Fragen zum Forum » effort went over the Australia goal.Martas 118th m

INDIANAPOLIS -- IndyCar drivers and owners have always considered Derrick Walker to be a beacon of leadership. Now hes switching to what Walker calls the "dark" side. The well-respected former team owner was hired Monday as IndyCars new head of competition, ending the worst-kept secret in Indianapolis. Speculation that the 68-year-old Scotsman would lead the competition department kicked into high gear last week when four-time series champ Dario Franchitti, also a Scot, said Walker had been hired. Turns out, it was all true. "I know Im not going to please everybody every day," Walker said. "There are going to be some days when some people will think Im a jerk and there will be some days where I probably will be a jerk. I just hope theres more good days than jerk days." Walker takes over May 27, the day after the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to be run and what hell find is an organization still trying to close the popularity gap with NASCAR. Until then, he will continue to serve as general manager for Ed Carpenter Racing, the one-car team owned by Tony Georges stepson. Georges family owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway and George was the founder of the IndyCar Series. Walker said he would no longer represent Will Power or Simon Pagenaud, last years IndyCar rookie of the year, as a consultant though his team would continue to run on the American Le Mans Series this season. Its a whole new start for Walker, who is now talking about containing costs and improving safety -- issues that have become annual themes since the series was founded in 1996 -- while fans continue to urge officials to boost speeds. Walkers job is finding the balance between drivers concerns, fans wishes and team limits. The good news is that drivers and owners feel like they finally have someone from their side working in the series office. "He gives you exactly what you need from that side," said Josef Newgarden, who drives for Fisher -- the only woman to own an IndyCar team. "There are two equations there. Youve got to figure out how to please the fans and the outside world and youve got to please the inside world of the drivers and teams. I think Derrick is the perfect guy for those inside the wall because he knows how to run a race team, and I think hes able to bridge that gap between the fans and the race teams." Walker started his racing career as a chief mechanic and built his reputation by working with or for some of the biggest names in racing history -- Graham Hill, Rick Mears, Roger Penske, and Al and Bobby Unser. He eventually started his own team, winning six races and 16 poles in 19 seasons. He also was a trendsetter, helping Willy T. Ribbs became the first black driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 and later giving Sarah Fisher a foothold in the series. And after more than four decades in racing, hes ready for a change. Those who know him believe IndyCar picked the right guy. "Derrick has done a phenomenal job for ECR," Carpenter said, referring to his own team. "He really was the architect of our team and helped us establish a very strong foundation that will continue to lead to future successes. I am confident he will do an outstanding job at IndyCar. He will be an asset there that will help the race teams within the series." Walker has a much larger challenge looming. Despite having one its best seasons on the track, the television ratings continue to lag far behind those of NASCAR. Theres little Walker can do about the television contract. The more immediate concern is getting fans to the track. Outside of a handful of venues, the series has not been drawing big crowds, something Walker believes can change if the teams are able to limit expenses. "We need to reduce the inflationary aspect of it because owners dont just get (hit with) it, the fans get it because the costs get passed on to them in the form of ticket prices," Walker said. He does not pretend to know everything. Walker said he will spend the next few weeks pulling double duty -- working to keep Carpenters burgeoning race team near the front of the pack while trying to get initiated into the world of racing executive. Walker will report directly to Mark Miles, the chief executive of Hulman & Co. and the man who made the decision to hire him. Miles said race director Beaux Barfield, Brian Barnhart, the president of IndyCar operations and strategy, and Will Phillips, the series vice-president of technology, will all now report to Walker. "I have no doubt we will be more stitched together as a team," said Miles, who was previously in charge of Indys Super Bowl committee. "I think well be a higher performing team under his (Walkers) leadership." First, though, Walker must get comfortable in a job he never dreamed of taking until Miles offered. "I am going to the dark side," Walker said, drawing laughter. "There are a lot of good people at IndyCar that have been on that side of the fence a lot longer than me." Nike Clearance Sale . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Discount Nike Shoes . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. http://www.clearancenikeshoes.com/ . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. Wholesale Nike Shoes . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Nike Shoes Outlet Clearance . