redeemed by three crucial blocks in the goalmouth as Lim

MONTREAL -- So much for all the excitement over the Montreal Impacts mid-season signings -- both Hernan Bernardello and Adran Lopez ended up on the injured list this week. Bernardello, the gritty Argentine who looked to have settled the teams midfield in his four appearances, will be out four to six weeks with a sprained left ankle after taking a knock in a 0-0 tie in Philadelphia last Saturday. And Lopez, a defender who had seen action in only one CONCACAF Champions League match, will be out at least six months with a right knee injury suffered during practice on Tuesday. Add to that the absence of midfielder Andres Romero on a brief paternity leave and the Impact will be shorthanded when they go on the road to face the New England Revolution on Sunday night. "Thats part of the sport and we cant spend all day crying about it," Montreal coach Marco Schallibaum said this week. "Now we have to find a solution." The Impact (12-7-6) go into the weekend in a three-way tie for first place in the MLS Eastern Conference, with two games in hand each on the New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City. The Revolution (10-9-7) are in fifth spot. The loss of Bernardello, the teams second designated player after striker Marco Di Vaio, and Spanish central defender Lopez leaves them with essentially the same team as before the signings. That outfit had been good enough to put them safely in playoff position, but it reduces Montreals depth heading into a busy month of league and CONCACAF action. The toughest loss is Bernardello, who had become a key piece alongside veteran Patrice Bernier at the back of the midfield, both in shoring up the defence and moving the ball forward. "Its a pain for him too because he was doing well," said Montreal left back Hassoun Camara. "He brought a lot of stability to the midfield. But we have to work with the players we have." Schallibaum tried out different players and formations in practice this week to make up for Bernardello and Romero, who had become a regular starter on the left side in recent games. Romero returned to Argentina, where his wife was due to give birth, and is expected back on Monday. Collen Warner may move into Bernardellos spot, while Davy Arnaud should be back in the starting 11, possibly in the middle. Sanna Nyassi is another strong candidate, particularly in Romeros spot on the left side. "I feel bad for those two guys, to come into a new group and both get hurt in the same week," said Arnaud. "Its unfortunate, but things happen during a season and we have to continue moving forward." Arnaud got bumped from the lineup when Bernardello moved in and has been used off the bench in recent games. It was the first time since the team captain was acquired last year for the teams MLS expansion season that the 33-year-old has been used through a stretch of games as a substitute. "Its not easy." said Arnaud. "I want to be on the field every minute of every game. "Thats my mentality and thats who I am. That wont change. But then again, we won a game 5-0 against Houston and you cant expect too many changes after a result like that. "But I continue to do the things I do. Ill be back on the field soon enough. You respect the coachs decisions all the time, but it doesnt mean I dont want to be out there." While Lopez will not return until sometime in 2014, Bernardello hopes to be back before the end of the regular season. "At the time, I didnt think it was that bad," Bernardello said of the injury. "I tried to keep playing, but I couldnt. "I was feeling good after nearly a month with the team, so its really too bad. But theres no choice but to recover and get back in. Theyre saying four to six weeks, but me, I think I can come back earlier. I hope so, anyway." Fate has not fixed itself totally against the Impact, however. For one, they will play on a grass field, just like at home. The Revolution normally play on an artificial surface, but grass has been laid down at Gillette Stadium, mainly for a Brazil-Portugal friendly on Sept. 10. That will be a relief for defender Alessandro Nesta, who has played through a nagging groin problem. They will also have Schallibaum back after serving a two-game suspension, his fourth ban of the year, for losing his temper on the sideline against Houston. Assistant coach Mauro Biello went 1-0-1 as interim head coach. "He brings a lot of passion to the game at the sideline and as a player you feed off that," Arnaud said of Schallibaum. "Hes into the game. "The players dont have any problem with the things that have happened, to be honest, because a lot of times hes reacting to protect the players. You appreciate that." The Impact are 3-6-3 on the road this season, but they won in New England in 2012. Both teams are on three-game unbeaten runs, with New England coming off a 1-1 draw last week in Toronto. The Impact will have an eye on Kelyn Rowe, who has three goals in three games, and Diego Fagundez, who has two goals and an assist in the Revolutions last three matches. New England will be without newly signed left back OBrian Woodbine, who is on national