control the ball before backheeling against the post. Rooney came clo

I like alliteration. Its very radio friendly, perhaps not so much in print. It was the Ms that dominated the story-lines on what was a memorable weekend for the Whitecaps. Marketing: The Whitecaps should win an award for one of the best sporting campaigns this city has ever seen. Sometimes, consumers buy in early, and drive an event which then takes on a life of its own. And sometimes, a gentle nudge from creative types can spark the consumers imagination. What happened on Saturday was a perfect combination of both, punctuated by a thrilling, talking point laden 3-2 win. The level of detail and commitment by everyone involved, made for a day most of us wont soon forget. Manneh: The youngster started, and rewarded his manager with a terrific opening goal just 10 minutes in, which got the crowd involved, and the adrenaline pumping. I cant remember seeing the same player hit one post, before coolly floating in the rebound off the other upright. It was exactly what the Whitecaps needed. Morales: The refreshed looking midfield maestro ran the show in the first 45, scored from the penalty spot, and then less than a minute later added his third MLS goal with a perfect blast. He might have had two others earlier. It was the unbridled passion with which he celebrated the 3-0 goal that Whitecaps supporters will remember. He likes it here. He wants to win. Hes worth the price of admission. Mattocks: The young Jamaican has been arguably the most important player for Vancouver this season, when it seemed like six months ago, he would be run out of town after some bizarre comments made while he was home. Hes embraced the coaching, his level of understanding has improved and his ability to terrorize defenders was plainly evident, as he earned another penalty kick on a rather immobile looking Victor Bernardez. So it should worry everyone in the Village that Mattocks had to be replaced early with what was described as a hamstring strain. The timing couldnt be worse given the schedule congestion thats ahead, and with the departure of another "M". Miller: We knew divorce was imminent, but most didnt expect the news on Sunday morning, especially after the Mattocks injury. Carl Robinson is trying to shape a young and hungry club, and while there does need to be some veteran guidance, the money versus performance return gap was widening, and becoming more difficult to justify. I also get the sense that the club wants to conduct more business, and that will be easier to accomplish with the budget relief theyll now have. Miller was a great pro, looked up to by his teammates and likely to land at least one more contract before his storied career is over. And if you turn an "M" upside down, it becomes a "W" something the Whitecaps desperately needed. With their "hang-on-for-dear-life" 3-2 triumph over San Jose, Vancouver went from being winless in four, to undefeated in three. A great start to the month of "M"ay. Custom Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . He had even more fun Friday. Coming off a sensational rookie season, Spieth opened the new year by never coming close to bogey and making a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 7-under 66. Hayden Hurst Jersey . The English Football Association had charged the German right back with violent conduct after retrospectively reviewing video evidence of an incident that was missed by match officials at Craven Cottage on Saturday. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Lamar-Jackson-Jersey/ . The veteran NFL receiver received his work permit and is in Montreal for the start of the Alouettes rookie camp. Johnson even took in the Montreal Canadiens Game 5 win over the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre Tuesday night. Jaylon Ferguson Ravens Jersey .com) - James Harden needed just seven made field goals to drop 35 points on the Philadelphia 76ers, leading the Houston Rockets to a 104-93 win on Monday. Ben Powers Jersey .com) - John Wall had 15 points, 12 assists and four steals as the Washington Wizards defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 92-85 on Monday night. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Rarely has tapping in a goal provided such relief for Wayne Rooney. With pressure building after a four-game England goal drought, the striker bundled the ball over the line from close range against Ecuador on Wednesday for a goal that lacked finesse or power but was a timely confidence boost ahead of the World Cup. "Its a great joy to score for England," Rooney said after the 2-2 draw at the Sun Life Stadium. "I was obviously pleased to score to get us back in the game." Rooneys 39th international goal cancelled out Enner Valencias eighth-minute header, nudging the ball over the line after Rickie Lambert hit the post. Lambert found the net himself six minutes into the second half after 20-year-old Ross Barkley weaved his way through the defence with ease. But Michael Arroyo powered in equalizer from distance in the 70th in his teams final game before playing Switzerland at the World Cup on June 15. "We have to improve aspects of our game to be ready for the start of the World Cup," Ecuador coach Reinaldo Rueda said. Both teams ended this feisty encounter with 10 men at the Sun Life Stadium after Raheem Sterling was dismissed in the 79th minute for a sliding challenge on Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia, who saw red for pushing the Englishman and going to grab his throat. The players will not be suspended for World Cup matches. "I am sorry for the fight with Sterling," Valencia said. "I apologized to the team after the match and the coach." England coach Hodgson accepted Sterlings challenge was fierce, but believes it didnt constitute a red card. "He played the ball and accelerated into the ball," Hodgson said." Im disappointed with Antonios reaction, grabbing the player." Hodgsons greater concern was midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming off with suspected ligament damage in his right knee -- just 10 days before Englands World Cup opener against Italy. As Hodgson tested the depth of his squad in its penultimate World Cup warm-up match, only Rooney was retained from the side that beat Peru 3-0. He featured on a team sheet that was mistakenly distributed around the stadium featuring the passport numbers oof both teams players.dddddddddddd The private English details were also tweeted out globally by an England team sponsor. After that blunder, Englands defenders responded with mishaps of their own, looking disjointed and giving the Ecuadoreans space to express themselves and unsettle their opponents. Defenders Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling allowed Enner Valencia to rise between them to meet Walter Ayovis cross with a header past Ben Foster, who was deputizing in goal for Joe Hart. There were several uneasy moments for Foster when he was exposed after racing off his line. For all the lapses at the back, England was playing with a confidence and verve at times up front that was lacking against Peru despite the margin of victory. Barkley, the England midfielder earning his fourth cap, was providing flashes of dynamism, typified by a backheel to Rooney, who could only clip the ball across the face of goal. After stand-in captain Frank Lampard tested goalkeeper Maximo Banguera with a long-range powerful strike, Rooney netted in the 29th despite being shunted out to the left wing. Meeting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains cross, Banguera collided with his own player, and Lambert appeared to use his hand to control the ball before backheeling against the post. Rooney came close again twice before the break, stabbing the ball wide and sending a stinging strike into Bangueras hands. Like England, Ecuador also struggled to contain counterattacks while launching several of its own. Englands second goal followed a superb move. Barkley held off Frickson Erazo and Carlos Gruezo to waltz through opposition territory and set up Lambert for a powerful strike. The 32-year-old Lamberts third England goal came less than a year after making his debut. But Englands defence was breached again with a fine leveler. Just two minutes after coming off the bench, Arroyo picked up possession on the edge of the penalty area and sent it into the top corner. "A large number of the opportunities they created for themselves were when we were really attacking, we were going forward," Hodgson said. "Maybe what weve got to make certain is that we shore up a little bit behind some of these attacking movements." ' ' '