s, 12 tackles and six clearances and together with former Bl

TORONTO - While Toronto FC has spent the year scouring the globe for talent, its surprise player of the season is a local product acquired before the new management regime took over. Rookie midfielder Jonathan Osorio, identified as a player to watch early in training camp by first-year manager Ryan Nelsen, has shown an opportune scoring touch in grabbing the spotlight. Osorio, who turned 21 in June, has started eight games and seen action in 10 more with Nelsen playing him both in centre midfield and on the flank. "Hes one of the absolutely top young talents in this league," said Toronto president and GM Kevin Payne. "I put him at the same level as (Gyasi) Zardes and the other forward (Jose Villarreal) from Los Angeles that everybodys making a big deal about. "I think Johnnys actually probably got a better all-round game than either one of them." Nelsen believes Osorio is a legitimate rookie of the year candidate. "For a guy who you could kind of say is coming out of nowhere in a way, its been an absolutely fantastic year," said the former New Zealand international. "But what I love about Jon is that he only wants to get better and wants to improve every day." Thanks in part to Osorio, Toronto snapped a six-game winless streak last weekend with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew. Osorio scored in the 87th minute to pull Toronto into a 1-1 tie that set the stage for Andrew Wiedemans 94th-minute winner in a torrential downpour at BMO Field. While he had been shifted to the wing recently, the arrival of Spanish winger Alvaro Rey is likely to return Osorio to the middle. Osorios four goals are second only to Robert Earnshaws six on a team where goals have been hard to come by. Toronto has just 19 in 21 games. Top strikers Danny Koevermans (calf) and Earnshaw (hamstring) have both been sidelined of late. Osorio says hes always had "a nose for the (penalty) area." "Im one to always attack the box and I think I do it pretty well. So as long as I keep doing that — thats where more than 50 per cent of the goals happen in football." Osorios goals have all come late. And would have meant more had it not been for defensive lapses. Osorio scored in the 78th minute against Los Angeles (the Galaxy replied in stoppage time for a 2-2 tie), in the 66th minute against Philadelphia (the Union scored in stoppage time for a 1-1 tie) and the 83rd minute against New York (the Red Bulls scored in the 89th minute for a 2-1 win). "Its a great story for our other academy kids," said Payne. "When they see kids actually transition from the academy to the first team and get games and have the opportunities to make impacts, that really helps their confidence. They now believe that Wow if I work hard, there really is a pathway. "That kid is very talented. Johnny Osorio. Hes a tough kid ... He looks like a cool, detached sort of player on the field but he actually has a great deal of emotion within him. He plays with a lot of passion." Osorio didnt spent much time with the Toronto academy. He signed in September after impressing with SC Toronto in the Canadian Soccer League. In February, he was at Toronto FCs camp in Florida and was included in Nelsens his first starting 11, against the Columbus Crew. "You knew it right there, he had confidence in me to play and to be ready to play at a professional level," Osorio said. The young Canadian says he is growing in confidence every week. "I feel really good out there," he said. "Im always hungry to score goals or assists or help the team in any way." Said Nelsen: "Nothing fazes him. Not even bad moments in games. He always tries to do things positively. Instead of going into his shell, he tries to keep doing stuff. And I love that because the game and life in general rewards those people." Osorio took the long road to his home-town club, spending two years at Club Nacional in Montevideo, Uruguay, thanks to his talent and the connections of coach Jorge Amura at the Clarkson Sheridan Soccer Club in suburban Mississauga. He spent two years there, starting in the under-19 ranks before making his way into the reserves before deciding to return home at the end of 2011. China Shoes Outlet . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Fake China Shoes . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. https://www.chinashoesshop.com/ . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. China Shoes Free Shipping . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. China Shoes Nike . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Under-fire Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch is a relieved man after the Lions held on for a nail-biting four-point AFL victory over Carlton, one that so easily could have gone the other way.The Lions snared their third win of the year but had to do it the hard way.They withstood a furious late comeback from the Blues who were 41 points down at one stage in the third quarter before getting to within three points with seconds left.Leppitsch hailed his leaders - including Dayne Zorko and Tom Rockliff who ran riot in midfield - for showing the way.He also had high praise for his young players for their late heroics defence in sealing the 15.9 (99) to 13.17 (95) victory.After losing their previous two games by a combined 232 points, it didnt matter how they got it done as long as they got it done in front of 17,432 fans at the Gabba.Fortune favours us today and its a good feeling for our club, said Leppitsch, who is fighting to save his job ahead of an end-of-season review.Its good just for our supporters too, to get the Gabba cheering again and come away feeling good about themselves.Skipper Rockliff finished wiith a game-high 39 disposals, 12 tackles and six clearances and together with former Blues player Mitch Robinson (22 disposals, 11 tackles), was everywhere for Brisbane when the game needed to be won.ddddddddddddZorko (27 disposals) kicked three goals and directly set-up four others - three of them to forward Michael Close who finished with a career-best haul of four and was simply irresistible in the first half.The Blues, who suffered their ninth-straight defeat, were left to rue inaccurate goalkicking and a failure to convert their dominance after going forward 68 times to Brisbanes 46.They kicked the first two goals of the game but Brisbane responded with nine of the next 11 to take a stranglehold on the match.Carlton coach Brendan Bolton insisted they didnt underestimate the Lions.We just didnt bring enough defensive intent, he said. Well learn from it. We plateaued.Well challenge really strongly that first half in our review and look at our second half and show the contrast. ' ' '