Thunderstorms move into southern Ontario, heat warning over parts of north and east

BOGOTA – Needing just a draw to ensure advancing at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Canada’s road to the knockout round grew more complicated after a 2-0 loss to Brazil on Friday in the teams’ final Group B game.

Brazil (3-0-0) had already booked its ticket to the knockout round — and just needed a draw to top the group. Canada’s loss to Brazil, coupled with France’s 11-0 romp over tournament debutante Fiji in Medellin, dropped the Canadians into third place behind France.

The top two teams in each of the six groups advance to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed teams.

Canada and France (both 1-1-1) finished on four points, but the French leapfrogged the Canadians into second place on goal difference, at plus-eight compared to plus-seven.

A 95th-minute French penalty against Fiji and a Brazil goal in stoppage time proved to be the difference.

Vendito had given Brazil a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute. And when Canada pressed for a goal to move back past France in the standings in stoppage time, Brazil scored on a long-range effort by Carol, from deep within her own half, in the 99th minute with Canadian ‘keeper Noelle Henning out of position.

As group winner, Brazil will face a third-place team on Wednesday in Bogota while second-place France will meet the runner-up from Group F (North Korea, Argentina, Costa Rica or the Netherlands) on Thursday in Medellin.

With Cameroon having the same points but a worse goal difference than Canada after three games in Group A and Ghana and New Zealand at the bottom of Group E with no points after two matches, the Canadians will move on but face a more difficult road given the third-place teams that advance take on a group winner.

Canada last reached the knockout round at the tournament in 2014 when it hosted the tournament.

Both Brazil and Canada lacked clinical finishing at Estadio Nemesio Camacho, also known as “El Campin,” in the Colombian capital. Brazil outshot Canada 20-15 (7-4 in shots on target).

The young Canadians drew France 3-3 in their tournament opener before thumping Fiji 9-0 Tuesday, with both games in Medellin.

Brazil blanked France 3-0 and Fiji 9-0. The 10-time South American champion has won its last five U-20 World Cup group matches without conceding a goal and has won five successive group matches for the first time.

Canada and Brazil both squandered chances in the first half with shots flying off-target and passes missing their mark. Brazil was on target with a free kick from outside the penalty box that was calmly dealt with by Henning.

The South Americans went ahead after some fine work by Dudinha, who fended off defender Mya Archibald at the byline to keep the ball in play and then backheeled it diagonally to Vendito, whose shot went in past Henning and two defenders for her fifth goal of the tournament.

Canada came close in the 41st minute off a corner with the ball ricocheting around the penalty box before Brazilian ‘keeper Rillary grabbed it before it rolled in.

Both teams attempted 10 shots on target in the first half, with three on target for Brazil and two for Canada.

Annabelle Chukwu replaced Nyah Rose up front for Canada at halftime. The 17-year-old from Ottawa scored three goals in the Fiji rout to move atop the Canadian women’s youth scoring list with 29 goals, surpassing Christine Sinclair’s 27. Olivia Smith, who scored twice against Fiji, ranks third with 26 goals.

Canada appealed for a penalty early in the second half after Chukwu went down after tangling with Brazilian defender Carla. But Italian Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi, the first woman to referee a Serie A match, was unconvinced after watching a video replay.

Henning made fine saves to deny Dudinha in the 54th and 80th minute.

Canada coach Cindy Tye, who dug into her roster to use seven new starters against Fiji, essentially went back to the starting 11 that drew France with the only difference in goal where Henning retained her place from the Fiji outing.

The newly expanded 24-team tournament runs through Sept. 22 at four stadiums in Bogota, Cali and Medellin. Austria, Cameroon and Morocco are the other first-time entries at the tournament.

While Canada has participated in nine of the 11 U-20 World Cups held to date, Tuesday’s win over Fiji was its first at the tournament since a 1-0 victory over North Korea in group play in 2014.

The Canadian women, who missed out on the 2018 edition, exited the 2016 and 2022 tournaments after losing all three group games.

Host Canada finished runner-up to the U.S. in 2002, the first edition of the tournament when it was still an under-19 event.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2024.

ATLANTA (AP) — Max Fried pitched seven strong innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Friday night.

Atlanta remained tied with the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot as New York beat Cincinnati 6-4.

Fried (9-8) had command of the plate all night, striking out eight and allowing just five hits. Toronto’s lone run was unearned, coming in the third inning on an Atlanta error.

It marked the 25th straight game Atlanta pitchers have allowed three runs or fewer, the longest such streak in baseball this season and the longest in Braves franchise history.

