The Formations Knowing he would be facing one of the premier teams in MLS, Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson elected to revert back to his 4-2-3-1 formation for their away match with Real Salt Lake. Yunel Escobar Jersey . Jonny Leveron replaced skipper Jay Demerit in defence, while Kekuta Manneh replaced Pedro Morales; both Demerit and Morales were rested for the match, and stayed behind in Vancouver. Real Salt Lake head coach Jeff Cassar made one change to the team that defeated the Portland Timbers 1-0 the week previous. Joao Plata replaced Olmes Garcia up front, where the diminutive Ecuadorian partnered RSLs top goalscorer, Alvaro Saborio. The Game To suggest the Whitecaps were flat in the opening 45 minutes would be an understatement – they were very poor. They did not make effective use of the space that was available to them (which was in wide areas) and they were half a step slow and half a step late defensively. The result was that the Whitecaps trailed 2-0 after just nine minutes, with RSL getting goals from both Plata and Saborio. RSL very nearly went in at the break up 3-0, but David Ousted did well to deny Plata a second goal just before the halftime whistle. The opening half was a perfect exhibit of the challenge faced when fielding a very young lineup - those players dont yet have the experience to figure out how to fix things when they go wrong on the pitch. Of the six attacking players who started the match, only Kenny Miller (34) can be classified as an experienced player. Matias Laba (22), Gershon Koffie (22), Russell Teibert (21), Kekuta Manneh (19) and Darren Mattocks (23) are young, talented professionals – but when things go wrong, they cannot rely on previous experience to help them turn things around. In the first half, the movement of RSLs midfield caused problems for the Whitecaps. Despite having a numerical advantage, Vancouver struggled to put pressure on the ball. When the Whitecaps did manage to regain possession, they were too often wasteful, giving the ball straight back to RSL, as Teibert did on the opening goal. Offensively, they were never able to use their speed in transition to maximum effect. In Darren Mattocks and Kekuta Manneh, Vancouver had the two quickest players on the pitch. However, neither player was able to use that speed to their advantage, as Vancouver never found their passing rhythm. Both fullbacks, Jordan Harvey and Steven Beitashour, were cautious in their approach when Vancouver had the ball. This was entirely understandable, given Real Salt Lakes formidable home record and their early 2-0 lead. The result was that far too often Vancouver failed to use the only space that RSL conceded to them, which was out wide. This played into RSLs hands perfectly, as their two wide midfielders, Ned Grabavoy and Jake Mulholland, simply dropped slightly deeper to sit alongside Kyle Beckerman when Vancouver tried to build in midfield. The RSL defenders, who compressed the space between lines, supported this tight midfield unit. This meant that there was very little space in which Vancouver could play. Real Salt Lake controlled virtually the entire first half. Robinson and his coaching staff showed their worth once they could sit the players down at the break. There, the coaches were able to correct the mistakes that were being made and give their young players renewed belief in their abilities. The result was a completely different performance from Vancouver in the second half. The Whitecaps aggressively closed space in midfield, pressured the RSL defenders and midfielders into conceding possession, and denied both Plata and Saborio a sight at goal. While Saborio struck the bar with a header in the 80th minute after a quickly taken free kick, the home side appeared content to defend their 2-0 lead. Vancouver showed better control of the ball and much better use of space in wide areas in the second half. There was a confidence in the Whitecaps team that wasnt present in the opening forty-five minutes – a belief that they could not only compete with RSL, but also get something out of the game. Robinson again used his substitutes effectively, bringing Erik Hurtado, Nicolas Mezquida and Sebastian Fernandez into the game. And it was the two Uruguayans – Mezquida and Fernandez – who clawed back a point for Vancouver. Mezquida scored Vancouvers first goal in the 86th minute, knocking home a poor rebound from RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando after great work from Darren Mattocks. Fernandez scored the equalizer deep into stoppage time, ripping a strike from 35 yards past a flat-footed Rimando. The RSL goalkeeper – along with his teammates – will be left to