Board News » e and play and try to give it our bes

TORONTO - Unbeaten Toronto FC faces a test of its depth Saturday when it visits Real Salt Lake. See the game live on TSN2 at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. Brazilian winger Jackson is suspended for the game at Rio Tinto Stadium while Canadian midfielder Jonathan Osorio left practice early Friday, seemingly favouring his right hamstring. Manager Ryan Nelsen said Osorio has been nursing a hamstring strain. During the portion of Fridays training session open to the media, Mark Bloom was playing in place of Jackson on the right flank, with Englands Bradley Orr taking over at fullback behind him. "We dont have a great deal of options at the moment there but weve got a bit of versatility with Bloomie being able to play both positions and now Brad Orrs getting fit," said Nelsen. Jeremy Hall slotted into central midfield alongside U.S. international Michael Bradley when Osorio exited. Attacking midfielder Dwayne De Rosario remains another option — more likely playing wide left or coming on as an impact substitute — with Canadian international midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran a newly signed, speedy asset on the flank. But Nelsen has shown faith in the 26-year-old Bloom. Toronto (2-0-0) is off to its best ever start with wins in Seattle and at home against D.C. United. But there are concerns over its depth outside the starting lineup with Nelsen looking to reinforce the 12 through 20 members of the roster. Real Salt Lake (1-0-2) has played two of its first three games on the road, with a home-and-away series with the Los Angeles Galaxy already in the books. While RSL has some injury concerns of its own, the team is a veteran outfit that is used to playing 4,500 feet above sea level. England striker Jerman Defoe says he is no stranger to playing at altitude after his experience at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He saw the bigger challenge in the experience of Real Salt Lake. "Its going to a massive test for us to go there and try to win the game," he said. "But at the minute, were confident. Everyones playing well, everyones fit. We just look forward to it." De Rosario, who helped D.C. United beat Real Salt Lake in the U.S. Open Cup final in Sandy, Utah, last season, agreed. "Its a team thats been together for quite some time. A team that has a very distinguished system and they stay true to that. And theyre very good at home." Now in its 10th MLS season, Real Salt Lake is 74-31-39 at home in regular-season league play. In its eighth MLS campaign, Torontos road record is 15-72-25. But most of Torontos past record for futility can be thrown out, with such marquee reinforcements as Defoe, Bradley, De Rosario and Brazilian striker Gilberto and goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Real Salt Lake has injury concerns up front with Robbie Findley yet to play this season and former TFC player Joao Plata sidelined due to a hamstring strain. Plata, a five-foot-two 135-pound ball of Ecuadorian energy, has been red-hot to start the season with two goals and two assists in three games. Alvaro Saborio and Olmes Garcia are expected to start at forward although Devon Sandoval could return from a foot injury. Defender Aaron Maund, another Toronto FC alumnus, and midfielder Sebastian Velasquez, are also sidelined. Jordan Allen and Kwame Watson-Siriboe are listed as questionable. RSL can still field a veteran lineup, however, led by the likes of midfielder Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando, both U.S. internationals. After playing a poor pitch at BMO Field in its home opener, Toronto wont see much of an improvement in the Rio Tinto Stadium surface. "Its in really bad shape," said Beckerman. NOTES — Toronto is 1-5-0 lifetime in Utah ... RSL edged Toronto 3-2 on a stoppage-time goal the last time the clubs met in Utah, on April 28, 2012. Only Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan and Quillan Roberts remain with the club from Torontos 18-man roster that day ... Nelsen says the cub has talked to Jackson about resisting the temptation to retaliate when provoked on the field. Cheap Air Max Plus Uk Online . -- Cordell Cato scored his first goal of the season and the San Jose Earthquakes survived a full half playing a man down to beat FC Dallas 2-1 Saturday night. Cheap Air Max Plus Uk Sale . -- Pelicans coach Monty Williams does not expect guard Eric Gordon to play in any of New Orleans final five games this season. http://www.cheapairmaxplusuk.com/. And though his comeback night didnt quite go to script, Bryant couldnt help reflecting on the work necessary to get back on that court -- and all the months of steady labour ahead to reclaim his game. Bryant had nine points and eight rebounds in his season debut, but Amir Johnson scored a career-high 32 points in the trade-depleted Toronto Raptors 106-94 