Kritik und Lob » e for us," Eckersle

MADRID -- Several clubs and national teams were after Jorge Sampaoli when Sevilla made the surprise announcement in June that it was hiring the Argentine-born coach.He arrived amid high expectations and promised to keep Sevilla a contender in Spain and Europe. After an up-and-down start, Sampaoli is on his way to fulfilling his words.The team from Spains southern Andalusia region is in a good position to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League. It can take the Spanish league lead on Sunday with a home win against Atletico Madrid, combined with a draw or loss by Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao.We are doing very well, Sampaoli said. We are in a strong position in both competitions. This motivates us for whats ahead.Sampaoli, who led Chile to its first Copa America title in 2015, signed with Sevilla this season after contemplating offers from across the world. Those offers kept coming even after accepting the Sevilla job, including one from Argentinas national team about a month after Sampaoli had replaced Unai Emery. The 56-year-old Sampaoli decided to stay in Spain because it would be irresponsible to leave after such short period in charge.Sampaoli failed in the first two chances he had to succeed with Sevilla, losing the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona and the UEFA Super Cup to Real Madrid.But things improved, and while Barcelona, Madrid and Atletico continued to attract most of the headlines with big victories, Sevilla quietly began winning important games.It has won three of its last four games in the Spanish league and sits third in the standings after eight rounds, one point behind leaders Atletico and Madrid.In the Champions League, Sevilla is tied with Juventus atop Group H with seven points from three matches. It drew against the Italian champions in the opener and picked up consecutive wins against Lyon and at Dinamo Zagreb.We have to maintain this winning mentality, Sevilla defender Sergio Escudero said. We have a good dynamic going and we have to maintain it. Its important to keep winning.In addition to facing Atletico this weekend at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, Sevilla will also host Barcelona in two weeks, as well as Juventus in the Champions League in November.Expectations are high at Sevilla, which defeated Liverpool to win its third straight Europa League title last season, but Sampaoli warned there is still a lot to improve before Sevilla can get closer to the top three teams in Spain.We will have difficulties competing against the bigger teams unless we improve when we have chances to score, he said. Its been difficult to score. If we are not decisive, we will struggle against the better teams.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. 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Lakers Jerseys 2020 . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at .FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Toronto FC coach Ryan Nelsen preached diligence and patience during the barren early stretches of this season, promising that matters would improve slowly but surely. TFC still has a long way to go, but the progress Nelsen preached may be starting to peak through, as the Reds picked up their second consecutive victory for the first time since last July. Matias Labas first MLS goal, scored just two minutes into the match, provided the difference in a 1-0 victory over New England on Sunday night. A haul of seven points in three games gave Nelsen plenty of reason to smile after his players protected the early lead to see off the playoff-chasing Revolution at Gillette Stadium. "The guys showed today that sometimes when its not going as well with the ball, you need a foundation to fall back on -- thats our organization, our structure and working really hard for each other," Nelsen said. "And thats what won us the game with a little bit of brilliance to get us the goal." Laba, who was signed by TFC as a young designated player from Argentina in April, claimed possession in midfield and made a run toward the exposed Revolution goal. He hesitated as he entered the penalty area, creating a yard of space, and poked toward the far post. New Englands Scott Caldwell blocked his initial effort, but the 21-year-old persisted to score the matchs lone goal. "For me, its just a magical goal," Nelsen said. "Everything about it -- he read the pass, the pressure, then the acceleration with the ball, the burst, the composure to beat the man and a finish any striker would have been proud of. And then he followed it in..dddddddddddd "It was a magical goal and then all of the boys worked ever so hard. Theyve got great character." The visitors needed every ounce of resolve to repel a Revolution side that asserted control in possession and probed for an opening to even the match. But TFC stood its ground in the first half as the Revoultion laid siege, withstanding several close calls. Richard Eckersley and Ashtone Morgan produced goal line clearances to protect the lead, while goalkeeper Joe Bendik parried away a Lee Nguyen half-volley and watched Saer Sene thrash into the side of the net more than once before the break. "It makes a change for us," Eckersley said. "Joes been brilliant all season. Its about time he had a bit of a day off and we started doing some of the saving." TFC continued to protect its lead in the second half, dropping deeply to stop New England from creating opportunities in the final third. New England striker Diego Fagundez tried to even the score with the last kick of the game, but his acrobatic effort hit the outside of the goal frame. TFCs second road victory of the season offered plenty of encouragement for a side still building for the future. "It happens in football," Morgan said. "Sometimes, you dont possess the ball the whole time and you need to weather the storm. We kept our shape. They threw the whole kitchen sink at us. We just held the fort down and kept the clean sheet." TFC will play a midweek friendly against Italian giants AS Roma at BMO Field Wednesday before hosting Seattle -- and potentially seeing the debut of U.S. international Clint Dempsey -- on Saturday. ' ' '