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06	November 2019

e." After the loss, relegation-threatened L

TORONTO -- Toronto FC will be without star striker Jermain Defoe and defensive lynchpin Steven Caldwell for Saturdays game against the Columbus Crew. Cheap MLB Jerseys From China . Defoe, who has scored all three of Torontos goals this season, has been sidelined by a slight hamstring strain while Caldwell must serve a suspension. And the injury list could be longer with midfielder Jonathan Osorio facing a second week out with his own hamstring issue. Manager Ryan Nelsen says Defoe, who had a scan Tuesday after leaving Saturdays game in Salt Lake City early, will be out "for the short-term." "Not a major thing but definitely unavailable this weekend," he said. The 31-year-old England striker was substituted in the 61st minute Saturday favouring the back of his left thigh as he went to the dressing room. Caldwell was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount Wednesday for what MLS called "serious foul play that endangers the safety of an opponent." The hard-nosed Scottish centre back -- TFCs captain -- was yellow-carded for a studs-up tackle on midfielder Ned Grabavoy in the 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake. Toronto had hoped to avoid a ban, arguing that the referee had seen the incident and decided on the appropriate punishment. But the leagues disciplinary committee disagreed. While Caldwell insisted he was just trying to win the ball, it was an ugly challenge that could have merited a straight red card, which carries with it a minimum one-game suspension. Caldwell is the second Toronto FC player to receive supplemental discipline. Brazilian midfielder Jackson missed the Salt Lake game after getting a one-game ban for an elbow thrown away from the ball in a 1-0 win over D.C. United. The latest suspension is especially worrying because Doneil Henry, Caldwells partner in central defence, has not trained this week because of a jarred knee suffered in Salt Lake City. "There could be a few guys unavailable," said Nelsen, who has repeatedly noted that the teams that succeed in MLS are the ones with the depth to cover such absences. The Toronto manager, who brought in as many as eight new starters in the off-season, is on the lookout for such reserve talent. "They normally play under the radar, they dont get any publicity or anything like that. Theyre the most valuable players on MLS teams and Toronto hasnt had those type of guys. Were trying to build them, were trying to get them, were trying to bring them (in), were trying to develop them ourselves. "For me, (the time) well get very, very, very good is when we can have a number of those guys who throw out seven of 10 (performances) every week." Goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who also took a knock to the knee on the weekend, was back in training Wednesday. And Toronto has Jackson back from suspension. Nelsen declined to say who will partner Brazilian striker Gilberto on Saturday against the unbeaten Crew (3-0-0). Nelsen played Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario up front with Defoe in the opening game of the season in Seattle when Gilberto was not ready. He pointed to De Rosario, Jackson, Andrew Wiedeman and newly signed Issey Nakajima-Farran as possible options. There was no "woe is me" from Nelsen. "Jermains come in and done really well obviously. But he got a slight strain and we move on. Thats life." On the backline, Nelsen has Gale Agbossoumonde and rookie Nick Hagglund at his disposal. American Justin Morrow could also move in from the left flank. Reserve fullback Ashtone Morgan is also dealing with a sore hip. Nelsen has spoken at length the last two days on the leagues supplemental discipline, arguing that it can undermine referees when the league rules on incidents that the on-field officials have already ruled on. "I dont know why the league needs to get involved, to tell you the truth," he said Wednesday. Still he seemed to want to have his cake and eat it too when, awaiting word last week on the Jackson suspension, he argued that Real Salt Lake forward Alvaro Saborio deserved a ban for his foul on A.J. DeLaGarza of the Los Angeles Galaxy the previous week. "That could have broken his leg," Nelsen said at the time of the Saborio challenge. "So if Jackson gets suspended, then youd like to hope that a guy whos nearly broken a guys leg is probably going to get suspended as well. "But I dont know, you never know. I dont make those rules." Nelsen was no doubt aware that RSL was already facing a glut of injuries at forward. His argument is that such supplemental discipline sets a precedent, effectively prompting all clubs to seek justice. "So do we slow down all elbows that were hit on Jackson before he did one or the elbow on Steven before that tackle?" he asked. "Its a slippery slope isnt it when you start overturning referees and taking away the human element of it, then every single team will