10-yard passes astray and if you do that in the Premier

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VANCOUVER -- Darren Mattocks hard-luck season has taken a turn for the better. Having recovered from knee surgery, the speedy striker is slated to return to the Vancouver Whitecaps lineup Saturday as they visit the Colorado Rapids. "Talking to the trainers and the coaching staff on what Ive maintained, I think Im ready to go," said Mattocks after practice Tuesday at the University of British Columbia. Mattocks resumed training with the club this week after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last month. The knee bothered him after a game against the Chicago Fire, in which he was a late substitute, and it swelled up while he was en route to a game with the Whitecaps reserves squad in Salt Lake City. The club decided that surgery was the best option, and he underwent the procedure less than a week later. Now, the knee is feeling "pretty good." "Im at a really good level since coming back (to full training) a couple days," said Mattocks. "So thats really good. I feel even sharper than before (the injury.) So thats really good. But I think Ive got a lot of work to do on getting back to match fitness." Mattocks, a 22-year-old Jamaican international who starred at the University of Akron, led the Whitecaps with seven goals as a rookie in 2012. But the proverbial sophomore jinx that often occurs in hockey has also struck him in his second Major League Soccer season. Due to his injury, inconsistent play and international duty, and the strong partnership of Camilo and Kenny Miller, he has started just six of the 13 games in which he has appeared. But crediting the team with providing world-class care and happy to be toiling in North Americas top league, Mattocks said he has not been frustrated by his ordeal. He took the same approach prior to the start of last season when arm burns, suffered in a cooking accident, delayed his pro debut. "I grew up back in Jamaica, and Ive been dealing with adversity for much of my life, growing up back then in my personal life," said Mattocks. The Portmore native declined to discuss his struggles, and he is also not looking back on his ill-fated quest for 20 goals. He set the target in his sights at the outset of the season, without guaranteeing it would happen. He just wants to work his way back into the starting 11, contribute some goals and help the Whitecaps (10-7-6) secure a playoff berth in the ultra-tight Western Conference. Coming off an impressive win over the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend, the Caps aim to continue on a strong run that has helped them leap over the playoff bar into a tie for second place with Colorado. Caps coach Martin Rennie is looking forward to seeing Mattocks back in game action after he impressed in the weekss first two workouts. "He looked fantastic today," said Rennie. "Thats probably the best training session hes ever had." Meanwhile, captain Jay DeMerit continued to make progress from a torn Achilles tendon that has kept him out since early in the first game of the season. DeMerit is well ahead of schedule on his return from an injury that requires six to eight months of recovery. He is close to returning after about three months off, but still a ways away from being game-ready.. "Ive had another good week of training," said DeMerit. "The sharpness is coming on slowly but surely. Its actually been kind of funny, and kind of frustrating in my own eyes. You kind of get there pretty quick, but now the last fiver per cent of it takes the longest." The 33-year-old Green Bay, Wis., native still hopes to return to the pitch before he weds retired Canadian Olympic ski cross gold medallist Ashleigh McIvor in her hometown of Whistler, B.C., later this month. "Were monitoring (the recovery) very closely every day, and every day Im getting stronger," he said. "But I can definitely say that I have some sharpness to work on." Notes: DeMerit, central defender Andy OBrien, Rennie and other Whitecaps left after practice to take part in the second annual Hope and Health soccer clinics for youngsters from Vancouver Island Coastal Salish First Nations in Ladysmith, B.C. McIvor also went on the trip to take part in opening ceremonies. a Whitecaps striker Kenny Miller will suit up for Scotland in a highly-anticipated friendly against England at Wembley Stadium in London on Wednesday. The two United Kingdom rivals have gone 14 years without facing each other. Latrell Sprewell Warriors Jersey . "Last year we were in a ton of situations, late-game situations we couldnt pull out. Wed kind of fold under the pressure, get frustrated or let a big shot frustrate us," guard DeMar DeRozan said. Chris Mullin Warriors Jersey . The Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal sustained minor damage during the protests, but demonstrators stayed away on Sunday and officials said the stadium passed its first test, with only minor adjustments needed going forward. http://www.gswarriorsonline.com/womens- ... ersey/.com) - The surprising Calgary Flames host the winless New Jersey Devils at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday. Swingman Stephen Curry Jersey . -- Tony Finau won the Stonebrae Classic on Sunday for his first Web. Swingman Wilt Chamberlain Jersey . His chance at winning a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia is over. Same with Jeff Carter. And Brian Boucher. Throw in Ville Leino and Dan Carcillo.LIVERPOOL, England -- Manchester City hurdled its last big obstacle en route to the English Premier League title by winning 3-2 at Everton, while heavy defeats condemned Fulham and Cardiff to relegation on Saturday. Two home wins, against Aston Villa on Wednesday and West Ham on Sunday, separate City from a second championship in three years after coming from behind to win at Goodison Park -- a stadium where it has traditionally struggled with just one victory from its last 15 visits. Sergio Agueros goal cancelled out Ross Barkleys brilliant 11th-minute opener for Everton, then Edin Dzeko scored twice in a five-minute span bridging halftime to help City go top -- for a day at least -- on goal difference from Liverpool, and two points clear of Chelsea. All three teams have two games left, with Chelsea playing Norwich on Sunday and Liverpool at Crystal Palace on Monday. "Three points is a huge step for us," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. "Its a decisive moment, but we havent finished yet." Aguero gave City a scare by limping off in the 28th minute -- soon after scoring his equalizer -- but said on Twitter that he came off as a precaution and he was "fine." Evertons defeat dealt a major blow to the title hopes of neighbour Liverpool, and ensured Arsenal clinched fourth spot and Champions League qualification for the 17th straight season. Resurgent Sunderlands surprise 1-0 win at Manchester United pulled the team three points clear of third-from-bottom Norwich, gave interim United manager Ryan Giggs a reality check, and also consigned Fulham and Cardiff to the second tier. Fulham lost 4-1 at Stoke, and Cardiff was defeated 3-0 at Newcastle, leaving both sides unable to climb out of the relegation zone. "I have to apologize for not managing the situation. The club asked me to come -- I tried," said Fulham manager Felix Magath, who was hired in February in an attempt to keep the club in the top division for a 14th straight season. "You can never say any player would like to see relegation, but they didnt fight enough, especiially today.dddddddddddd" Cardiff goes down after spending just one year in the Premier League, having also changed managers midway through the season in a bid to prevent the drop. "I knew what I was coming into," Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said. "I didnt make the impact I hoped for and I believed in." Sunderland has taken seven points from trips to Man City, Chelsea and United in the past three weeks, with Sebastian Larssons 30th-minute goal clinching a first league victory at Old Trafford since 1968. United turned in a performance reminiscent of David Moyes woeful 10-month tenure that was brought to an end last month, puncturing the optimism created by the teams 4-0 win over Norwich last Saturday in Giggs first match in interim control. "I feel flat," Giggs said. "The players were flat and I dont know why. . We were putting five- or 10-yard passes astray and if you do that in the Premier League you get punished. Weve had a problem at home all season -- its not been good enough." Already out of contention to qualify for the Champions League, United is also struggling to make the Europa League as it is six points behind sixth-place Tottenham, which lost 2-0 at West Ham. Spurs went down to 10 men in the 25th minute when Younes Kaboul was given a straight red card for a professional foul, before an own goal by Harry Kane and Stewart Downings free kick secured a victory that preserved West Hams Premier League status for another season. Aston Villa moved six points clear of Norwich after beating Hull 3-1 thanks to Ashley Westwoods goal after 58 seconds and a pair of headers from Andreas Weimann just before halftime. Hull, a point behind Villa, was also unlikely to be hauled in by Norwich but its three-game winless run bodes ill for the FA Cup final against Arsenal on May 17. Regardless of that result, however, Hull will get the Europa League spot offered by the FA Cup courtesy of Arsenal securing fourth place in the league. Southampton beat Swansea 1-0 away thanks to Rickie Lamberts injury-time goal. China Jerseys ' ' '