Raisel Iglesias pitched out of trouble in the ninth for his 31st save in 34 opportunities, extending his scoreless streak to 24 1/3 innings.

The Braves got out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning and never looked back. Jarred Kelenic, Gio Urshela and Michael Harris II had RBI singles.

This was Atlanta’s first win against Toronto since Aug. 6, 2020. The Blue Jays previously held a nine-game winning streak against the Braves, including a sweep of Atlanta in 2021.

Toronto starter Kevin Gausman (12-11) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings while walking three and striking out five. Prior to the loss, Gausman held the mark for fourth lowest ERA on the road in the AL this season at 2.52.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., drove in Toronto’s only run.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: INF Bo Bichette (calf strain) is set to join Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday for a rehab stint before returning to the Toronto lineup.

Braves: INF Whit Merrifield returned to the lineup Friday after missing two games due to a concussion from taking a pitch to the back of the head, but left the game early after fouling a ball off of his left foot.

UP NEXT

Braves rookie RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (5-6, 3.69) will start against Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (14-9, 3.59).

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AP MLB:

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SASKATOON – A Saskatoon high school student remembers the pungent smell of burned hair going up her nose, and something like the strong scent from a Sharpie marker, moments after she watched a schoolmate being set on fire.

She had just stepped out of her Grade 8 social studies class for lunch on Thursday, she says, when she saw two other girls in a hallway. A girl in a crop top poured liquid from a black canister onto the head of the girl standing next to her.

The witness says she didn’t see what started the fire but, within seconds, flames had spread from the victim’s hair and face to her shoulders, back and stomach.

The witness said she screamed for help: “Fire!”

And the victim screamed too, while frantically patting down her hair, then the flames spread to her hands.

“The flames were big. She was screaming, ‘Help!'” said the witness.

“I didn’t see her face, because there was a lot of flames.”

Police have said the 15-year-old victim is in serious condition in hospital with burns and a teacher at Evan Hardy Collegiate who was hurt trying to put out the fire was also sent to hospital.

On Friday, a 14-year-old girl appeared in court on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and arson. She is set to appear in court again on Wednesday.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the identities of the accused, the victim and young witnesses cannot be published.

The 13-year-old girl who saw the attack said she’s still processing the horrific images from just her second day in her first year of high school.

“I still feel so, like, awkward,” she said, adding she’s not sure if she’ll go back to the school.

“I feel a void.”

She recalled that the attacker initially ran from the scene and multiple teachers came out of a classroom to save the girl on fire. They told her to drop to the ground and roll.

“She, like, tumbled forward and just rolled,” and her head hit a locker, which also caught on fire, the witness said.

She said a teacher took off his jacket and used it to swat at the flames on the victim, while other staff grabbed items of clothing and joined in trying to put out the fire.

The victim squealed, said the witness, who ran outside and called 911. She saw other students crying and standing in shock.

Police said a school resource officer took the accused into custody.

Saskatoon Public Schools said in a statement that both the victim and the accused are students.

The school cancelled classes until Tuesday but said it would remain open for students and staff to access counselling.

“The past 24 hours have been very challenging for the Evan Hardy School community,” the school said in a statement Friday.

“Our hearts go out to the victims and entire school community as we face this difficult time together. We recognize the seriousness of this incident and understand the strong emotions it has stirred throughout our city.”

Samantha Becotte, president of the union representing Saskatchewan teachers, said members have been shaken. Becotte couldn’t provide further details about the fire.

“Right now, we’re just really focusing on supporting the staff that are there and making sure they have what they need to welcome students back. This is a really traumatic incident for the whole community,” she said.

“We want to ensure that when they return, that they’re comfortable and safe, and then looking forward into the future hoping to have further conversations about what’s needed to ensure incidents like this are prevented.”

She has long pushed the provincial government for additional supports to address rising violence and better help higher-needs students.

Teachers went on strike and pulled volunteer work to pressure the province to move on those issues during a labour impasse earlier this year. Both sides have since agreed to go into binding arbitration, with those talks scheduled for December.

“We’re looking to further those conversations, talking about solutions to the challenges students and teachers face in schools and classrooms, and what is needed to best support them and ensure everyone has a safe learning environment where they can thrive,” Becotte said.

The mother of the witness said she’s also processing what happened and doing everything she can to support her daughter.

“It’s hard to believe that something like this would happen,” said the woman, adding she’s going to let her daughter to determine if she’ll return to the same school.

“It’s her trauma, so she can decide.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2024.

— By Fakiha Baig in Edmonton and Jeremy Simes in Regina