WASHINGTON - The U.S womens soccer team is winning in a no-win situation. Of course, the Americans should beat Haiti by a bunch of goals. And, of course, the Haitians are going to park themselves in front of their own net to keep the score as respectable as possible.But the games must take place, part of the mandated ritual to qualify for next summers World Cup. The United States completed Part I on Monday night with a predictable 6-0 win over underfunded, awe-struck Haiti to finish unbeaten — and unscored upon — in group play in the CONCACAF championship.Often times, after tournaments like this, you might want to put these videos in a box and send them off, said Abby Wambach, who scored twice, because this is not indicative of the team that we are.Wambach increased her world-record tally to 173 international goals. Carli Lloyd, Meghan Klingenberg, Christen Press and Morgan Brian also scored for the Americans, who advanced to the semifinals to be played Friday at the Philadelphia Unions stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania. The top three teams qualify for next years World Cup in Canada, while the fourth-place team will face Ecuador in a playoff.The Americans are the overwhelming favourite to win the tournament, facing mostly small countries where womens soccer is a low priority. Canada, the other North American powerhouse, isnt participating because it automatically qualifies for the World Cup as the host nation.As soon as we figure out how to play against some of these teams that are going to sit back and bunker against us, the tournament will be over, Wambach said. It doesnt even look pretty.The loss eliminated Haiti, which put together a valiant qualifying effort while training in months-long spurts in Indiana. The Haitians are 0-4 overall against the U.S., having lost 10-0 in 1991, 8-0 in 2004 and 5-0 in 2010.Were amateur part-timers competing against full-time pros, Haiti coach Shek Borkowski said.And, as if finding quality talent wasnt challenging enough, Borkowski found his players unprepared for the big stage after their humble preparation.Coming here and staying in good hotels and flying everywhere, for them it was just like a big Christmas party, Borkowski said. We lack that professional approach to tournaments such as this.The talent gap in the tournament is such that there was considerable concern when the U.S. managed only a 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the opening match. That was followed by a more comfortable 5-0 rout of Guatemala. In each game — and again on Monday — the Americans controlled the action against an underdog that packed the box and hoped to somehow score on a counterattack.The U.S. outshot the Haitians 20-1, including 12-0 in shots on goal. Ashlyn Harris, getting a rare start in place of Hope Solo, got the shutout without having to make a save — just as Solo did against Guatemala.The biggest hiccup along the way has been the sprained ankle for forward Alex Morgan against Guatemala, ruling her out for the rest of the tournament.World powers such as Japan or Germany will give the U.S. plenty of stiff competition next summer. Meanwhile, its best games might come when the Americans starters play the American reserves. In fact, both teams could probably qualify for the World Cup.In practice, when we play 11-a-side, its two of the very best teams in the world going at each other for 90 minutes, Wambach said. Its actually really fun soccer to watch. And so from a spectator point of view, I feel bad (about the games in this tournament) because I want people to enjoy what they see.___Follow Joseph White on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP .FIFA says it is relaxing the rule which forced match officials to leave its international list at the end of the year they turned 45. .35 million. The right-hander had agreed last February to a deal that pays him $3.775 million this year and allows him to earn an additional $225,000 in bonuses based on games finished. . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line. . The Flames announced Monday that Treliving, a former assistant general manager with the Coyotes, will take over the vacant GM spot in Calgary. "Im ready for this,"Treliving said. . Needing to bulk up on both sides of the line, the Falcons agreed to terms with guard Jon Asamoah, defensive end Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Paul Soliai. Asamoah and Jackson played last season with Kansas City, where Asamoah lost his starting job.LONDON - Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is facing an investigation from the English Football Association after a post on social media site Instagram was criticized for being racist and anti-Semitic.Balotelli uploaded a picture of the video game character Super Mario, with whom the Italy international shares a nickname, with text around the image including jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew.We are aware of it and we are looking into it, the FA said Tuesday.Balotelli, who has been subjected to racial abuse on numerous occasions, posted the image of the computerized character on Monday with the heading Dont be a racist.The text also read: Be like Mario. Hes an Italian plumber, created by Japanese people, who speaks Engliish and looks like a Mexican.ddddddddddddBalotelli tried to defend the post as criticism began to intensify online by writing on Twitter: My Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please.But he soon deleted the image from his Instagram account before further backtracking on Tuesday.I apologize if Ive offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour, Balotelli wrote on Twitter. Not all Mexicans have moustache, not all black people jump high and not all Jewish people love money.I used a cartoon by someone else because it has Super Mario and I thought it was funny and not offensive. Again, Im sorry.Under FA guidelines regarding social media, Balotelli could be suspended for at least five games if found guilty. ' ' '
