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After a relative saw off in the first half, one in which the Whitecaps created the better chances, only one team seemed to come out for the start of the second, and it wasnt the home team. Its an issue that has crept up from time to time for Vancouver, the most notable example being their July game with Chivas at BC Place. In that game, they conceded off a corner in the very early stages of the second half. Momentum turned, and the Whitecaps never got it back. The momentum turner against Portland also occurred early in the second half. Pedro Morales, who by his own high standards had probably his least effective home game since joining the club, took a knock, fell to the turf, and remained down with his boot off for a good two minutes. There was confusion, there was concern. An awful thought crossed my mind, as it probably did the managers, and seemingly Morales teammates too. If the skipper was seriously hurt, then the Portland game was inconsequential, the Whitecaps season would be in serious jeopardy. The Caps played for a few moments with 10 men, and then for a few more with the skipper hobbling. Not long after, Alvis Powell drifted in front of Andy OBrien to glance home the first, and eventual game winner for the Timbers. It was a double sucker punch. Concern for the captain, some discombobulation in his absence, and then the whammy of a goal against. Having been blanked in four of the last five, the realization will have sunk in to the young Whitecaps: that coming back would be a tall order. If that was the games defining moment, the consensus theme from the latest Cascadia clash was how badly they missed Gershon Koffie. In Carl Robinsons three-man central midfield set-up, one of the two holding pivots has to be able to provide something going forward. At one point, assistant coach Martyn Pert seemed to be begging Russell Teibert to try and penetrate, rather than constantly deferring to teammates laterally or behind him. Thats where Koffie was sorely missed. But the most worrisome matter from Saturday was the continuation of a franchise trend to come up short in big home games during the seasons run in. Last year, it was a devastating loss to RSLs second string team before 2-2 draws with Chivas and Portland when they needed maximum points. Even in 2012 when they made the playoffs, the Whitecaps lost 2-0 at home to Dallas, and later, 1-0 again to the Timbers, who have yet to lose in Vancouver. They even spoiled the BC Place grand opening in 2011. From here, the biggest question will be whether the higher ups acquiesce to the mounting demand by fans and media to bring in a goal scorer. At this stage, and with their cap maxed, thats a tall order, and would mean moving a young asset, something theyve been loathe to do. Waiting until the off-season when the cap situation improves and more high end strikers are available would probably be the more prudent long term approach. Thats a tough sell to an impatient fan base, especially as season tickets come up for renewal. Cheap NFL Jerseys . -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are disappointed, though not discouraged. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys . After overcoming a three-goal deficit the Senators forced the game to overtime only to watch it slip away as Seth Jones scored the winner 3:49 into the extra period as the Nashville Predators defeated the Senators 4-3 Monday night. http://www.authenticnflchinajerseys.com/ . -- Slugger Jose Abreu, All-Star left-hander Chris Sale and closer Matt Lindstrom are on the disabled list. NFL Jerseys Wholesale . Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in their first home game since Gwynn died of cancer Monday. Discount Baseball Jerseys . -- The top-seeded Alberta Pandas set up of an all-Canada West final against arch rival UBC at the CIS womens volleyball championship after a 3-0 win over the No. NEW YORK -- The Knicks went coast to coast to let Carmelo Anthony know they want him to stay in New York. Team officials travelled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent, a person with knowledge of the plans said. Team President Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills were expected to be part of the meeting but not Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the meeting were to remain private. The meeting was first reported by ESPN. Anthony was in Los Angeles to meet with the Lakers, who are among the teams hoping to convince the All-Star forward to leave New York. Anthony already visited Chicago, Houston and Dallas this week. The Knicks can offer him the largest contract, nearly $130 million over five years, though Jackson has said he hopes Anthony will take less than a maximum deal.dddddddddddd Other teams can offer Anthony slightly less than $100 million in a four-year deal, according to NBA rules. Contracts cant be signed until July 10, so Anthony is under no rush to make a decision. But the Knicks apparently wanted to make sure they got to make a final pitch after his free agency tour. Jackson, Mills and new coach Derek Fisher had already met with Anthony last month in Los Angeles, where he informed them he would be terminating the final year of his contract and becoming a free agent. He has never said he wants to leave the Knicks, who acquired him from Denver in a February 2011 trade. But the 30-year-old forward also said his priority is contending for championships, and the Knicks were just 37-45 last season, the first time in Anthonys 11-year career that he missed the playoffs. ' ' '