Stars und Sternchen! » Whitecaps parted

Carl Robinson has accomplished quite a bit in his first nine Major League Soccer games at the helm of the Vancouver Whitecaps. After a rocky off-season that saw star striker Camilo Sanvezzo force his way out of town, the energetic and enthusiastic rookie head coach retooled his roster and has Vancouver off to a 3-2-4 start, including a 3-1-1 mark at B.C. Place Stadium. Robinson then admittedly took a risk this week by selecting a "younger than young" starting 11 in a hard-fought 2-1 road defeat to Toronto FC in the first leg of Amway Canadian Championship semifinal that resulted in the Whitecaps escaping with a valuable away goal. But like so many teams in MLS, picking up wins on the road has been elusive, and Robinson will be looking for his first on Saturday when the Whitecaps visit the Columbus Crew. You can see all the action on TSN beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. "Were hungry. Part of the reason I left some of the senior guys out on Wednesday was to rest them for Saturday," said the Welshman. "Theyve got to go in now and give me everything theyve got for the weekend." Vancouver is 0-1-3 on the road so far in 2014, but played tough in a loss to the L.A. Galaxy and a draw against to Real Salt Lake — two teams considered to be among the Western Conferences best. Robinson said its his job to find a way to get his players on the front foot when they are the visitors, something that comes much easier at home. "Once I find that solution its going to be a lot easier because it wont put us under as much pressure at B.C. Place in getting results," said Robinson. "Its known throughout MLS that teams, when they go on the road, do struggle. But I think that if youre able to win four or five games away from home and take care of your home business then youre going to be there in the playoffs. "MLS brings up funny results. You lose two or three games and youre down at the bottom of the conference. You win two or three games and youre at the top of the conference. Thats the way Major League Soccer is set up and I think its an exciting way to go." Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted said its up to the squad to trust themselves and their abilities in tough environments. "I think its a mentality thing — going away from home and still believing fully that you can go win, even against good teams," he said. "Believing in the team and believing in your own ability and going away from home and trying to win every game is an important thing." Ousted and the Whitecaps other regulars saw some of that fight from the sidelines on Wednesday as Vancouvers kids battled a Toronto roster that boasted high-priced talent like Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley. "The senior players were there and rooted them on and tried to support them as best as possible," said Ousted. "The young guys did brilliantly. It was a chance for them to show the coaches what they can do and they did really well." The Crew (3-3-3) won their first three games of the season but have failed to record a victory in the last six, including a 1-0 road loss to the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday. "They are a little bit of a wounded animal. Theyre a good team and teams like that will do anything to get back to winning ways," said Ousted. "Were going to their place, were going away from home and they probably are going to come out and give all they can to get the win. We need to be ready for both a battle and a soccer match. "The start of the game will probably be a battle and be about finding the edge. After that we can hopefully get our game going and keep the ball and get chances." Columbus, meanwhile, will be hoping to get back in the win column for the first time since March 29. "Well be coming home, so well have a little more energy, hopefully, that were playing in front of our home fans," Crew midfielder Ethan Finlay told the clubs official website. "(The Whitecaps) are a really good team ... theyre a team that you have to watch for, they have a lot of pieces going forward, and it will be a tough test." One of those pieces in Vancouvers attack is Pedro Morales, who has three goals and two assists in six games this season, including two in last weekends 3-2 home victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. The Chilean is one of the pieces Robinson brought in after Sanvezzos departure and his presence in midfield has been a big part of the Whitecaps early success as the team looks to return to the post-season after missing out in 2013. On the other side, Columbus boasts the equally dangerous Federico Higuain, a striker who has four goals and two assists so far in this campaign. "Hes a special player," Robinson said of the Argentine. "Ive got one in Pedro Morales. He makes things happen in games. "Its going to be interesting. Theres two playmaking players (who are) going to be on the field on Saturday and whichever one probably has the