Canada knows all about coming up against a hot from miao1234's blog
MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impact gave the Saputo Stadium crowd of 12,568 what it wanted -- a 1-0 victory and a look at the New York Red Bulls star players. Preston Brown Jersey . Ali Gerba scored in the 37th minute as the Impact won the friendly match against the mostly listless-looking Red Bulls in a friendly match against one of Major League Soccers marquee clubs on Wednesday night. The Impact are playing a final North American Soccer League season before joining MLS in 2012. "We wanted to show people we can play and compete with the best," said Gerba after the loosely played match in which both clubs went on attack. Former French international striker Thierry Henry, Mexican star defender Rafael Marquez and former Toronto FC midfielder Dwayne De Rosario were all in the starting lineup for New York, but all three came out as, by agreement between the clubs, both clubs substituted most of their players at the intermission. The crowd seemed to like it, but as tests go, the Impact probably had a better look at the MLS in its two recent Nutrilite Canadian Championship matches against Vancouver -- losing the first at home 1-0, then tying the Whitecaps but losing the two-game aggregate series on an overtime goal in Vancouver. Those games had intensity, but Henry said the team had little energy left for a friendly after an emotional 1-1 draw Saturday against the Galaxy in Los Angeles. "To have a good performance was very difficult," the former French International striker said. "We came here without a practice since our last game. "The last time I touched a ball was in the last minute in L.A. Thats not an excuse, but you have to prepare for a match. And Montreal played good. It was a super play on their goal. Theyre a good team." Montreal was certainly the more energetic side as the Red Bulls looked to rely on their clearly superior talent. Henry, the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Monaco star, headed one into the net in the 35th minute after a corner kick from Marquez in an otherwise quiet stint on the field but it was ruled offside. Only two minutes later, Impact defender Philippe Billy sent a long ball up the middle that Gerba flicked with his head past a helpless Greg Sutton to give the home side the lead. "I just anticipated the cross and put it in," said Gerba. "Sometimes its easier than it looks." John Rooney, the younger brother of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, had two chances for New York in the second half, drilling one shot just over the bar and another just wide. There were some nasty moments when Gerba tripped Marquez and the Mexican responded with a push in the 40th. A minute later, Montreal defender Kevin Hatchi saw the yellow card after what looked like an open ice bodycheck in hockey on Dane Richards. Midfielder Carl Robinson was also shaken up and was replaced by Tyler Lassiter. Red Bulls coach Hans Backe said Robinson re-injured a knee, while Richards hurt his ribs, but there was no word on the extent of the injuries. Sutton, who played six seasons for the Impact, made only his second start of the season in goal for the Red Bulls. The Hamilton native recently returned from a concussion and played the full 90 minutes. "Theyve got great fan support here and I think theyll be a great team in MLS, especially when they expand the stadium," said Sutton. Saputo Stadium is to grow to from 13,000 to about 20,000 seats for next season. The Red Bulls lead the MLS Eastern Conference with a 4-1-3 record. De Rosario was one of the Red Bulls most active players in the first half. He was the centre of some confusion when Backe said he would not play for Canada in the Gold Cup, but the player and the Canadian team have since assured he will be there. Backe said his statement was a misunderstanding. He said he had asked the team only to sign players who would not play in the Gold Cup so the club wouldnt lose them in mid-season to their national teams and he thought that was the case with De Rosario. "But that was not sorted out before the trade (with TFC), so I was wrong," Backe said. Outside the stadium, a few protesters passed out anti-Red Bull leaflets, decrying the commercialization of the sport. Protests were held when the drink company bought clubs in Austria and Germany. Marcell Dareus Womens Jersey . Granderson hit a three-run double and reached base four times, boosting his MVP credentials as the Yankees slowed Tampa Bays charge at rival Boston in the AL wild-card race. New York can secure its 16th post-season trip in 17 years with one victory in Wednesdays day-night doubleheader against the Rays. Thurman Thomas Bills Jersey . With Bayern playing the Club World Cup final in Morocco, Leverkusen and Dortmund could have gained some ground on the undefeated leader. But Leverkusen went down 1-0 at Werder Bremen and Dortmund lost 2-1 at home to Hertha Berlin, leaving Bayern seven points ahead of Leverkusen and 12 ahead of Dortmund, with one match in hand.Now the Olympic hockey tournament begins for the Canadian womens hockey team. And it wont be as easy as Saturdays one-sided laugher against Switzerland; a game in which Canada outshot its opponents 69-14 en route to a 5-0 victory. Mondays game (10 a.m. ET) against Finland promises to be tougher. That said, the strategy for Canada remains the same according to Melodie Daoust. “I think we need to keep shooting the puck like we did against Switzerland,” Daoust said. “And I think using our speed will be a big part of our game.” Finland is a formidable opponent and is coming off a hard-fought 3-1 loss to the United States. The Finns have finished third or fourth at every Olympics and world championship they have competed in. They won the Olympic bronze medal in 1998 and 2010 in Vancouver. American Jessie Vetter was complimentary of Team Finland after she and her teammates won Saturday. “Its not easy playing a team like Finland,” Vetter said. They are a tough team with a goaltender who keeps them in the game. Im just happy we won the opening match.” Finnish goalie has game The Finnish goaltender, Noora Raty, is capable of winning games on her own. The 24-year-old, who has been with the national team since she wass 15 and played four years at the University of Minnesota, shut out the United States 1-0 at the 2008 world championship. Scott Chandler Bills Jersey. Canada knows all about coming up against a hot goaltender. Swiss stopper Florence Schelling played brilliantly Saturday, making 64 saves as Team Canada held a huge territorial edge in play, but were unable to score on many of their chances. It likely wont be any easier against Raty. “We know we have to be better as we move forward,” said Canadian veteran Hayley Wickenheiser. “But these countries are getting harder to play against. The difference between the countries is narrowing, but it comes down to fitness and conditioning, and the fact that we are able to train and play together more.” Vetter had some words of advice for Team Canada about facing the Finns. “Youve got to be mentally in it,” Vetter said. “Finland is a great side who play great transitions and you need to make those saves. Their conditioning and speed makes them a team you cant look past.” Rebecca Johnston paced Canada with a goal and two assists against Switzerland. Wickenheiser scored a short-handed goal and other singles went to Jocelyne Larocque, Tara Watchorn and Marie-Philip Poulin. ' ' '
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