Dein erstes Forum » includes five fixtures against Super Rugby teams

SANDY, Utah -- Real Salt Lake is in rare territory. Before this season, U.S. Open Cup matches were not synonymous with success for the MLS club. RSL experienced early exits more often than victories in the nations oldest soccer tournament. It has been a completely different story this time around, and Salt Lake took another big step to winning the cup Wednesday night. Alvaro Saborio scored once and assisted on Joao Platas goal to lead RSL to a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers. RSL will host DC United in the championship game Oct. 1 after United beat the Chicago Fire 2-0 earlier in the evening. The winner of the final will qualify for a spot in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League. Salt Lake started on the right foot by attacking relentlessly in the opening moments and it paid off with Saborios goal in the 7th minute. "Scoring early is big for us," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "We reward ourselves from the momentum that we create at the beginning of the match. It is always important. Weve done a good job of that lately." Khari Stephenson forced a corner kick with a shot from distance to set up the scoring play. Following the corner kick, Kyle Beckerman sent a cross into Saborio on the left side of the 6-yard box. He then redirected a header back toward the right post and the ball bounced off the post and in. "It was a very important goal because we needed to score early," Saborio said. "Kyle gave me a very good cross and I got in a good header." Strong play from Nick Rimando kept Portland from answering in the first half. The Timbers got into scoring position several times, but came away empty after some clutch saves from Rimando. The biggest came in the 40th minute when Will Johnson kicked a right-footer down the centre of the box. It looked like a sure goal, but Rimando managed to poke the ball away with his fingertips at the last minute. "I need to figure out what hes eating so I can eat the same thing," Kreis said. Ryan Johnson had another good chance for Portland when he uncorked a header during first-half stoppage time. The ball bounced off the left post. Portland did all the things it needed to do to be in control by halftime. The Timbers dominated possession. They created more shots and put the RSL defence on its heels more often. But finding the finishing touch was a problem. Still, Portland coach Caleb Porter saw some positive trends his team can take back into league play. "Possession doesnt win you games," Porter said. "Shots dont win you games. But if you look at those trends and the stats of how were playing in the flow of the game, theres not major issues. Theres not major things to be alarmed with." Salt Lake finally got another goal from Plata in the 78th minute. Saborio flicked the ball up to Plata outside the top of the box and the reserve forward sent it right back down the middle. RSL has scored 13 goals in four Open Cup matches, the best rate of any team in the tournament. Portland cut the lead in half in the 90th minute. Rimando blocked a shot from Diego Valeri and Valeri collected it on the rebound. He headed the ball back over Rimandos head to bring the Timbers within striking distance. It was too little too late for Portland, which saw its franchise-best run in the U.S. Open Cup end. Now the attention for the Timbers shifts to qualifying for the MLS playoffs. "Were disappointed, but at the end of the day we still have everything to play for in the league," Porter said. "This loss doesnt change that." Cheap MLB Jerseys From China . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . 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. https://www.mlbjerseys2020.com/ . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Nike MLB Jerseys For Sale . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Stitched Nike MLB Jerseys . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Warren Gatland has endorsed Dylan Hartleys credentials to captain the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand next year after noting his improved disciplinary record.Now that Gatland has been reappointed head coach for the gruelling 10-fixture odyssey that culminates in a three-Test series against the All Blacks, attention turns to the identity of his assistants and skipper.The 52-year-old Kiwis tracksuit lieutenants will be announced in December, but it is the identity of the captain that will really set minds racing over the coming months.Sam Warburton has been installed as bookmakers favourite since Gatland was unveiled as head coach on Wednesday but his main rival is Hartley, who has led England to the Grand Slam and a 3-0 series whitewash of Australia under Eddie Jones.Hartley was picked by Gatland for the 2013 tour Down Under only to then be ruled out after being suspended for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes in the Aviva Premiership final. A dismal disciplinary record has stalked the Northampton hooker for much of his career, but Gatland has seen enough to view him as a viable contender.Dylan has always played on the edge and that has been one of the traits that has made him such a competitor as a player, Gatland said. Hes obviously matured and hes done a great job with England. Eddie rates him incredibly highly. He has a lot of respect from the players as well.The pleasing thing is his discipline. He hasnt been suspended for a while. Thats a big tick against his name. Hopefully he continues in that vein and continues to be successful. Its easier to select players who are coming in from a winning environment with a lot of confidence. Its the same when you are picking captains.There are players youre familiar with, that you have been leading alreaddy, that has certain advantage.dddddddddddd. Have you been on previous tours? There are lots of considerations.Apart from obvious names, there will be quite a few others (that) come into consideration by the end of the season.The 2017 Lions face the most challenging odds in their history with a set of fixtures highlighted by a three Tests against the All Blacks, but also including five matches against Super Rugby teams and a clash with the Maori.Adding to the task facing the Lions is an itinerary that includes five fixtures against Super Rugby teams and a clash with the Maori and scheduling that sees domestic finals being played just a week before the tour opener on June 3.Gatland knows his reputation is on the line, but is armed with the conviction that the All Blacks can be toppled.Coaching the Lions isnt the safest environment to be in as a coach because if you lost the series things didnt look pretty afterwards, Gatland said. I knew how tough it was going to be and youve got to be successful because if youre not then a lot of people turn on you. Thats the nature of the beast.I experienced part of that in 2013, but it makes you tougher, it makes you strong. Im one of those people who doesnt dwell on the negatives, I always look at the positives. I know theyre there, but theyre what bring you down. If you talked to coaches in Wales, they would describe me as the eternal optimist. Thats the way youve got to be.Ive spoken about the lack of preparation time, how tough this tour is going to be - but I cant change that. If I start talking about that, if I start letting that affect me, then thats a negative and I have got to move on. ' ' '