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Alex Morgan and Christen Press missed penalties in a shootout and the United States womens soccer team crashed out of the Olympics without a medal after losing to Sweden in the quarterfinals on Friday.Morgans 77th-minute goal had canceled out Stina Blackstenius opener for Sweden before the game went to penalties at 1-1, where Sweden won 4-3 and eliminated the three-time defending gold medalists.After the U.S. failed to medal for the first time since womens soccer became an Olympic sport in 1996, goalkeeper Hope Solo criticized Swedens defensive style of play.I thought that we played a courageous game, Solo said. I thought that we had many opportunities on goal. I think we showed a lot of heart. We came back from a goal down, Im very proud of this team.I also think we played a bunch of cowards. But, you know, the best team did not win today; I strongly, firmly believe that. I think you saw Americas heart. You saw us give everything that we had today. Unfortunately the better team didnt win.Told about Solos comments, Sweden coach Pia Sundhage said: Its OK to be a coward if you win.The U.S. threatened three minutes into the game when Morgans header was cleared off the line, and?Morgan Brians follow-up attempt was tipped over the bar by Sweden keeper?Hedvig Lindahl.Morgan started another U.S. charge in the 27th minute when she carried the ball wide of the goal then cut back for Carli Lloyd, whose first-time shot was saved.The Americans best chance in the first half came just before the break when Mallory Pugh played through Lloyd, but?Lindahl came off her line to make a good save.Lloyd came close again as the second half began, but her free kick sailed over the bar.Sweden, led by former U.S. Sundhage, took the lead in the 61st minute when?Lisa Dahlkvist split the U.S. center-backs with a long through ball from within her own half. Substitute Blackstenius ran onto the ball, took one touch and sent a low shot past Solo inside the far post.The U.S. pushed for an equalizer and came close 10 minutes later when substitute?Crystal Dunn squared the ball to a sliding Morgan, who could not keep a shot on target, and Lloyds follow-up went wide.With Sweden packing defenders into the box, Pughs shot went high, before Brians header drifted wide of the post.But the U.S. were back level in the 77th minute when Dunn flicked on a long pass with a header that caromed off the face of Swedens?Jessica Samuelsson and fell to Morgan, who slotted home with her first touch from 10 yards.Lloyd nearly found a winner moments later, but her shot from just inside the box was sent wide with the slightest of deflections from a defender.With the game still level at the end of 90 minutes, the game went to extra time, where in the 101st minute Morgan tried to round the keeper, but again?Lindahl was there to save a shot from a tight angle.Lloyd thought she had scored a winner in the closing stages, but her goal was ruled out for a foul before her header.And moments later the U.S. was lucky not be behind as Lotta Schelins goal for Sweden was controversially ruled offside after the U.S. defenders failed to clear a cross.The U.S. controlled the large majority of possession for the rest of the extra 30 minutes but could not find a winner, and the game went to penalties for the first time in Olympic history.Morgan opened the shootout but saw her penalty saved by a diving?Lindahl, and Sweden was ahead until Solo tipped?Linda Sembrants attempt over the bar in the third round.ddddddddddddBut Press fired her shot in the fifth and final round over the bar, and Dahlkvist fired past Solo as Sweden, ranked sixth in the world,?advanced to the semifinals for the first time in its history.Brazil 0 (7), Australia 0 (6)The Brazilian womens team maintained a perfect record at the 2016 Rio games, beating Australia 7-6 on penalties after the match finished 0-0 after 120 minutes to advance to the semifinals of the competition.With the shootout level at 4-4, Australia goalkeeper Lydia Williams saved Martas penalty to open the door for her team, but Barbara saved the potential match-winner from?Katrina-Lee Gorry and the shootout continued until?Alanna Kennedys penalty was parried away to give Brazil the 7-6 win.Both teams were on the attack from the start, but it was the Brazilians that would have the first real chance of the match. Bia Zaneratto found herself on the end of a set-piece cross from Tamires, but her headed effort from outside the box just missed to the left.Minutes later, Debinha had a great chance on the counter-attack, but her right footed shot from outside the box was saved by Williams.Australia were pressing high and creating turnovers and chances against the Brazil defense. The best of the first half came in the 28th minute when Samantha Kerr headed a pass to Kennedy only to have her right-footed shot saved by Barbara.Just before half-time, Debinha picked up a lovely through ball in the penalty area, cut to her right and shot toward goal only to see her right-footed effort sail over the crossbar.Brazil opened the second half on the front foot and had an early chance in the 52nd minute. A long counter-attack started with a pass over the top of the Australian defense that landed on the foot of?Andressa Alves, but Williams broke up her cross to Deborah in front of the goalmouth.The back-and-forth match continued into extra time after the score was still tied 0-0 after 90 minutes plus injury time.Alves had the best chance in extra time with a free kick from just outside the penalty area, but her curling effort went over the Australia goal.Martas 118th minute chance on the counter from close range was blocked away by Williams and the game went to penalties after 120 minutes of scoreless play where the hosts prevailed.Brazil will play Sweden in the semifinal.Canada 1, France 0The United States North American neighbors Canada advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 defeat of France in Sao Paulo.Sophie Schmidt got on the end of a Janine Beckie cross and powerfully placed the ball into the roof of the French net in the 56th minute for the games only goal.Canadas win sets up a rematch with Group F opponents Germany in the last four. Canada won the first match 2-1.Germany 1, China 0Melanie Behringer scored to help Germany reach the semifinals with a tight win over China.Chinas Wang Shanshan came on as a half-time substitute but was sent off for a second yellow card 12 minutes later, before Behringer hit a bouncing ball into the back of the net from 25 yards for the only goal in the 76th minute.China had a chance to level the score when Leonie Maier brought down Wang Shuang in the 83rd minute, but the striker hit the resulting penalty off the post. ' ' '