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MONTREAL -- If there is a team in MLS that gives the Montreal Impact headaches, it is the Columbus Crew. The Impact looked to be cruising to a win after Marco Di Vaios Major League Soccer-leading 18th goal in the 23rd minute when the crafty Federico Higuain went to work, setting up a pair of second-half goals in the Crews 2-1 comeback victory on Saturday afternoon. Defender Chad Marshall and striker Dominic Oduro scored for Columbus (10-14-5), which has been a thorn in Montreals side this season. The Crew, who handed the Impact only their second home loss of the season, won the season series with Montreal 2-0-1, taking five of six points at Saputo Stadium. Impact coach Marco Schallibaum uses the French term "bete noire" to describe Columbus, which his players know means nemesis. "Its football -- you always have a bete noire," said Schallibaum. "Its very hard to explain." This one was straightforward. The Impact wasted several chances to make it a 2-0 game, and pushed so hard for a second goal that they left themselves open for talent like Higuain to make them pay. The first was a smartly curled free kick that found Marshalls head on the left side of the penalty area in the 66th minute to tie the game. The second came after Justin Mapp lost the ball in the midfield and Higuain sent a perfect pass that the onrushing Oduro got a toe on in the 79th. "Its difficult to explain, but every time we play against Columbus its a difficult game for us," said Impact defender Matteo Ferrari. "We started well. "In the second half, we were in control and also had some chances. It was important to score the second goal and we didnt. They got the second goal with a mistake in the midfield and then it was difficult to come back." The game-winner was Oduros 10th of the season, including one in each game against Montreal. "It looks like I have their number, but at the end of the day, we just played well," said Oduro. "We wanted to get a result and we did. We played well and made it happen." Montreal (13-8-6), which entered the day in a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference, ended a four-game unbeaten run with a game they should have had salted away by the intermission. The Impact got the early lead Patrice Bernier lofted a pass over the penalty area to Ferrari, who headed into the middle for Di Vaio to nod in for his seventh goal in the last five games. But Mapp was stopped from point blank by Matt Lampson in the opening minutes, captain Davy Arnaud just missed converting a Di Vaio pass, Felipe Martins froze on a chance from close range, Di Vaio wasted one when he cut left instead of shooting, and Jeb Brovsky was stopped by a diving save at the end of the half. Di Vaio had another chance early in the second half, but was stopped. "I dont think they were hungrier than us, I just think our focus was maybe too much on getting the second goal and we didnt do a good enough job covering space when we were going forward," said midfielder Collen Warner. It was a game they were counting on to win. Schallibaum started his first 11, not saving any veterans for a key CONCACAF Champions League game in San Jose on Tuesday night. "Its very disappointing," said Arnaud. "I thought we created a ton of chances. "We could have put the game out of reach. We talked before the game about how dangerous they are on set pieces and it hurt us because they got back in the game on a set piece." It all added up to another setback against Columbus, a team that lost eight of 11 games before making a coaching change on Sept. 2. Interim coach Brian Bliss has two wins and a loss since taking over. Now the Crew hope to put a streak together to try to climb back into the playoff hunt. They are on the tail of Chicago, Houston and England for fifth place and final a post-season berth. "This was critical to our goal of getting a playoff spot," said Bliss. "Now weve put some pressure on some teams that are ahead of us." Montreal resumes league play Saturday against the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps. Mario Gotze Germany Jersey . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Sebastian Rudy Jersey . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. http://www.soccergermanyonline.com/world-cup-franz...ll-jers ey/ . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. Germany Soccer Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Jerome Boateng Germany Jersey . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. TORONTO -- All the stars have arrived. Now the work can really begin. Jermain Defoe practised with Toronto FC for the first time Monday, and declared himself "100 per cent" healthy and keen to start when the club opens its Major League Soccer season on Saturday in Seattle. "Its been a long time talking about it and stuff, so to actually get over (to Canada) and put my boots on and start playing, training. . . its good," Defoe said. "It feels good. Obviously a little bit strange when you first come in, but the lads have been fantastic. Good training session. I feel sharp. So yeah, happy." The 31-year-old striker had been battling a nagging hamstring injury, and didnt play in what would have been his farewell game for Tottenham Hotspur on Feb. 27 at White Hart Lane. Toronto coach Ryan Nelsen said hell wait and see how quickly Defoe adapts to his new teammates this week before deciding if he will start. "Hopefully," Nelsen said. "Weve obviously got to get him up to speed with everything, but if hes fit and raring to go it will be hard to turn down a player of that quality." Some two dozen journalists turned out to Torontos training ground just north of the city to watch the clubs biggest star practise. At one end of the pitch, the five-foot-six striker in electric-blue cleats took turns with Andrew Wiedeman and fellow newcomer Michael Bradley firing shots on