SANTIAGO, Chile -- Arturo Vidal made his much-awaited return from injury as Chile beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in its final World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday. Brandon Weeden Cowboys Jersey . Vidal, who underwent knee surgery just a month ago, made an unexpected appearance as a 76th-minute substitute, and immediately made an impact. Two minutes after coming on, the Juventus midfielder made a fine pass to Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez lobbed the ball to striker Eduardo Vargas, who headed in the first goal of the match. Sanchez made another inch-perfect pass four minutes later that Mauricio Pinilla sent into the net to seal the win at the Elias Figueroa Stadium in the port city of Valparaiso. "The decision to let him play was agreed with both the medical team and Arturo. It was important to let him play some minutes and we got a chance to see him again," Chiles coach Jorge Sampaoli said after the match. "Arturo had a very short recovery and he came were we need him to, thanks to his boldness," Sampaoli said. He always wanted to play this game, and although we had some doubts, he cleared them all. Tomorrow hell have to get into the rhythm of things so he can be in the opener...It no longer depends on his knee, but on the level for competition." Vidal underwent knee surgery on May 7 and had been in doubt for Chiles World Cup opener against Australia on June 13. Chile also faces defending champion Spain and 2010 finalist Netherlands in Group B. Throughout the match, midfielder Jorge Valdivia orchestrated Chiles attack and created good scoring opportunities that were denied by superb saves by goalkeeper Roy Carroll. Chile continued to struggle to find a way past a defiant Northern Ireland defence until Sanchez, Vidal and Vargas showed the class which Chile will rely upon at the World Cup, which kicks off on June 12. Cowboys #34 Jersey . The Winnipeg Jets head coach, whose parents are French-Canadian, lost much of his mother tongue the result of playing and coaching hockey in the U.S. but still speaks enough to get by. Charles Haley Cowboys Jersey . He didnt even match his first-half total from Friday night. He didnt have to, with the Knicks offering him plenty of support for a change. SOCHI, Russia -- The Detroit Red Wings dont expect Henrik Zetterberg to play again during the regular season. Zetterberg had back surgery Friday in New York to remove a fragmented disk. "I dont anticipate hell be ready to play in any games of the regular season," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told The Associated Press on Saturday. "Im hopeful that we can play our way into the playoffs and that hell be back, but thats down the road." The Red Wings and Swedish Olympic hockey team captain played once at the Sochi Games before pulling out because of the injury. Holland is hopeful Zetterbergs back injury does not prematurely end his career. "Im told it has nothing to do with his career," Holland said. "But the surgery is something that needed to be done and hell be as good as new." Detroit, which is aiming to earn a spot in a 23rd consecutive NHL post-season, is competing for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The team announced Friday that Zetterbergs status would be evaluated again in eight weeks, a timetable that likely ruled him out for a return before the regular season endds on April 13. Chuck Howley Cowboys Jersey. The playoffs begin April 16. "Were using the eight-week period, but it could be six or seven or it could be longer," Holland said. "In December, when Z was having some issues and we shut him down, we were aware there was a fragment in there. We were hopeful he could get through the season. "Unfortunately, the fragment lodged itself in a nerve." Zetterberg is expected to stay in New York until he is cleared to return to Detroit in perhaps a few days. "Hes up and about, hes walking," Holland said. "He just has to take it easy for a while." With 24 games left, it will be hard for Red Wings to compete for a spot in the playoffs without Zetterberg. He has 16 goals and 32 assists -- both team highs -- in 45 games this season. He missed most of December because of his back injury. "Its going to be a tight race just like last year to end and we need all the bodies we can get," said Red Wings and Sweden defenceman Jonathan Ericsson, who will face Canada in the Olympic gold-medal game on Sunday in Russia. "Hank has been our best player all year." cheap jerseys from china ' ' '
