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LONDON -- Josh Kennedy, Dario Vidosic and Matt Leckie scored to give World Cup-bound Australia an easy 3-0 win over Canada in an international soccer friendly Tuesday. The Canadian defence was ripped apart on all three goals at Craven Cottage, the west London home to English Premier League side Fulham. The loss stretched Canadas winless streak to 12 games (0-9-3) during which time it has been outscored 24-2. The Canadian men havent scored in their last eight outings, a drought that now stands at 12 hours 32 minutes. The young Canadians showed signs of life in the first half, despite yielding a first-minute goal against experienced, motivated opposition. But the second half was all Australia. The Socceroos, meanwhile, snapped a four-game losing streak in their first match since Holger Osieck, a former Canadian national team manager, was fired as coach. "Its obviously tough when you give up an early goal like that," Canada captain Dwayne De Rosario said. But we knew that Australia was in a position that they had a lot to prove obviously with the recent sacking of their manager." After successive 6-0 losses to Brazil and France, a date with a green Canadian side was a welcome tonic for the Australians. Australia is ranked 53rd in the world, compared to No. 106 for Canada. Australia stroked the ball around in the first half, controlling close to 60 per cent possession with veteran midfielder Mark Bresciano pulling the strings for the Socceroos. Still Canada had several good chances on the counter-attack later in the half. The Canadians fell behind within the first 30 seconds when Kennedy headed in a chipped cross from Bresciano that left goalkeeper Milan Borjan rooted to the spot. The 33-year-old Australian midfielder, a veteran of Italys Serie A who now plays for Qatar Stars League side Al-Gharafa, got a break when the ball bounced off a Canadian straight to him. But Canadas central defence was flat-footed on the play. The six-foot-four Kennedy plays for Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan. Canada came close to equalizing in the sixth minute but Mitch Langerak made a fine reflex save to deny Simeon Jackson after David Edgar headed on a Marcel de Jong free kick across the goal. De Rosario also had a chance in the 15th minute after Edgar charged down the right flank, but his cross was slightly behind the D.C. United star and the shot did not find its target. Bresciano undressed the Canadian defence again in the 23rd minute but his one-two with Kennedy was ruled offside. Langerak had to be sharp in the 30th to palm a Tosaint Ricketts header over the bar. "I think we got the balls in some areas and (Langerak) made some good saves," De Rosario said. "It was a little unlucky but the main thing was we were starting to push and take some initiative and find some pokes at goal. Thats the positive we can take from that. A game like this is a good opportunity for us as a national team to see where we are moving forward." De Rosario earned his 75th cap in captaining Canada, which started with a backline of Nik Ledgerwood, Doneil Henry, Adam Straith, and de Jong in front of Borjan. The centre back pairing featured 23-year-old Straith, who plays in Germany for Wehen Wiesbaden, and 20-year-old Henry, who plays for Toronto FC. The midfield featured Ricketts, Julian de Guzman, Edgar, and Jackson supporting forwards Iain Hume and De Rosario. Canadian coach Benito Floro was without influential midfielder Atiba Hutchinson, who returned to his Turkish club Besiktas late Saturday after arriving in camp with a minor injury. Floro moved up Edgar, a defender normally, into midfield. There were more midfield woes when de Guzman had to exit in the 25th minute with an injury. He was replaced by Kyle Bekker. Both coaches made changes in the second half with Floro bringing on youth in the form of Jonathan Osorio, Stefan Cebara, Russell Teibert, Ashtone Morgan and Samuel Piette. Canada mustered little offence, however, and Australia dominated as the game wore on. "In the second half the young players did not play well because the opponent was physically very powerful," Floro said. "They made a big press and we didnt have any chances at goal. Its necessary with the young players because we need to give them international experience. This is the problem for us." The only way to improve our level is to play a lot of matches and by training, not only with these players but also the younger ones to teach how we want them to play. Edgar took over as Canadian captain when De Rosario went off. Australia doubled its lead in the 52nd minute off a corner. Henrys clearing header went only as far as Rhys Williams, whose shot bounced off the turf before Vidosic redirected it in with his head just in front of Borjan. Substitute Leckie made it 3-0 in the 78th minute when he outjumped both Canadian central defenders to head home a Carney cross. It was Floros third game in charge. Canada played to a 0-0 draw and 1-0 loss to No. 150 Mauritania last month. Osieck was fired in the wake of Australias lopsided losses to Brazil and France. Interim coach Aurelio Vidmar was put in charge. "Great way 2bounce back from the team with a win over Canada," Australia forward Tim Cahill said on Twitter. "Youngsters were brilliant. Credit to Vidmar getting us back on track." Australia was captained by veteran defender Lucas Neill, who won his 95th cap. Canada last won in October 2012 when it defeated Cuba 3-0 in Toronto in October 2012. Canada has not scored since a Marcus Haber goal in a 2-1 loss to Japan in Doha on March 22. Australia wasnt much better coming into Tuesdays game, having lost four straight and gone winless in its last five matches -- during which it was outscored 19-5. Albert Pujols Grey Jersey . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/nolan-ryan-a...ls-jers ey/ . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/garrett-rich...ls-jers ey/ . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Albert Pujols Black Jersey .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/albert-pujol...ls-jers ey/ . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg.INDIANAPOLIS -- Theres something about teams on a hot streak that makes the Indiana Pacers want to beat them. Dont expect to leave with momentum after playing in Indianapolis. "Its a different story when you come to play here," Paul George said. "Whatever youve done previously, when a team comes in hot, we make that commitment that its going to be tough to play here." George scored 31 points, making four 3-pointers, to lead the Pacers to a 116-92 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. David West had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Lance Stephenson added 13 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Pacers (30-7), who have won five of six. The victory clinched the Eastern Conference coaching spot for Frank Vogel, since the Pacers are guaranteed to have the best winning percentage in the conference through games of Feb. 2 with Miamis Erik Spoelstra ineligible after coaching last year. "My name is on the release, but this is recognition of our teams success," Vogel said. "Its a team honour and Im really excited about it." George was fouled driving to the basket with 8:36 remaining and converted the three-point play before Luis Scola made a free throw to cap off a 16-2 run in the fourth quarter. George sparked the big run for Indiana with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Pacers an 86-74 lead at the end of the third quarter. The shot took away any hope the Kings (13-23) had left after Marcus Thornton made a 3 with seconds left to put Sacramento within nine. George then opened the fourth with another 3-pointer. "Throughout our whole locker room weve built that culture as were going to be dominant at home," George said. "And were working towards being that team on the road as well, but its just something about home that we just try to protect." The NBAs top defensive team had little trouble against a Sacramento team that scored over 100 points in 18 of the previous 19 games and held the Kings to under 100 points for the first time in 12 games.dddddddddddd. Sacramento coach Mike Malone said taking care of the ball played a big role. Indiana forced 15 turnovers and scored 22 points off the Kings mistakes. "To win on the road in the NBA against a great team, we cannot have the kind of turnovers we had," he said. "Theyre the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA for a reason." And despite breaking away with 19 third-quarter points, DeMarcus Cousins, who finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds, caused few problems for the Pacers. He scored 12 points in the first half, with just three defensive rebounds, before he scored nine of Sacramentos first 13 to open the second half. "He was really the only one to go off," Roy Hibbert said. "Everyone else was under their average, so Im happy about that." Rudy Gay, who finished with 12 points, was the only other player to reach double-figure scoring for the Kings, whose season-best, three-game winning streak was snapped. "I thought we reverted back to our old ways tonight," Gay said. "We have to do a better job of proving we are a changed team." Cousins picked up his third foul with 5:22 left in the third when Hibbert went up for a follow shot. Hibbert split from the line to give Indiana a 68-58 lead and Indiana kept just enough room. The Pacers host New York and the Los Angeles Clippers before making a trip to the West Coast for five games. Indiana didnt waste any time taking a lead on the Kings, opening the game on an 11-2 run. Hibbert converted a three-point play, George Hill made a layup and George dunked before Stephenson and West scored to give the Pacers the early lead with 8:27 remaining in the first quarter. Then the Kings scored eight straight. The Kings went on a late 7-2 run, but West scored to give the Pacers a 59-45 halftime lead. Notes: Vogel is 141-81 as Pacers coach. ... Thornton and Isaiah Thomas, Sacramentos starting guards, combined for one assist. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
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