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday night. Air Max Plus Uk Sale . "I love the game, its the best job you can have," he explained Tuesday as the players left Joe Louis Arena for the summer. "Ill sit down with my wife and well go from there. Cheap Air Max Plus Sale . A steady downpour and low temperatures were predicted for much of the night. No makeup date was immediately announced, although it was determined that the game will not be part of a doubleheader on Wednesday.MINNEAPOLIS -- The excuses came ready made for the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford were out with injuries. They were playing their fourth game of a five-game road trip. Chris Paul would have none of that. "I said, Fellas, lets be who we are. We got who we got, lets keep the train moving," Paul told them. "We said, No excuses." And no mercy on a Minnesota Timberwolves team that just wants this massively disappointing season to end. Darren Collison had 28 points and seven assists, and the Clippers didnt miss a beat with Griffin out with a back injury in a 114-104 victory. Paul had 22 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and Matt Barnes scored 19 points for the Clippers (53-22). Griffin, the teams leading scorer, warmed up before the game but wasnt quite ready after being injured on Saturday night against Houston. Jared Dudley started in his place and scored 16 points, while DeAndre Jordan grabbed a career-high 24 rebounds to help the Clippers pull within two games of Oklahoma City for the second seed in the West. "Everyone keeps track," Dudley said. "We know we have another game against (the Thunder) at home and were just trying to win every game. We want that 2 seed and we know the 1 seed could be tough because San Antonio hasnt lost in a month or so." Kevin Love had 20 points, 13 rebounds and four assists for the Wolves. Crawford was out with a calf injury, but a lacklustre effort by the Wolves starters on the second night of a back-to-back made up for his absence. "Theyve got to bust it," Wolves coach Rick Adelman said. "They owe themselves that. Owe their teammates that; owe the organization, the fans." The Clippers hit 12 of 30 3-pointers and blew the game wide open with a 31-5 run in the third quarter. The Wolves led 59-57 early in the period, but Collison scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in the quarter. The Clippers put their foot on the gas, scoring 13 points in transition during the surge, and punctuating it with a lob pass from Paul to Jordan for an 86-64 lead. Nikola Pekovic left seven minutes into the game when his bothersome right ankle flared up again, and only a spirited effort by Shabazzz Muhammad (11 points) and the Timberwolves bench in the fourth quarter kept the game from getting out of hand.dddddddddddd The Clippers went 13-2 in March, their second-best month in franchise history, and have won 16 of their last 18 to improve to more than 30 games over .500 for the first time in the teams 44-year history. And Paul has instilled this team with a nastiness that could serve it well in the post-season. With a 14-point lead and just over four minutes to play, the 6-foot Paul went up to swat a dunk attempt by Minnesotas 6-foot-11 rookie Gorgui Dieng. Paul was called for a foul, but he also sent Dieng crashing to the court. Message delivered. "Thats the attitude that we have to have that no matter what the obstacles you just keep playing," coach Doc Rivers said. "We have enough guys, and thats what we talked about today. We didnt mention the injuries. ... You just go out and play and itll work out if you believe that and play well." The Timberwolves were supposed to be in the playoff picture with the Clippers this season, but their 36-37 record to this point makes them one of the biggest disappointments in the league. Ricky Rubio had just three points on 1-for-6 shooting with five turnovers, Love was 8 for 21 and Kevin Martin was a non-factor with 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting. "Its definitely tough right now," Love said. "Weve got to try to finish this thing strong and just try to play well. ... Were a little beat up right now, but we still have to come and play and try to give it our best. But thats a very good team right there." NOTES: The Clippers hosted Iowa coach Fran McCaffery and his 14-year-old son, Patrick, who had a malignant tumour removed from his thyroid last month. Paul has been a vocal supporter of Patricks ever since first hearing about the boys situation. Patrick is a big fan of Paul, and the All-Star guard called him the day before he had surgery. ... Glen Davis had two points in four minutes after getting sent to the locker room against Houston for what Clippers coach Doc Rivers called an attitude problem. ... Love set the franchise record for made free throws in the first quarter, surpassing the 465 made by Tom Gugliotta in 1996-97. ' ' '