Neues » end with the W

BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messi ended Barcelonas run of three straight losses and kept it in the Spanish league title chase by scoring a late free kick to complete its 2-1 comeback win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Donnie Shell Steelers Jersey . Messis 75th-minute goal answered some of the criticism the clubs all-time leading scorer had received for his lacklustre performances in the teams recent losses in the league, Champions League and Copa del Rey final. Barcelona was on its way to another defeat when Aritz Aduriz scored in the 50th, provoking a smattering of white handkerchiefs in the Camp Nou stands, but Pedro Rodriguez equalized when he slotted in Alexis Sanchezs scuffed strike in the 72nd. Barcelona still needed defender Javier Mascherano to block Mikel Ricos point-blank try in injury time to protect the three points after Cristian Tello had wasted one of numerous opportunities to put the result beyond doubt. "After the first half I thought that this wasnt to be our day after missing so many chances," said Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino, whose job probably depends on Barcelona catching Atletico to defend its title. "But we kept fighting. We played with a lot of heart to overcome a difficult week and a game that had turned against us. Messi defends himself on the pitch and I am happy for him." Barcelona moved provisionally into second place, four points behind leader Atletico Madrid. Madrid is two points behind Barcelona but with a game to play. Messi set up his winner after earning a foul on the edge of the area, and the Argentina forward used his left foot to finally beat Gorka Iraizoz after the goalkeeper had denied him twice. While not exactly his electrifying old self, Messi was active creating scoring chances from the start, but Alexis Sanchez sent Pedros pass off the bar from close range in the 38th. Barcelonas attack was working. Its defence, however, showed the same frailties that have plagued it in the second half of the season. Adurizs beautiful bicycle kick crashed into the post before goalkeeper Jose Pinto palmed away Markel Susaetas follow-up at the half-hour mark. The patience of Barcelonas fans began to fray when Bartra lost the ball near his area and Aduriz expertly drove the ball into the corner of the net. And when Messi sent the ball wide one-on-one against Iraizoz a collective groan filled the stadium. But Pedro was finally able to steer the ball in when Dani Alves began a move from the right flank to start Barcelona on its way to a much-needed victory. "We knew that after all the opinions and criticism that we have received that we had to do our job and be professionals," Mascherano said. "We have to hold on to that small hope that if we win our games we can then see what happens. We cant just let (Atletico and Madrid) slip up and not be there." Bilbaos loss put its hold on fourth place and the last Champions League in danger after Sevilla closed the gap to three points by thrashing Granada 4-0, with the Basques hosting the Andalusian side next round. Sevilla, which opens its Europa League semifinal against Valencia on Thursday, eased past Granada thanks to Diego Mainzs own goal and goals by Kevin Gameiro, Stephane Mbia and Victor Machin. Celta Vigo outclassed Almeria with a 4-2 away win as forward Manuel "Nolito" Agudo netted a double, and Paulao scored one goal and set up another, but both for the wrong team, as bottom-side Real Betis slumped to a demoralizing 3-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano. Celta kept Almeria in the relegation zone thanks to Nolitos brace and goals by fellow forwards Charles and Fabian Orellana, while Rafina set up two scores. Paulaos nightmare began in the 14th when he left his back pass woefully short of reaching goalkeeper Adan Garrido, and Rochina Raixes poached the ball to roll it in. The Brazilian defender followed that mistake by clearing a cross into his own net in the 27th. Paulao asked to be substituted and was replaced five minutes later, with the Rayo fans in Vallecas Stadium politely applauding him to show their support. Betis was left on the brink of relegation, 10 points from safety with four games to go. JuJu Smith-Schuster Womens Jersey . Austin does not believe the game-time temperature is going to be an advantage for either side heading into the Grey Cup. "We dont think about (the cold)," said Austin. "Im not even sure how you would determine an advantage. Jack Butler Steelers Jersey . Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, Shawn Marion had 22 and the Mavericks beat undermanned Philadelphia 124-112 Friday night, handing the 76ers their 10th straight loss. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Merril-Hoge-Jersey/ . The 22-year-old Kreider was injured Friday night in New Yorks win at Columbus, but played in the next two games -- including Monday nights win over Phoenix. But the left winger, who has 17 goals and 37 points this season, was limited to about 10 minutes of ice time in each of the previous games.Its been a hell of a rise for Zach Collaros and Bo Levi Mitchell. Each entered the league and played sparingly in 2012, got an opportunity and showed their potential in 2013, entered the year as starters for the first time this season, and now are playing for the Grey Cup in just their second career post-season starts. Theyre flying through many a players career goals list. The league has seen a changing of the guard at their most prominent position of late. Five of the leagues nine teams entered the year with quarterbacks in just their first or second year as starters. And the young guys are having success as well. Of the five new starters, only Winnipeg and Drew Willy failed to make the playoffs. And the QBs in the Eastern and Western Finals had a combined two career playoff starts, gained just the week before in the Division Semi-Finals. Heading into last years Grey Cup, the quarterback comparison pieces were very different. Darian Durant was in his fifth year as full-time starter for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and about to start his third Grey Cup game. Not to be outdone, Hamilton had 14-year veteran Henry Burris and his two Grey Cup rings leading the Ticats into the big game. But then Ticats head coach and general manager Kent Austin took a chance in the off-season, signing Collaros and letting Burris walk, and its paid off nicely for the Black and Gold. While Collaros wasnt a finished product like Burris, at just 25-years-old to Burris 38, he offered a shot at more sustained success. For the Stamps part,, they took a bit of a chance with Mitchell as well. Merril Hoge Womens Jersey. Despite leading them to the Grey Cup just a year earlier, Calgary left steady veteran Kevin Glenn unprotected in the expansion draft, and started Mitchell over the more experienced but slightly less enticing Drew Tate. Much has been made of the Ticats rough 1-6 start, but that fairly closely coincided with Collaros stint on the six-game injured list. Since his return on Labour Day weekend, the unofficial start to the CFL season, the Ticats are 9-3 (including playoffs), almost as impressive as the Stampeders 8-2 record during that time. A head-to-head comparison reveals similarities as well. While both Collaros and Mitchell missed some regular season time due to injury, they finished with comparable stat lines. Mitchell had a better touchdown to interception ratio, 22: 8 compared to 15:9, and finished with more passing yards (3,389 to 3,261) but Collaros had a higher per-game yards average and was more accurate (65.8 percent to 63.3 percent). The comparables in their first games as post-season starters begin and end with the W. While Collaros played the role of game manager, finishing with a clean and mistake-free 200-yard performance, Mitchell exploded for 336 yards and four touchdowns. Its a new era in the CFL with a growing number of young quarterbacks taking the helm and making names for themselves across the country. One of Collaros and Mitchell may get a head start on the rest of the pack with their first Grey Cup win on Sunday. ' ' '