it wasnt until Mandzukic shot wide to waste a good look ins

Once again, the Vancouver Whitecaps did it the hard way. For the second time in five days, Martin Rennies team started slowly at home and had to dig deep to overturn an early deficit, but they finished the night by jumping into the Western Conference playoff places. This time it wasnt as big a mountain to climb. A few days earlier they were down 2-0 inside the opening 20 minutes against New England but on Wednesday there was just a one goal deficit. It was a worrying start for the Whitecaps against a Chivas USA side that arrived at BC Place winless in its last eight matches and sitting on the foot of the Western Conference. Tristan Bowens early strike gave Chivas the lead and in the opening quarter of the match, the visitors looked comfortable in possession and were dominating in midfield. The Whitecaps were unable to play through the middle of the pitch and took some time to put a "Plan B" into action. When Vancouver started to use the full width of the pitch and get the full backs to push further forward, they started to have much more success. The leadership of veterans Kenny Miller and Nigel Reo Coker was key to the transformation. At one stoppage in play when the Caps were trailing, both senior players took on the responsibility of making sure the message got through to their teammates about how they needed to change their approach. It is those leadership qualities and the drive and determination of two players who have played at the top level in Europe that helped lift the whole eleven. The goals didnt come immediately, but as the half progressed the Whitecaps grew into the game. Starting slow is something that must be addressed if this team is to make the playoffs this year. They have now conceded then first goal four games in a row. The good thing is, they are confident going forward right now, but its unlikely the goals will continue to flow at this pace. When the Whitecaps are playing well, getting the fullbacks forward is a key part of their success. It happened on Saturday with Jordan Harvey starting and finishing a move, and Harvey was again on hand to score the game-tying goal against Chivas in first half stoppage time. Its been quite a run for the left back of late. After scoring just two goals in his previous 133 career MLS appearances, he has now found the net three times in the last four games. A big impact for a player who couldnt get into the starting lineup during the first nine games of the season. Its also no coincidence that the Whitecaps recent run of goal-scoring has come at a time when Camilo has found his form. At the moment, hes likely playing as well as he ever has during his time in Vancouver. He now has eight league goals and 11 in all competitions this season. The three pronged attack with Camilo flanked by Miller and Russell Teibert continues to combine well and Teibert is revelling in his role, with two more assists against Chivas taking his total to six for the season. It will change the dynamic of the Caps attacking play when the 20-year-old from Niagara Falls is called up to Canadas Gold Cup squad, but the chance to represent his country is a much deserved reward for a player whose form has made him an integral part of the Whitecaps team. Vancouvers biggest concern remains the lack of a settled defence. There has been no MLS clean sheet since the opening day win over Toronto FC, but they are starting to get healthy at the back once again. Brad Rusin hopes to be available by the time the Caps return to action on Washington DC, and Andy OBrien also hopes to be able to play a part in at least two of the three games the Whitecaps have that week - Kansas City away and Seattle at home follow the trip to the US capital. Over the last few days, Vancouver needed to make home advantage count and they did. Back-to-back wins for the first time since the opening day of the season leaves them in a much more positive position in a crowded Western Conference playoff race. The seven goals scored in two home matches has provided plenty of entertainment for the home fans, and its certainly rarely dull watching the Whitecaps of late. Now the big question is whether they can be defensively sound on a consistent basis. That is likely to be the key in ensuring the Whitecaps stay firmly in the playoff race as the summer progresses. Eduardo Escobar Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. Byung-hyun Kim Jersey . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/1048l-chad-moeller-jersey-diamondbacks.html . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. Greg Swindell Jersey . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Matt Williams Jersey . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. SEVILLE, Spain -- Leonardo Bonucci and Mario Mandzukic scored late to give Juventus a 3-1 win at 10-man Sevilla on Tuesday and a spot in the Champions League knockout phase.Sevilla took an early lead when Nicolas Pareja struck a long-distance volley that Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon didnt appear to see as the ball skimmed through a crowded area.Sevillas Franco Vasquez was sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession midway through the first half and Claudio Marchisio equalized with a penalty just before the break.Bonucci and Mandzukic then found the net in the final 10 minutes.Juventus, the five-time defending Serie A champion, leads Group H with 11 points, one more than Sevilla, the three-time defending Europa League champion.Lyon is next with seven points after beating Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 in the other group game, while Zagreb is last with none.Sevilla plays its last group game at Lyon while Juventus hosts Zagreb.Weve achieved our first objective of the season. But weve got to win against Dinamo Zagreb also. Nothing is a given in football, Bonucci said. We knew it would be difficult here and they scored with their first shot. But we did well to react and bring home the qualification.The build up to the match at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan was marred when a Juventus fan was stabbed during clashes the night before the game in a confrontation at a bar near the city center.Juventus was without prized forward Gonzalo Higuain due to a minor injury and Sevilla dominated early on, taking the lead when Juventus failed to clear a corner.Buffon is rarely beaten from beyond the area, especially by a volley from a center back, but the goalkeepers view of Parejas shot seemed to have been obstructed by a crowd of players.Parejas only other goal in the Champions Leeague came in his competition debut in 2006 with Anderlecht.ddddddddddddStill, Juventus four-man defense appeared confused.Juventus usually plays with a three-man back line but coach Massimiliano Allegri decided to shake things up with Andrea Barzagli and Medhi Benatia out injured and Giorgio Chiellini on the bench still working his way back to fitness.About 10 minutes later, Sergio Escudero nearly doubled Sevillas lead, shooting just over the bar at the end of a counterattack.Sevilla dominated the opening 20 minutes and it wasnt until Mandzukic shot wide to waste a good look inside the area in the 27th that Juventus even threatened.In first-half added time, Bonucci was held inside the area as he fought for position on a corner, resulting in Marchisios penalty.Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico was well positioned to stop Marchisios poor spot kick but he let the ball go right underneath him.Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli was sent off early in the second half for protesting, having already irritated the match officials about the penalty before the break.Despite the man advantage and dominating possession, Juventus struggled to create opportunities in the second half.But then it was Bonuccis turn to be the center back who scored from long range. He too took advantage of a failed clearance to blast in a long, low effort that was slightly deflected -- a near replica of Sevillas opener.Once they were a man down they closed all of the spaces and we had trouble finding space, Bonucci said. But fortunately, my left foot gave us a hand.Mandzukic sealed it by beating the offside trap and fooling a defender before curling a shot around the onrushing Rico. ' ' '