Martin ONeill praised the strength of his Republic of Ireland side after they beat Austria for the first time in 53 years. James McCleans second-half winner helped Ireland move top of their World Cup qualification group, having picked up 10 points in their opening four games.Irelands first ever taste of victory in Austria has put them in a strong position to qualify for Russia in 2018, but ONeill admitted it will be a close-fought race. Naturally its a big win because we have defied the odds here this evening. Weve won a game here in Austria, ONeill told Sky Sports after the match.Ive just been told its 53 years since we last won. I dont think thats really important - its about whats happening now and its three great points for us. James McCleans goal sends the Republic of Ireland top of their World Cup qualifying group Its a really great start but I know from our experience in the Euro [2016] campaign, when matches were difficult and wed lost our fourth game against Scotland - it seemed a long way away but we had to come back.We drew with Poland and Scotland but we always felt like we were in it, and thats the same here, even though we have an extra couple of points on the board, I still believe it will be very tight. McClean celebrates after scoring against Austria Having crashed out of their Euro 2016 group in summer, Austrias year ended with greater disappointment as Ireland upset Marcel Kollers side on Saturday night.But it was a resolute performance from Ireland, while Austria were abject in front of goal, and the victory was richly deserved despite a nervy start.We had to withstand a lot of early pressure from Austria and we gradually got into the game, but it took us a while to do so, ONeill added. Highlights of the Republic of Irelands World Cup qualifier against Austria [Jonathan] Walters chance at the end of the first half gave us that spirit to go on, and then we were very strong.Its too easy to say theres a great spirit about the team. We have a good strength of character which is very important and is epitomised by players like McClean. Hes done brilliantly for us tonight.Walters hasnt played all that often for Stoke, but he was brilliant tonight, I could go through the whole team. We have something there which is very strong within the group. Also See: Austria 0-1 Rep Ireland As it happened Table Live on Sky . Week 2s biggest games include Florida facing Miami and Notre Dame travelling to the Big House to conclude their rivalry against Michigan in primetime on TSN2 and TSN 1050. . Now, the hottest team on the ATP are pointing their sights on qualifying for the eight-team season finals in London next November. Pospisil has now established the year-end World Tour Finals as the benchmark for a breakthrough season, with Pospisil and Sock provisionally standing ninth.
http://www.cheapraidersjerseysonline.co ... sey-online. The Maple Leafs handed their embattled head coach a two-year contract extension on Thursday, while at the same time announcing that assistants Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon will not be back. . The two teams will play through the completion of the game starting at 5pm ct on Wednesday. The regularly scheduled Wednesday night matchup will follow that and will now be seven innings. .7 million, one-year contract.The deal, announced Friday, includes a $50,000 performance bonus if the left-hander appears in 60 games.BALTIMORE -- Detroits Justin Verlander wasnt overly concerned with his less-than-stellar outing against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Instead, he focused on the final result: another Tigers victory. Rajai Davis homered, and Detroit overcame a rare shaky performance by Verlander to complete a three-game sweep of the Orioles with a 7-5 victory. The Tigers have won 12 of their last 15 games, including eight in a row on the road. Baltimore has lost four straight. Verlander (5-2) allowed a season-high five runs on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks in six innings. He still improved to 7-0 in eight outings at Camden Yards. But it was the first time in 15 games a Detroit starter allowed more than three runs. "Winning as a team is all that matters," Verlander said. "Obviously, today was a great team effort. Our boys put up a bunch of runs." Davis hit his third home run of the season and had two RBIs. Baltimores Nelson Cruz had two hits, including his 11th home run, a three-run shot in the fifth inning that pulled Baltimore to within 6-5. Adam Jones went 3 for 5 with an RBI and extended his hitting streak to nine games. "Were not going to focus on what happened in bad situations," Cruz said. "Were going to focus on whatever we did good on a daily basis, and that can get you going through the season." Staked to a 6-0 lead, Verlander was cruising until the fifth, when he allowed five runs with two outs. He gave up consecutive RBI singles to Jones and Chris Davis before Cruzs three-run homer to left cut the deficit to 6-5. "In the American League, no lead seems to be safe," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. Davis gave Detroit some breathing room with his solo shot in the sixth. Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save. He hasnt allowed a run in six straight appearances. Kevin Gausman (0-1) was making his first start for the Orioles since June 13, 2013, and lasted just four innings. He allowed five runs on six hits with two strikeouts, two walks and a wild pitch. "Obviously, I wasnt too thhrilled with it," Gausman said.dddddddddddd "I thought I did some good things early on, keeping down in the count. As the game progressed, my fastball started going up in the zone." Detroit opened a 2-0 lead in the third on a two-out, two-RBI single by Miguel Cabrera. He is batting .391 with 53 RBIs in 51 career games against Baltimore. The Tigers extended the lead to 5-0 in the fourth with some aggressive base running and timely hitting. After a double steal, Bryan Holiday had an RBI single and Danny Worth followed with a drag bunt up the first base line for another run. Davis then hit a long sacrifice fly to centre Verlander threw behind Cruz in the fourth, prompting home plate umpire John Tumpane to issue a warning to both benches. On Monday, Orioles starter Bud Norris plunked Torii Hunter in the rib cage after allowing a go-ahead, two-run homer to Ian Kinsler in the eighth, which caused both dugouts to empty, though no punches were thrown. Don Kellys RBI single off Miguel Gonzalez in the fifth increased the lead to 6-0 NOTES: Baltimore RHP Chris Tillman has been bothered by a sore groin but expects to make his scheduled start Friday after a bullpen session. ... Manager Buck Showalter will miss Saturdays game in Kansas City to attend his daughters graduation at SMU. Bench coach John Russell will fill in. ... Orioles RHP prospect Parker Bridwell came two outs shy of a no-hitter Tuesday for Single-A Frederick. Bridwell struck out eight batters and did not allow a base runner until a walk in the sixth inning of the Keys 7-0 win over Potomac. ... Tigers RHP Luke Putkonen (right elbow inflammation) pitched two innings Tuesday in a rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo. He allowed four runs on five hits and will likely make one more rehab outing. ... RHP Anibal Sanchez (right middle finger laceration) is scheduled to come off the disabled list and start Sunday nights game at Boston. ... RHP Rick Porcello was scheduled to pitch a bullpen session Wednesday after experiencing tightness in his side in Mondays 4-1 win over the Orioles. ' ' '
