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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. Discount Shoes Online Australia . - The Vancouver Whitecaps hadnt experienced a loss in over two months before falling to the Colorado Rapids 2-0 on Saturday. Dillon Powers and Vicente Sanchez both scored in the first half as the Rapids snapped the Whitecaps (5-3-7) franchise-best unbeaten streak at eight matches. But as head coach Carl Robinson saw it, it wasnt that big of a deal. "Weve lost one in nine," Robinson said. "I wont get carried away." Despite the loss, Vancouver had reason to celebrate as Whitecaps Mehdi Ballouchy, Steven Beitashour and Nigel Reo-Coker all made their returns after various lengths of absences. Ballouchy played 20 minutes in his first game in nearly 11 months since tearing his right ACL last season. He tore his left ACL two years ago, and played only five games for the San Jose Earthquake before the most recent injury. "Its been a long time," Ballouchy said. "When you do an ACL, you come back, and you do it again, these are long-term injuries. A lot of players dont come back. Its been a steep, steep hill and Im happy to be playing again." Reo-Coker was back in action after missing Wednesdays scoreless draw against Montreal to be in New York for the birth of his first child, while Beitashour was back after a long trek back from Brazil, where he played for Irans national team in the World Cup pool play. Vancouver hadnt lost since falling to Los Angeles 1-0 on April 19. It was the second of a brief two-game losing streak that started with a home loss to Colorado a week earlier. "Weve lost three games out of 15. Its not bad," said Reo-Coker. "Every team has spells like this — even the top teams. Were going through it now. We have so much belief and confidence in this team that were going to bounce back. Its a sign and test of how good we are." Reo-Coker said the birth of his daughter Scarlet changed his life "completely." "Its fantastic," he said. "Its something you cant put into words until you go through." He had a less memorable moment late in the first half when he fouled Sanchez in the box, leading to a penalty kick. Sanchez easily beat goalie David Ousted in the 36th minute to give the Rapids their second goal. "It was just miscommunication between David and myself," Reo-Coker said. "I saw David coming out and we kind of hesitated amongst each other, no one really took command of the full situation." Robinson had no issue with the call. "Second goal, it was a blatant penalty," he said. Powers hit the bar in the 17th minute and put a shot through the legs of a Vancouver defender three minutes later to give Colorado a 1-0 lead. The Rapids had another chance in the 27th minute, but were turned away by Ousted. Vancouver had two solid chances in the second half but Pedro Morales put a shot wide in the 63rd minute and Johnny Leversons laser in the 77th minute was saved by Clint Irwin. Colorado had 19 shots overall to Vancouvers five. "Were going to win games where we dont deserve to and were going to lose games we deserve to win," Robinson said. "Tonight we got what we deserved." Robinson didnt play Beitashour, opting instead to give him a rest after a long period of travel. "Beitas had three flights and in total its probably 16 hours of flying," Robinson said. "What I didnt want to do is risk an injury to him. I made the decision before the game." Air Max 95 Outlet Australia . -- Miami Dolphins defensive co-ordinator Kevin Coyle defended the management style of coach Joe Philbin in the wake of the teams bullying scandal. Cheap Asics Australia . The above paragraph could be rewritten, verbatim, with Marcus Stromans name in place of Romeros. After both men had disastrous outings in Tuesdays 18-4 mauling at the hands of the Tigers, its clear that neither is the best option to begin the season in Toronto.Smiling or frowning.Woe is us or Wow for us.Heading into the final week of the NFL regular season, hardly anyone has a neutral feeling about the 32 teams. There are success stories and there are flops.Heres a look at both sides.SMILINGThe biggest and widest grins should be worn in Dallas, of course; everything is huge in Big D, right? No one outside of Jerrys Palace could have predicted the Cowboys (11-4) would be NFC East champs and in line for a first-round playoff bye. Not with a defence that lost its best player, linebacker Sean Lee, to preseason injury. Now with quarterback Tony Romo coming off back surgery. Not with a coach, Jason Garrett, who seemed lost in big spots.This team is so special because we built this thing from the ground up, defensive end Jeremy Mincey said. Guys came to work, from (training camp) all the way to now, and the results are definitely paying out. And if we keep playing the way that were playing, anything is possible.Folks in the Valley of the Sun also should be thrilled by what their Cardinals (11-4) have provided. Until injuries tore apart the roster — theyve used four quarterbacks and have seen offensive and defensive playmakers go down nearly every week — the Cardinals were the feel-good story of 2014.Even as they reel a bit, their faithful should, well, keep the faith heading into the post-season.You have to wipe it away, get the 12th win. Use that momentum, hopefully, to go into the playoffs, running back Stepfan Taylor said. We still have football left. Thats the best thing about this. Were not out of anything.Then there are the two favourites for the Super Bowl, the defending champion Seahawks (11-4) and the AFC East winners, the Patriots (11-3).A little more than a month into the season, their fans were shaking their heads, wondering what was wrong.Now, those same fans are nodding pleasurably at what they see.Seattle is hitting top speed at just the right time, its defence looking just as overpowering as last year, its quarterback, Russell Wilson, making magic on the ground and through the air.New England has been invincible at home, which could be enough to get it to yet another Super Bowl. Tom Brady is having a vintage season despite a non-stellar surrounding cast other than tight end Rob Gronkowski and receiver Julian Edelman. The defence has found some new stars (Jamie Collins, Chandler Jones) to go with vets Rob Ninkovich and Darrelle Revvis. Air Max 90 Online Store. Two more teams few counted on to make an impact: Detroit and Buffalo.The Lions (11-4) not only can waltz off with the NFC North by winning at Lambeau Field on Sunday — a tall task, for sure — but have a shot at the top seed in the conference.Regardless, under new coach Jim Caldwell they have exorcised many of the disciplinary demons that plagued them under the previous regime.As for the Bills, well, their NFL-high drought is now at 15 seasons, but they at least sniffed the playoffs this year. They also put together a defence that nearly anyone east of Seattle would envy.FROWNINGWe could lump together the teams that brought in new coaches and totally floundered: Washington, Tennessee, Tampa Bay. Not many people seeing the bright side there.Instead, though, lets concentrate on the horror shows in Chicago, New Orleans, New Jersey and San Francisco.Its a sign of how much turmoil the Bears (5-10) have experienced in 2014 that one week after benching Jay Cutler for Jimmy Clausen — yes, Jimmy Clausen — the team has to go back to the failed veteran. Clausen was concussed in his start on Sunday, and coach Marc Trestman has to go back to Cutler against Minnesota.Regardless, things have gotten so ugly in the Windy City that the only thing capable of bringing smiles might be a total housecleaning.Just as dysfunctional are the Saints (6-9), who lost five straight at home, cant stop anyone defensively and have lost their mojo with the ball. Theyve rarely looked the same since the bounty scandal and Sean Paytons year-long suspension in 2012.At least folks arent wearing paper bags at the Superdome as in the old days.Instead of resorting to the paper bags, Jets fans hire airplanes to fly banners asking to fire the general manager. They could get their wish as owner Woody Johnson may show John Idzik the door, along with coach Rex Ryan.The Jets (3-12) still play hard, particularly on defence, but the overall talent level would make any observer frown.Not so in the Bay Area, where there is plenty of skill. When Jim Harbaugh leaves the 49ers (7-8), he will be praised for taking them to three straight NFC championship games, and one tight Super Bowl loss. His departure will be blamed on discord in the front office.No one will be smiling.___AP Sports Writers Schuyler Dixon and Bob Baum contributed to this story.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '
- Created: Dec 19 '19
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