Off Topic » never have an easy match in this

ZAGREB, Croatia -- Ten-man Croatia qualified for the World Cup with a 2-0 win on Tuesday that quashed Icelands hopes of reaching footballs showpiece tournament for the first time. Striker Dario Mandzukic scored the opener in the 22nd minute but was given a red card nine minutes later for a reckless tackle and left Croatia with 10 men for the remainder of the match. But the home team maintained its attacking dominance and Darijo Srna made it 2-0 in the 47th. The defeat ended Icelands bid to become the smallest nation -- in terms of population -- to reach the World Cup finals. Croatia, a semifinalist in 1998, qualified for its fourth World Cup since becoming an independent state in 1991. "Croatia deserved to win," Iceland defender Ragnar Sigurdsson said. "It was the better team, especially today, and there is no doubt it deserves to go to Brazil. We felt it might go better for us after Mandzukic was sent off, but we did not get any space on the pitch." Last Friday in Reykjavik, Iceland overcame the second-half red card of Olafur Skulason to hold on for the 0-0 draw against Croatia, keeping the Nordic nation in contention for a spot at Brazil in 2014. But on Tuesday, Iceland had few chances against an inspired Croatian team. "Pressure was huge, this was not easy game to play," Croatia coach Niko Kovac said. "But at the end, it could have easily been 5-0." Croatia took the lead when Ivan Rakitic crossed from the right, Ivan Perisic deflected the ball in the heart of the penalty box, creating a clear opportunity for Mandzukic to finish with a low shot into the near corner. Bayern Munich striker Mandzukic was shown a straight red card after a tackle with his studs up against Johann Gudmundsson, and that changed Croatias tactical approach for the rest of the game. With Iceland going into an all-out attack, Croatia resorted to counter-attacks. Captain Srna doubled the lead two minutes into the second half when his shot from some 18 metres (yards) from the right bounced in front of Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldersson and ended up in the left corner of the goal. "We were focused throughout the playoffs and it was worth it," Srna said. "We had no right to disappoint our fans. Mandzukics sending off only gave us the wind in our backs." Openings in Icelands defence only created more chances for the Croats. Ivica Olic hit the crossbar with a spectacular overhead shot and Perisic failed to convert a one-on-one situation against the Iceland goalkeeper. "We are really happy to make it to the World Cup," Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric said. "Iceland was tough to play against, but we were a better team in the playoffs." Iceland was surprisingly unbeaten in its last five games on the road in these World Cup qualifications. "Croatia was a better and more experienced opponent and showed its strength," Iceland veteran striker Eidur Gudjohnsen said. "Still, we have to be proud of what we have done in this World Cup campaign." Wholesale Custom Baseball Jerseys . However, Therrien added that Galchenyuks status for next Wednesdays game against the Detroit Red Wings is questionable. Galchenyuk has been out since Jan. 6 with a broken right hand. Custom Boston Red Sox Nike Jerseys . Minutes before the final whistle of Sporting Kansas Citys 3-0 victory over a shorthanded Montreal Impact squad on Saturday afternoon, Saputo tweeted: "Our fans deserve better. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.co...es-nike-jerseys. The Twins announced Thursday the 28-year-old Albers cleared waivers. He will join the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. Custom Houston Astros Nike Jerseys . The Austrian ski federation said Morgenstern was "conscious and well responsive" and his condition would be monitored in the intensive care unit of a Salzburg hospital for the next 72 hours. The federation said it was "way too early" to judge Morgensterns chances of competing in Sochi, and that an update on his condition was not expected before Monday. Custom Los Angeles Dodgers Nike Jerseys . Scrivens stopped 48 shots and captain Andrew Ference scored in overtime as the Oilers pulled off a 4-3 upset of the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.ISTANBUL, Turkey -- The way this season has been going for Serena Williams, there was only one fitting way for it to end. Williams capped a career year in style Sunday, earning her 11th title of 2013 by coming from behind to beat Li Na 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 for her second straight WTA Championships crown. Williams became the eighth woman to win 11 or more titles in a year and the first since Martina Hingis had 12 in 1997. She is also the first to repeat as champion at the season-ending WTA Championships since Justine Henin in 2007. "It was an awesome year of tennis," said Williams, who sank to her knees after firing a backhand winner on her second match point. The victory brought Williams prize money total for the year to $12,385,572. The only player, male or female, to earn more in a year was Novak Djokovic with $12,803,737 in 2012 and $12,619,803 in 2011. The American won her fourth WTA Championship, having captured the elite tournament for the top eight players also in her debut in 2001 and in 2009 and 2012. Williams has won 78 of 82 matches this year and will finish the year as the top-ranked player for the third time in her career after 2002 and 2009. Williams titles this year included the French and U.S. Opens for a total of 17 Grand Slam crowns. Her winning percentage of .951 is the best on the tour since 1990. Martina Navratilova had an 86-1 record and a .989 percentage in 1983. Still, Williams said she would have preferred to have won at least one more Grand Slam title. "I live to win slams. I mean, obviously Im so excited to be the WTA champion," Williams said. "I cant say its the best (season). I cant say its not the best. I dont know. I really dont know." Li was in her first WTA Championships final and will finish the year at a career-high No. 3. The final featured two players above the age of 30 for the first time in the championships 43-year history. Williams is 32 and Li is 31 but both are playing some of their best tennis. Li got off to a better start over a sluggish-looking Williams, who struggled a day earlier to beat Jelena Jankovic and complained later of being exhausted after a long season.dddddddddddd "I felt good this morning, much better than I did yesterday, but then in practice I was like, Oh, no. I was a little worried, but I just hung in there and just kept going and going," Williams said. The Chinese was quick to break serve for a 2-1 lead and rolled through the first set, which ended with Williams netting a forehand and hitting a backhand passing shot wide. Williams won a key game at the start of the second set that went to nine deuces and lasted nearly 12 minutes as the American fended off two break points before finally prevailing with a service winner. "I guess looking back it was definitely a very important game for me to win," Williams said. "She had been on a real roll. I guess I was determined to win that game at any cost." Li blasted an ace, her only one of the match, to level at 3-3. But she produced a double-fault and a forehand error to give Williams a chance to serve out the set. Williams needed three set points to close it out. "After a set and a half, I was feeling no more energy left. Its a tough tournament, because I played five days in a row," Li said. "Every opponent (is in the) top eight, so you never have an easy match in this tournament." It was another double-fault by Li that gave Williams a break of serve at the start of the third and the American never looked back. Williams did have to save five break points, the last one with her sixth ace, before wrapping up the title. Li, the 2011 French Open champion, fell to 1-10 against Williams. She lost a set at 6-0 for the second straight time they played. She won only three games in her loss to Williams in the semifinals of the U.S. Open. "I have a little bit bad taste, because its at love, but I still feel more positive things," Li said. After three years in Istanbul, the tournament moves to Singapore for the next five years. ' ' '