Schwarzes Brett » much success

RECIFE, Brazil -- Mexico surged into the World Cups knockout stage for a sixth straight time Monday with a 3-1 win over Croatia. Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored in a 10-minute span in the second half, dooming a talented Croatia side to elimination from the group stage. The Croats had to win to advance and held the bulk of possession, but had trouble seriously threatening goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who kept out all efforts until an 87th-minute consolation goal from Ivan Perisic. Mexico entered the game needing only a draw, and looked dangerous in attack, but was kept out until the three-goal burst. Marquez struck first, beating Croatia defender Vedran Corluka to head home Hector Herreras corner kick in the 72nd minute. Three minutes later, Guardado found the net with a hard, left-footed, one-time shot after a cross from Oribe Peralta. Then in the 82nd minute, Hernandez, the popular Manchester United striker who has been a second-half substitute in all three of Mexicos matches, scored with a header after Herreras corner had glanced off the head of Marquez. Croatia didnt score until it was too late, with Perisic sliding a shot past Ochoa after being set up by a neat backheel pass from Ivan Rakitic. It was the first goal Mexico has conceded in the World Cup, but "El Tri" hardly seemed to mind when the final whistle sounded and a lively, heavily Mexican crowd in Arena Pernambuco erupted. Mexico appeared to be labouring through a downspell before this World Cup. It struggled just to qualify out of CONCACAF and fired three coaches in a years time before Miguel Herrera took over and ultimately rescued Mexicos hopes by soundly beating New Zealand in a last-chance qualifier. In the hours leading up to the match, Miguel Herrera, known as a coach of the people for the way he engages fans on social media and at times in public, implored the Mexico faithful to "stay together" and sing the national anthem "like never before." Mexican fans, whose green jerseys distinguished them as the overwhelming majority in the crowd, did not disappoint, belting out a thunderous rendition. Croatia had expected to play before a crowd heavily in Mexicos favour, with star Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric saying on the eve of the match that the game would not be won in the stands, and that his side was motivated to silence the crowd. Croatia players were heckled each time they took a corner kick, and goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa was heckled whenever he touched the ball. Mexicos attacking play also enlivened the crowd, particularly a sizzling 25-yard shot by Hector Herrera that rattled the crossbar in the 16th minute. In the 19th, Oribe Peralta pounced on a bounding ball from Herrera in the penalty area, but his sliding attempt to chip over the advancing Pletikosa went wide. Croatia enjoyed the bulk of possession in the opening 45 minutes, but didnt force Ochoa to make a single save. Cheap Fake Air Max 95 . That still leaves a big hole.You dont replace the leadership, defensive co-ordinator Billy Davis said. You just dont. Leadership is something that is earned over time. Air Max 95 China Wholesale . -- Canada played to expectation up until halftime. http://www.outletsneakersclearance.com/. Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Air Max 97 Outlet Clearance .ca presents a week long look at some of the teams and stories that will shape the up coming campaign. Cheap Air Max 97 Wholesale . The Rainbow FlickNext up is the Rainbow Flick, or as you probably know it, the trick that everybody at soccer camp thought they knew how to do.History was made in the Football League play-off semi-finals as all the best-placed teams were beaten for the first time. Brighton, Walsall and Accrington Stanley all suffered play-off heartbreak, losing to Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and AFC Wimbledon respectively.The Seagulls had finished 15 points ahead of Wednesday in the Championship, Walsall 10 points ahead of Barnsley in League One and Accrington 10 clear of the Dons in League Two. But, for the first time in the play-offs, none of the three teams who finished highest made the final.The last third-placed team to miss out on the Championship final was Nottingham Forest in 2009/10 while in League One it was MK Dons in 2008/09, with the final for the last five seasons being contested by third vs fourth.The previous two sides to finish fourth in League Two (where there are three automatic promotion positions) had made the final, but the five before them had all missed out. Watch highlights as Brighton drew with Sheffield Wednesday in their second leg Since the introduction of the play-offs in 1987 there have been several examples of teams missing out on promotion after finishing well ahead of their rivals in the regular season.However, the stats before this years play-offs favoured progress for at least one of Brighton, Walsall or Accrington.In fact, 39.5% of the teams that had finished in the top play-off place across the three divisions had been promoted. Barnsley reached the League One final after a thumping win over Walsall Only 21% of teams in the second play-off spot had been successful while those in the bottom two places went up 19.dddddddddddd8% of the time.In the Championship, 37% of the sides who had finished third were promoted, with Norwich, West Ham and Swansea all going up to the Premier League in recent seasons after missing out on the top two.A good omen for Sheffield Wednesday is that the last three sides to finish sixth and reach the final have all gone on to win promotion, while only once in the last 17 seasons has the team finishing fourth - Hull this year - gone up. AFC Wimbledon made it past Accrington in League Two In League One, where Walsall missed out on second place by a point, the play-offs have proved more unpredictable in the past.Before this year, teams in third had gone up 33.30% of the time, a slightly better success rate than those in fourth (25.90%), fifth (18.50%) and sixth (22.20%).But Accrington had more reason to be optimistic as almost half (48.10%) of the teams that had finished fourth in League Two had gone up through the play-offs.Those in fifth (18.50%), sixth (14.80%) and seventh (18.50%) had not enjoyed anywhere near as much success.Who will win promotion this year from the play-offs? Watch all the finals live on Sky Sports, starting with Hull v Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, May 28. Also See: FL proposes shake-up Proposals explained Lower-league clubs criticise FL Live on Sky ' ' '