miaowang123: Vancouver has finished runners-up five straight years. Th
Vancouver has finished runners-up five straight years. Th
SAN DIEGO -- Centre Nick Hardwick was cleared to work out five days after sustaining a concussion and was a limited participant as the San Diego Chargers practiced for the final time for their divisional-round playoff game at Denver. Alvaro Morata Jersey . Hardwick said he was cleared just before practice started late Friday morning. "Well see how we respond in the next day or two and go from there," Hardwick said. "Its always a good step. Were moving in the right direction but well see how you wake up and how the rest of the day goes." Hardwick was hurt in Sundays wild-card win at Cincinnati and replaced by Rich Ohrnberger. He was listed as questionable on the injury report, meaning the Chargers feel he has a 50-50 chance of playing. "Im always confident. How could you not be?" Hardwick said. Hardwick has had concussions before. "Its not ever something you want to be dealing with but its part of football. This isnt my first rodeo," he said. "Well see how we go. No guarantees. You never know how things are going to unfold here. Running back Ryan Mathews didnt practice all week and also was listed as questionable. He left Sundays victory in the third quarter and didnt return. Hes been bothered by the ankle injury since a victory against Oakland on Dec. 22. Mathews rushed for 144 yards in a victory against Kansas City the next week that helped the Chargers earn the AFCs final playoff berth. Mathews was a big reason why the Chargers beat the Broncos in Denver on Dec. 12. He ran 29 times for 127 yards and one touchdown as the Chargers controlled the ball in the 27-20 win. Mathews said his mindset was the same as earlier in the week, that he wants to play. He said he watched practice and took mental reps. "Im just trying to do whatever I can to help my team," he said of playing through the injury. "Youre always hopeful theyll be able to go play and play like they played the last five weeks," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "They know their bodies better than anybody. Until someone goes on the inactive before the game, you hope theyre going to be out there for you." Rivers said Mathews has "shown that toughness all year long. Obviously, this injury has lingered on and kind of came on the last few weeks, but hes been tough for us all year long. As a running back you battle all kind of nicks and bumps and bruises. Ive been happy for him and us that he didnt have to deal with a fluke collarbone deal or things that you cant battle through, and then he gets an ankle. Hes battling through it though." In 2012, Mathews broke his right collarbone on his first carry of the exhibition season and then broke his left collarbone in December. Also listed as questionable were right guard Jeromey Clary (shoulder), right tackle D.J. Fluker (ankle), wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe) and defensive tackle Sean Lissemore. Clary was limited Wednesday and didnt practice Thursday or Friday. Fluker didnt practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday and Friday. Royal didnt practice all week. Lissemore was limited all week. "Its going to be a tough game," Rivers said. "All winning there a month ago does is it allows us to know it can be done. Other than that, that game means nothing. Theyre the No. 1 seed for a reason Theyve been the best team in the AFC all year long. Were going to have to play our best game to go in there and get a win." Luis Alberto Jersey . In their first meeting for six years, the Frenchmen dropped serve twice in the first set, but Giquel broke Simon two more times in the second. Gicquel moves on to face sixth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, who advanced with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) win against wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert, despite the Frenchmans 23 aces. Alberto Moreno Jersey . -- The NFL cancelled its Hall of Fame game between St.TORONTO -- How young will Vancouvers starting lineup be Wednesday for the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal against Toronto FC? "Younger than young," Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said with a smile. "Because my first-team squad is young anyway so its a little bit younger than that. "I want to give the opportunity to some of the younger players Ive got in my squad to see how close they are to being ready. Theyve got great, fantastic ability but the only way they can learn is by challenging them in certain game situations and I think (Wednesday) is a perfect example for them to get given the opportunity. "Ive got 100 per cent faith in them." FC Edmonton hosts the defending champion Montreal Impact in the other first-leg semifinal Wednesday. Edmonton advanced by dispatching Ottawa Fury FC 3-1 on aggregate in a battle of North American Soccer League teams. Theres likely more than national pride at stake for Vancouver in showcasing the young Canadians. The Whitecaps (3-2-4) are coming off a 3-2 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes. Facing a game in Columbus on Saturday, it makes sense to rest some starters with three games in a week. So Robinson, who brought 26 players on the road trip, plans to give Canadian youth a chance with starts for 17-year-old goalkeeper Marco Carducci and 20-year-old midfielder Bryce Alderson. Midfielder Russell Teibert, a 21-year-old who already has 46 MLS appearances under his belt, will also start and Robinson is expected to have other young Canadian talent such as teenage midfielders Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese, in his matchday 18. Carducci, who has twice been named Canadian Under-17 Player of the Year, starts ahead of No. 2 keeper Paolo Tornaghi. "Im going to be very excited," Carducci said Tuesday when asked what his emotions will be come kickoff. Robinson speaks glowingly about his young keeper, a Calgary native who played for Canada at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup. "Hes brilliant," said the former Welsh international, praising his commitment, work ethic and temperament. Alderson is also bubbling with excitement. "Its huge," said Alderson, who captained Canada at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup and has played for the Olympic team in qualifying. A native of Kitchener, Ont., he grew up supporting Toronto FC. Now he is trying to find tickets for family and friends to see him play against them at BMO Field. Its also a home showcase for Teibert, a native of Niagara Falls, Ont., and former member of thhe Toronto FC Academy. Nacho Fernandez Jersey. "It means a lot," he said. "Its a Canadian championship and we havent been the best team in Canada just yet. Hopefully this is the year." Robinson plans to save his starting centre backs Jay DeMerit and Andy OBrien for Saturdays game in Columbus. Johnny Leveron and Carlyle Mitchell, who have deputized for the two veterans before, will likely take over Wednesday. The Whitecaps also recalled striker Omar Salgado from the Charleston Battery of USL Pro on Tuesday. Salgado will be available for Wednesdays game. Toronto has the weekend off so is facing less of a short-term fixture crunch. And given it is only now returning to a full roster after a slew of injuries, the chance to give the first team more time to play together is welcome. Still manager Ryan Nelsen plans to give goalie Joe Bendik his first start of the season, opting to rest Brazilian No. 1 Julio Cesar. That opens the door for Bendik, who started 33 games for Toronto last season before losing his job to Cesar this year. Midfielder Jeremy Hall (Achilles) is out while defender Bradley Orr (calf) and midfielder Jonathan Osorio (charley horse) are doubtful. Nelsen says designated players Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto will "most likely" see action. "Theyre all desperate to play," he said. Defoe and Bradley have both missed time due to injury so still are finding their legs, the manager said. And while Brazilian striker Gilberto has yet to score, he is threatening in front of goal. "In all honesty, they do need games," Nelsen said. The Toronto manager also pointed out matter-of-factly that he tends to starts a lot of his young Canadians week in and out, with defender Doneil Henry and midfielders Osorio and Kyle Bekker as Exhibits A, B and C in recent weeks. Toronto (3-4-0) dropped its third straight game when it lost 2-1 to visiting New England on the weekend. Nelsens team, which has had widespread injury problems, has lost four of the last five. Montreal captured the inaugural Canadian championship in 2008. Toronto won it the next four years before the Impact claimed it again last year. Vancouver has finished runners-up five straight years. The winner hoists the Voyageurs Cup, donated by the Voyageurs Canadian supporters group, and earns a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League, a 24-team competition featuring clubs from North and Central America and the Caribbean. The CONCACAF Champions League winner advances to the FIFA Club World Cup. Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys China NFL Gear NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL T-shirts From China ' ' '
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