Dein erstes Forum » seventh on the franchise list; Bobby D

Almost 40 years to the day since playing their first ever match against San Jose Earthquakes, the Vancouver Whitecaps will face the Quakes once again on Saturday, as the club celebrates its 40th anniversary. But amidst the celebrations, its important the Whitecaps return to winning ways in Major League Soccer against an Earthquakes team that is below them in the Western Conference standings. The Form: Its now four matches without a victory for the Whitecaps who are yet to win against a Western Conference opponent this season, but they have tied their last two games against two of the top teams in Major League Soccer. In Utah last Saturday, the Whitecaps started terribly, going two goals down inside the first nine minutes against Real Salt Lake, but the second half was much improved, and a late comeback ensured the Whitecaps left Rio Tinto Stadium with a point. The Big Question: Will either of the Uruguayans be given the chance to start? Nicolas Mezquida and Sebastian Fernandez made an impact coming off the bench at Real Salt Lake a week ago, both scoring a goal, including a fantastic strike from Fernandez in the final minute of stoppage time to tie the match. Prior to the game, Carl Robinson said last week that the Uruguayan duo had been performing very well in training and wear very close to getting a start in the team. Mezquida has appeared in four matches this season, all as a substitute, while Fernandez started the season but then was left on the bench after a couple of less effective performances. With a Canadian Championship semifinal against Toronto FC coming up on Wednesday, its likely Mezquida and Fernandez will start at least one of the two games. "Everyone will get their chance," said Robinson after training on Thursday. "As a player, all you want is the chance to play and show what you can do, and most of the players will get that chance." The Lineup: Chilean midfielder Pedro Morales missed the trip to Real Salt. Lake to try and heal a back problem that has plagued him in the opening weeks of the season, but if he has fully recovered, he is likely to return to the Whitecaps lineup. Once again, there is a big decision for Carl Robinson in the centre of defence. Last week, Jay DeMerit stayed at home as Honduran international Johnny Leveron partnered Andy OBrien at the back. Robinson must decide whether to stick with that pairing and bring some consistency to the back line, or bring DeMerit back into the eleven. Nigel Reo-Coker played the first three matches of the season but hasnt played since due to injury, coachs decision and most recently illness. Its doubtful that Reo-Coker will be considered for the starting lineup but he could return on the bench. The Opposition: San Jose Earthquakes started the season with a five match winless run, but that came to an end last weekend when they won 1-0 at home to Chivas USA. The Quakes are yet to win away from home this season, losing 1-0 at Kansas City and tying 0-0 at Colorado. Yannick Djalo scored the only goal of the game against Chivas. The 27-year-old from Portugal is still adapting in his first few weeks in Major League Soccer as he gets fully fit, but he is a quality addition for the Quakes this season, joining on loan from Benfica. 2012 MLS MVP Chris Wondolowski has scored three goals in six matches so far this season as he looks to win a place in Jurgen Klinsmanns United States squad for this summers World Cup in Brazil. The 31-year-old has an excellent goal scoring record against the Whitecaps. On a day where there will be plenty of focus on the soccer history of Vancouver, it is fitting that there is a heavy Vancouver presence amongst the Earthquakes coaching staff. Head Coach Mark Watson played for Whitecaps in 1994 and 2005 while assistant coach Nick Dasovic previously played for the 86ers and was a player coach with Caps from 2002 to 2005. Both men are from Vancouver. The Odds: The Earthquakes are yet to win in Vancouver against the Whitecaps in Major League Soccer and the Caps must be favourites heading in. Carl Robinsons team are four points ahead of the Quakes in the standings but have played two games more. The Whitecaps continue to develop under Robinson, but they must start to put together 90 minute performances if they are to get back to winning ways. Where To Watch: Whitecaps against San Jose is live on TSN2 on Saturday. Were on air with a special Whitecaps 40th anniversary pre-match show at 6:30pm et/3:30pm pt. Puma Shoes Clearance Sale . - Olympic champion Marielle Thompson accomplished her mission of defending her skicross World Cup title at Nakiska Ski Area on Saturday. Puma Shoes Online Sale . -- Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will be out three to six weeks with a stress fracture of the third finger of his right hand. http://www.clearancepuma.com/. Dont miss a single shot, live on TSN beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. Winners of their last eight games, the Heat return to Toronto for the second time in the