Guild Wars » eason but the veteran has always been a handful

TORONTO -- Ryan Nelsen is left to improvise once more. A week ago, the rookie Toronto FC head coach welcomed Argentine Maximiliano Urruti to the club. The long-coveted youngster and his fellow countryman, Matias Laba, were to spend the rest of this disappointing season playing together with other newcomers expected to be key members of the Reds of the future, offering Nelsen and supporters a glimpse of a side poised to take a run at respectability. But with Laba now out of the line-up for up to six weeks after breaking his big toe in a 2-0 loss in Columbus last Saturday, Nelsens plan to finally see his core group in action is also on the shelf. "Whether youre at the top of league or the bottom of the league, these things happen," a philosophical Nelsen said Friday before the Reds flew to Washington and a date with D.C. United on Saturday night. "Its just life." So, instead of testing the chemistry between Laba, 21, and Urruti, 22, Nelsen said he will use the injury to give others an opportunity to audition for a more regular role in the side. "Weve got to the stage now where well be putting people into the firing line," Nelsen said. "Theyve got to play well or well change the team and see what other guys can do." Jeremy Hall, 24, is expected to be the first to get the opportunity to fill Labas shoes in the defensive midfield position. its a spot he patrolled regularly earlier in the season, having made 18 starts in 2013. "Its a tough loss for the team but at the same time guys are going to have to step up and show their worth to the coach and prove that they can still contribute to the team," said Hall, who has one goal in 22 appearances after moving from defender to midfield. "Im comfortable in there, so Im just going to have to do what Ive been doing at the beginning of the season and hopefully I can continue to do well." Toronto (4-12-8) goes into D.C. having lost two straight matches, which came after the club posted its first two-game win streak in more than a year. The Reds won 2-1 in Washington on June 15. While very little has gone right in 2013 for D.C. (3-17-4), the leagues worst team has been given a spark by Luis Silva, 24. The California-born midfielder has scored three goals and added an assist in four appearances for United since being traded from Toronto for allocation money on July 9. "Its sad for us that hes not going to be on our team this weekend, but hes a good player, hes done well for D.C. and were going to have to keep an eye on him," Hall said of Silva, who leads his new club in scoring. "Im sure Luis is going to want to have a good one against us." Same goes for Toronto native and former Toronto captain Dwayne De Rosario. The 35-year-old has battled injuries this season but the veteran has always been a handful for the Reds when they travel to D.C. He has six goals in three matches between the teams at RFK Stadium since he left Toronto early in the 2011 season, including a hat trick in his first match against his former side. Saturdays match also has special significance for Toronto striker Jeremy Brockie, 25. The New Zealand native will be play his final game of a loan deal from the Wellington Phoenix of Australias A-League. Though he said Friday has was "disappointed" to have only scored once in his first 14 matches with the Reds after an A-League season in which he scored 16 times in 24 games, Brockie said hes enjoyed MLS and Toronto and would be happy to return as a loan after the upcoming A-League campaign. "Its a very well-run club and all its missing really is the playoff contention so if the possibility was to come back one day then Id definitely be open to that," said Brockie, a New Zealand international who has two years remaining on his contract with Wellington. Nelsen, a former teammate of Brockies with New Zealand, said although the striker didnt find the back of the net as much as many had hoped, "hes helped out in so many ways on and off the field." "His professionalism day-in and day-out shows the younger players what its all about," Nelsen said. Vans Old Skool Australia . Ronaldo netted his 14th goal of the season in Europes top competition to give Madrid a clear advantage ahead of next weeks quarterfinal return leg in Germany. But it came at a price as the Portugal forward, who came into the first-leg nursing a sore left knee, came off in the 80th minute. Cheap Old Skool Vans .com) - Jenny Boucek is the new head coach of the Seattle Storm. http://www.cheapoldskoolaustralia.com/. The Heat centre scored 10 of his 30 points early in the first quarter to silence the Toronto fans as Miami defeated the Raptors 113-101 on Friday night. Vans Old Skool Australia Sale . In their first meeting for six years, the Frenchmen dropped serve twice in the first set, but Giquel broke Simon two more times in the second. Gicquel moves on to face sixth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, who advanced with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) win against wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert, despite the Frenchmans 23 aces. Cheap Vans Australia .J. -- Freshman Eli Carter scored a career-high 31 points and hit the go-ahead basket in the second overtime as Rutgers rallied to stun No.PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with reliever Joe Thatcher on Friday, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2,375,000. The 32-year-old left-hander was 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 72 appearances with the Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres last season. Arizona also swapped arbitration figures with outfielders Mark Trumbo and Gerardo Parra. Trumbo asked for $5.85 million, while the Diamondbacks were at $3.4 million. Parra asked for $5.2 million, compared to a $4.3 million proposal by thhe team.dddddddddddd Arizona acquired Trumbo from the Los Angeles Angels in a three-team trade in December. The slugger hit .234 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs last year. Thatcher came to Arizona as part of the July 31 trade that sent right-hander Ian Kennedy to the Padres. Since 2007, Thatcher ranks third among major leaguers in the percentage of inherited runners to score at 19 per cent. He has a career record of 8-12 with a 3.34 ERA in 309 games over seven seasons with San Diego and Arizona. ' ' '