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SANTIAGO, Chile -- Arturo Vidal made his much-awaited return from injury as Chile beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in its final World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday.Julius Thomas Blue Jersey . Vidal, who underwent knee surgery just a month ago, made an unexpected appearance as a 76th-minute substitute, and immediately made an impact. Two minutes after coming on, the Juventus midfielder made a fine pass to Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez lobbed the ball to striker Eduardo Vargas, who headed in the first goal of the match. Sanchez made another inch-perfect pass four minutes later that Mauricio Pinilla sent into the net to seal the win at the Elias Figueroa Stadium in the port city of Valparaiso. "The decision to let him play was agreed with both the medical team and Arturo. It was important to let him play some minutes and we got a chance to see him again," Chiles coach Jorge Sampaoli said after the match. "Arturo had a very short recovery and he came were we need him to, thanks to his boldness," Sampaoli said. He always wanted to play this game, and although we had some doubts, he cleared them all. Tomorrow hell have to get into the rhythm of things so he can be in the opener...It no longer depends on his knee, but on the level for competition." Vidal underwent knee surgery on May 7 and had been in doubt for Chiles World Cup opener against Australia on June 13. Chile also faces defending champion Spain and 2010 finalist Netherlands in Group B. Throughout the match, midfielder Jorge Valdivia orchestrated Chiles attack and created good scoring opportunities that were denied by superb saves by goalkeeper Roy Carroll. Chile continued to struggle to find a way past a defiant Northern Ireland defence until Sanchez, Vidal and Vargas showed the class which Chile will rely upon at the World Cup, which kicks off on June 12. Von Miller Jersey . The Denver Nuggets played as though they were already relaxing on a tropical beach. Love started practicing early for All-Star festivities, making six of 11 shots from 3-point range and totalling 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 117-90 victory over the Nuggets on Wednesday night. Rahim Moore Jersey . Booth, 28, has missed the last four games with a lower body injury and has appeared in 11 of 16 games for the Canucks this season, recording one goal and two assists.SMITHS FALLS, Ont. - Greg Balsdon has earned his way to the Brier after winning the Travelers Tankard Ontario mens curling championship on Sunday afternoon. Balsdon, who was representing Glendale Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, upset reigning eight-time provincial champion Glenn Howard 6-5 in the final. Balsdon will now represent Ontario at the Canadian mens curling championship, which will take place from Mar. 1-9 in Kamloops, B.C. Howard, who was playing forr Penetanguishene Curling Club, held a 5-3 advantage after eight ends. Derek Wolfe Orange Jersey. Balsdon stole two points in the ninth and then clinched the victory with one more in the 10th. Howard advanced to his ninth straight final after defeating Balsdon on Saturday 8-4 in eight ends. Balsdon toppled Bryan Cochrane of Nepeans City View Curling Club in the semifinal 9-6 in nine ends Sunday morning to force a rematch with Howard in the final. ' ' ' |
