Ashley Young

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VANCOUVER -- The Portland Timbers took advantage of several Vancouver Whitecaps defensive blunders for a 3-0 Major League Soccer victory Saturday night which moved them into the final playoff spot in the tight Western Conference. Alvas Powell, Maximiliano Urruti and Rodney Wallace all scored second half goals for the Timbers. The win leaped-frogged Portland over Vancouver into fifth spot. It was an embarrassing home loss for a Whitecaps team struggling to reach the playoffs. Vancouver has just two wins in their last 11 games (2-4-5). During that span the Whitecaps have managed just eight goals and has been scoreless five times, including four times in the last five games. The win gives Portland 34 points, one more than the Whitecaps, from an 8-8-10 record. Vancouver slips to sixth place with 33 points (7-6-12). A Whitecaps defensive breakdown allowed Powell to give Portland the lead in the 51st minute off a pretty pass from Diego Valeri. The Argentine midfielder threaded a ball into the box where an unmarked Powell headed it past the outstretched hands of Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted. It was Powells first goal of the season while Valeri picked up his team-leading ninth assist. Urruti, a second-half substitute, delivered the dagger in the 75th minute. The big forward had all the time in the world to take a pass from Michael Harrington and blast a shot that hit the crossbar and fell into the net behind Ousted. The Whitecaps goalkeeper scrambled to his feet and began yelling at his defence. Wallace made it 3-0 in the 79th minute after slipping behind the Whitecaps defence and converting a pass from Darlington Nagbe. The close Western Conference playoff battle helped produce a great atmosphere at BC Place Stadium for the match between the Cascadia rivals. Among the noisy, sellout crowd of 21,000 was a contingent of 500 Portland fans who made their presence known by chanting and waving flags. The teams were scoreless after the first half. Vancouver controlled much of the play, moving the ball with authority. A solid Timbers defence forced the Whitecaps to take their shots from the perimeter which allowed Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to track the ball. One of the Whitecaps best scoring chances came in the fifth minute. Newcomer Mauro Rosales sent a pretty crossing pass into the box which charging midfielder Pedro Morales headed over the crossbar. Darren Mattocks, a second-half substitute, came close to tying the match in the 66th minute. Midfielder Russell Teibert feathered a pass behind the Portland defence. An open Mattocks had trouble controlling the ball then fired a shot that Ricketts stopped. Both Rosales, obtained in a trade from Chivas USA, and Costa Rican centre back Kendall Watson, an international transfer, made their home debuts for the Whitecaps. NOTES: The Whitecaps play in Portland Sept. 20. à Marie Hui, the Burnaby, B.C. native who sings the national anthems at Whitecaps games, has been booked to sing the anthems at the Seattle Seahawks Sept. 21 NFL game against Denver. à Vancouver played without centre back Johnny Leveron, who was given a red card in a 2-0 loss to L.A. last weekend. Authentic Dzanan Musa Jersey . Blatter also told reporters Saturday after meeting with Qatars emir that the decision to award the tournament to the desert nation is "not reversible." There have been calls to move the tournament because of Qatars intense heat. Authentic DeMarre Carroll Jersey . Howard had 17 points and a career-high-tying 26 rebounds in his Houston debut, James Harden added 21 points and the Rockets cruised to a 96-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. http://www.cheapnetsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-caris-levert-jersey . -- A.J. Burnett was happy to escape from New York. Authentic Jarrett Allen Jersey . Goergl, the 2011 world champion, started 28th after the other top contenders had already gone down but had the fastest time at each interval. Goergl finished the demanding 3-kilometre Kaelberloch course in 1 minute, 47. Discount Nets Jerseys . - Olympic champion Marielle Thompson accomplished her mission of defending her skicross World Cup title at Nakiska Ski Area on Saturday.It is easy to dismiss the importance of a small international break held in the middle of the most important stretch of the league season. For some in England, it is just a distraction away from the main event known as the Barclays Premier League. Many "fans" gathered in front of their television to watch their nation play on Wednesday and hoped none of the players who play for their clubs would get hurt. It is a challenge for English football fans to put their country first over their clubs at the best of times. At the start of March? A big ask. Even those who were behind the game may have been falling asleep into their beverage of choice, as England, once again, showed a real lack of intensity and tempo. The biggest moment of the first half came when Jack Wilshere had his foot trod on by Denmark and Liverpool defender Daniel Agger and, as he lay down on the ground crying, Arsenal fans, even more than England fans, held their breaths. Wilshere would play on, as would England, in a game played at a leisurely pace in front of many empty red seats at Wembley. In truth, you could have removed the fans, the stands and the cameras and it was nothing more than a glorified training game for most. Not for Roy Hodgson. Being the final match of the season for the England boss before he gathers his players on May 13 to begin his preparation for Brazil, it was an opportunity to see some of his players work together. However, even the most staunch supporter of such a fixture will have left Wembley on Wednesday night wondering just what conclusions Hodgson will have come up with from the match. This was as dull as it gets. Hodgson visits whichever Premier League games he likes throughout the season and, without question, he will be able to find out more about the players in those systems than one he attempted to put together once all the players reported on Sunday. The game against Denmark, which England won 1-0, saw Hodgson deploy a 4-3-3 and give a number of young players an opportunity to represent their country. There was little else that could be taken from it, really.I had made my mind up about most of my England final 23 before the game and nothing swayed me from it against Denmark. Goalkeepers Strangely, Hodgson named four goalkeepers inside his 30-man squad for the game against Denmark. Joe Hart started and is the undisputed number one and whichever two players are chosen to back him up are, likely, not that important. Defenders Arguably the biggest decision of all from