ponder just how they managed to throw away two points after failing to extend their dominant first half performance into the second. The Positives The second half performance from Vancouver was exactly what their fans want to see – positive, confident, attacking play. The pace in Vancouvers team is frightening; Mattocks, Manneh and Hurtado are all likely in the leagues top 10, if not the top 5, in sprint speed. It is really about finding a way for these players to use their assets to maximum effect, which Vancouver did really well in the second half. Good performances from all three substitutes will give Robinson and his coaching staff some decisions to make in choosing their starting lineup for their next match at home on May 3rd against the San Jose Earthquakes (TSN2, 6:30pm ET, 3:30pm PT). It is an enviable problem to have, as every coach much prefers to have too many good players from which to choose than not enough. Real Salt Lake put on the best forty-five minutes of football that I have seen from a team so far this season in the opening half. The concern for Jeff Cassar is finding a way to extend that performance over the course of the game. While they havent found the secret to this yet, RSL is still unbeaten this season. The Negatives Poor performances all around for Vancouver in the opening half, but the silver lining is that this can be used as a teaching moment. With such a young squad of players, the biggest challenge for Robinson is to develop his promising youngsters into seasoned professionals who can solve problems on the pitch, without always requiring the intervention of the coaching staff. This isnt a job that will happen overnight, and the players will now be expected to reflect on what they did differently in the second half that they werent doing in the first. As long as the players are able to learn from their mistakes, the opening forty-five minutes can be looked back on as a valuable lesson. Nick Rimando has been sensational for Real Salt Lake this season, so he can be forgiven for having a 10-minute spell to forget at the end of the game. He should have prevented both of Vancouver goals, and on any other day would likely have done so. The Star Man This was the best performance I have seen from Erik Hurtado. The youngster has incredible speed, but is still learning how to best utilize his prized asset. He made a big impact coming off the bench in last weeks 2-2 come-from-behind draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy, and while he didnt score in that game or against Real Salt Lake, he made a very meaningful contribution on Saturday. His willingness to run in behind stretched the RSL back line and created space for his midfielders to operate, effectively changing the game. He is still very raw and has a great deal of learning to do, so it will be important for him to seek out the coaching staff to carry on that education. But he is certainly showing exciting potential at this moment in time as a second half substitute that can change the game. Huston Street Jersey . - Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin is now a free agent. Mike Trout Jersey . It was my fifth straight year attending and, as always, there are many interesting matters discussed as it pertains to the use of statistics in sports. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/ben-revere-angels-jersey/ . Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN Canadiens at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The game can also be heard on TSN Radio Montreal 690. The Calgary Flames will see if they can take their recent hot streak on the road when they shoot for a sixth consecutive win Monday night in Montreal.The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 finale takes place Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event features a trilogy fight between two alumni from Season 5 of The Ultimate Fighter. In addition, this season will crown two bantamweight winners in the mens and womens divisions. Normally my TSN 1290 co-host Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) gives his picks, but hes still away in Thailand. Instead fellow co-host “Big” Marvyn Timog (@BigMarv204) goes head to head with me (@LynchOnSports) in our picks. Let us know which side youre on for The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale, use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamBigMarv on Twitter. Also feel free to leave you opinions in the comment section below. Gray Maynard vs. Nate Diaz James Lynch TSN.ca (@LynchOnSports) While this main event trilogy doesnt have the same luster as say Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III, Maynard and Diaz should