Organisation » Suarez to bring the ball down and past R

WINNIPEG -- Sherry Middaugh is a Canadian curling veteran with a hard-luck streak getting to the big game, but she will be playing Jennifer Jones Saturday for the right to represent Canada at the Olympics. Ben Zobrist Jersey . Middaugh fed off Rachel Homans mistakes to cruise to a 10-4 win at the womens semifinal at the Olympic Curling trials Friday night. "In the past its been normally like a missed shot on my behalf, maybe nerves, but the fact (is) that maybe all those experiences have helped," Middaugh said of her record of stumbling before the finish line was in sight. "Id certainly give all of those away to win tomorrow." On the mens side, Kevin Martin and John Morris will be playing Saturday in the semifinal to see who will compete against Brad Jacobs Sunday. At 47, Middaugh is the oldest female skip at the trials. Shes won many provincial championships but had trouble getting out of the national semifinals. Her biggest national win to date has been the 2003 Canada Cup of Curling. Ironically, although she started with the hammer, she missed her attempt to blank the first end and benefited from the change in tactics that dictated. Homan, the youngest skip at the trials and reigning national champion from Ottawa, threw a disastrous runback attempt that gave Middaugh her second three of the game in the sixth end. She said she didnt even forsee that as a possibility. "It just wasnt our night," she said. "Youve got to sum it up like that. Theres not much to say about it." After exchanging singles in one and two, the first few ends werent the same mistake-free, careful curling that Middaugh and Winnipegs Chelsea Carey played earlier in the day in the tiebreaker. Instead, their front ends traded half shots and misses that opened opportunities and Middaugh took an early lead, thanks to a three she scored in the third end. But Homan came back with a deuce in the fourth to keep it close. The veteran then scored a deuce of her own in five to make it 6-3, with two perfect draws to the button behind cover and a thin hit by Homan that failed to move Middaughs first counter far enough. Then came Homans runback attempt in six that could have netted her two but instead handed Middaugh another three. "I didnt even think we could do that. I thought at worst case . . . wed take one." Middaugh was deadly with her hits and near perfect with her draw. After Middaughs rink scored another point in the eighth, Homan shook hands. Homan said she had trouble with the ice. "The right side of the sheet was just a mountain . . . and the other side was just a valley." But Middaugh said she has found the ice consistent all week, which has helped her with her draws. "The ice has been the same all week which is a credit to the ice crew. . . The ice isnt patchy, its consistent right from the first end all the way through to the end," Middaugh said. "That certainly builds the confidence because you just throw what youve been throwing all week." Shes married to three-time world champion Glenn Howards third Wayne Middaugh. They live in Victoria Harbour, Ont. Theyre just one of four couples at the event. Edmonton skip Heather Nedohin is married to Martins third Dave Nedohin. Winnipeg skip Mike McEwen is married to Jennifer Jones lead Dawn Askin and Jones is in a relationship with Glen Howards second Brent Laing. Earlier Friday, Martin defeated Morris 7-6 in an extra end to clinch second in the mens standings. But Morris also advanced to the semifinal after Kevin Koe beat Mike McEwen 5-4, guaranteeing Morris a third-place finish. Martin is hoping he can repeat the feat en route to a fourth Olympics berth. He won gold in 2010 and silver in 2002 and also went to the 1992 Games. "It will be a tight game again but it was good to get through that one and the hammer in the semi and well hopefully play another good game (Saturday)," he said after Fridays win. "I would have to say we have to play a little better than (Friday) as a team. We were a little bit sloppy on a couple of ends." Morris was happy with how his team played. "I think we had a real sound strategy and kept control most of that game," he said. The exception was the sixth end when Martin scored three. "If we can just pick it up maybe just a half notch then we can win this thing . . . I like our chances," said Morris, who was born in Winnipeg but has made his name curling for both Ontario and Alberta. The former two-time world junior champion joined Martins Edmonton-based rink in 2006 but abruptly left in April to sign with skip Jim Cotters squad out of the Vernon and Kelowna curling clubs in B.C. Cotter moved to third. Martin then picked up another Manitoba native, former Randy Ferbys fourth rock Dave Nedohin, to replace Morris. In other mens action, Jacobs completed the round robin with a 7-4 victory over John Epping, who finished last with a 1-6 record. Jeff Stoughton defeated Howard 9-3 but both were already out of playoff contention. Stoughton