Dein erstes Forum » t Nationals Park after pitcher Mike Wrig

RIO DE JANEIRO -- What is more impressive than eliminating 11 Americans who held the Olympic and World Cup titles?How about silencing tens of thousands of Brazilians on that nations grandest soccer stage?Sweden pulled off its second Olympic surprise by eliminating host Brazil 4-3-in a penalty shootout in the Maracana after the two teams drew 0-0 over 120 minutes.Able to advance to the knockout round only as the third-place team in its group, and beaten 5-1 by Brazil in the process, Sweden now plays for the gold medal and its first major tournament title in womens soccer Friday against the winner of the second semifinal between Germany and Canada.Lisa Dahlkvist converted the final penalty kick to send Sweden through.There is more to come from the Maracana, but here are three thoughts at the final whistle.1. Hedvig Lindahl saves the dayFinally, there might be a goalkeeper of whom Brazilians are less fond than Hope Solo. Quickly making a name for herself in these situations, if she hadnt done so already, Lindahl came up with two saves in the shootout, including one against Andressa in the fifth and final round.That followed 120 minutes in which Lindahl became the subject of the crowds ire for killing time in a game Sweden seemed happy to take to penalties. That included a late save on a free kick when Lindahl genuinely appeared to collide with the post but drew boos when she stayed down to receive attention. She wont mind the lack of love a bit.2. Swedens center backs definitely not cowardsThis really applies to the whole back line, which withstood a genuinely daunting surge in the games opening 20 minutes -- Brazils attack urged on by a crowd in full voice. But watching Nilla Fischer and Linda Sembrant work together under siege was to marvel at how calm and pliable defenders must be under the severest of pressure.Brazil desperately wanted to use its speed to break behind Swedens back line, time and again hitting long diagonal passes to runs designed to stretch and slip behind the defense. And time and again, the outside backs stretched to the breaking point beyond them, Fischer and Sembrant held the line and defused any danger. That Brazil never really found another way to break through was partly its own undoing, but for the second game in a row, Swedens defense frustrated a team with the talent to break down just about any line.3. A scene to rememberThe streets around the Maracana were lined with queuing fans more than three hours before the start of the game, and the sea of yellow and green attire suggested not many of them were there for the morning volleyball quarterfinal between the Netherlands and South Korea at the adjacent arena (although with the Brazilian womens volleyball team in action Tuesday night, the day did offer a unique opportunity for home fans to binge watch the nations best female athletes). Those lines were a sign of the atmosphere to come.There were a few empty seats, particularly in the area of the stands not shaded from the hot sun (which unfortunately were those most easily caught by television cameras), but from the national anthem to the roars of approval each time a Brazilian player slid past a Swedish defender, the crowd was all anyone could hope for in a big game in this stadium.Even at the end, after a few moments of silence settled over the stadium in the aftermath of defeat, the crowd applauded the Brazilian team off the field.Now the hope is that the result wont keep them from coming back -- or keep the Brazilian federation from funding the national team at a level that will allow them to win titles. Tyler Herro Heat Jersey . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Udonis Haslem Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. https://www.heatlockerroom.com/Justise-Winslow-City-Edition-Jersey/ .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Meyers Leonard Heat Jersey . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. Chris Bosh Heat Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. WASHINGTON -- It will be tale of two pitchers when the first-place Washington Nationals begin a home series on Friday against the Colorado Rockies.The starting pitcher for the Nationals will be veteran lefty Gio Gonzalez, who will be looking for the 100th win of his career.He has very little track record the past few years against Colorado hitters. Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies is hitting .250 in just eight at-bats against the Washington pitcher.The lefty from the Miami area will be opposed by Rockies right-hander Jeff Hoffman (0-1, 13.50), who will be seeking his first career win in his second MLB start.Hoffman, a product of East Carolina University, made his MLB debut Saturday and gave up seven runs in four-plus innings against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs had seven hits and just one walk while Hoffman had two strikeouts.I wasnt getting ahead as much as I should have been and that obviously opened up a whole world of opportunities for them, Hoffman told reporters after the game. When you are not getting ahead, and you are facing guys in the box who know what they are doing, they are going to find holes. Thats what they did tonight, they found holes with everything.After facing the team with the best record in the majors, Hoffman will face a squad with the second-best mark in the National League on Friday. He will be the second East Carolina product tto dress in the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park after pitcher Mike Wright of the Orioles was here on Thursday and finished the game on the mound for the Orioles as Washington won 4-0.ddddddddddddThe Nationals had lost four in a row before beating Baltimore, which had won the last six games over the past two seasons between the teams.Washington right-hander Max Scherzer came up big as he went eight scoreless innings to beat the Orioles.First and foremost I knew I needed to pitch deep into the game tonight. Our bullpen has been taxed. That was a huge deal to get into the eighth and finish the eighth, Scherzer said. They have a lot of guys who have a lot of thump in their lineup. I really came up with a game plan of how to pitch against them. I had a great game plan.Another encouraging sign for the Nationals is that Bryce Harper had two more hits Thursday, lifting his average to .251. He had a big two-run double in the eighth.Hes warm. He is not hot yet but he is getting there, said Dusty Baker, the Washington manager. He is returning to April form.Former Washington Senator slugger Frank Howard, a long-time resident of Northern Virginia, will be honored before Fridays game as he takes a spot in the ring of honor at Nationals Park. ' ' '