put on an entertaining display in their third encounter as they both strive for relevance in the lightweight division. These two first met on Season 5 of the Ultimate Fighter in the semifinals, where it would be Diaz earning the second-round submission victory and eventually winning the show. These two would meet again in 2010 at UFC Fight Night 20, where Maynard used his wrestling to edge out a split decision victory. "The Bully” is coming off his second knockout loss in three fights, after Canadian TJ Grant finished in his last fight at UFC 160. The Stockton native Diaz meanwhile suffered his first career knockout loss back in April against Maynards teammate Josh Thomson at UFC on FOX 7. A loss for either fighter could set them back even further from a title shot. Since losing to Edgar at UFC 136, Maynard switched camps to American Kickboxing Academy, a place known for elevating high-level wrestlers. Typically for Diaz, his kryptonite has been top level wrestlers, as evident in his losses to Benson Henderson, Thomson and Clay Guida. There could be questions about Maynards chin, but Diaz is known more as a volume puncher (as opposed to a power puncher) and has just three knockouts on his resume. One area that could be interesting is on the mat, as the 28-year old Diaz has 11-submission victories through 25-fights. Maynard has never been submitted in his 15-fight career (outside of his exhibition loss to Diaz). With all that said, I see Maynard winning a decision as I think hell find a way to avoid Diazs shots and keep him at bay through three rounds. Maynard via unanimous decision “Big” Marv Timog TSN Radio 1290 (@BigMarv204) Its the third time theyre entering the cage, yet it is hard for me to call this a “trilogy”. Trilogies are usually fights people want and need to see In their first meeting, Diaz submitted Maynard in the first round on an episode of TUF season 5. Their second meeting was UFC Fight Night 20. If youll recall, after Maynard won via split decision, Dana White didnt feel like he showed him that he was ready to fight for the title. As a result, he gave the next shot at BJ Penns Lightweight Championship to Frankie Edgar, a man Maynard had already beaten. Fast forward to this Saturday and they will meet again. This time both are coming off TKO losses and both needing this win. Who will rise to occasion? Usually in this situation, Diaz finds a way to prove his doubters wrong. Diaz via unanimous decision Julianna Pena vs Jessica Rakoczy (TUF 18 Womens Tournament Final) Lynch For the first time in Ultimate Fighter history two women face off in a tournament final, as Team Tates Pena battles Hamilton, Ontario born Rakoczy of Team Rousey. The “Venezuelan Vixen” made a name for herself on the show when she upset 23-fight veteran Shayna Baszler in the quarterfinals. From there, she submitted Kelownas Sarah Moras in the second round of the semifinals to earn her spot in the finale. The Las Vegas resident Rakoczy had a similar path, upsetting 25-fight veteran Roxanne Modafferi in the quarterfinals and defeating Raquel Pennington in the semis. Clearly Pena is the more well-rounded fighter between the two, with decent standup and an exceptional ground game. The 36-year old Rakoczy has the clear edge on the feet, being a former WBA bantamweight boxing champion. In fact, during her tenure as a boxer she racked up an impressive 33-3 (1) record and if shes able keep this fight standing she very well could knock out the Team Tate member. With that said, in most cases the ground fighter usually beats the striker and for this fight, Im sticking to that philosophy. Pena via second round submission Marv Pena is the right kind of crazy to be an ultimate fighter. Maybe its the way they edited the show, but shes obsessive, emotional, and once they close the cage. Julianna Pena is a BEAST. No one gave Pena a chance against Shayna Baszler and she choked her out. We thought she couldnt handle the ground game of Sarah Moras and Julianna ended up submitting her. Then there is her opponent, Jessica Rakoczy. Last woman picked to a team, also underestimated in her two fights. She TKOd veteran Roxanne Modafferi and out worked favorite Raquel Pennington. If Pena is the right kind of crazy, then Rakoczy is the right kind of mindset to be an ultimate fighter, a single mother who fights smart and uses her championship boxing skills. Nolan Ryan Jersey. For this fight, Im picking crazy over mindset. Pena via second round TKO Chris Holdsworth vs. Davey Grant (TUF 18 Mens Tournament Final) Lynch Undefeated bantamweight Holdsworth faces off with scrappy UK fighter Grant in the second ever 135lb final in Ultimate Fighter history. The 26-year old Holdsworth had a