e 13-year major league career with Baltimore. He has not p

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Carl Robinsons reaction said it all. As Pedro Morales turned home Steven Beitashours shot to give the Whitecaps a 2-1 lead late in the game against Real Salt Lake, our cameras showed Robinson leaping high into the air, fist pumped - a release of tension as much as a show of joy. This was a game the Whitecaps had to win. A week on from the doom and gloom of a heavy defeat in Portland, there was a much different feel ahead of the game at BC Place. Toronto FCs incredible comeback win against the Timbers earlier in the day had handed the Caps the chance to leapfrog Portland back into the playoff places. The Whitecaps players arrived with a spring in their step, knowing they had a golden opportunity. After getting a favour from across the country, the Whitecaps had to get the job done themselves, something they have struggled with since the World Cup break, so when Pedro Morales missed a penalty with the last kick of the first half, there was an all too familiar feeling of deflation around BC Place. Robinson said the half-time team talk was his hardest of the season, and the Caps playoff chances took another turn for the worse when Nat Borchers headed in to give RSL the lead shortly after halftime. But on this occasion, the Whitecaps responded in a positive manner. Theres little doubt Pedro Morales is running in an empty tank. The Designated Player has been playing for 14 months straight, but the captain was able to dig deep in the second half and produced the type of performance that was his trademark in the early months of the season. Having already missed a penalty, Morales showed guts and leadership to step up and take another. He was also on hand to score the winner, and pulled the strings effectively for the Caps after the break. All this after he was nearly taken off at halftime. The Chilean now has 10 goals and 10 assists in his first MLS season and is a lead candidate for the leagues Newcomer of the Year award. For the first time in a while, the Whitecaps young substitutes were able to come on and impact the game. Kekuta Manneh was back to his best, running at defenders and creating chances. He only had 13 minutes to influence the match, but he managed to do so. It is something that has been seen too rarely from the 19-year-old this season. He proved again on Saturday that he has all the tools necessary to become a top player, but consistency is a major concern - not just on matchday but in training as well. Darren Mattocks had a much better day than he did in Portland a week earlier and Nicolas Mezquida also played a valuable role off the bench. But on Saturday, there were strong performances throughout the lineup. David Ousted was superb in goal, Matias Laba was excellent throughout, and Russell Teibert had his best performance of the season in the holding midfield role alongside Laba in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Teibert also showed the leadership skills that will likely see him become a future club captain. He was the one to step in and sort things out between Manneh and Mezquida when tempers flared following a delightful run from Manneh who opted to shoot rather than feed Mezquida, who would have had a clear sight at goal. One other moment that caught the eye came late in the game as Mauro Rosales once again proved what a valuable addition he has been to this team. Having left the game, the veteran midfielder was heavily involved on the sidelines, coaching and offering his thoughts to Robinson. With the way this squad has been built, it would be great to see Rosales stay next season - maybe even in a player-coach role. The Whitecaps had to ride a few nervy moments towards the end, but they stood firm to deny Real Salt Lake a point that would have confirmed their place in the playoffs for the seventh straight season. Theres no doubt RSL will make it, but whether the Whitecaps will join them is unlikely to be decided until the very end. The Caps havent been consistently good enough in the last few months, but Saturdays win has at least ensured their fate is back in their own hands. After an emotion-filled afternoon, they have to go though it all again next week with a home match against fourth-placed FC Dallas. With a one point lead over Portland in the chase for fifth spot, there is little margin for error. Vancouver Whitecaps against FC Dallas is live on TSN 2 on Saturday at 7pm et/4pm pt Christian Laettner USA Jersey . Though the 26-year-old said he was able to participate, coach Dwane Casey kept Johnson out as a precaution. LeBron James Team USA Jersey .J. -- Having Ondrej Pavelec earn his 100th NHL win and seeing Mark Scheifele and Evander Kane break goal droughts were nice highlights for the Winnipeg Jets. http://www.teamusaolympicsshop.com/Olym ... sa-Jersey/. Scotlands Greg Laidlaw made one of two penalty kicks and all three conversions, and Stuart Hogg added a try in the second half. "The most important thing to come out of the game is that we did not get scored against," Laidlaw said. James Harden USA Jersey . - Tom Brady was upset that his New England Patriots hardly looked like a division champion in the first half. Tracy McGrady USA Jersey . Beanballs were the theme Friday night as the Red Sox and Rays had another AL East rumble, with Boston earning a 3-2 victory on A. NEW YORK -- Making a pair of thrifty deals to fill ........... on their roster, the New York Yankees agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract with second baseman Brian Roberts and a $7 million, two-year deal with left-hander Matt Thornton. The deals are contingent on the players passing physicals, a person familiar with the agreements told The Associated Press on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contracts were not final. Roberts is among the options at second base to replace Robinson Cano, who left the Yankees for a $240 million, 10-year contract with Seattle. Kelly Johnson, signed to a $3 million deal, is another possibility. An All-Star in 2005 and 2007, the 36-year-old Roberts had spent his entire 13-year major league career with Baltimore. He has not played a full season since 2009 because of injuries. Roberts signed a $48 million, five-year contract before the 2009 season, then hit .283 with 16 homers, 79 RBIs and a big league-high 56 doubles. His injury problems started the following year, when he missed most of spring training with a herniated disk in his back, then strained an abdominal muscle in the fourth game of the season while stealing second base against Toronto. Roberts came down with pneumonia and didnt return until July 23. Then he missed the final six games of the season because of a concussion sustained when he knocked himself on the batting helmet with his bat after striking out in the ninth inning at Tampa Bay that Sept. 27. Roberts had another concussion while sliding intoo first base against Boston on May 16, 2011, and didnt return until June 12 the following year.dddddddddddd He appeared in just 17 games due to season-ending hip surgery in August, and had another operation for a sports hernia in December. His total of 77 games last season was his highest in four years, and he hit .249 with eight homers and 39 RBIs. Roberts strained his right hamstring while stealing second base in Baltimores third game of the season April 4 and was sidelined until June 30. The 37-year-old Thornton replaces Boone Logan, who left for a $16.5 million, three-year contract with Colorado. A 10-year big league veteran, Thornton was 0-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 60 relief appearances this year for the Chicago White Sox and Boston, which acquired him in July for minor league outfielder Brandon Jacobs. Thornton made $5.5 million in each of the last two seasons, and the Red Sox declined a $6 million option, which included a $1 million buyout. His agreement with the Yankees was first reported by the YES Network. When the agreements are completed, along with a pending three-year deal with outfielder Carlos Beltran, the Yankees projected luxury tax payroll for 2014 will rise to $177.7 million for 15 players. Thats about the maximum if the team wants to remain under the $189 million threshold, which includes $11 million to $12 million for benefits. New York would gain flexibility if Alex Rodriguez is suspended for most of the season, relieving the team of a large percentage of his $25 million salary. Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '