scrum-half on the restart, helping Leins

[blueberryjerry]

CARSON, Calif. . -- Landon Donovan thought he had earned a prominent role on the U.S. World Cup team right up until the moment he was cut from the roster by coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Donovan was still stunned and confused by Klinsmanns decision when he went back to work with the LA Galaxy on Saturday. "Im disappointed. Im sad," Donovan said Saturday after the Galaxys practice. "Im human, and I wanted to go. I really wanted to go. Im at peace with it. I respect the decision. I just feel in my heart that I deserve to be there, and thats the pill thats hardest to swallow." The 32-year-old attacker was denied the chance to play in his fourth World Cup after Klinsmann chose U.S. team newcomer Aron Johannsson and 31-year-old Chris Wondolowski over the most accomplished international player in American history. The decision surprised Donovan, who believed a strong performance in training camp had secured his spot on the 23-man roster. But Donovan declined to speculate on additional possible factors in the decision: his recent soccer sabbatical, the coachs decision to evaluate a versatile player solely as a forward, or the impact of the Americans difficult group draw on their long-term planning. "I think if Im being judged solely on what happens in camp, then I absolutely deserved to be going to Brazil," Donovan said. "I firmly believe that not only should I be going, but I feel like I really deserved it, and not from anything that I did in the past, but from what Ive done in the last week and a half." Donovan gave little insight into whatever reasons Klinsmann shared with him at the Bay Area training camp. Klinsmann provided only murky details about his decision Friday, saying other players were "a little step ahead of Landon in certain areas." "I dont agree with that assessment," Donovan said. "I think I was at least as good as everybody else in camp. ... I think I was one of the better players, so thats why it stings a little. If I had gone in and didnt feel like I deserved it, I could live with that. But thats not the case here." Donovan had nothing to say about any underlying implications of the mocking tweet by Jonathan Klinsmann, the coachs teenage son, moments after the announcement. "I dont really know his son well, so Im not really sure where that came from," Donovan said. Donovan also doesnt think his four-month sabbatical from soccer in 2013 after the Galaxys second straight MLS Cup title should have worked against him. "I actually think Ive been a much better player since I came back," he said. Donovan is the career U.S. leader with 57 international goals, and is second with 156 appearances. He has scored five World Cup goals, including a stoppage-time goal against Algeria to send the Americans to the second round four years ago. Instead of jetting off to Brazil, the five-time MLS Cup champion will resume his pursuit of the top U.S. leagues career goal-scoring record in Sundays home game against Philadelphia. Donovan tied Jeff Cunninghams mark with his 134th goal late last season, but hasnt scored in seven matches with the Galaxy this year. "Im excited to be back here," Donovan said. "I certainly didnt want to be back here under these circumstances or this soon, but I love these guys. These are my teammates, and this is my home. I will not let this affect me going forward." Donovan said he would gladly return to the U.S. team from the standby list if an injury created a spot on the roster, and he wouldnt rule out playing for the U.S. team in the future. He urged fans to support Klinsmanns current squad because "I dont want there to be a negative tint to any of this." "Ive always loved representing this country, so I cant imagine that if Im given another opportunity that I would say no," Donovan added. "But at this point, Im just trying to deal with the disappointment." . What they did need, the Devils got from Patrik Elias. Elias scored a power-play goal 40 seconds into overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. . PETERSBURG, Florida – Its been almost seven years since the Blue Jays last won a series at Tropicana Field. . Millsap will miss Wednesday nights game against the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks say Millsap also will be held out on Thursday at Boston.Isa Nacewas 47th-minute bonus-point try was the highlight of Leinsters workmanlike 33-15 European Champions Cup win over Castres at the RDS. The Irish provinces dominant maul paved the way for three first-half tries - a brace from Sean Cronin and one to mark Jack McGraths 100th provincial appearance - but Castres were only 19-10 down at the break.The hosts suffered the double whammy of a penalty try and Luke McGraths yellow card right on the stroke of half-time, giving the French side a serious lift. Nacewas fine individual score got Leinster back on track early in the second period, a penalty try rewarded the home scrum on the hour mark and Castres replacement Anthony Jelonch dived over for a consolation try. Fly-half Joey Carbery impressed in Johnny Sextons absence Tireless flanker Josh van der Flier delivered a man-of-the-match performance for the victors and 20-year-old fly-half Joey Carbery had an assured European debut, stepping into the shoes of the injured Johnyy Sexton.Nacewa nudged a fifth-minute penalty wide from the right, with full-back Rob Kearney prominent in the air early on. The Leinster captain was also thwarted after a pacy Robbie Henshaw break.But the Castres forwards gave way soon after, Leinsters decision to kick for the corner proving correct as hooker Cronin was driven over in powerful fashion. Carberys juggling intercept broke up a promising Castres spell, but dogged French defence prevented the fast-breaking Garry Ringrose and Henshaw from adding to the lead.The wet conditions contributed to Alex Tulous spill, ruining the big Castres No 8s encouraging run from deep.However, the visitors were forced to concede a lineout from Nacewas quick-witted kick through in the 26th minute, and Cronin, having broke off the maul, built enough momentum through a Victor Moreaux tackle to spin over the whitewash, with Nacewa convertingg. . Devin Toner tackles Castress Robert Ebersohn Benjamin Urdapilleta punished a high tackle from Kearney to get Castres off the mark, but loosehead McGrath muscled over from a close-in 33rd minute ruck that came from further lineout pressure.Urdapilleta missed a chance to cancel out Nacewas well-struck conversion, however scrum half McGraths side-entry at a dangerous Castres maul led to his sin-binning and the penalty try, converted by the Argentinean fly-half.Nacewa stepped in at scrum-half on the restart, helping Leinster to ride out the sin-bin period and it was the skipper who exposed Antoine Dupoints weak defence at a ruck and handed off Geoffrey Palis to claim a superb solo seven-pointer. With Leinsters reinforced scrum getting the upper hand, Castres did well to avoid further concessions as the home side pressed from advanced set piece ball and breaks by Van der Flier and Carbery.A succession of penalties led to Castres replacement Thibault Lassale seeing yellow for a maul infringement, and two more scrum penalties had referee Matthew Carley running in behind the posts. Nacewas conversion completed his 13-point contribution. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Jelonch answered back for Castres with a 68th-minute effort before Leinster missed on two more tries - replacement hooker James Tracy went close from another maul and centre Ringrose was called back for a forward pass from Henshaw, following a blistering run out of his own half by Carbery.You can watch Liverpool v Man Utd, plus Englands tour of Bangladesh and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price! ' ' '

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