Toronto FC versus Philadelphia Union games have followed the same path this season.

TORONTO -- Toronto FC versus Philadelphia Union games have followed the same path this season. Bart Starr Jersey . Toronto scored first, had a player sent off and then gave up a stoppage-time goal to Jack McInerny -- both off a long Sheanon Williams throw -- as the two earlier meetings ended in 1-1 ties. "They stole four points off us with the long throw in the dying minutes," said Toronto manager Ryan Nelsen. "That has kind of faded away from our game hasnt it? ... Those stoppage-time goals they fade away." The numbers seem to back Nelsen up. Once a generous provider of goals in the final 15 minutes, Toronto has given up four goals less in that period at 14 than the Los Angeles Galaxy this season. FC Dallas (15), the Montreal Impact (15) and Chivas USA (23) have also yielded more late scores in 2013. Tied for 14th with the New York Red Bulls in that category is hardly cause to celebrate but it is a step up for a team that has a history of giving late goals away. The good news for Nelsen this week is that Toronto (5-15-11) is coming off a rare win and has healthy personnel options. Forward Robert Earnshaw has recovered from a hamstring problem, leaving only striker Danny Koevermans (calf) and midfielder Matias Laba (toe) on the sidelines. The manager believes Toronto can do some damage as the season winds down. "Philadelphia, they have all the pressure on them," said Nelsen. "Their home fans will expect an easy win. Theyll expect to come and do a number on us. "All I can say is our guys are really motivated. We want to ruin a few guys seasons, to tell you the truth. Weve got three games to ruin some seasons and we want to win games. Its as simple as that." Toronto finishes its schedule against three teams in the playoff hunt, with games in Philadelphia, in Chicago and at home to the Montreal Impact. With Toronto out of the playoff picture once again, Nelsens players are working to retain their jobs ahead of another off-season overhaul. For some, the die has already been cast. Fullback Richard Eckersley, whose US$400,000-plus contract has been deemed too large, is expected to sit once again in favour of Mark Bloom for a fourth straight game. "Hes been fantastic. He wants the ball. He looks like a guy whos been in the league for a long time," Nelsen said of Bloom. "Hes playing a position where we should be worried because of his inexperience but were not," he added. "That shows you how well hes done." Nelsen acknowledges that Eckersley has committed no crime, other than wield a contract that is too big for the teams salary cap to handle. "Hes a fantastic fullback, hes a great fullback. In MLS, theres not one club that would not want Richard Eckersley," said Nelsen. But the manager is not about to shed any tears for the English fullback. "Hes on guaranteed money and he still gets paid. Theres guys out here on semi-guaranteed contracts on minimum (MLS) wage." Defender Steven Caldwell and midfielder Jonathan Osorio both return from suspension Saturday. Darel Russell will likely get another start in centre midfield. "Darel Russell has arguably been our best player in the last two games," said Nelsen. "Youve got to reward his application in the games." Philadelphia (11-10-9) has four games remaining with coach John Hackworth estimating it will make the playoffs with two wins and a draw. "This is a game where we really need to maximize the points," he is quoted on the teams official website. The Union are coming off a 1-0 win in Kansas City, with Conor Caseys goal ending a 346-minute scoreless streak dating back to Aug. 25 The shutout was the 11th of the season for Zac MacMath, tying him with Portlands Donovan Ricketts for most in the league. NOTES -- Toronto will wear white for the second week in a row, a consequence of the leagues breast cancer awareness campaign. Toronto goalie Joe Bendik wore all pink last week at home, prompting the referee to tell Torontos outfield players to switch to white because their red was too close in colour to Bendiks gear. With the Philadelphia goalie wearing pink this time, Toronto will stick to white. The game will also feature balls with pink trim ... A Philadelphia win would be a season-best 12th for the franchise. Dave Robinson Jersey . The Jets have now won three straight at home and four of the last five at the MTS Centre. After a scoreless first period, Brad Marchand scored his first goal in eight games eight seconds into the second. Paul Hornung Jersey . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. http://www.officialgreenbaypackerspro.com/Ray-nitschke-packers-jersey/ . Hernandez (3-0) struck out 11 and shut down Oakland for the second time in a week, becoming the first Mariners pitcher to win three times in the first nine games of a season. With the usual "Kings Court" for Hernandez home starts expanded to a "Supreme Court" encompassing the entire stadium with yellow shirts and "K" cards, Hernandez gave up four hits in the 28th double-digit strikeout game of his career. MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester City smashed through the 100-goal barrier in the Premier League with a 4-0 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday that moved the team two points clear with a game left and within touching distance of a second title in three years. City turned a match gripped with tension into a procession with four goals in the final 26 minutes, with Edin Dzekos double ending Villas stubborn resistance and Yaya Toures spectacular solo goal completing the scoring in injury time. A draw at home to West Ham on Sunday will be enough for City to settle a thrilling title race, with only Liverpool capable of stopping them. Chelsea, in third place, has been knocked out of contention. If City does go on to capture the championship, it will have done so in style under attack-minded coach Manuel Pellegrini -- just as was desired by the clubs Abu Dhabi owners. "In the way we play, I am very happy to win the title this way," said Pellegrini, speaking as if the Premier League trophy was already in Citys hands. "There are different ways to win titles -- I choose this one with attractive football ... Maybe you can win titles other ways. For me, the esthetic part is very important." City has been most pundits favourite the whole season but the team is doing it the hard way -- just like in 2012 when it won the title with two injury-time goals in its final match. Pellegrinis side has been top for just 11 days this season - compared to 59 for Liverpool, 64 for third-place Chelsea and 128 for fourth-place Arsenal. But City has hit form just as Liverpool has started to blunder, dropping five points in its last two games. City, by contrast, has won its last four matches and has a superior goal difference of 13 to Liverpool. Also Wednesday, Sunderland beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to guarantee another season in the Premier League and virtually relegate Norwich, which is three points behind West Brom but with a much inferior goal difference. There was a party atmosphere inside Etihad Stadium as City fans celebrated Toures brilliant goal, a powerful run through Villas defennce from inside his own half. Jaire Alexander Jersey. For the first 63 minutes, however, it had been very different. Villas packed defence had held firm under constant pressure and it was looking like one of those nights for City. Pellegrini remained calm on the touchline, though, and the hosts didnt abandon their passing philosophy, eventually making the breakthrough in the 64th when full back Pablo Zabaleta -- on yet another raid down the right -- crossed for Dzeko to steer home from close range. The goal was greeted by an outpouring of relief by the home fans but Dzeko -- and Zabaleta for that matter -- werent finished. From another teasing centre by Zabaleta, Samir Nasris effort was saved by goalkeeper Brad Guzan but the ball landed at the feet of Dzeko, who dribbled the ball into the corner in the 72nd for his fifth goal in three games. Villa started to push forward and that played into Citys hands. Toure cut the ball back for substitute Stevan Jovetic to curl a low shot into the corner from the edge of the area in the 89th, before the Ivory Coast midfielder capped the win with an emphatic fourth, his 20th of the campaign. "An amazing amount of goals," Pellegrini said, who hailed Toure as "the absolute complete midfielder." Chelseas Frank Lampard is the only other central midfielder to score 20 or more goals in the Premier League era, in the 2009-10 season. A month ago, Sunderland manager Gus Poyet said it would be a "miracle" if his team stayed up but thats exactly what it has done after first-half goals by Jack Colback and Fabio Borini against West Brom. Sunderland has picked up 13 points from its last five matches -- including wins over Chelsea and Manchester United and a draw at City. "I dont know if you will see something similar ever again," said Poyet, whose team is only the second since the Premier League started in 1992 to be last at Christmas and stay up. Despite the loss, West Brom is effectively safe as it is three points clear of Norwich but with a goal difference 17 better ahead of Sundays final round of the season. ' ' '