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At Tuesdays pre-match press conference, Toronto FC Head Coach Ryan Nelsen attempted to explain to the English media the difficulty of having to play a mid-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur at this particular time of the year. “It would be like us playing a game in the Christmas period when youre third in the league and youve got Man City to play on Saturday,” he said. The timing couldnt be much worse. The Champions – Sporting Kansas City - are due in town on Saturday, as Nelsens team moves through its busiest month of the MLS season with seven league games during the month of July. Hes already without some of his key players through injury, including captain Steven Caldwell and starting right back Mark Bloom. But whatever problems are posed by playing the extra game, I agree with Michael Bradleys assessment of the situation. International friendlies are of benefit to Major League Soccer and the growth of the game in North America. While they are certainly far from ideal, they are here to stay, and they have an important role to play. For a start, Wednesdays game against Tottenham is about much more than welcoming international opposition. This match is part of a four-year marketing and commercial deal struck between the two clubs as part of Jermain Defoes transfer. For both Toronto FC and Spurs, its about the bigger picture. Soccer is a global game, and a big part of achieving success is about building and managing relationships, not just within your own league, but around the world. As Toronto FC – and MLS as a whole – aims to continue its rapid growth, international friendlies are an important piece of the puzzle as they provide an opportunity to get a wider circle of attention both in the local community, across North America, and in other countries as well. From a playing perspective it can also have a positive impact. Its a chance for some of the squad players to get a competitive game, and for some of the clubs youngsters to test themselves against a standard of opposition they wouldnt usually face. In 2010 when Toronto FC played Bolton Wanderers at BMO Field, the Man of the Match was a young teenager who hadnt even signed a professional contract at that stage. Doneil Henry has gone on to become a first team regular with the club who has aspirations of playing in Europe. That Bolton match was an early stepping stone for the Canadian international. As he sat alongside Spurs star Christian Eriksen and manager Mauricio Pochettino at BMO Field on Tuesday, Henry said: “This is where I want to be and where I want to play one day. I just want to learn and show what I can do.” So this match is another opportunity for him to prove himself. We likely wont see much of Torontos leading players against Spurs. Ryan Nelsen needs to be cautious, and rightly so. He will give some of his starters 45 minutes, and rest others completely. But for a number of men within his squad this game will provide a chance to shine and it will be interesting to see if they can take it. Tottenham arrived in Toronto on Monday direct from Seattle where they tied the Sounders 3-3 in an entertaining game in the first game of their three-match North American tour. They are without their World Cup players who have been given extra time to rest, and last years leading scorer Emmanuel Adebayor who is recovering in London following a mild bout of malaria. But young Danish star Christian Eriksen is expected to see his first action of preseason as Spurs continue to prepare for the Premier Leagues opening weekend in mid-August. Last year Spurs finished sixth in the English top flight, but are under new management with a new direction after Mauricio Pochettinos arrival from Southampton. Eriksen was pretty blunt when asked what Tottenham will need to improve upon this season, with consistency the theme. “We had some really good games and some really bad games,” he said. “For us its about being more stable and also getting points against the big teams.” Watch Toronto FC vs. Tottenham Hotspur live tonight on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt. Luke Stocker Titans Jersey . Henrik Samuelsson and Luke Bertolucci also scored for the Oil Kings, who are now 9-0 on home ice in the playoffs to cut Portlands series lead to 2-1. Chase De Leo and Mathew Dumba responded for the Winterhawks, who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 46 games, a string of success running all the way back to Jan. Luke Stocker Jersey .J. - Percy Harvin is ready to go, and theres no question in his mind hell be playing Sunday. http://www.titansauthenticofficialonline.com/ . These teams will see plenty of each other in the next few weeks as three of the Canucks next nine games are against