have cases every single week." Unlike the NHL, MLS players are still paid while suspended. Also Wednesday, the leagues disciplinary committee fined Colorado Rapids defender Drew Moor an undisclosed amount for swinging his arm at the back of Sporting Kansas City forward Claudio Bielers head. According to the league, the disciplinary committees mission statement is "to preserve the integrity and reputation of the game and Major League Soccer, and to assist in ensuring player safety." The committee can take further action when the referee has seen or ruled on an incident on the field, if there is unanimous opinion that the play deserved a red card or was of "an egregious or reckless nature, such that the committee must act to protect player safety or the integrity of the game." Clearance MLB Jerseys . - After sewage backups, toilet overflows and foul smells surfaced the past two years, nothing at the Oakland Coliseum surprises the home team anymore. Wholesale Nike MLB Jerseys . -- John Senden never imagined it would take more than seven years to win again. https://www.mlbjerseyschina.us/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Im sure youve received many emails wondering what your take is on the Spezza goal that looked like Neil blatantly kicked it in while standing directly in the middle of the crease where, you know, usually a goalie is to make a save but couldnt be due to Neil being there! Thanks! Jon - Westfield, MA Jon: Lets first ask Henrik Lundqvist what he thought of the scoring of the Sens second goal with .ROME -- Mario Balotelli set a personal record with his 14th goal of the Serie A season and set up another score as AC Milan beat visiting Livorno 3-0 Saturday for its fifth straight win. Still, Milan remained five points behind city rival Inter Milan in the race for fifth place and the final Europa League berth, after Inter beat 10-man Parma 2-0. Meanwhile, Paul Pogba led the way as Juventus stayed on course for a third consecutive title with a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Bologna. Pogba, the France international and former Manchester United midfielder, scored with a long, low shot from beyond the area in the 64th minute. Juve remained eight points ahead of second-place Roma, which won 1-0 at fourth-place Fiorentina with a 26th-minute goal from Radja Nainggolan. Former Fiorentina forward Adem Ljajic set up the goal by evading a bunch of defenders and slipping the ball through to Nainggolan. With 90 points and four matches remaining, Juventus has a chance to become the first Serie A club to break the 100-point barrier. Inter set the record of 97 in 2007. Serie A began awarding three points for wins in the 1994-95 season and the current 20-club format was instituted in 2003-04. Roma secured second place and a direct Champions League berth. At the San Siro, Balotelli scored with a textbook header from the centre of the area in the 43rd following a cross from Kevin Constant. Midfielder Adel Taarabt doubled Milans lead in the 51st after dribbling past a defender, and substitute Giampaolo Pazzini finished off in the 84th after taking a pass from Balotelli that left him with only the goalkeeper to beat. Balotellis previous best output was 13 goals, with Manchester City in 2011-12, and City and Milaan combined last season. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic. "Hes improving and maturing mentally and that permits him to do better on and off the pitch," new Milan coach Clarence Seedorf said. It was also Balotellis 18th goal in all competitions this season, another personal record, which should give the striker confidence entering the World Cup as Italys leader in attack. "Im happy to have reached the record but I have to improve, because there are players that score 40 in a season," said Balotelli, who did not celebrate after his goal. The win was also a relief for Seedorf, amid reports his job was at risk. "I didnt know anything about that," Balotelli said. "The coach has given a big hand to the squad. ... But this is still nothing. Its just a great result. Were playing to qualify for the Europa League." After the loss, relegation-threatened Livorno fired Domenico Di Carlo and rehired Davide Nicola as manager. Elsewhere, third-place Napoli was held to 1-1 at Udinese, while Torino and Lazio remained level eighth after a wild 3-3 draw that saw Ciro Immobile score his league-leading 20th goal. Also, it was: Atalanta 1, Hellas Verona 2; Catania 2, Sampdoria 1; Chievo Verona 0, Sassuolo 1; and Genoa 1, Cagliari 2. In Parma, Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic stopped a penalty from Antonio Cassano by tipping it off the post in the 44th. The hosts were then reduced to 10 men when Italy international Gabriel Paletta picked up his second yellow card in first half added time for a foul on Rodrigo Palacio. Defender Rolando put Inter ahead in the 48th with a header, and substitute Fredy Guarin sealed the victory by scoring on his first touch in the 89th from beyond the area. ' ' '