Day three was another outstanding day of football in Brazil. Rodger Saffold Jersey . The goals kept pouring in – 13 on the day and now 28 goals scored in just eight matches – the most goals scored in that span in the World Cup since 1954. In comparison, there were only 25 goals scored after every team played one match at 2010 South Africa. Thats 16 games. Three and a half goals per game is a staggering statistic, especially considering most are the product of stellar play rather than poor defending. Its also quickly becoming the World Cup of the counter-attack, where speed and finish on the rush is proving decisive. Day three was also a day of standout individual performances. Specifically, the play of the young, a veteran and a guardian of the goal stole the show. These four players from different teams, representing different confederations and playing different positions, all coming up with memorable performances on a memorable day. Young Toulouse right-back Serge Aurier was a dominant force throughout for Cote dIvoire, helping turn around the nightcap of the Super Saturday quadruple-header. The Ivorian wingback was a constant threat down the wing all night, particularly in attack. A tactical change brought on Didier Drogba for Serey Die in the 62nd minute. The change caused immediate havoc in the Japanese back four, opening up more gaps inside the 18-yard box. Aurier went to work. It took just two minutes for Aurier to provide pinpoint service on crosses to Wilfried Bony, and then two minutes later to Gervinho. The attacking players did their part on the finish but it was the crosses that stood out. Both whipped in by Aurier with pace and precision, finding the open man rather than just hitting and hoping. There was composure about each ball, not usually seen from such a young player. His relentless energy bursting forward with strength and purpose was a difference-maker. The game shifted because of the goals, where Drogba and company were able to separate and seal the victory. The final scoreline read 2-1 with two assists for Aurier. The performance by the right back is the best weve seen so far from the position. One year his elder, James Rodriguez is a star in the making. The 22-year-old put in arguably the top display over 90 minutes of the tournament in Colombias 3-0 win over Greece. He played a part in all three goals, scoring the third of the game. His most impressive intervention wasnt on his goal – a poised finish after receiving a back-heal from the likewise impressive Cuadrado in the 90th minute. The opening goal was of the Monaco-mans doing. Hell never get the credit Cuadrado will get, but he should. Rodriguez started the move from his own end, playing a forty-yard ball over the top with a bend to a on-running Cuadrado. As his teammate pulled the moves out wide, Rodriguez ran the full length of the field showing in the attacking area. Cuadrado played near post to Rodriguez who dummied the ball to an awaiting Pablo Amero who provided the finish. Five minutes in and the tone had been set by the centre-midfielder. The pass, the run, and the wherewithal to leave the ball signaled his class. All afternoon, Rodriguez ran wild, covering an incredible amount of ground and setting the tone. Rodriguez also took the corner leading to the second goal, a near-post service that was flicked before Teo Gutierrez tapped home. It was a day Colombia was able to sit back and pick their spots. Rodriguez dictated the pace for Colombia. He was the maestro. Even if Falcao were available, it would be the young star that would prove most influential. Watch him as the tournament progresses. Rodriguez is special. Special and/or influential are a couple of apt superlatives used to describe the incomparable Andrea Pirlo. The 35-year-old Italian veteran had himself another match to remember in Italys 2-1 win over England. The intelligence by which he plays was another level to his competition. Composure is a theme here, and Pirlo was never rattled in the heat of Manaus. Pirlo completed 108 passes at a success rate of 95 per cent. Most the completed passes in the first half were without pressure. The passing out of the back in the second half under high pressure was a thing of beauty. England had no player who could limit his effectiveness. Pundits correctly point out to stop Italy you must stop Pirlo. Easier said than done. The savvy by which he plays is another level. The dummy he laid on Claudio Marchisios 35th minute strike gave his teammates ample time and space to pick his spot. England players were left without a hope. And the moment that will provided the GIF of the night was Pirlos free kick from 25 yards out, hit dead on by the midfielder with the ball floating and bending outwards before going off the crossbar. The floating ball completely fooled goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was entirely fooled and was left going the other way. Embarrassing for Hart, masterful from Pirlo. It was another near perfect night from one of the most influential players in the World Cup. Moments can define matches. No moment Saturday proved bigger than the 44th minute of Uruguay and Costa Rica. The highly favoured Uruguay was up 1-0 late in the first half, with the South Americans pressing for a second. What happens just before the half can have a distinct affect on what happens after play resumes. Case and point, Robin van Persies 44th minute wonder goal and equalizer Friday, helping turn the tides against Spain. Saturday, a second goal before halftime would have buried the Ticos. Queue goalkeeper Keylor Navas. The Costa Rican backstop had an outstanding year at Levante. His prowess was on full display in that decisive 44th minute. Diego Forlan had found space on the back post. His strike took a massive deflection off a defender and had eyes for the top right corner. Navas, caught off his line, lunged back and punched the ball out before it crossed the line. It was an incredible save to