the Wild (after today they meet February 9th in Minnesota and again February 16th at Rogers Arena). Malcolm Butler Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Harold Landry Jersey .com) - The Carolina Panthers won for the first time in seven games last week, were without Cam Newton due to a car accident this week, but somehow sit atop the much-maligned NFC South.Hal Robson-Kanu scored the winner as Wales beat Slovakia 2-1 in their first ever match at a European Championship finals. The substitute carved his name into Welsh football history with a low strike nine minutes from time, after Ondrej Duda (60) had cancelled out Gareth Bales first-half free-kick in Bordeaux.It means Wales tasted victory in their first match at a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup and are now in a strong position to qualify from Group B ahead of clashes with England on Thursday and Russia next Monday. Bale celebrates opening the scoring for Wales Chris Coleman had suffered a blow ahead of the game as first-choice goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey woke up with a back spasm meaning 22-year-old Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward made his first international start in goal.And he almost conceded just four minutes into the match when Slovakia playmaker Marek Hamsik showed sublime skill to run 30 yards into the area and produce a low left-footed shot which beat the Wales goalkeeper - only for Ben Davies to slide in and make a last-ditch clearance off the line. Player ratings Jack Collison rates the Wales team after Saturdays famous win Just six minutes later, Wales took the lead thanks to the left foot of Bale. Jonny Williams was needlessly tripped by Patrik Hrosovsky 30 yards out and the Real Madrid star stepped up to curl the ball over the wall and into the net.Bale rushed to the Wales bench to joyfully celebrate a landmark goal, but Slovakia will ask questions of goalkeeper Matus Kozacik, who took a step to the left just before the ball was struck and was beaten far too easily. Ben Davies clears Marek Hamsiks shot Chris Colemans side might have had a penalty on 32 minutes when Martin Skrtel stepped across and appeared to bundle Jonny Williams over with his elbow inside the area. However, nothing was given - even though one of the extra officials was standing two yards from the incident.Wales continued to control the game after the interval with a firm Bale header forcing a fine save from Kozacik to his right with 58 minutes gone. Marek Hamsik of Slovakia and Joe Allen of Wales compete for the ball That prompted Slovakia manager Jan Kozak to make a double substitution with Duda and Adam Nemec introduced for Hrosovsky and Michal Duris.ddddddddddddIt proved to be an inspired move as Duda scored with his very first touch.The goal was engineered by a fine run from Robert Mak, who cut in from the right and beat Aaron Ramsey and David Edwards before setting up the substitute to strike low between two defenders and beyond Ward from near the penalty spot. Ondrej Duda equalises for Slovakia Slovakia seized the initiative as Juraj Kucka forced a save from Ward before Coleman made an inspired double substitution of his own on 69 minutes as Robson-Kanu and Joe Ledley replaced Jonny Williams and Edwards.Robson-Kanu almost created a goal with his first real involvement, crossing for Ramsey from the right, but the midfielders header from inside the six-yard box went over the bar.But the substitutes were both involved in a goal that will be long remembered by Wales fans. Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey vies for the ball against Slovakias midfielder Miroslav Stoch In the 81st minute, Ledley played a superb long pass to Ramsey, who nicked the ball past Skrtel and into the path of Robson-Kanu who scuffed the ball through the legs of Durica and beyond the goalkeeper.The final touch appeared to come off his shin, but that mattered little as the Wales players dived on top of the goalscorer in wild celebrations by the corner flag. Hal Robson-Kanu shoots to score the winner Nemec might have denied Wales with four minutes left, but his header clattered the post, while both Bale and Ramsey wasted late opportunities to put the game beyond doubt.But Wales held on to earn a win that could see them extend their stay at their first major international tournament in 58 years beyond the group stage.Team line-upsWales: Ward, Chester, Ashley Williams, Davies, Gunter, Allen, Edwards, Ramsey, Taylor, Jonny Williams, Bale.Used subs: Robson-Kanu, Ledley, RichardsSlovakia: Kozacik, Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Svento, Kucka, Hrosovsky, Hamsik, Mak, Duris, Weiss.Used subs: Duda, Nemec, StochMan of the match: Joe Allen Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '