News » n. "Its something I want to add to my g

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen announced his retirement Monday night, two days after he made a pair of dramatic saves in a penalty kick shootout against Real Salt Lake to secure his club its first MLS Cup in more than a decade. Nielsen made the announcement during a title celebration at Union Station. "I want to thank the ownership group, my teammates, my coaches and the entire organization for the opportunity to have four of the best years of my life, not only mine but my family as well, here in Kansas City," Nielsen said. "I will remember these years forever." Nielsen kept Sporting KC tied with Real Salt Lake through regulation and overtime Saturday night before making two saves in the penalty kick shootout. Sporting KC eventually prevailed 7-6 in frigid weather to win its first league championship since the 2000 season. Nielsen was so overcome with emotion following the game that he retreated from the clubs locker room to a back room, away from reporters and TV cameras. "To the best soccer fans: Since Day 1 they have always been behind me and I want to thank them for all the support," Nielsen said. "It was the perfect timing, finishing with a great championship that the entire city deserves." Nielsen began his career in England and played the majority of it in his native Denmark, but said he was at a crossroads in his career when Sporting KC sought him out several years ago. He wound up agreeing to a contract with the MLS club, even though he barely knew where Kansas was on a map, and instantly became a hit with fans. Nielsen played every minute of Sporting KCs last 100 matches, made two All-Star game appearances and was voted the leagues top goalkeeper a year ago. It wasnt just his play that endeared Nielsen to fans, though. It was his personality. He became known for stopping his car at local parks when hed be driving by and joining in games with random children. Often, Nielsen would pull kids out of the crowd and have them kick balls at him as part of his pre-game warm-up. The recent release of his autobiography, "Welcome to the Blue Heaven: Dont Bet Against the Goalkeeper," chronicled the way he overcame an addiction to gambling. All of it resonated with Sporting KC fans who nicknamed Nielsen the "White Puma," and who would often show up at games with their own version of his bleach-blonde hair. "What an incredible way to end a career," Sporting Club chief executive Rob Heineman said in a statement. "Jimmy Nielsen is so important to this organization on and off the field, and we look forward to the next phase of our relationship." He retires with club records for regular-season games played (128), games started (128), minutes played (11,497), wins (57), ties (32), winning percentage (.575) and shutouts (45). Nielsens career goals-against average of 0.99 is the best in MLS history among goalkeepers with a minimum of 1,000 regular-season minutes played. "He has been instrumental to the success of this organization over the last four years," Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. "And as much as Im sad to see him go, I am delighted that he leaves the game as a champion based on the fact that he is a true winner." Yeezy Sale .J. Mayo made seven three-pointers and scored 25 points, Ersan Ilyasova added 20, and the Milwaukee Bucks placed seven players in double figures in a 130-110 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost their 11th straight game on Monday night. Cheap Yeezy . One out away from finishing off an impressive shutout, they let a must-win game slip away. https://www.fakeyeezywholesaleonline.com/ . -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim. Fake Yeezy . Jets head coach Paul Maurice made the announcement Saturday following the morning skate and confirmed Al Montoya will start in goal against the Dallas Stars on Sunday. Yeezy China .com) - In the absence of Dwight Howard, Donatas Motiejunas had a career night to keep the Houston Rockets winning streak alive.LONDON -- In the Premier Leagues top-four shuffle, its Arsenal leading the way again -- for now. After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Now the focus turns to Monday night when Manchester City, which is two points behind Arsenal, hosts Chelsea, which is three points further back in third. "I will watch that game with interest because its two competitors against us and its always interesting to see how they behave," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "We gained some points through some other opponents like Liverpool and Man United over this weekend, and I think we know that our results at the Emirates will be massively important until the end." Liverpool remained in fourth place, but its 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion was a missed opportunity to strengthen its pursuit of Champions League qualification. Having led through Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool defender Kolo Toure sloppily gave the ball away to allow Victor Anicheb to equalize for West Brom. Although Wenger still talks of United as a rival, an eighth loss of the title defence -- at Stoke on Saturday -- means the champions are seven points behind Liverpool. And Arsenal is 15 points ahead of United in its quest for a first league title in a decade, after bouncing back from a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Southampton on Tuesday. Despite dominating against Palace, Arsenal was frustrated throughout the first half in its pursuit of a goal against their relegation-threatened but well-organized London rivals. The breakthrough came inside two minutes of the restart as Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first Arsenal goal since December 2012 on his first leaguee start since being injured on the opening day of this season in August.dddddddddddd Santi Cazorla weaved his way through the Palace defence and dinked the ball over for Oxlade-Chamberlain to lift the ball over goalkeeper Julian Speroni from close range. And the 20-year-old England midfielder netted a second in the 73rd minute as he slotted seamlessly back into the injury-hit team. Thomas Rosicky knocked the ball forward to Olivier Giroud, who backheeled it for Oxlade-Chamberlain to strike low into the net as Arsenal went a 10th game in all competitions unbeaten. "Its something I want to add to my game -- more goals -- so it was nice to get two today," he said. And this was a rare day when Luis Suarez couldnt score for Liverpool, instead turning provider at the Hawthorns. In a disjointed first-half display by his team, the Uruguay striker fed the ball to Sturridge at the far post to poke the ball into the West Brom net in the 24th minute. But the winning position was thrown away in the 67th when Toures slack cross-field clearance went straight to Anichebe, who levelled with a low shot from a central position. "Kolo probably shouldnt have received the ball under pressure, and a pass can be misplaced," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. "We look to build our game from behind and that has won us many games this season, our ability to construct the game from behind. "Sometimes it will cost you. Today was unfortunately one of those days. Kolo Toure has been brilliant for me, a real leader and an outstanding professional and unfortunately it was that mistake, but theres no blame on him." The draw pushed West Brom a point clear of the relegation zone, just above Palace on goal difference. ' ' '