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When we look back on it from the sobering eyes of October, this winless, goal-less, and mostly lifeless week may have actually come at a good time for the Whitecaps. Womens Adam Hayward Elite Jersey White Nike NFL Washington Redskins . The good news; it took until the end of June to have really poor back to back games. But those pre-World Cup break thrills and spills, with seven goals in two away games feels like much more than two-and-a-half weeks ago. What this past week did was expose a glaring weakness; Vancouvers inability to break through clubs who dont give them space. One dimension the club has been missing since year one in MLS is an aerial threat from a corner, free kick or a Pedro Morales diagonal ball. Whether that attribute is on the resume of a future Centre Back, or they go after a traditional target striker come July 9...the Whitecaps must get more production from the dead ball. With arch rivals Seattle providing the last opposition before an opening transfer window, one wonders how proactive the Whitecaps will be to strengthen. This weekends opponents are runaway league leaders built almost exclusively with well-travelled MLS veterans. Is that an ingredient the club is missing, especially in these dog days of the MLS schedule? Media and supporters alike salivated over the prospects of youngsters Mattocks Manneh and Hurtado all starting together against the leagues worst team in Montreal; especially without three key components in Marco DiVaio, Justin Mapp and Felipe. Its very easy to say now, but what else was Frank Klopas going to do against the Whitecaps, but sit deep? That first hour on Wednesday was like watching three Ferraris trying to race around downtown Vancouver traffic. Lots of revving, but never the space to really get going, and eventually, stuck at a red light on a one way street. The one outfield bright spot against the Impact was the evasive and adventurous Gershon Koffie, who for his efforts, was given a spot on the bench at Colorado. His holding midfield colleague Mattias Laba, was by his standards anonymous Wednesday, and downright leg-less at Philadelphia. But Laba kept his place, and in Koffies absence, Russell Tiebert, a player who many observers find hard to clearly define. One neednt extol the young Canadians virtues - we all know what they are, and he still has enough years to evolve into that ideal position. But the buzzing and supporting and possessing all seemed rather superfluous when the Whitecaps were down two and needing some forward thrust. Koffie did come on at half-time, but even then it felt too late. Most worrisome in Colorado were the performances of Uruguayans Nicholas Mezquida and Sebastien Fernandez. Their country had been dispatched from the World Cup by Colombia earlier that day, and it almost seemed like the two were still in mourning. Neither player could complete a pass, and both looked like featherweights in possession getting brushed aside by stronger opponents. As eight unbeaten suddenly became winless in three, it will be really interesting to watch how Carl Robinson goes about building his team up in advance of the Sounders visit. Does he show patience with his young players to get back to their previous form, or with four games in two weeks looming - does he consider making changes. There must also be a voice in the back of his head telling him about the components his squad doesnt have. We know the man they call Robbo never backs down from a challenge. Hes also not backing down from any incoming phone calls either. Game Spencer Long Washington Redskins Womens Home Jersey Nike NFL Burgundy Red . Bouchards high stick hit Blue Jackets winger Matt Calvert in the face following a faceoff in the Wilds 4-2 season-opening victory over Columbus. Calvert lost teeth and needed stitches on his lip but returned and got an assist in the third period. White Roy Helu Womens Limited Jersey Nike NFL Road Washington Redskins . - Russell Wilson is getting on the diamond again. GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Amanda Sin put her head down and pedalled furiously 10 minutes up a backbreaking path of rocks and mud, one final climb that propelled the cyclist to Canadas first medal at the Pan American Games. The 34-year-old from Collingwood, Ont., captured bronze in womens mountain bike Saturday, pulling the pin to open the figurative floodgates of Canadas expected medal haul in Mexico. Teammate Max Plaxton quickly added a second medal, earning silver in the mens mountain bike, the first events contested at the Games. Sin powered past teammate Mikaela Kofman on the last of the four 6.2-kilometre loops of the course in Tapalpa, a gut-busting section that was exactly the way she likes it. "Its very steep with a lot of cobble, rocky, technical and some muddy sections," Sin said. "I really enjoyed it, it was very tough and challenging. That made for a really good race. "Its really exciting to win the first medal of the Games, so Im happy to do that for our country." American Heather Irmiger won the womens gold in one hour 34 minutes nine seconds, while Mexican Laura Lorenza Morfin finished second. Sin was 3:05 back for third while Toronto native Kofman was fourth, 3:59 off the pace. Colombian Hector Paez finished the five-lap mens course in 1:34.12, pulling away from Plaxton at the top of the final climb to edge the Canadian by 17 seconds. Jeremiah Bishop of the U.S. won the bronze. Derek Zandstra of Trenton, Ont., was eighth. Canadas first medals were sure to be only the beginning of a continual march to the podium that could average 10 trips a day, based on previous Games. Canada claimed 137 medals four years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, finishing third behind the U.S. and the host country. The mountain bike wasnt an Olympic qualifying event -- the two womens and mens spots are chosen based on national ranking and will be determined jjust a couple of months out from the London Games. Mens Joe Theismann Elite Jersey Lights Out Black Nike NFL Washington Redskins. As a member of a Canadian womens team ranked No. 1 in the world Sin doesnt face an easy path to London. Catharine Pendrel, gold medallist at the world championships last month, is among a group of women ranked ahead of her that includes Emily Batty and veteran Marie-Helene Premont. "It is a goal for sure, but we have the strongest womens team in the world right now," Sin said. "Its very competitive." Plaxton sat back for most of the course, then made his move on the last lap and had the lead briefly. "I played what cards I had," he said. "But near the top of the last climb on the last lap, he just accelerated and I had nothing to respond with." Plaxtons medal capped a strong -- but long -- season that saw him win the Canadian championships and Pro XCT series. "Its the middle of October, usually my season ends in September," said Plaxton, who chose to compete at the Pan Ams because hed never been to a multi-sport Games. "Its been a great season, and now with a medal here. . . pretty, pretty happy, but ready for a break for sure." Both Sin and Paxton marvelled at the crowd that turned out to watch the racing in Tapalpa, a picturesque town that lies in the mountains a 90-minute drive south of Guadalajara. Plaxton, who speaks fluent Spanish after spending four years of his childhood in Chile and four years in Spain, said the crowd rivalled any European World Cup race. "The fans are awesome. Definitely pushed me," Plaxton said. "And theyre everywhere. On the hardest climb they were two, three deep. I was definitely breathing hard because of the altitude, but I coudnt even hear myself breathing they were cheering so loud." Mountain biking was one of 11 medal events on the first official day of competition at the Games. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
