assist in a 4-0 victory over Moldova.The emp

Two Premier League titles aside, Manchester City finally showed once and for all they are ready to be counted among Europes elite clubs.Coming off what could be a franchise-altering victory over Barcelona, City now try to avoid the dreaded letdown Saturday when they host new boys Middlesbrough.Things looked bleak at the Etihad on Tuesday after the Citizens fell behind 1-0 on Lionel Messis goal in the 21st minute. Here were Manchester City (7-2-1), playing with their backup goalkeeper, their confidence still fragile with one win in their last seven matches and on the verge of seeing the Catalan giants -- the class of Europe -- put together another one of their masterpieces that would again expose the gulf in class between the sides.Instead, Pep Guardiolas charges dug in against his former side and weathered the onslaught. And a goal by Ilkay Gundogan on 39 minutes leveled the match and changed the fortunes of Manchester City, likely for the short term and possibly forever.The hallmarks of high pressing and fluid passing Guardiola instilled at Barcelona now became Citys, and they took advantage of a weakened Spanish spine minus Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta to add second-half goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Gundogan again for a 3-1 victory that left them needing only three more points to secure passage back into the knockout round of the Champions League.If you talk about the first 30 minutes, we are not able to compare against the best teams, Guardiola said. This club was 25, 30 years out of Europe, while Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich were playing every year.We need time. We are three or four months into playing a different way. We try and now we won against the best team. For the future generations they are going to realise: wow these guys are able to beat the best team.Gundogan has played every bit the part of the ￡20 million transfer fee City paid Borussia Dortmund over the summer of late with braces in back-to-back contests. The German international had scored just once in his first eight matches after missing most of summer training due to a dislocated kneecap.While Sergio Aguero did not score, Guardiola singled out his striker for a relentless effort in leading the high line of pressure that unnerved Barcas backline, noting that he played awesome.It was also the type of effort City supporters had been waiting for Raheem Sterling to give since his arrival from Liverpool prior to last season -- running into the ground and being smart with possession, evidenced by his pass to set up Gundogans first goal. Yet for everything City did right, and there was plenty they did right, it could all go for naught without a victory to follow this weekend.The game against Middlesbrough will be another tough test, it will be completely different than against Barcelona, but in the end, we have to do the job and win the game, De Bruyne said.So into the cauldron of the Etihad enter Middlesbrough (2-4-4), still trying to find their bearings in the top flight and looking for any and every way to find points now that will help them in the relegation scrap they will likely endure come springtime.Boro snapped a six-match winless streak last Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth as Gaston Ramirez and Stewart Downing scored on either side of halftime, and they recorded a second consecutive clean sheet after shipping nine goals the previous five matches.We defended as a team -- mistakes have cost us in the past, Downing told the teams official website. Everyone put a shift in but thats what you need, everyone on your mettle when youre going for points in the Premier League.Manager Aitor Karanka will have a few more options to choose from in his starting XI for this match as Marten de Roon and leading scorer Christian Stuani are expected to be available. Additionally, midfielder and talisman Grant Leadbitter could also make the squad after playing for Boros Under-23 team Monday.I said always how important he is for the team, Karanka said. Even when he was injured, he was traveling with the team, and you can feel his character on the pitch and in the changing room.Now with him training and playing it is a massive and important thing for us.Even with the reinforcements, expect Middlesbrough to be compact against Manchester City similar to how they held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw despite conceding 70 percent possession to the Gunners.The teams last met in the top flight in the 2008-09 season, when the home team held serve in both matches. Middlesbrough have had the better of the rivalry in the Premier League era with 11 wins in 20 matches (11-5-4), highlighted by an 8-1 thrashing on May 11, 2008, in which Downing had two goals and an assist. Marc Gasol Grizzlies Jersey . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Dillon Brooks Jersey . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. http://www.grizzliesbasketballpro.info/ . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Bryant Reeves Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Marc Gasol Jersey . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. Spain put eight goals past Liechtenstein. Wales netted four against Moldova. Italy scored three in Israel.But the most significant goal in Mondays nine World Cup qualifiers in Europe came from a Kosovo player only given permission to make his debut for footballs newest country hours before taking to the field in Finland.And it wasnt just a meaningless consolation goal from Valon Berisha. Far from it.By converting the penalty, the former Norway midfielder ensured Kosovos first competitive match since gaining FIFA membership in May ended in a 1-1 draw, securing a point in Group I at the start of an improbable journey to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia.It is a very good feeling, Berisha said. I had dreamt about that. My uncle asked me, `For Gods sake, score the first goal for Kosovo. And I did that.Kickoff was less than five hours away when the sports governing body finally allowed six players who had represented other countries to switch their allegiance to Kosovo now the former province of Serbia is recognized as a football nation.The case of Berisha, who previously played for Norway, was the last to be resolved before the 9:45 p.m. (1845 GMT) kickoff. At exactly 11 p.m. -- an hour into the game in Turku -- Berisha netted Kosovos equalizer from the penalty spot after being fouled by Thomas Lam.The goal sparked celebrations among team officials who had endured a tense wait for FIFAs players status committee to clear Berisha to pull on the Kosovo jersey.Our team showed they are an interesting one with a good future, coach Albert Bunjaki said.We should not forget this is a qualifier for the World Cup and that we should continue the rhythm of our play. We have very interesting players, with a prosperous future.The Balkan nation is level with all the other teams in Group I as both Croatia-Turkey and Ukraine-Iceland also ended 1-1.---GROUP GFormer world champions Spain and Italy breezed through their opening qualifiers as they chase the only automatic qualification spot from the group.It was an emphatic start as Spain coach for Julen Lopetegui, who replaced Vicente del Bosque after the teams European title defense ended in the round of 16 in France in June.In an 8-0 troouncing of Liechtenstein, Diego Costa, David Silva and Alvaro Morata all contributed two goals, while Sergi Roberto and Victor Vitolo Machin also netted.ddddddddddddhere was also good news for Spain from Italys 3-1 win against Israel. Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini was sent off after receiving a second yellow so he will be suspended for the much-anticipated match against Spain on Oct. 6.When the Italians were reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute they were already leading 2-1 thanks to Graziano Pelles close-range strike and Antonio Candrevas penalty. Ciro Immobile eased Italys anxieties in the 83rd minute by netting the visitors third in Haifa.One game in the group wasnt completed, with Albania-Macedonia abandoned because of heavy rain with the teams drawing 1-1. The remaining 15 minutes will be completed Tuesday, kicking off at 2 p.m. (1200 GMT).---GROUP DGareth Bale set Wales on the path to reaching its first World Cup since 1958 with a double strike and an assist in a 4-0 victory over Moldova.The empathic display, albeit against a wretched Moldova side, was the first outing by the Welsh since they stunned the continent by reaching the European Championship semifinals in July.Bale was the inspiration on the field in the Group D qualifier just as he was in France, taking his international tally to 24 goals -- only four behind Wales all-time record scorer Ian Rush.Bales first goal in Cardiff was one of the easiest he will ever be gifted, connecting with a sloppy back pass from Moldova defender Ion Jardan before lifting the ball over the goalkeeper.Jardan also assisted Bales second goal in stoppage time. The Real Madrid forward was pushed over by Jardan in the penalty area and he converted from the spot. In the first half, Bale provided the cross that was headed in by Sam Vokes for Wales opener and he won the corner that Joe Allen scored from just before the break.Martin Hinteregger and Marc Janko gave Austria a 2-1 victory in Georgia. Daryl Murphy scored his first Ireland goal on his 24th appearance to recover a 2-2 draw against Serbia. ' ' '