When I reported the Whitecaps link with Pedro Morales on the last day of February, I imagined keyboards clicking all over Vancouver as fans tried to unearth some sense of who this so-called "number 10" was. Devin Hester . The resume looked good, and the YouTube video clips were encouraging, but anyone can cram a players best career moments into 10 grainy minutes. So when Morales finally made his debut at BC Place on Saturday amid a thunderous welcome there was still a big unknown factor to this new designated player. With his first touch, the 28-year-old Chilean reeled in a through ball with his left foot, before swerving it into the path of Sebastien Fernandez, which eventually led to a Whitecaps corner. From there, Morales never turned over possession. In the 77th minute, he brushed the ball forward with his chest, bought some time in a midfield pocket, and clipped a through ball for a wide open and onside Kenny Miller - and the game was over. Simple, effortless, quality. A minute later he pulled out some trickery to release Nic Mezquida who ultimately forced a save, and then more "oohs and ahhs" from the sellout crowd as he cleverly dummied a ball for Laba in minute 85. Reactions from the Whitecaps Residency players were priceless. Like kids watching a birthday party magician, they squealed with delight at every touch. Among them, 17-year-old Marco Bustos; another natural No. 10 who ironically has some Chilean blood. What was going through his mind in minute 89 as Morales stroked home the 4-0 goal with one perfect connection from his right foot? Yes, it was only 25 minutes. But Whitecaps fans left BC Place Saturday wondering what kind of magic Morales could provide when he gets a full 90. Josh Wilson .Y. -- When fifth-ranked Stanford went to the locker room at halftime leading Army by only seven points, head coach David Shaw realized he neednt worry.Peria Jerry . Tortorella told The Vancouver Province hell be cheering for Team Sweden to win gold when they take on the defending Olympic champions on Sunday morning. "I hope Sweden wins, cause I dont think Hammer (Dan Hamhuis) is going to play, judging by whats happened.ROME -- Roma beat Napoli 3-2 in the first leg of their Italian Cup semifinal on Wednesday thanks to a double from Ivory Coast forward Gervinho. The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. But Gervinho scored the winner two minutes from time. "In our league, ninety per cent of the matches are played defensively but its good to play like this against strong players," Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi said. "Its good to see games like this, theyre an advert for football. "It wasnt good for us mentally to concede a minute after the restart. But after they made it 2-2, we responded brilliantly. Another good game like tonights awaits us in Naples." Napoli started the brighter but it was Roma which broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Gervinho ran onto a delightful through-ball from Francesco Totti and rounded goalkeeper Pepe Reina before firing home from three meters. Strootman doubled Romas lead in the 32nd with a stunning rocket into the top right corner from more than 30 metres. Gonzalo HHiguain pulled one back for Napoli a minute into the second half as the ball deflected off Mehdi Benatia and goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis got his hands to it but could not prevent it from going in. Gabe Carimi. It was the former Real Madrid strikers 16th of the season. Substitute Dries Mertens levelled in the 70th, four minutes after coming off the bench, when he burst between two defenders and blasted an effort past De Sanctis. Gervinho secured the match for Roma when he collected Alessandro Florenzis pass and coolly slotted into the near side of goal. Udinese, which has eliminated both Milan teams, beat Fiorentina on Tuesday in a match which saw three wonderful goals. Antonio Di Natale broke the deadlock in the 36th minute with his first goal from open play since September but Juan Manuel Vargas smashed an effort in off the underside of the crossbar a minute from halftime. Substitute Luis Muriel scored a long-range winner for Udinese, which is hoping to reach the final for the first time since 1922. Both sides eliminated illustrious teams in the previous round. Napoli knocked out holder Lazio, while Roma defeated Juventus, which is on course for a third successive league title. ' ' '