biggest influence will win the game." Notes: Vancouver is 2-2-0 all-time against Columbus, including a 2-1 home victory last season. ... Robinson said he was pleased with striker Omar Salgados performance on Wednesday. The 20-year-old started the season with the second-tier Charleston Battery, but was recalled after the Whitecaps parted ways with Kenny Miller. And with Darren Mattocks out injured, Robinson said the first overall pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft will remain with Vancouver for the foreseeable future. ... The second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship tie between Toronto and Vancouver goes Wednesday at B.C. Place. The winner of the two-game, total-goals series will meet either the Montreal Impact or FC Edmonton in the final. Dion Dawkins Jersey . "If we only consider this season," Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, "there is just one club in Manchester -- and its ours. Kyle Williams Jersey . His head snapped back from the impact and hit the floor. The All-Star power forward was all right afterward, a relief for the Minnesota Timberwolves. http://www.officialbuffalobillsfootball.com/authentic-jason-croom-jersey-womens . The Wizards announced Friday that Webster had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. The operation was performed Thursday in Los Angeles. Charles Clay Jersey . Floundering in the English Premier League, United has delivered better performances in Europe this season and stunned Bayern by taking the lead against the run of play through Nemanja Vidics header in the 58th minute. Bayern had dominated possession but struggled to create a clear-cut chance before Schweinsteiger arrowed a half-volley high into the net in the 67th to give the German side a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Munich next week. Vladimir Ducasse Jersey . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday.Winnipeg, MB (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Getzlaf scored the go-ahead goal during a big second period for the Ducks, and Anaheim posted its seventh straight win, 4-1 over the Winnipeg Jets. Jakob Silfverberg and Nate Thompson also lit the lamp in the second period for the NHL-leading Ducks, who equaled their season-best winning streak. They also ended Winnipegs eight-game points streak (5-0-3) by beating the Jets for the second time at MTS Centre in less than a week. On Sunday, Kyle Palmieris tally with 53 seconds elapsed in overtime lifted Anaheim to victory. This time, it was Anaheim capitalizing on the power play and also in short- handed situations. Thompson and Andrew Cogliano scored short-handed, with Coglianos going into an empty net with 1:15 left. Silfverbergs goal came on the man-advantage. Frederik Andersen turned aside 27 shots in his 18th straight start for Anaheim. He was great in the back-to-back, Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said, referring to Andersen playing Friday night in a 4-2 victory at Edmonton. He was moving around, and he was sharp. I cant make things up. It was a good game from everybody. Bryan Little scored on the power play for the Jets, who have lost two in a row. Michael Hutchinson made 27 saves. Anaheim went ahead 2-1 8:29 into the second period. Patrick Maroon fed the puck from behind the net to Getzlaf at the edge of the right circle. His shot found the net past a sliding Hutchinson, who was bumped into on the play by Anaheims Tim Jackman. It becamee 3-1 thanks to a mistake by the Jets behind their own net during a Winnipeg power play.ddddddddddddHutchinson left the puck softly for Dustin Byfuglien, but he mishandled it and Getzlaf took the disc to the right side. His pass from behind the net was to an open Thompson in front for the tally with 2:07 remaining. In the second period we knew where we were supposed to be, but we didnt close fast enough, Jets coach Paul Maurice said. The difference in the game was there was very little indecision in their game. It doesnt take much for it to look like there is indecision in our game against a team with that kind of speed. We just didnt drive legs hard enough fast enough to take away ice, and they are very good at that. Hutchinson went to the bench for the extra attacker with 2:40 remaining, but Cogliano sealed the outcome. Little lit the lamp 11:28 into the contest on the power play when his shot from the inside edge of the left circle caromed off the right post. The Ducks tied the game on the power play at 6:15 of the second. With Anthony Peluso in the penalty box for holding, Silfverberg unleashed a shot from above the left circle. The puck found its way through a maze of players and into the upper right portion of the net. Game Notes The Ducks have won their last three games at MTS Centre ... This was the second portion of a five-game all-Canadian road trip for the Ducks. The swing continues in Toronto Tuesday ... The Jets host Buffalo Tuesday. 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