another top 12 to reach the criteria set by Alpine Canada

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Vancouver Whitecaps can finally say theyve beaten their archrivals in Major League Soccer. Pedro Morales scored twice on penalty kicks as Vancouver defeated Portland 4-3 on Sunday for the Whitecaps first win against the Timbers since both teams entered the league in 2011. Erik Hurtado and Jordan Harvey also scored for the Whitecaps (5-2-5), who led 4-1 but had to fend off a late rally by the Timbers to stay unbeaten in five straight games. Portland put a scare into the Whitecaps with goals in the 77th and 86th minutes but Vancouvers offence was too much for the Timbers to handle, according to Hurtado. "No matter what were going to attack," he said. "Whether were at home, whether were away, whether were down, whether were up, were going to try to score goals. Thats the kind of team we are." Maximiliano Urruti, Gaston Fernandez and Will Johnson scored for Portland (3-4-7), which had its 22-game unbeaten run at home end. Urruti scored an impressive opener after just three minutes and Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted saved a second goal in the first 10 minutes with a sprawling dive on a goal-bound Johnson shot moments later. In the 15th minute the games momentum shifted as Hurtado drew a penalty against Portland defender Jack Jewsbury following a darting run into the box. Morales converted in the 16th minute, drawing the game even against the run of play. Vancouver was awarded a second penalty nine minutes later when Jorge Villafana tackled Sebastian Fernandez inside the box. Kekuta Mannehs run sparked the play but the crowd didnt appreciate the call for a second consecutive spot kick. Morales converted again, increasing his team-leading goal total to five. The Whitecaps were lucky not to concede a penalty of their own when Diego Valeri was tackled from behind in the box but referee Kevin Stott withheld his whistle and play continued despite the protests of Portland coach Caleb Porter. Hurtado concluded his strong first half by scoring a rebounded goal after a sharp cross from Morales deep in injury time. Donovan Ricketts saved Hurtados initial shot but the ricochet deflected off of the Portland natives knee and bounced over the line for a 3-1 advantage. Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson praised the play of Hurtado, who grew up in the Portland suburbs and played for the Timbers under-23 team before being drafted by the Whitecaps in 2013. "Hes been superb," said Robinson. "When you (play in front of family and friends) as a young player, you try to go away from the things that youre good at. He didnt do that. I thought his movement was excellent and he got his reward with the goal." Robinson replaced Manneh with Russell Teibert to open the second half as Vancouver downshifted to more comfortably manage the expected Portland attack. Yet it was the Whitecaps who struck first after the break with Morales crossing to left back Harvey, who fired into the bottom right corner for a 4-1 advantage in the 49th minute. Portland changed its offensive plan by inserting forwards Fanendo Adi and Fernandez for the ineffective Steve Zakuani and Urruti, respectively, but the visitors held their ground for much of the second half. Finally, Fernandez headed in a Valeri cross to cut the deficit to two goals in the 77th minute. Ousted then dove to save an Adi shot in the 84th minute but was helpless when Adi juggled the ball and flicked it to Johnson, who hammered home Portlands third in the 86th. The Whitecaps withstood a barrage of late pressure thanks to key saves from Ousted and strong performances from defenders Jay DeMerit and Andy OBrien. After the game, Robinson was still focused on his teams effective attack. "If youd said to me before the game, would I take a 4-3, I wouldve," he said. "I know were a team that can score goals. I said all along Id rather win 4-3 than 1-0." Vancouver next travels to Philadelphia to play the Union on Saturday. Khyri Thomas Jersey . - Christophe Lalancette scored a third-period goal and added the shootout winner to lead the Drummondville Voltigeurs to a 5-4 win over the Quebec Remparts in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Sunday. Stanley Johnson Pistons Jersey . - In about six minutes, the Memphis Grizzlies had allowed their 23-point lead to be cut to seven. https://www.pistonsrookiesshop.com/Rick-Mahorn-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen took the second-round lead Saturday in the Champions Tours Legends of Golf, teaming for a 6-under 48 in windy conditions on the par-3 Top of the Rock course. Christian Laettner Pistons Jersey . Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin broke the news that hes cleared for full activity moving forward. Chauncey Billups Pistons Jersey . TSN platforms will broadcast 75+ live games per season – tripling the networks current slate of MLB games. With the new deal TSN retains rights to ESPNs SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and, for the first time, acquires rights to ESPNs MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and WEDNESDAY NIGHT BASEBALL.LAKE LOUISE, Alta. -- Lara Gut of Switzerland regained the overall World Cup lead with Sundays super-G win in Lake Louise, Alta., while U.S. ski star Lindsey Vonn took another step in her comeback by finishing fifth. Gut temporarily relinquished the overall lead to Maria Hoefl-Riesch at the Alberta resort after the German won downhill races Friday and Saturday. Guts victory Sunday put her back atop the overall standings. "Its the first time Im in the top three in the overall, so its a pretty new thing for me," Gut said. "I just have to stay focused on my skiing and not starting thinking about points. "If I starting thinking about points, I will start getting nervous and not ski the way I can. Today I knew I had to ski and this is what I did. Its cool to know when you have to ski, I can be in the top in Lake Louise." Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein was second and Anna Fenninger of Austria finished third for the second straight day. Hoefl-Riesch was 19th in super-G and trails Gut in the overall standings by 41 points. Marie-Michele Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., was the top Canadian in 10th. Larisa Yurkiw of Owen Sound, Ont., missed a gate and did not finish. The World Cup Lake Louise was the scene of Vonns first races since crashing and severely injuring her right knee in super-G at the world championships in February. The reigning Olympic downhill champion tore two ligaments in her knee and broke a bone in her leg. Vonns comeback was on track until she partially tore a reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament while training in Colorado last month. The 29-year-old owns a record 14 World Cup victories at Lake Louise, but Vonn was 40th in the first downhill before jumping to 11th on Saturday and then fifth Sunday. "I think it was a huge step in the right direction," Vonn said. "I know I can win again." Vonn needs more surgery and intends to postpone it until after the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Chasing a fifth career overall World Cup title this season is out of the question with her knee in a tenuous state. Vonn is concentrating on defending her title in Sochi now. She must decide how many races she can do between now and February to accomplish that. "I do need a couple more starts," Vonn said. "I want to make sure I get on the podium at least once if not win before going into Sochi. I really want to have that in my back pocket. "Im ready for Sochi. I may race one or two races. I really have to look at the program with my coaches and come up with a game plan. Maybe a couple more starts, but I really want to focus on Sochi and take the risk away from any long-term damage on my knee. "Not very much ACL left is pretty hard-core. I give myself a little bit of credit. Im not going to give up and Im going to be in Sochi and fighting for my medal." Gagnon, a slalom specialist, diddnt race the Lake Louise downhills.dddddddddddd She competed in super-G to get work in speed events. Gagnon will represent Canada in the super combined event -- the combined times of a slalom and a downhill -- in Sochi. Gagnon was nevertheless pleased with a third top-10 result this season in as many disciplines. She placed fifth in the season-opening slalom in Levi, Finland, and 10th in a giant slalom in Soelden, Austria. The 24-year-old helicoptered her pole around her head in celebration when she crossed the finish line Sunday. "Im definitely a slalom ninja," Gagnon said. "I was really surprised. I charged and I didnt know what it would get me, but at the same time I know my technique is improving and giant slalom and slalom is pretty strong now and its looking good now. "Its carrying onto speed events and thats really exciting. It shows I can use the speed side to my advantage a little bit better." The womens World Cup races followed a mens downhill and super-G at Lake Louise. Canadas skiers left their home races this year with three top-10 results, but no medals. Canadians stood on the podium nine times between 2006 and 2009 with the last medal a downhill bronze by Emily Brydon. Yurkiw was seventh in the first womens downhill, Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant finished eighth in the mens downhill and Calgarys Jan Hudec was 10th in the mens super-G. Hudec, Guay and Vancouvers Manuel Osborne-Paradis qualified for nomination to the Olympic team with top-12 results at Lake Louise. Yurkiw needs another top 12 to reach the criteria set by Alpine Canada. She was dropped from the Canadian ski team after last season. Yurkiw says she raised about $150,000 on her own to pay for her summer ski camps in Europe and for her coaching and training expenses. "Shes on a roll right now and I hope she can carry it on through the next races in Europe," said Paul Kristofic, Alpine Canadas vice-president of sport. "Well lend a hand and cheer her on towards her goals absolutely. "Today with Mich, thats a testament to the momentum she has in all events right now. Shes been skiing really well with tremendous speed. Shes definitely a contender in the combined event. Doing some speed is critical for that." Yurkiw was to board a flight Sunday for St. Moritz, Switzerland, where she and Gagnon will race a super-G on Saturday. Gagnon will also compete in a giant slalom there. Own The Podium doles out taxpayer money to sport federations based on the ability of their athletes to win medals. OTP is spending $2,788,000 on Canadas ski team in 2013-14, which ranks third behind the money going to speedskating and freestyle skiing. Since the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., OTP has provided just over $7 million to the alpine ski team, which is fourth behind speed skating, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. ' ' '