team duty with Jamaica. Custom Baltimore Orioles Jerseys . - After spending the morning in the hospital, Logan Couture gave the San Jose Sharks the spark they needed. Orioles Jerseys 2019 .com) - Carmelo Anthony tallied 31 points to help the New York Knicks continue their improved play of late with a 100-92 victory over a short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder squad. https://www.cheaporioles.com/ .S. President Barack Obama saluted the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks at the White House on Monday -- a rare moment for a president hungry to see more victorious teams from his hometown. Baltimore Orioles Shirts . Make that, almost always subjective. Saturday at Carrow Road, the spirit of fair play trumped the rulebook, costing Norwich City three points. Orioles Jerseys China . -- Kansas City Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar will have Tommy John surgery that will sideline the pitcher for the season.TURIN, Italy -- Penalty specialists Sevilla beat Benfica 4-2 in a shootout to win the Europa League after a 0-0 draw in the final on Wednesday, claiming another international title for Spanish football. Sevilla goalkeeper Beto saved two spot kicks from Benfica forwards Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo who failed to deceive with stutter-step approaches to the ball. Substitute Kevin Gameiro stepped up to score the decisive kick as the drama played out at the end housing Sevilla fans who have seen this story before. Sevilla had ousted city rival Real Betis on penalties in the last-16 round, and also won this competition in 2007 in a shootout. The Portuguese champion had dominated regulation time yet failed to score, and extended its streak of losing European finals to eight matches over 52 years. "The best team did not win," Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said. "Benfica players should be congratulated," Jesus said. "There is nothing I can criticize." Sevilla had seemed destined to win a competition it entered only after UEFA denied two Spanish clubs places because of financial problems. It had also been seconds from elimination in the semifinals against another Spanish team, Valencia. "We know how to suffer and we know how to fight. I think the result was fair," said Sevilla coach Unai Emery. "Its a very special evening." Sevilla, which won the competition for the third time in nine seasons, ensured Spain will sweep the season-ending European club competitions, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meeting in the Champions League final on May 24. Next month Spain will defend its World Cup crown in Brazil and seek to clinch a record fourth straight major international trophy after winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012. Benfica, however, has not won a continental trophy since its greatest player, Eusebio, inspired two straight European Cup titles in 1961 and 62. Four months after Eusebio died aged 71, the Lisbon club missed another chance to end the unwanted record. Benfica returned to the scene of its semifinnals triumph against Juventus and the match kicked off with patches of empty sets in the Italian champions stadium.dddddddddddd Three early opportunities for Sevilla broke down for Carlos Baccas lack of finishing. The Colombia forward failed to shoot when collecting a pass across the goalmouth, drifted offside in a fast break started by captain Ivan Rakitic, and then could not connect with Rakitics angled low cross. A testy spell midway through the half lacked creativity, and even Rakitics shot from the centre circle drifted well wide of goal. Benfica ended the half strongly, aided by loose play in the heart of Sevillas defence. Sevilla relied on Beto for a double save, swatting away Maxi Pereiras looping shot from close range and then parrying Rodrigos low drive. Benfica claimed a penalty when Nicolas Gaitan fell under pressure from defender Federico Fazio who poked the ball barely wide of his own goal. Poor positional play by Sevilla defenders in the 48th was redeemed by three crucial blocks in the goalmouth as Lima, twice, and Rodrigo fired shots from 10 metres (yards). German referee Felix Brych rejected repeated Benfica penalty claims, with one clean tackle on Lima bringing a shower of flag sticks thrown by Portuguese fans behind Sevillas goal. At the other end, former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes twice tested Jan Oblak around the hour mark with rising shots straight at the Benfica keeper. Sevilla needed another saving tackle in the 72th, when Coke denied Lima as the Brazilian shaped to connect with Maxi Pereiras lateral pass. Benfica again finished the half on top, and Beto leaped to tip over Limas shot in the 84th. When Beto then lost a deep cross, defender Ezequiel Garay headed over an empty Sevilla goal as the scoring chances continued to go begging. Bacca could have won it for Sevilla when breaking clear in the 101st minute but his rising shot flashed just wide. But Bacca, like his teammates, made no such mistake in the shootout - as Sevilla repeated its success on spotkicks in the 2007 UEFA Cup final against Espanyol. ' ' '