finished 3-4 and Howard 2-5. Kris Bryant Jersey . – Team Canadas Brooke Henderson carded a 4-under 67 at Craigowan Golf and Country Club to jump into the lead at the Canadian Womens Amateur Championship on Wednesday. Carlos Zambrano Jersey . - The Cleveland Indians will place centerfielder Michael Bourn on the disabled list before their opener at Oakland on March 31. http://www.cubsauthentic.com/cubs-fergie-jenkins-jersey/ . - The situation looked bleak at best for the coach Doc Rivers Clippers — down by four points with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter.MANCHESTER, England -- Liverpool underlined its new-found superiority over Manchester United with a humbling 3-0 victory over its great rival on Sunday, virtually ending the beleaguered champions chances of qualifying for the Champions League. On the darkest day of David Moyes tumultuous first season at Old Trafford, United was outclassed as Steven Gerrard converted two penalties -- and missed a third -- and Luis Suarez completed the crushing win with his 25th goal of the campaign. Liverpool moved up to second and within four points of leader Chelsea with a game in hand, and can realistically aim to win a first league title since 1990. "To come here and dominate from start to finish, were still going away slightly disappointed that we didnt score more goals," said Gerrard, whose penalties came in the 34th and 46th minutes. "Weve showed today that we are genuine contenders and we are going to fight to the end for this." While Liverpool capitalized on Chelseas 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday with another effervescent attacking display, United couldnt be at a lower ebb after being humiliated in arguably the biggest match in English football, which was watched by Argentina great Diego Maradona. Their defending was shambolic and reckless -- there could have been more than three penalties awarded -- and Nemanja Vidic was sent off for his second booking in the lead-up to the third spot kick that Gerrard struck against the post in the 78th. Moyes has a massive job to pick his team up in time for Wednesday, when United tries to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Olympiakos in the Champions Leagues last 16. That is their final shot at silverware. "Its a nightmare," United striker Wayne Rooney said after the teams fifth home defeat in the league, which left it 12 points off fourth-place Manchester City having played two more games. "Its one of the worst days Ive ever had in football." Liverpool had lost on its previous six visits to Old Trafford and seemingly had an inferiority complex whenever it came to the home of its biggest foe. No more. Brendan Rodgers men were brighter and more courageous on the ball, played at a quicker tempo and were more incisive going forward.. Yu Darvish Jersey. For the first time in a generation, they were widely seen as favourites for a match at United, even in the opinion of Moyes. It could have been 6-0 or 7-0 by the end as Liverpool ran amok. In the closing stages, with United down to 10 men and having virtually given up, it evoked memories of the 6-1 home loss to Manchester City two seasons ago. Liverpool has gone from finishing 28 points behind United, the champions last season, to being 14 points ahead of them this season. "The biggest thing of where we have come in the last year is belief," Rodgers said. "I was probably surprised before the game when we were supposedly coming to Old Trafford at favourites. I would never say that at Liverpool, even if we were bottom. Anfield is Anfield and we expect to win. We have a mentality that I have been developing that we expect to win." United hadnt had a chance of note by the time Liverpool deservedly went ahead, at the culmination of a disastrous 90 seconds for Rafael da Silva. Soon after earning a yellow card for a reckless lunge at Gerrard, the Brazilian right back was caught out of position from a deep cross from Liverpools right, allowing Suarez to bring the ball down and past Rafael in one touch. Rafael flicked out a hand and gave away a penalty that Gerrard dispatched into the corner with some aplomb. Fans were still filtering back to their seats after halftime when Phil Jones barged into Joe Allen in the area, 23 seconds after the restart. There were no complaints when the referee awarded a penalty and Gerrard found the right corner again, this time low down, for his seventh successful spot kick in 2014. By the middle of the second half, Liverpool was stringing passes together to a soundtrack of "Oles" from the Liverpool visitors. The superiority of the visitors was marked and United was just way off the pace. "Its difficult to explain," Moyes said. It got even worse for Moyes beleaguered side when Vidic was given a second yellow card for bringing down Sturridge in the box in the 77th. Gerrard struck a low effort against the post but Liverpool wasnt to be denied a third, Sturridge slipping a pass through for Suarez to collect and shoot home. ' ' '