Hodgsons starting XI was Ashley Cole starting at left back. The veteran has started three Premier League games in four months for Chelsea and doesnt look like finding his way back into Jose Mourinhos side any time soon. However, unlike many England players, it is hard to think of Cole playing poorly too often for England. In a back four short on international tournament experience, Cole shouldnt just go to Brazil, but should start the first game against Italy ahead of Leighton Baines. Luke Shaw, who came on for Cole at half-time, is a fine player whose time will come. Coles Chelsea team-mate Gary Cahill is a lock for Brazil, as is Phil Jagielka, who was injured for the Denmark game. Chris Smalling, his replacement, will also go as he can play centrally or at right back. Likewise, Phil Jones can also be used in those positions, as well as midfield, once he returns to full fitness. The one omission is Kyle Walker, also injured for the game against Denmark, who will likely be selected by Hodgson, as well. Walker, though, wouldnt make my squad as he is a liability defensively, loses concentration often and can be exposed in Hodgsons system that requires his team to defend deep and use width in attack. Glen Johnson used to fall into this category but has made strides under Brendan Rodgers and is clearly a player who thrives when his club manager gives him confidence. Midfielders The discussion about the midfield shape cannot be had without defining Wayne Rooneys role in this team. It is one thing for Rooney to play off the striker for Manchester United against many average Premier League teams, but it is quite another to have him play that role against Italy and Uruguay at the World Cup. He just doesnt defend well enough and Andrea Pirlo at Euro 2012 should have effectively retired Rooney in that position for England. Rooney, then, will play centrally up front on his own, like he did against Denmark and behinnd him will sit a midfield central three.dddddddddddd Captain Steven Gerrard and Wilshere are two automatic starters if they remain fit. For me, the biggest decision comes who plays alongside them. Jordan Henderson got the nod against Denmark and deserved the spot based on his recent impressive displays for Liverpool. That will be enough to get him on the plane to Brazil, but it will be a surprise to see him start the first match against Italy. Gerrard is in terrific form. He starts transitions well and is an excellent distributor from deep areas, but he will likely need a more defensive-minded player alongside him to protect against counter attacks and allow Wilshere more freedom to get forward. This is where Michael Carrick should be used, although it seems to be easy pickings at the moment to knock the Manchester United midfielder. In fact, a national newspaper ran a poll this week and 70 per cent of their readers felt Carrick shouldnt go to Brazil. To ignore a ball treasurer like Carrick would be naïve for England, but it is not like they havent done it before. When England are chasing a game, they will have the opportunity to bring on more attacking players like Henderson, Ross Barkley, Adam Lallana or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain inside that midfield three. All of these players can make a difference to a game and can bring some tempo and pace when opponents tire. Lallana changed the game against Denmark and England fans will be hoping he can do what David Platt did in 1990, bringing quality and an appreciation of space off the bench. Oxlade-Chamberlain, like James Milner, who is excellent at defending a flank, can play centrally or out wide and both should be picked on quality alone, but also bring much-needed versatility. This all means no place for Frank Lampard and thats how it should be. A World Cup spot should never be given because you were a good servant for years and big games have now passed him by. Forwards This leaves us with five spots. Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling played either side of Wayne Rooney against Denmark. Sturridge scored the games only goal and will likely start Englands first game following a terrific season for Liverpool. Playing him out wide, in a 4-3-3 had its challenges early with his wing being exposed when he drifted centrally, but with three central midfielders that should be ironed out and, at least, he is doing it on the left with a full back who is likely to stay deeper (more than Johnson, that is). Alongside Sturridge, Rooney and Danny Welbeck will both go to Brazil. Hodgson will need to pick one other centre forward who can bring something different to the attack physically, hold the ball up and be a menace to defenders if the game situation warrants it. Rickie Lambert is the odds-on favourite for this spot, but I would take Andy Carroll if he is healthy. It wasnt that long ago that he caused Sweden no end of problems at Euro 2012 and, if he can play well for West Ham in the next ten games, he would get my pick. This leaves one spot. Hodgson could (and probably will) select another defender in Walker, but he may also lean towards another striker like Jermain Defoe or another player in a wide area while withdrawing a central midfielder, such as Sterling, Aaron Lennon, Ashley Young or Andros Townsend. Sterling aside, the rest have had difficult seasons with their clubs. I would probably give the nod to Townsend because he has played well for England and brings pace but, unlike the other 22 spots, this is the one where the next two months will tell me who should go. Whoever is selected, it appears England are a long way away from making a serious run at the knockout stages based on their latest performance. My squad: Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Celtic) and John Ruddy (Norwich) Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea) and Leighton Baines (Everton) Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Ross Barkley (Everton), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) and James Milner (Manchester City) Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham) and Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur) Chiefs Jerseys China Cheap Nike Chargers Jerseys Cheap Nike Raiders Jerseys Wholesale Cowboys Jerseys China Cheap Nike Giants Jerseys Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys For Sale Wholesale Redskins Jerseys China Cheap Nike Lions Jerseys Packers Jerseys China Cheap Vikings Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Panthers Jerseys Hoodies Cheap Saints Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike Buccaneers Jerseys Cardinals Jerseys China Cheap Rams Jerseys Hoodies Cheap Nike 49ers Jerseys Seahawks Jerseys China Bears Jerseys China Cheap Nike Bills Jerseys Ravens Jerseys China Wholesale Falcons Jerseys China ' ' '