make, and a save of the tournament contender. The balance and co-ordination was outstanding at a difficult moment. Im comfortable saying if Navas doesnt make the save, Costa Rica loses the match. Navas remained a rock amidst pressure in the second half. He even guessed right on Edinson Cavanis penalty. Navas was in the zone and gives further reason to believe Costa Rica can remain competitive in Group D. These were four different contexts and four specials performances on an extraordinary Saturday at the World Cup. The high level of overall attacking play is making for a distinctive tournament. But its these kinds of special moments and exceptional performances that will live for the ages. No matter age, position, or method, Aurier, Rodriguez, Pirlo and Navas have already left their mark in Brazil. And to think, the best may be still to come. Greg Zuerlein Jersey . David Perron had a career high four-point night with two goals and two assists as the Oilers experienced an offensive explosion, blasting the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-0 to record a rare home win for their second victory in a row. Lance Dunbar Jersey . The Blue Jackets announced the injury through their official Twitter account Friday afternoon. Gaborik, 31, has scored five goals and six assists in 17 games with the Blue Jackets in 2013-14. http://www.ramsauthenticshop.com/Youth-Joe-Namath-Rams-Jersey/ . By then it was clear: The 76ers were going to win for the first time in two months, and they were going to do it with ease. The 76ers snapped their NBA record-tying, 26-game losing streak, routing the Detroit Pistons 123-98 on Saturday night to avoid establishing the longest skid in U.BUFFALO – In about half as many games, the Toronto penalty kill has already allowed more power-play goals this season than it did all of last year. A once dominant unit that finished second best in the league in 2013 (87.9%) has fallen to 20th overall (79.4%) after two months this winter. The groups increasing woes were highlighted on Wednesday night by a season-high three-goal outburst from the Penguins power play in an eventual 6-5 shootout loss. "We havent changed anything," Jay McClement told the Leaf Report on Thursday afternoon. "Were just not getting the job done. I dont know what it is, but weve gotten away from the basic things that made us successful. You can say that weve had a couple bad bounces here and there, but were getting too many [scored] on us the last little while to say that." Over the past 11 games – a stretch that began at the outset of November – the Leafs have allowed 13 power play goals, hovering at just 71 per cent in that span. Already this season, theyve given up 20 power play goals or one more than all of last season. The sure-fire attitude once owned by the group has gradually taken a hit. "Thats a confidence were going to have to build back up over a big stretch of games here," said McClement, who leads the NHL in average ice-time shorthanded. "It seems like we have a couple good kills and we start to get it, start to build on it and then we give one up. [Its] something we just have to stick with and try not to lose all our confidence and get frustrated with it." A confident bunch last season, the Leafs rarely allowed sustained opportunity for opposing power plays, typically clearing the puck and changing personnel with seamless precision. The job hasnt gone quite so smoothly so far this season, be it because of positional mistakes, failed clears, easy entries, or simple confusion. Increasingly, the unit has relied far too heavily upon its two goaltenders. Consider that in 48 games last season, the Toronto penalty kill allowed 193 shots against; already this season, in just 25 games, the same unit has givven up 182 shots. Tyrunn Walker Jersey. Under increased strain, the goaltending has been good, but not quite as good as a year ago. James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier have combined to post a .890 save percentage shorthanded this season, slightly worse than the .902 mark set by Reimer and Ben Scrivens last season. "I think theres some trends that have come in," said Randy Carlyle of the penalty kill. "I think weve vacated the critical areas. I think weve won faceoffs and not cleared the puck. I think weve given up the middle of the ice too many times, gotten on the wrong side of the puck. "Those are things that were going to continue to try to fix because it has been a staple of our game. When those staples go away it reveals that youre not playing anywhere near where youre capable of playing." Not helping matters either is the discipline of the group. The Leafs have taken more minor penalties (113) than any team but the Ottawa Senators this season; up to 4.52 minors per game from 3.69 last season. A string of five straight such penalties helped propel the Penguins to come back from a 4-1 second period deficit on Wednesday night. "When youve got a good PK," said Carl Gunnarsson, third on the team in shorthanded minutes, "you feel good going out there and you know youre going to kill it probably 80, 90 per cent of the time." Just as the strut of the penalty kill has gradually diminished from the stronghold of last season, so too have a few key parts. Most prominently absent this year is Leo Komarov, an energetic and effective component in 2013 who returned to the KHL this season. Two additional pieces who made significant contributions, Mark Fraser and Nik Kulemin, missed nearly a month with injuries. "I think right now when you go through a spell like were going through, its tough to have that attitude," McClement said. "Its just really up and down right now. I guess more downs than ups right now. I think the biggest thing is we cant lose our confidence in it. We know what were doing works, weve just got to do it better." Black China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap NFL T-shirts Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo ' ' '