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Topic Started: Oct 26 2012, 09:06 AM (15 Views)
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SANDY, Utah -- Javier Morales and Fabian Espindola stepped up in Alvaro Saborios absence. Matt Schaub Jersey . Morales and Espindola both scored in the first half to lead Salt Lake to a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night. "We got big time plays from a couple of big time players there on the attacking end," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. Saborio, second in the MLS with 14 goals, missed the game due a shoulder injury suffered against Tauro FC earlier in the week. He is expected to be sidelined at least two to four weeks. Real Salt Lake (15-11-4) became the second club in MLS history to get at least 15 wins in three straight seasons and secured a spot in the playoffs for the fifth straight year. Bright Dike scored in the 61st minute for the Timbers (7-15-8), who remained winless on the road. Portland only has two more chances -- with games remaining against Seattle and Vancouver -- to end the futility. "The reality of it is we dont want to be one of those teams that goes down in the record book without a win on the road during the course of a year," Portland midfielder Jack Jewsbury said. Espindola put Salt Lake on the board in the 14th minute, taking a free kick just outside the penalty area and slicing a left footer past the Timbers defensive wall. Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando prevented Portland from tying it up in the 21st as Jewsbury used a corner kick to send a perfect cross to Rodney Wallace in the centre of the box. Wallace sent a header forward and Rimando denied him in the centre of the goal. Morales made it 2-0 in the 36th on another free kick as he fired the ball over the wall and out of reach of the outstretched hand of Timbers goalkeeper Joe Bendik. "We just got more numbers involved tonight," Kreis said. "There was more options for players, when they were on the ball, to find passes. We created a lot of very good chances just passing and moving and being dynamic in the attacking third of the field." Rimando prevented a potential tying goal off a free kick in the 81st minute as he leaped up to swat away a ball sent in by Franck Songoo. Salt Lake suffered from a letdown in energy on defence during the second half and Rimando felt like the team didnt do enough to put the game out of reach when it had a chance. "We could have scored five or six goals tonight," Rimando said. "We got to put our opportunities away, especially at home and especially against teams that are fighting for their jobs. Its only going to get harder and if we dont put our chances away, other teams will." J.J. Watt Jersey . These days, that would mean anything short of bringing home the title. Having gone from perennial underachiever to the top of world football, Spain will be the team with the biggest target on its back at the European Championship. Andre Johnson Womens Jersey . -- Jemile Weeks shook off the worst night of his career and became the latest member of the Athletics to deliver a walkoff victory. http://www.texansteamstore.com/arian-foster-jersey . Here are five brief thoughts on the NBA. 1. JEFF GREEN (CELTICS): What a tough break for him and the Celtics. Arian Foster Womens Jersey . Play was halted for four minutes in the seventh inning while the fan received CPR and was carted off on a stretcher. Ambulance sirens could be heard outside the stadium as the fan was carted off, still receiving CPR. J.J. Watt Red Jersey . The Netherlands fell victim to the “Group of Death”, heading home without a win. But apart from the Dutch, most of the truly dangerous teams - with all due respect to Russia, who were a favourite in a light-weight group - remain in the title hunt.PITTSBURGH - Ray Shero doesnt believe the Pittsburgh Penguins need to blow things up. The general manager, however, understands things certainly need to be tweaked after another early playoff exit. The tweaks will not include a coaching change or -- at least for now -- parting ways with one of its young stars to fortify the roster elsewhere. Instead, Shero will spend the next few months trying to diagnose what went wrong and how a team a deemed a Stanley Cup favourite when the post-season began two weeks ago spent Tuesday cleaning out its dressing room after getting whipped by the Philadelphia Flyers. "Why it unraveled in 10 days, thats my job to try and figure out," Shero said. There are plenty of places to start. The head coaching job isnt one of them. "I have a lot of belief in our coach Dan Bylsma," Shero said. "I believe hes the right coach for this hockey team." A club that for all its offensive firepower couldnt find any answers at the other end of the ice. Pittsburgh gave up 30 goals to the Flyers, including 12 on the power play, and fell behind 3-0 so quickly it was all the Penguins could do to save a little pride and extend the series to six games before Philadelphia closed it out. Defencemen Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek, brought in as high-priced free agents two years ago to shore up the blue line, struggled for most of the season and were ineffective in the playoffs. Shero declined to place the blame squarely on the pairing, noting it was a team-wide effort. "When you give up 30 goals in six games in a playoff series, thats not good," he said. "Both players are really good players in this league." Ones that could be difficult to move in the off-season. Martin is due $5 million next year, Michalek $4 million. Thats a lot of money, particularly at a time when franchises dont know what the next collective bargaining agreement is going to look like. The current deal expires in the fall. Though Shero will try to treat it as "business as usual," not knowing what the financial landscape of the league is going to look like next season will make it difficult to scratch off every item on his to-do list. Star centres Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal are one year away from becoming free agents. NHL rules prevent teams from negotiating an extension until a player enters the final year of his current deal. Shero would love to keep both in the fold long-term. It may have to wait. "Our goal is to re-sign both of them," Shero said. "I think theyre both special hoockey players and theyre great assets. J.J. Watt Womens Jersey. Theyre at a young age. Theyre in their prime." And theyre not interested in leaving. "I love being here and I love the guys in the room," said Staal, who led the Penguins with six playoff goals. "And thats a huge factor for myself." Crosby has never wavered in his preference to remain in Pittsburgh. Still, the 2009 MVP remains pragmatic. "Its going to be something that the team and I will both wait to see what makes sense," he said. "Its hard being in the situation that it is with the CBA. Typically youd start talking soon. It might be a matter of waiting to see how it plays out and what makes sense for both sides." Despite the bitter defeat to the Flyers, perhaps the one positive was Crosbys health. Concussion-like symptoms limited him to 22 games in the regular season. But he says he feels fine after spending six games getting knocked around by Philadelphia. "(I want to) make sure I have a healthy summer and feel good coming into next season," he said. "Thats the most important thing. Thats where Im at. I want to have a good summer." Not wanting to push it, Crosby doesnt plan to play for Team Canada in this summers World Championships. Crosbys last venture into international play ended with him scoring the gold medal-winning goal against the U.S. in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Its a sweet memory but Crosby is more concerned about jeopardizing his future after a bumpy 16 months. "Typically Id be (at worlds) in a second," he said. "This isnt a normal situation. This isnt me trying to hide from the World Championships. I love playing for Team Canada." Malkin, who led the NHL with 109 points, will play for Russia and offers have been extended to several other players, including Canadian defenceman Kris Letang and forward James Neal. Neals thumb injury may prevent him from playing this summer and Letang is dealing with a hip issue. Shero has no problem with his top players staying active over the summer. Hell be too busy trying to figure out how a franchise that appeared on the verge of a dynasty after winning the Cup in 2009 has now lost three straight playoff series. "Theyve achieved a lot, but this league is tough, we see it now," Shero said. "There are 19 teams like us sitting out right now, some real good ones too. Its a school of hard knocks and were going to see if we can bounce back." Most of the answers lie in the dressing room. One that emptied out earlier than expected. Again. ' ' '
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