Protection » League berth for next season

VANCOUVER -- Coach Martin Rennies season-long struggle to field two dangerous strikers in the same game will continue tonight as his Vancouver Whitecaps fight to keep their Major League Soccer playoff hopes alive in Seattle. You can watch the game on TSN2 at 10pm et/7pm pt. Rennie faces another major test to find a suitable strike mate for Camilo, the current Major League Soccer player of the week, as the Whitecaps (11-11-9) seek a win against a Sounders squad (15-9-6) that has lost only one game at home and routinely attracts crowds of over 45,000. The Whitecaps sit six points out of the fifth and final post-season berth in the Western Conference with only three games left and a possible nine points up for grabs. As usual, injuries and international call-ups are making Rennies second striker choice difficult. Darren Mattocks would have been the ideal selection to complement Camilo after they excelled together in a 2-2 draw Sunday with the Portland Timbers. But Mattocks, who has been in and out of the lineup all season due to injuries, inconsistency and international duty, has left the club to join Jamaicas national team in preparation for a World Cup qualifying match Friday against the U.S. "Thats one of the things thats been frustrating a little bit this season," said Rennie. "Any time you get him kind of in and around the team, he seems to be gone again. Thats something that has hurt him a little bit this season. Its hurt us as well, because on Sunday there we found out just how good a player he is." Rennie would have liked Mattocks to build on the effort against Portland. Kenny Miller would also be an ideal fit, because he and Camilo have combined for 27 of Vancouvers 44 goals, posting many while playing alongside each other. But Miller, who has eight goals, is questionable after missing the past two games with a groin injury. Millers anticipated absence poses concern because the Whitecaps have won more games with him in the lineup than when he was out due to injury or while playing for Scotlands national team, from which he has since retired. Striker Tommy Heinemann is available but the St. Louis native, who is strong in the air but not fleet afoot, did not work overly well with Camilo in a 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake on Sept. 28. Consequently, 18-year-old rookie Kekuta Manneh, will likely be counted on to play a significant role either in a rare start or his usual substitute function. "It means a lot," said Manneh, a Gambia native, of his chance to play in the big game. "I feel like every rookie, that will be their dream to come to the team and be a part of the team. Hopefully I can bring something to the team and we can win." Manneh possesses world-class speed and skill, but Rennie has limited the rookies playing time -- usually dressing him in the 18-player lineup while infrequently putting him into games -- as he takes a cautious approach to his professional development. "We know hes got so much talent," said Rennie. "Were just not 100 per cent sure what were going to get (each game). But we do know if its good, then it could be great. Thats something we have to consider once we know how (Miller) is." Manneh has two goals and two assists while logging 529 minutes over 17 games. He often lines up as a midfielder and pushes forward, creating many scoring opportunities. He feels much more prepared for a contest of this magnitude than he was at the start of the season. "Ive come a long way," he said of his improvement. But it remains to be seen how much he can help a struggling Vancouver side that has gone 2-6-4 in its past 12 games. The Whitecaps will likely depend even more on Camilo, who scored both of their goals against Portland. He booted one goal on a long free kick and the other on a sideways bicycle blast. "Camilo has done that for us all season," said captain Jay DeMerit. "That hopefully has to continue now in the final games because we need him." Notes: Whitecaps central defender Johnny Leveron will also be away on international duty for World Cup qualifying with Honduras. a The Whitecaps will be eliminated if they lose once and Los Angeles or Colorado posts a single win in their remaining games. Vancouver closes out its season with two games against Colorado. a Clint Dempsey, the highest paid player in MLS at US$5 million this season, will dress for the Sounders after being sidelined since Sept. 13 with a hamstring injury. Fellow striker Obafemi Martins is also slated to suit up after missing their last game in Colorado with a groin injury. a Seattles Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans will be away with the U.S. team, while Zach Scott serves a one-game suspension for a red card. Comprar Adidas NMD Baratas . Second-seeded Sloane Stephens of the United States made lighter work of her day as she beat 2009 champion and Swiss wild card Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 6-3. Two seeds fell: No. 4 Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium lost to Katarzyna Piter of Poland 6-4, 6-2, and No. Adidas NMD España . Bilbaos first victory in four rounds lifted it four points clear of Real Sociedad and kept it in command of Spains last Champions League berth for next season. In contrast, Betis was left 11 points from safety after a dismal performance that at times bordered on self-destruction amid some questionable refereeing decisions. http://www.adidasnmdbaratas.es/.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres reassigned forward Sam Reinhart to the WHLs Kootenay Ice on Friday. Adidas NMD Baratas . Woods said Friday that his charity event, which attracts a world-class field even without being part of any tour, will move in December 2014 to Isleworth, the course where he honed his professional game from 1996 until moving away to south Florida two years ago. Zapatillas NMD Baratas . For one, he still gets to crank the intensity to the max. "I push pretty angry. I ran pretty angry too though, but I have fun doing it," Lumsden said.Fridays action from Brazil concludes with Ecuador and Honduras both looking for their first win at the 2014 World Cup. Listen to Ecuador vs. Honduras LIVE at 6pm et/3pm pt on TSN Radio 1050 Toronto and TEAM 1410 Vancouver. Ecuador and Honduras will both be aiming to bounce back after suffering defeats in their respective World Cup openers in Group E play at the Arena da Baixada on Friday. Both sides enter the match without a point, but the two teams arrived at that destination in very different ways. Ecuadors 2-1 defeat to Switzerland came on a stoppage-time winner from Swiss substitute Haris Seferovic, while Honduras was hammered 3-0 by France and had Wilson Palacios sent off in the first half. There is no room for error for either team in this game as the loser would be eliminated, and both must pick themselves up after tough defeats to open the competition. Ecuador took the lead in the contest in the 22nd minute through a goal from Enner Valencia as he headed home a free kick. But Switzerland made the most of a set-piece chance of its own and equalized early in the second half courtesy of Admir Mehmedi. The match was there for the taking for either side in the second half, but just when Ecuador seemed to be pressing for the winner, Switzerland hit on a counter attack in the dying minutes to snatch the win on a well-worked piece of play that resulted in Seferovic slamming home the winner from close range. "It was an intense and evenly-matched game. Weve seen both teams perform to the best of their ability," said Ecuador head coach Reinaldo Rueda, "We seemed to have thee game under control, but what use is that if you end up losing? But thats football, although we didnt deserve to lose.dddddddddddd Both teams went looking for the win. We have to get this defeat out of our heads and get ready to face two very strong opponents." That first opponent, Honduras, was soundly beaten by France through two goals from Karim Benzema and an own goal that brought goal-line technology into play. Benzema converted from the penalty spot shortly before halftime to put France into the lead, while Honduras entered the break with 10 men after Palacios received a second yellow card. At that point it was mostly about damage control for head coach Luis Fernando Suarez and his team, although he watched France add another goal in the 48th minute when a shot from Benzema struck the post and was deflected into his own net by goalkeeper Noel Valladares. Benzema then capped the match with another tally 18 minutes from time, leaving Suarez to hope that his side can learn from the defeat and move forward. "It was a tough match, and they came through it better than we did," Suarez said. "Weve got no regrets; they were simply better than us on the day. There are certain aspects that well need to improve ahead of our next game. Its difficult to overcome a team thats already up by a goal and is capable of holding on to the ball so well. Well need to retain the lessons we learned today." Honduras is still searching for its first win at a World Cup, while Ecuador can give itself a chance at reaching the round of 16 for the second time with three points on Friday. ' ' '