Service und News » er and 2011 Walt

PORTLAND, Ore. - With a potential playoff spot in the balance, as well as a chance to climb to the top of the Cascadia Cup standings, the Vancouver Whitecaps travelled to Portland on Saturday looking to make amends for the drubbing suffered at the the hands of the Timbers less than a month ago. It was not to be. In a near-replica of that August 20th matchup at B.C. Place Stadium, Vancouver got off to a lively start before giving up a goal and then fading down the stretch. Portland dominated for long stretches en route to another 3-0 trouncing of the Whitecaps in front of 20,814 at Providence Park. Fanendo Adi scored twice, Diego Valeri added a goal and an assist, and Donovan Ricketts had his fourth shutout as the Whitecaps ceded the fifth and final Western Conference playoff spot to their Pacific Northwest rivals with just five games remaining. "Were chasing them now," said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. "Its a different scenario when youre chasing a team rather than them chasing you." The game started with the visitors creating some good chances in the opening 15 minutes, including a Sebastian Fernandez shot in the games first minute that went just wide of the post. "For the first 20-odd minutes we were excellent but werent able to capitalize on that," said Robinson. "And goals change games, as we all know." Unfortunately for the Whitecaps, it was the Timbers that changed the game to their benefit. Following an end-to-end first twenty minutes, momentum started to shift in Portlands favour, culminating in the opening goal from Valeri at the 28-minute mark. The sequence started with Steven Beitashour getting caught in a two-on-one situation on the right wing. With Beitashour unable to commit, Portlands Jorge Villafana had time and space to neatly pick out Valeri running unmarked through Vancouvers penalty area. "My initial reaction was to go out, but I saw I had guy," said Beitashour. "I didnt want to go out and have them just play in behind, so I sat in and he whipped in a good ball. Great finish." Beitashour, a question to start prior to the match, had words with Mauro Rosales about the defending mixup, but the damage was already done. "The goal took the wind out of our sails," said centre back Andy OBrien. Robinson agreed that there was a bit of a drop-off in Vancouvers performance once the home side took the lead. "When we go a goal down, were probably not playing with the same energy, desire or confidence we should," Robinson said. "But weve got to learn, because were not always going to score the first goal." The Timbers put a choke-hold on the remainder of the first half and Vancouver took a one-goal deficit into halftime. The visitors regrouped to start the second half, but a costly mistake in the 66th minute by Matias Laba gave Portland a chance to double the lead, and Adi capitalized on the chance for the first of his two goals on the night. Laba tried to cut the ball back near midfield with his teammates mostly in the attacking third. Valeri took it cleanly off Laba and easily found Adi breaking towards David Ousteds net all alone. "Ninety-nine times out of 100 (Laba) makes that play," said Robinson. "Valeris a good player, hes knicked the ball." Adi put the finishing touches on just four minutes later, slipping a ball between Ousteds legs for the final goal of the game. The additions of Kekuta Manneh, Darren Mattocks and Nicolas Mezquida created a flurry of half-chances in the waning moments of the game, but Portland saw out the match to keep the visitors scoreless for the the sixth time in nine games. Vancouver is winless on the road in that stretch as well. "Its not a fun way to lose," said Ousted. "Its not a fun place to lose, especially with the fan support we had out today. There are five games left and we cant feel sorry for ourselves, we cant get down. We need to continue to work." The Whitecaps face three playoff-bound teams in their remaining five games, starting next Saturday at home against Real Salt lake. Despite the recent form and a tough outlook for upcoming games, Robinson doesnt feel his team is wilting. "People can say whatever they want," he said. "Its a good challenge for us. If we want to play in big games, important games, weve got to cope with this pressure. Theres a little bit of pressure on next week." Joe Thomas Womens Jersey . Kuper, a fifth-round pick in Denvers 2006 draft, started 79 games at guard over eight seasons. He dislocated his left ankle in the last game of the 2011 regular season, and though he started another seven games after that, he never returned to his previous level. Sheldrick Redwine Browns Jersey . -- Colin Kaepernick insists he just happened to pull on a pair of socks with dollar bill prints all over them Wednesday morning -- before he learned he had struck a new fortune with the San Francisco 49ers. http://www.footballbrownsnflprostore.com/Youth-Baker-Mayfield-Elite-Jersey/ . "I wasnt waving the pom-poms to be involved with it to start with," Carlyle said after a 5-2 win over Carolina on Sunday night. "Its been a trying time. "Specifically we havent played as well as wed like to hang our hat on. Ozzie Newsome Youth Jersey . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan. Greedy Williams Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Former Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens centre Matt Birk was hired Thursday by the NFL as director of football development. The six-time Pro Bowl player and 2011 Walter Payton Award winner as the leagues man of the year spent the 2013 season as an NFL-NFLPA appeals officer. In his new role, Birk will be involved in administration of game-day operations, oversee the further development of the scouting combine and regional combines, as well as the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine game for college players. "Im very excited to begin this next chapter of my football career,&quuot; Birk said.dddddddddddd "Its a real honour for me to be entrusted with developing the game in so many different ways." Birk becomes the eighth former player to take a job at the NFL executive offices, joining Merton Hanks, Dwight Hollier, Patrick Kerney, James Thrash, David Tyree, Troy Vincent and Charles Way. Vincent is the leagues top executive for football operations. "Matts experience as a terrific NFL player, a model citizen in his community and a reputation as a forward-thinking leader make him ideally suited for this role," Vincent sa