air pistol will take place on July 12 at the Pan Am Shooting Centre in Innisfil.

The event consisted of two rounds — a qualifier and a final. In the qualifier, each shooter fired 60 shots with an air pistol at 10 metres distance. Scores for each shot were in increments of one, with a maximum score of 10.

The top eight shooters in the qualifying round moved on to the final round. There, they fired an additional 10 shots. These shots scored in increments of .1, with a maximum score of 10.9. The total score from all 70 shots was used to determine final ranking.

Daniel commented, “the way it has changed, you’ll definitely have to increase (your) training and muscular endurance because it’s more crowd-orientated. No longer it’s points going forward to the finals, now it’s more concentration, it’s a longer time.”

Stating that his preparations has been “very good”, Daniel does not see himself retiring from competitive rifle shooting anytime soon.

“The sport affords you to go as long as you can hold the unit, really and truly,” he said. “Look Joe Costa just won in the United States and he’s aged 50. So he has won the World Championship twice, back-to- back.

“So I’m not putting it past (me). My sport allows me to go at that age and beyond, so if I’m afforded to go, I will do it,” he ended.

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…locals second on medal table, third overall

Prisons Commissioner Sterling Stewart says NGOs like Vision on Mission (VoM) were very important for the reintegration of ex-offenders into society.

In a passionate address, Stewart, at VoM’s award ceremony at Central Bank auditorium on Tuesday night, said in his 37 years in the prisons, he recognised one of the weaknesses of the system was after-care.

“When I speak and interact with the offenders, they always have good intentions, but the road to hell is always paved in good intentions. When they are released, that re-integration part of it, what do they have to go back to? No family support, no jobs and that is why this partnership with NGOS like Vision on Mission is so important, because we have the same mission,” he said.

He noted one of the main missions of a prison officer is to prepare the prisoners for reintegration into society as law-abiding citizens, but he admitted that was a challenge as some of the prisoners were “out of timing”.

“They come in here and want to tell you how to run your area, don’t search them, don’t touch them, don’t talk to them. It’s the last stand, I have to protect, the community, I have to protect society and I have an opportunity to do that through programmes, through the way we interact with them, through Vision on Mission,” he said.

As he spoke, Stewart had the support of the audience as they clapped and cheered him on. He admitted that the job as a prison officer was a risky one, but he was not afraid as he quoted a scripture from the Bible. “The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what can man do unto me?” he said.

“They are rebelling against authority...for us to carry out our lawful duties, our life is at risk and it’s time people recognise correctional officers and the sacrifice they have to make on a daily basis,” he said.

Thirteen minutes into his speech, Stewart was about to be notified by a VoN official that his time was almost up, but he quickly backed away and said, it was his time to talk and he continued quoting scriptures.

“When you’re talking about restoration, rehabilitation, reformation, you have to talk about God. When you leave prison, that transition, they need people to shape them; to love them, that’s why Vision on Mission is so important. We need everyone on board as it’s a mission for right thinking people,” he said.

When he ended, the audience gave him a standing ovation.

Meanwhile, VoM’s Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Chance, expressed concern that society was quickly moving away from the core values of honouring and respecting what is right and those who practiced doing the right thing.

“If we continue to see the breaking down of these core values and principles, the future hopes and aspirations of many will be difficult, especially for those who have had a colourful background,” he said.

He appealed to those in society to make a strong effort to uphold and respect and honour and reward anyone who practised what was right.

“If we don’t stand up and support what is right, those in prison, those in the communities, would feel that studying and going to learn a trade and doing all that is right to be successful, to be respected is in vain. We have a responsibility to uphold these core values so that the future of this nation will always be in good hands,” he said.

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The St Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC) are set to launch their nine-year strategic plan ahead of a busy period for the organisation.

With the help of facilitator Dr Peter Davis, the governing body will begin with working sessions, due to be held today, which will determine the content of the plan.

It is hoped it will help with the sporting development of the nation ahead of major Games, including next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and the plan will run until 2024.

The announcement comes before SKNOC release details of their team for the Pan American Games in the Canadian city of Toronto, due to be revealed tomorrow.

The event, which runs from July 10 to 26, is expected to be attended by recently-elected President Timothy Harris, along with Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards.

Following the announcement of the Pan American Games team, SKNOC will present the St Kitts and Nevis Amateur Athletics Association (SKNAAA) with a cheque for $50,000 (£32,000/€44,700) in order to help with costs surrounding the CARIFTA Games, which took place in the nation in April, on Tuesday (June 30).

On the same day, SKNOC are due to officially put the brand new Toyota Bus into service, funded by money from the Olympic Solidarity initiative.

The news follows celebrations held to mark Olympic Day, which included a traditional run around the nation and other activities such as worships at various different churches.

In his Olympic Day message, SKNOC President Alphonso Bridgewater also paid tribute to the late Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) President Mario Vázquez Raña, who passed away in February.

“It is the very first Olympic celebration we shall experience since the passing, earlier this year, of the indomitable spirit and titanic sports figure of Don Mario Vasquez Rana, President of the Pan American Sports Organization, and President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) among other leadership positions,” he wrote.

“We shall miss the imposing yet reassuring presence Don Mario, his passion for sports in general and anything related to the Pan American family, in particular; his obstinacy of purpose, his perennial pride, his negotiating prowess, his financial prudence and his abiding penchant for loyalty.”

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