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Im going to talk margins in todays blog. www.nfljerseyschinacheap.us.com . The knife-edged difference between success and failure. Moments in a game, and in a season that can swing your fortunes dramatically - especially in a league like MLS. There were one or two of those in the World Cup Final. A bad back pass here, a post hit off a corner there, with the stakes infinitely higher for both Germany and Argentina. In the end, one brilliant moment 117 minutes in will be remembered for a lifetime in Deutschland. A priceless memory, even though with even the slightest of variables, it could have been so much different. As the Whitecaps reach half-time on their 2014 campaign, think for a moment about how Caps supporters are feeling today, compared with how they might have felt had their team managed to beat Chivas USA on Saturday night. With three points, Vancouver would be sitting second in the West alongside Real Salt Lake, with a four-point cushion above the playoff bar. They would have also been two points ahead of last years pace - an impressive achievement given Carl Robinsons dependence on youth. Instead, the Whitecaps sit in fifth - two points behind last years pace - with the LA Galaxy, Chivas and Portland bearing down in the rear-view mirror. There you have the margins in an MLS season. Then there are the defining ones within a game. Carlyle Mitchell found a yard of space in the penalty area before nodding home his first MLS goal between Dan Kennedys legs. The cross from Pedro Morales had to be inch perfect. Johnny Leveron lost his man for one second, and Agustin Pelletieri equalized from a Chivas corner. That corner itself appeared contentious, until further review when the ball appeared to have just marginally brushed off the top of Steven Beitashours head. A twinge of irony too, as it was Pelletieri who was sent off in the two teams earlier meeting in Carson. The decision was probably incorrect, but the Whitecaps couldnt take advantage on that day. Jordan Harvey was one second late and one yard behind his tackle on Oswaldo Minda, and was sent off. Nigel Reo Cokers right foot was one inch too open, and his side-footed effort from an Erik Hurtado cutback was a yard wide from giving Vancouver the lead. Erick Torres found an extra yard of space, and he took full advantage as the 21-year-old Mexican scored a remarkable 13th goal, and a fourth straight game winner. Think about his value to the Goats having contributed 65 per cent of their goals this season. And Dan Kennedy had at least four fingers and part of a palm on top of the ball that sat on his goal-line, before Morales poked it in during second half stoppage time. Just enough to be considered "in control" of the ball under the FIFA laws. The problem for Coach Robinson right now is that he needs two players to swing some of those critical moments in his favour. The challenge is, some quick math will tell you there isnt a whole lot of margin on the payroll to add the elite central defender and certified goal poacher that can swing more moments in the Whitecaps direction. Saturday ended the Whitecaps eight-game sellout run. Would another second half season slump turn people off? The decisions Whitecaps brass make in these next few weeks may ultimately decide the margin of error between playoff soccer, and another off-season of "what-ifs" in Van City.http://www.nfljerseyschinacheap.us.com/ . Now Samardzija has his second win in three starts for a team trying to turn around its season. Samardzija tossed seven solid innings, Junior Lake hit two home runs and Emilio Bonifacio added a two-run shot as the Cubs extended their winning streak to five with a 5-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday. nfljerseyschinacheap.us.com . Brandon Triche added 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Orange (17-0, 4-0 Big East), who started 18-0 last season before dropping their first game. C.J. Fair donated 13 points and eight boards for Syracuse, which got 12 points and seven assists from Dion Waiters.MOBILE, Ala. -- Dee Ford prefers to keep things simple: Play hard and fast, and let others worry about his NFL draft stock. That approach certainly worked at the Senior Bowl. The Auburn defensive end had two first-half sacks, and Derek Carr and David Fales each threw a touchdown pass in the Souths 20-10 victory over the North on Saturday. Ford, who earned positive reviews from observers during the week, quickly dismissed a reporters suggestion that he made some money in the draft with his performance. "I dont do this for cash," said Ford, selected the games MVP. "I do this for pride. I do this because I really, really want to be great. The money will come. Im just all about perfecting what I do. "Ive still got a lot of work. Ive got the combine and pro day. My life doesnt stop here. Ive got to be consistent." The showcase game for top senior NFL prospects was mostly dominated by the defences. The South racked up five sacks of Virginia Techs Logan Thomas and intercepted three North passes. Princetons Caraun Reid also had two sacks. "Just talking to the linemen, they said these guys are kind of quick coming off the ball," Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd of the North said. "Youve got to go out there and try to help those guys out." Alabama receiver Kevin Norwood caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Fales of San Jose State and received the Souths Most Outstanding Player honours. Wisconsins James White scored on a 1-yard run with 6:04 left for the Norths only touchdown. He was selected the Norths MOP after rushing for 62 yards on 11 carries and making five catches for 15 yards. "I wanted to come out here and prove that I could do it all as a running back: Pass protect, catch the ball out of the backfield, run inside and run outside," White said. "I think I did it pretty well this week." Ford, meanwhile, couldnt quite do it all: He batted down a pass in the backfield deep in North territory that would have been aa sure touchdown if hed held onto it. nfljerseyschinacheap. "I could have had a TD," said Ford, who still celebrated the play with a little dance. "I couldnt find the ball. Thats stuff I need to work on." Vanderbilt wide receiver Jordan Matthews briefly interrupted an interview to hand Ford a football. "Game ball, baby," Matthews told him. "I got that for you." Offensively, it looked just like what it was: an all-star game with players trying to get in sync with only a few days of practice. The quarterbacks who made the fewest mistakes won the day as the South built a 20-3 lead. Fresno States Carr started fast with three straight completions on the Souths opening drive. He capped the march with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Colorado State tight end Crockett Gillmore and finished 7 of 12 for 45 yards. "He was so open, I just wanted to get the ball in his hands and let him go," Carr said. Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolos first two drives ended with field goals of 50 and 39 yards by Auburns Cody Parkey. Garoppolo, MVP of the East-West Shrine Game out of Tony Romos alma mater, was a late addition to the roster after Alabamas AJ McCarron declined an invitation. Garoppolo was 6-of-11 passing for 32 yards. Miamis Stephen Morris was 10 of 18 for a game-high 89 yards but also was intercepted twice. Boyd was 7 of 16 for 31 yards with an interception. Thomas only got five passes off, completing four for 17 yards. "I dont think I had much time to do anything with it," he said. Ford, who also had two sacks in the BCS championship, Parkey and Chris Davis all made a big impact a few weeks after their Auburn team lost to Florida State in the title game. Davis had an interception. They left this one in a better mood. "It was a great week for Auburn," Davis said. "Any time you get to come to an event like this, you want to showcase your talent. I think for the Auburn team, we did that." cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' ' |