pretty clear cut road to the finals, submitting both Chris Beal and Michael Wooten in first round victories. Grants path was a little more complex. After Tim Corman had to leave the show due to injury, Winnipegs Louie Fisette was slotted back into the show. The 27-year old would submit the Canadian Fisette and then earned a bye in the semifinals when Anthony Gutierrez missed weight. While Grant has more experience, Holdsworth is undefeated with a perfect 4-0 record. In addition, the RFA veteran trains with one of the most prestigious camps in Alpha Male, which boasts a stable of fellow bantamweight standouts Urijah Faber and TJ Dillashaw. Holdsworth should win this fight, as his exceptional ground game and superior wrestling will be too much in this bout. He has more tools to win this fight and we should see him earn a submission victory over the Brit sometime in the second round. Holdsworth via second round submission Marv I thought the best person to ask who would win this fight would be Winnipeg fighter and TUF 18 cast member, Louis Fisette since he was the only one on the show to fight them both. He tweeted back to me that if it goes to the ground then its Holdsworth and if it stays standing, then its Grant. Ill buy into that, but this isnt the usual striker vs. grappler match up as both are very well rounded. To get into the finals, Holdsworth had to beat Chris Beal and Michael Wooten, both of whom he submitted in the first round. As for Grant, he beat Fisette in the first round of the tournament, but got a free ride to the finals because Gutierrez failed to make weight and got the boot. I say that free ride puts a chip on Holdsworths shoulder and add the fact that he trains in a camp of animals at Alpha Male, I say he takes it and ends it early. Holdsworth via first round submission Jessamyn Duke vs. Peggy Morgan Lynch A pair of Team Rousey juggernauts faceoff in their official promotional debuts, as 511 Duke battles 60 Morgan in a bantamweight affair. While losing in the quarterfinals, Duke is credited with arguably the best fight on the show this past season in her three-round, all-out war with Raquel Pennington. Morgan meanwhile was submitted early by Canadian Sarah Moras in her quarterfinal matchup and is no doubt aiming for redemption when she squares off with her fellow Team Rousey teammate. While Morgan arguably has the better gas tank, Duke is clearly the more well-rounded fighter and expect her to find her range in the second round for an impressive finish. Duke via second round technical knockout Marv Duke is tough, well-rounded and can keep Morgan at length. I think shell have no problems here despite the issues that Morgan poses with her cardio. Keep in mind Duke has been training with champion Ronda Rousey leading up to this fight and that will only serve her better in this bout. Duke via unanimous decision Roxanne Modafferi vs. Raquel Pennington Lynch Former Strikeforce womens title challenger Modafferi faces off with Invicta veteran Pennington in a 135lb contest. Clearly the 31-year Modafferi has the edge in experience, competing against the likes of Tara LaRosa, Marloes Coenen and former Strikeforce womens champ Sarah Kaufman. With those fights also came the damage, including a brutal knockout slam defeat to Kaufman back in Strikeforce in 2010, similar to how Jessica Rakoczy knocked her out in their quarterfinal encounter on TUF 18. Proof of her wear and tear has been the five-straight losses shes suffered prior to coming on the show. In fact her last win was back in 2010 in a closely contested split decision over Tara LaRosa. Pennington, despite her 3-3 record looked very impressive during her tenure this season on the Ultimate Fighter, especially in her quarterfinal win over Jessamyn Duke. While she did lose to Jessica Rakoczy in the semifinals, she still hung in there despite a broken hand. At just 25-years old, the future looks bright for “Rocky” and I believe shell earn a second round knockout over the “The Happy Warrior” in impressive fashion Pennington via second round knockout Marv Modafferi has so much experience but can get sloppy and careless inside the cage. While Pennington does not want people to remember her listless performance in the TUF 18 semifinals fight. I say Pennington brings beast mode to the cage and Im picking beast over veteran Pennington via unanimous decision Undercard Picks: Lynch: Blanco, Yahya, Harris, Spencer, Sampo Marv: Blanco, Yaha, Rosholt, Dober, Benoit Also be sure to tune into the “Weigh-In” on TSN Radio 1290 Winnipeg every Saturday as myself, Jordan and “Big Marv” Timog go toe to toe discussing the hottest topics in MMA. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '