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NAPIER, New Zealand -- Japan head coach John Kirwan has made two changes to his starting lineup for the teams final Pool A match Tuesday against Canada at the Rugby World Cup. Connor Barwin Jersey . Blindside flanker and Tonga-born Sione Vatuvei is into the side named Sunday, replacing Itaru Taniguchi, while tighthead prop Nozomu Fujita takes over for Kensuke Hatakeyama, who moves to the reserves. Japan has lost its opening three matches, including 31-18 to Tonga at Whangarei last Wednesday. Along the way, the team has lost five players to injuries, the most of any team at the tournament. Kirwan said the match will be a "big game for the whole group." "I think were all disappointed with what happened against Tonga so the teams very motivated to have a good game. Were looking forward to a big match against Canada." Canada beat Tonga in its first match but lost to France and has a fourth match to play against New Zealand. New Zealand-born Kirwan will set a Rugby World Cup record by being involved in his 23rd match as a coach or player. Kirwan played 11 matches for the All Blacks and the Canada match will be his 12th as a head coach. Jason Leonard played 22 matches for England. ------ Japan: Shaun Webb, Kosuke Endo, Alisi Tupuailai, Ryan Nicholas, Hirotoki Onozawa, James Arlidge, Fumiaki Tanaka; Takashi Kikutani (captain), Michael Leitch, Sione Vatuvei, Toshizumi Kitagawa, Luke Thompson, Nozomu Fujita, Shota Horie, Hisateru Hirashima. Reserves: Yusuke Aoki, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Hitoshi Ono, Toetuu Taufa, Atsushi Hiwasa, Murray Williams, Bryce Robins. Tommy McDonald Eagles Jersey . Louis Blues remain at the top spot of the TSN. Malcolm Jenkins Jersey . -- Kyle Blanks homered in his home debut at the Coliseum and Derek Norris capped Oaklands five-homer day with a grand slam and the Athletics snapped a season-long four-game losing streak with a 10-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday.MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impact wasted no time cooling off the hottest team in Major League Soccer. Montreal needed just three minutes to score the winner against a streaking New England club, shutting out the Revolution 2-0 on Saturday night at Saputo Stadium. New England (7-4-2) came to Montreal riding a five-game winning streak, their longest such run in nearly a decade. The team was unbeaten in its last seven contests atop the Eastern Conference standings. But with fans still trickling in to their seats after the opening whistle, midfielder Andres Romero scored the Impacts quickest goal of the season in the third minute to give last-place Montreal (2-6-4) a surprise lead. Romero took a long through ball from striker Marco Di Vaio and moved in all alone on goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth. With Revolution defenders requesting an offside call on the play, Romero held onto the ball several seconds before beating the keeper for his career-high third goal of the season. "We came out, we dominated, and we did exactly what we wanted to do," said Jack McInerney, who played up front with Di Vaio in a seldom seen two-striker formation. Montreal followed the early goal with sustained pressure. Its emphasis on the long ball created several goal-scoring opportunities in the first half hour. "We had a stronger start than they did," said defender Wandrille Lefevre. "That made a world of difference. We controlled the ball and it allowed us to ease into the game." Many of the Impacts scoring chances fell to Di Vaio, who couldnt find the back of the net despite taking four shots on target in the first half. Di Vaio came close in the 17th minute when his strike from outside the 18-yard box missed the net by inches. A minute later, Di Vaios volley from close range was stopped by Shuttleworth. In the 26th minute, the Italian striker moved in alone on goal, but tripped and fell. The Impact took eight shots on target in the first half to New Englands one. "You have to credit the other team because they came flying," said Revolution coach Jay Heaps. "In this league, you cant give a team anything. We gave quite a bit to Montreal, and they took it. Montreal did an excellent job of taking advantage of our slow start and they were ready." Frank Klopas men doubled their lead in the 31st minute after an impressive individual effort by newcomer Issey Nakajima-Farran, who made his Saputo Stadium debut after being acquired from Toronto FC twwo weeks ago. Casey Matthews Jersey. . The left-winger cut into the middle of the pitch and fired a powerful strike at Shuttleworth, who bobbled the ball. McInerney pounced on the rebound from the edge of the six-yard box for his fifth goal against New England in 10 career appearances. Although he wasnt credited with an assist on the goal, Nakajima-Farran was instrumental on the play for the Impact. "It just clicks," said Nakajima-Farran, who played at the club level in Denmark, Australia, and Cyprus before making the move to Major League Soccer. "Everybody is playing simple, and the ball is zipping around. I feel conformable, and the guys know my movement too. Its been a very easy transition." Coming into this one with just one win on the season, seven points from 11 games, and a league-worst goal differential, the Impacts stingy defending settled a hot team that had scored 12 goals in its last three games. The Revolution couldnt generate much offence on Saturday despite controlling the ball for long stretches. Rookie forward Patrick Mullins, who entered the game with a goal in four consecutive contests, an MLS record for a rookie, was limited to just one shot on target. And 19-year-old Diego Fagundez, who scored four times on New Englands winning streak, did not challenge goalie Troy Perkins once. "It wasnt our best stuff," said Heaps, whose Revs still top the Eastern Conference despite the loss. "It was one of those nights where every pass was a little bit off. It didnt have the same zip to it. To break a team down, you have to have things go your way a little bit. You have to credit a team when they do a good job." At the other end of the table, the win keeps Montreal at the bottom of the standings, but the team is now only six points out of a playoff spot. "The first couple of games of the season didnt show the kind of talent we have on this team, and what we can do," said McInerney. "If we want to get back into the picture, we need to be consistent." The Impact now turn their attention to a mid-week battle versus Toronto FC on Wednesday for the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final. The winner advances to the CONCACAF Champions League. Notes: The attendance at Saputo Stadium was 18,060. a The Revolution have now been shutout five times this season. a New England lost its first-ever game at Saputo Stadium (2-1-0). a The Impact and Revolution will face off twice more this season. ' ' ' |