month of November. After beginning the season 4-3, allowing 100.9 points on 47 per cent shooting, Miamis resurgent defence has vaulted them back to the top of a weak Eastern Conference. Cheap Puma Shoes Wholesale . PETERSBURG, Fla. Puma Outlet Clearance . - A week after a late-game debacle on defence, the Pittsburgh Steelers showed they can finish. BOSTON -- Buck Showalters bullpen had been depleted and Baltimores five-run lead had disappeared. Then, as they started their 30th inning in a 30-hour span, the AL East-leading Orioles pulled out another victory. "Thats the kind of game that the good teams win," Showalter said after the Orioles beat Boston 7-6 in 12 innings Sunday. "Its so easy to say, Boy, it wasnt meant to be today, instead of making it happen." A day after a day-night doubleheader that already taxed his pitching staff, Showalter watched his bullpen give up five runs in the seventh to force extra innings. In the 12th, David Lough hit a leadoff triple and scored on J.J. Hardys single to give Baltimore its sixth win in seven games. "A leadoff triple like that, especially in the 12th inning, its good to see," said Brad Brach, who earned the victory with three innings of scoreless relief. "I was definitely relieved." Brach (4-0) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four, and Zach Britton got the last three outs for his 14th save. Showalter said first baseman Chris Davis, who has one pitching appearance in his career, was next if the Orioles hadnt scored in the top of the 12th. "I have been out of it for like 2 1/2 hours," Orioles starter Kevin Gausman said. "Just walking around, chugging water, trying to get something going -- anything I could do to get us to score some runs." Edward Mujica (2-4) worked a scoreless 11th before Lough lined a triple to the centre field wall leading off the 12th. The next batter, Hardy, bounced one through the left side of the infield to give the Orioles the lead. Hardy and Nelson Cruz each had three hits for Baltimore. Cruz had five hits Saturday in the second game of a day-night doubleheader and hit safely in seven straight at-bats before flying out in the fifth. David Ortiz had four hits and Dustin Pedroia added three for Boston, which trailed 6-1 before scoring five runs in the seventh to tie it. Ortiz lined the ball to the left-field corner with one out in the 12th, but Lough threw him out trying to stretch it into a double. "He was digging hard right out of the batters box," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "The ball caroms right back to Lough and he throws a strike to second base. Im not going to fault him for an aggressive effort. He gave everything he had tryinng to stretch that base hit to a double.dddddddddddd" The Red Sox have lost five of six and fallen a season-worst 10 games below .500. Boston centre fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. had two hits, threw out a runner at the plate and made a leaping catch to end the top of the ninth. The Orioles scored in the fourth against Jake Peavy after Cruz led off with a double and scored when third baseman Xander Bogaerts fielded Delmon Youngs grounder and threw it into the stands behind first base. Young made it 2-0 in the sixth when he was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and eventually scored on Caleb Josephs sacrifice fly. Boston cut it to 2-1 in the bottom half on Ortizs RBI single through the shifted infield. Baltimore scored four in the seventh on six singles and catcher David Ross error on a play at the plate. After Stephen Drew struck out to start the bottom half, Ross homered and then the next four batters singled to make it a 6-4 game. Pedroia struck out, then Brian Matusz was brought in to face Ortiz, who was 1 for 22 with 13 strikeouts in his career against the Orioles lefty. Ortiz singled to make it 6-5, then Mike Napoli singled off Tommy Hunter to tie the game before Drew struck out to end the inning. NOTES: Ortiz doubled in the fourth for his 1,708th hit in a Boston uniform. He passed Harry Hooper for seventh on the franchise list; Bobby Doerr is next with 2,042. Ortiz also had 393 hits with the Minnesota Twins. ... Bogaerts snapped an 0-for-27 slump with a third-inning single. ... Gausman was called up from Triple-A Norfolk to make the start. RHP Ramon Ramirez was designated for assignment to make room on the roster. ... Orioles RHP Bud Norris (groin) felt fine Sunday, a day after throwing a simulated game. Showalter said hes leaning toward starting Norris on Tuesday against Washington. ... Acknowledging Davis (.201) is "scuffling," Showalter gave him Sunday off. Showalter expects Davis to play Monday. ... Showalter brushed off Red Sox RHP John Lackeys comments Saturday after Cruzs five-hit game. Lackey said he had "nothing to say" about Cruz, apparently referring to his 50-game suspension a year ago for his role in the Biogenesis drug scandal. "We need to all make sure we check our own backyard before we start looking at somebody elses," Showalter said. ... Peavy has not won in 13 starts since April. ' ' '