a second goal before halftime would have buried the Ticos

Day three was another outstanding day of football in Brazil. James Daniels Jersey . The goals kept pouring in – 13 on the day and now 28 goals scored in just eight matches – the most goals scored in that span in the World Cup since 1954. In comparison, there were only 25 goals scored after every team played one match at 2010 South Africa. Thats 16 games. Three and a half goals per game is a staggering statistic, especially considering most are the product of stellar play rather than poor defending. Its also quickly becoming the World Cup of the counter-attack, where speed and finish on the rush is proving decisive. Day three was also a day of standout individual performances. Specifically, the play of the young, a veteran and a guardian of the goal stole the show. These four players from different teams, representing different confederations and playing different positions, all coming up with memorable performances on a memorable day. Young Toulouse right-back Serge Aurier was a dominant force throughout for Cote dIvoire, helping turn around the nightcap of the Super Saturday quadruple-header. The Ivorian wingback was a constant threat down the wing all night, particularly in attack. A tactical change brought on Didier Drogba for Serey Die in the 62nd minute. The change caused immediate havoc in the Japanese back four, opening up more gaps inside the 18-yard box. Aurier went to work. It took just two minutes for Aurier to provide pinpoint service on crosses to Wilfried Bony, and then two minutes later to Gervinho. The attacking players did their part on the finish but it was the crosses that stood out. Both whipped in by Aurier with pace and precision, finding the open man rather than just hitting and hoping. There was composure about each ball, not usually seen from such a young player. His relentless energy bursting forward with strength and purpose was a difference-maker. The game shifted because of the goals, where Drogba and company were able to separate and seal the victory. The final scoreline read 2-1 with two assists for Aurier. The performance by the right back is the best weve seen so far from the position. One year his elder, James Rodriguez is a star in the making. The 22-year-old put in arguably the top display over 90 minutes of the tournament in Colombias 3-0 win over Greece. He played a part in all three goals, scoring the third of the game. His most impressive intervention wasnt on his goal – a poised finish after receiving a back-heal from the likewise impressive Cuadrado in the 90th minute. The opening goal was of the Monaco-mans doing. Hell never get the credit Cuadrado will get, but he should. Rodriguez started the move from his own end, playing a forty-yard ball over the top with a bend to a on-running Cuadrado. As his teammate pulled the moves out wide, Rodriguez ran the full length of the field showing in the attacking area. Cuadrado played near post to Rodriguez who dummied the ball to an awaiting Pablo Amero who provided the finish. Five minutes in and the tone had been set by the centre-midfielder. The pass, the run, and the wherewithal to leave the ball signaled his class. All afternoon, Rodriguez ran wild, covering an incredible amount of ground and setting the tone. Rodriguez also took the corner leading to the second goal, a near-post service that was flicked before Teo Gutierrez tapped home. It was a day Colombia was able to sit back and pick their spots. Rodriguez dictated the pace for Colombia. He was the maestro. Even if Falcao were available, it would be the young star that would prove most influential. Watch him as the tournament progresses. Rodriguez is special. Special and/or influential are a couple of apt superlatives used to describe the incomparable Andrea Pirlo. The 35-year-old Italian veteran had himself another match to remember in Italys 2-1 win over England. The intelligence by which he plays was another level to his competition. Composure is a theme here, and Pirlo was never rattled in the heat of Manaus. Pirlo completed 108 passes at a success rate of 95 per cent. Most the completed passes in the first half were without pressure. The passing out of the back in the second half under high pressure was a thing of beauty. England had no player who could limit his effectiveness. Pundits correctly point out to stop Italy you must stop Pirlo. Easier said than done. The savvy by which he plays is another level. The dummy he laid on Claudio Marchisios 35th minute strike gave his teammates ample time and space to pick his spot. England players were left without a hope. And the moment that will provided the GIF of the night was Pirlos free kick from 25 yards out, hit dead on by the midfielder with the ball floating and bending outwards before going off the crossbar. The floating ball completely fooled goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was entirely fooled and was left going the other way. Embarrassing for Hart, masterful from Pirlo. It was another near perfect night from one of the most influential players in the World Cup. Moments can define matches. No moment Saturday proved bigger than the 44th minute of Uruguay and Costa Rica. The highly favoured Uruguay was up 1-0 late in the first half, with the South Americans pressing for a second. What happens just before the half can have a distinct affect on what happens after play resumes. Case and point, Robin van Persies 44th minute wonder goal and equalizer Friday, helping turn the tides against Spain. Saturday, a second goal before halftime would have buried the Ticos. Queue goalkeeper Keylor Navas. The Costa Rican backstop had an outstanding year at Levante. His prowess was on full display in that decisive 44th minute. Diego Forlan had found space on the back post. His strike took a massive deflection off a defender and had eyes for the top right corner. Navas, caught off his line, lunged back and punched the ball out before it crossed the line. It was an incredible save to make, and a save of the tournament contender. The balance and co-ordination was outstanding at a difficult moment. Im comfortable saying if Navas doesnt make the save, Costa Rica loses the match. Navas remained a rock amidst pressure in the second half. He even guessed right on Edinson Cavanis penalty. Navas was in the zone and gives further reason to believe Costa Rica can remain competitive in Group D. These were four different contexts and four specials performances on an extraordinary Saturday at the World Cup. The high level of overall attacking play is making for a distinctive tournament. But its these kinds of special moments and exceptional performances that will live for the ages. No matter age, position, or method, Aurier, Rodriguez, Pirlo and Navas have already left their mark in Brazil. And to think, the best may be still to come. Discount Bears Jerseys .S. Basketball Writers Association. McDermott, who finished his career at Creighton as college basketballs fifth-leading scorer, accepted the honour from Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson at AT&T Stadium, site of the Final Four. Roquan Smith Jersey . Those cheers seemed more special this time because the captains run on Broadway could soon be over. The adoration surely sounded much nicer to Callahan than all the recent trade talk. http://www.cheapbearsjerseyschina.com/bilal-nichols-jersey/ . Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. Serge Ibaka returned to the Thunder lineup from a calf injury that was supposed to sideline him for the remainder of the postseason and the results were sparkling.Andre Villas-Boas was cast as the heir apparent to Jose Mourinho when he breezed into English football in June 2011 as one of Europes top young coaches. After flopping at two top clubs, he leaves the Premier League 2 1/2 years later with that reputation in tatters. Villas-Boas was fired by Tottenham on Monday after 17 months in charge, having failed to gel a slew of expensive summer signings in a season blotted by three embarrassing defeats in the Premier League. On Sunday, Spurs slumped to a 5-0 home loss to Liverpool that left the team seventh in the Premier League. They were also humbled 6-0 by Manchester City last month and 3-0 by West Ham in October, exposing the shortcomings of a side that has had problems scoring despite an off-season outlay of around 107 million pounds ($174 million) on mostly attacking players. "The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services," Tottenham said in a statement. "The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties." Villas-Boas had been looking to rebuild his reputation in England that had plummeted after being fired eight months into a spell at Chelsea. It is unlikely now that another leading Premier League team will take a gamble on Villas-Boas, despite his successful stint in charge of FC Porto in the 2010-11 season when he guided the side to the Portuguese league title without losing a game, and also won the Europa League and the Portuguese Cup. The Portuguese coach was halfway through a three-year contract at Tottenham. Spurs havent looked the same this season without Gareth Bale, whose record move to Real Madrid for 100 million euros ($132 million) allowed the club to embark on a spending spree that brought in seven players, including Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen. Bale won many games almost single-handedly for Tottenham last season, scoring 21 goals and being voted English footballs player of the year. Villas-Boas departs, however, boasting the beest win percentage (53. Kylie Fitts Jersey. .7) in the league of any Spurs manager in the Premier League era. "This is a top-four squad but in our Premier League form, we are not there," the 36-year-old Villas-Boas said after the Liverpool match, when he pledged that he wouldnt resign. "We admit that in the Premier League things arent going in any shape or form the way we want." Villas-Boas is the fifth Premier League manager to lose his job this season, after Paolo Di Canio (Sunderland), Ian Holloway (Crystal Palace), Martin Jol (Fulham) and Steve Clarke (West Bromwich Albion). Spurs announced later Monday that three members of Villas-Boas backroom staff -- Jose Mario Rocha, Luis Martins and Daniel Sousa -- have also left. Technical co-ordinator Tim Sherwood will take temporary charge of the first team along with coaches Chris Ramsey and Les Ferdinand, starting with Wednesdays League Cup quarterfinal against West Ham. The British media speculated Monday that Fabio Capello was a potential replacement for Villas-Boas, even though the Italian is due to coach Russia at next years World Cup in Brazil. A move to Spurs would see him reunited with Franco Baldini, his former assistant at England who is now Tottenhams technical director. Other names reportedly in the frame are ex-Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo, Swansea manager Michael Laudrup and Baldini himself. The agent of Guus Hiddink ruled the respected Dutch coach out of the running Monday. Whoever does succeed Villas-Boas will take over a team that has made it through to the knockout stage of the Europa League and is still in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League. Spurs host West Ham in a League Cup quarterfinal match on Wednesday. Tottenhams large squad is also crammed with talent, so the job would be enticing to many. The new coachs first task would be improving the teams strike rate of only 15 goals in 16 league games this season and then shore up a defence that was breached with embarrassing ease by City and Liverpool over the past month. 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