Torontos goalkeepers. Defoe shook hands with his teammates, he applauded their efforts. He then dropped to the pitch for a series of crunches, and was the last player off the field. Nelsen practically scoffed when asked how Defoe did. "He was awful. Hes done," the coach said, prompting much laughter. "Again, he came in on Saturday, so we just have to be careful, just with the artificial field and a flight," Nelsen added. "Hes still got that goofy smile, and still enjoys it in the back of the net. Thats all Im worried about." Defoe missed Torontos off-season due to commitments to Tottenham and England. He was the last player to arrive among a group of key off-season acquisitions that included American Michael Bradley, Brazilians Gilberto and Julio Cesar, and Dwayne De Rosario, whos back in Toronto after three seasons with New York Red Bulls and D.C. United. "To see (Defoe) in the locker-room this morning, now its like, alright we can start now," Bradley said. Gilberto, who has been slowed by a quadricep injury, believes it wont take long to develop chemistry with the England striker. "Now that everybody is here, were able to connect, get the chemistry working together as a team, and hopefully within the week well be ready to go," Gilberto said through an interpreter. "I think the chemistry will work right away, Toronto has got no time to wait." Defoe left Spurs with 143 goals to his credit, behind only Cliff Jones (159), Martin Chivers (174), Bobby Smith (208) and the legendary Jimmy Greaves (266) in the club record book. He was sidelined by the hamstring injury when he said his farewell to the fans at White Hart Lane late last month during halftime of a Europa League match against FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. Defoe was on the bench for Englands friendly against Denmark last Wednesday at Wembley but didnt get a chance to earn a 56th cap in the 1-0 win over Denmark. He said "obviously" it would help if he had participated in Torontos pre-season, but added that "hopefully in training they will understand how I play, and vice versa, and it will be OK." Defoe was asked if he had concerns about playing on the artificial turf Saturday in Seattle, and he said that even praactising on artificial turf might take some getting used to.dddddddddddd Torontos indoor training is on turf, and with no warm weather in sight, it remains to be seen when the team can head outdoors to the pristine grass practice pitches. "Obviously its not something Im used to, to be honest, and even training today, it was the first time in years where Ive actually trained on this kind of surface," Defoe said. "But again, I suppose its something youre going to have to get used to. And you cant really make excuses because its the same for both teams. Same for all the players. Its something you get used to, I suppose its just part and parcel to travelling away and playing on these kind of pitches." Nelsen said the artificial pitch at Seattles CenturyLink Field may determine who plays and for how long on Saturday. "You get the travel, and then you get, not just an artificial field, its a bad artificial field. Its not like this one," Nelsen said. "Its like playing one-and-a-half. . .one-and-three-quarter games in terms of damage to your body. So weve got guys who are healthy but just dont have that hardness of fitness under them, which is a concern." This past Saturday, New York held Thierry Henry and Jamison Olave out of the Red Bulls opener versus the Whitecaps on the turf in Vancouver. Nelsen cautioned it may take some time for the newcomers to develop on-field chemistry, but pointed out the pedigree of his players will help hasten the process. "Theres no magical formula, its not like switching on a light," the coach said. "But when youve got good guys, good character, and good winning mentality, they want to learn. And everybody knows their roles. The right back on this team knows what the strikers are doing, and vice versa. So when everybody knows everybodys jobs it comes quicker." Defoe said he has no concerns about getting to know his new teammates. "Obviously its important around the training ground trying to get to know each individual and how they play," he said. "But I suppose off the pitch is important, getting to know your teammates, because you become a family. So I think thats important, but thats obviously thats something Ill do around the training ground." After the flurry of off-season signings, Defoe and Nelsen shoulder lofty expectations from fans and a front office gunning for the teams first playoff appearance. "The way I deal with it is, weve got a great bunch of guys, theyre all hardworking, they all want to win, well be very well-organized, and weve got players that can turn games," Nelsen said. "So do I worry at night when I go to bed? No, of course not. Its because of those reasons. Youre either going to win and youre going to lose, but what I can tell is all the variables and all the stuff that happens amongst a team Im really happy with. So I can sleep at night very, very well." Defoe, who has scored 19 goals for England, is also hoping to earn a spot in Roy Hodgsons World Cup squad. His competition includes Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck of Manchester United, Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez of Southampton and Andy Carroll of West Ham. "Obviously its at the back of my mind, but first and foremost its important to concentrate on your club, and make sure your form is good," Defoe said. "As a forward you get judged on scoring goals. I think thats on my mind first and foremost, and then well see what happens with World Cup." England has three friendlies left before the World Cup -- Peru at Wembley on May 30 before games in Miami against Ecuador and Honduras 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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