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11-24-2017, 04:33 AM | #1 |
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VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Whitecaps will try to continue their winning ways against some familiar foes Saturday. Danny Green Jersey . The Caps will face former defender Alain Rochat and midfielder John Thorrington as they visit D.C. United in Washington. Of the two, Rochat is expected to play a more prominent role as he tries to curb Vancouvers potent offence after being traded unexpectedly for a pair of draft picks in early June. "(Rochat) brought the same thing here that he brings to D.C. -- obviously his presence as a veteran and his ability to get forward and his ability to defend," said Vancouver goalkeeper Brad Knighton. "Im sure they enjoy having him, and itll be good to see him." Thorrington, a steady performer who has battled injuries, made 35 appearances for Vancouver between 2011 and 2012 before being waived in the off-season. The Whitecaps (6-5-4) are looking to win their third straight game and fifth in the past seven. United is in last place overall with a 2-11-3 mark, but is coming off a win over San Jose. Vancouver has scored 11 goals in its past four games, but the Whitecaps need to shore up their goals-against record. They have allowed 24 goals -- the fourth-highest total in the league. "Were obviously scoring goals at a premium right now, which is great for us," said Knighton. "We just need to be sound defensively, and the wins will keep coming." Currently fifth in the Western Conference, the Whitecaps have a chance to move ahead of four-place Los Angeles, pending the Galaxys result Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes. Vancouver coach Martin Rennie said his charges have to balance their offensive prowess with better defence as they attempt to move up the table. While winning their last two games against New England and Chivas USA, the Whitecaps had to overcome deficits. "Weve been scoring a lot of goals," said Rennie. "So we need to make sure that we keep attacking teams and making sure that were creating chances. "I think that, as a team, we generally need to defend better, although against Chivas, they didnt really have too many chances. We limited their opportunities. So we need to do that well in the next game." The Whitecaps are surging after struggling early in the season. Rennie said another victory will do a lot for the teams morale as the organization, in its third MLS season, strives to become one of the leagues top clubs. "Confidence is hard to build, and were still working hard to build that," said Rennie. "As a team in general, were still a new team trying to create a positive culture, and I think these little steps do make a difference. Every time you get a win and go on a winning run and show good form, that always builds confidence. "Its such a tight league, Major League Soccer, so if we can go on a run and keep doing well, then we can move up the league fairly quickly." The Whitecaps will return to action following a 10-day break that has allowed some injured players to mend. Midfielder Gershon Koffie (thigh) and Brad Rusin (calf) are healthy again after they both missed the past four games. "Im looking forward to getting out there, scoring goals and, hopefully, getting a clean sheet," said Rusin, who is slated to play a holding midfield role instead of his usual central defender spot. Johnny Leveron and Carlyle Mitchell will continue in the centre back spots, while Nigel Reo-Coker, usually a midfielder, is slated to shift to right fullback, a position that he has played occasionally in the English Premier League and in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship against Montreal this season. He is making the move because veteran Young-Pyo Lee, 36, is being rested back in Vancouver. The game is the first of two straight on the road for the Whitecaps, who conclude their trip Wednesday in Kansas City. Notes: Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert of Niagara Falls, Ont., is slated to join Canadas entry in the upcoming Gold Cup after the game. Vancouvers fourth goalkeeper, Simon Thomas of Victoria, has also been called up to the national squad. ... Mitchell will also leave the Caps after the game to play for Trinidad & Tobago in the same tournament. ... Lee appears unlikely to join the Caps in Kansas City. He negotiated breaks from Eastern trips when he agreed to come back for what is expected to be his final season before retirement. ... Vancouver central defender Andy OBrien remains out with a hamstring injury. ... D.C. and the Whitecaps are 1-1-1 against each other in three MLS meetings. ... Kyle Porter, a former Whitecaps residency player who left the team in 2010, will also dress for the hosts. Joffrey Lauvergne Jersey . Kripps, of Summerland, B.C., and Edmontons Barnett used a terrific second run to move up two spots, putting the Canadian duo in medal contention with the final two runs set for Monday (11:15 a.m. ET, streaming live at cbc. Dennis Rodman Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the deal will pay Schenn $2.25 million in the first year and $2.75 million in the second year. In 82 games with the Flyers in 2013-14, Schenn scored 20 goals and added 21 assists. 403 Forbidden . The 23-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., defeated Germanys Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday in the fourth round of the Sony Open in just 89 minutes.SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The only thing Steve Kerr lost in his coaching debut was his voice.Stephen Curry had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Klay Thompson scored 19 points and the undermanned Golden State Warriors made Kerr a winner in his first game, shaking off a slow start to roll past the Sacramento Kings 95-77 on Wednesday night in the regular-season opener for both teams.I always laughed at Doc (Rivers) and (Tom) Thibodeau. Now it all makes sense, Kerr joked, his raspy voice struggling to piece together words. I got nothing left.The Warriors overcame the first hurdle of Kerrs tenure — besides his wavering voice, that is — with a patchwork lineup that did just enough against their rebuilding Northern California rivals.Golden State played without power forward David Lee (strained left hamstring) and reserve Brandon Rush (lower back spasms). Center Andrew Bogut also was limited to 18 minutes because of a migraine headache. He said he got on the floor with the help of undisclosed medicine and injections.The Warriors went to a smaller lineup late in the third quarter and pulled away with a 22-4 spurt.Those are the games you have to win, said forward Draymond Green, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds and played centre during the decisive run.DeMarcus Cousins had 20 points and 11 rebounds but was often stuck in foul trouble, and Rudy Gay scored 14 points for Sacramento in front of an announced sellout crowd of 17,317.The Kings had more turnovers (27) than made field goals (24).I think it was at 5:40 in the third quarter when we were up by one, and we turned into the Keystone Cops, said Kings coach Michael Malone.The Warriors, who fired Mark Jackson as coach after a 51-win season and back-to-back playoff appearances, began a season of high expectations with a sloppy but satisfying victory. Golden State outshot Sacramento 44 to 30.8 per cent, but had 22 turnovers annd was outrebounded 50 to 44. Manu Ginobili Jersey. oth teams started so poorly that fans even turned their attention elsewhere.Many crowded around luxury suites and press row to watch the ninth inning of the World Series on television late in the second quarter. Fans even erupted when the San Francisco Giants recorded the final out to beat Kansas City 3-2 in Game 7 for their third championship in five years.Players and coaches looked around wondering what happened until the public address announcer informed the arena of San Franciscos win. The Kings, who led 49-47 at the half, never got the home fans so enthused.With Cousins on the bench in foul trouble, the Warriors took over with Green at centre and Andre Iguodala at power forward. Marreese Speights also entered during the push and finished with 16 points.Give some credit to them, Cousins said, and some to us.RESUFFLED LINEUP: Harrison Barnes started at small forward for Iguodala, who came in as a reserve for the first time in his 10-year career. Iguodala had started all 807 previous games he played. Barnes started every game he played as a rookie but had a sophomore slump mostly coming off the bench behind Iguodala last season.COURTSIDE KINGS: Kings owner Vivek Ranadive sat in a courtside sat next to his daughter and Hall of Famers Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond, who are both team advisers.LIVINGSTONS DEBUT: Warriors backup guard Shaun Livingston made a surprising debut after missing all of the preseason recovering from surgery on his right toe. He played 3:40 and said he felt fine.TIP-INSWarriors: The Warriors have won four of their last five season openers. ... Golden State went 4-0 against the Kings last season.Kings: Sacramento had won 15 of its last 16 home openers, including eight straight.UP NEXTThe Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.The Kings welcome Portland on Friday night. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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