TORONTO - While Toronto FC has spent the year scouring the globe for talent, its surprise player of the season is a local product acquired before the new management regime took over. Rookie midfielder Jonathan Osorio, identified as a player to watch early in training camp by first-year manager Ryan Nelsen, has shown an opportune scoring touch in grabbing the spotlight. Osorio, who turned 21 in June, has started eight games and seen action in 10 more with Nelsen playing him both in centre midfield and on the flank. "Hes one of the absolutely top young talents in this league," said Toronto president and GM Kevin Payne. "I put him at the same level as (Gyasi) Zardes and the other forward (Jose Villarreal) from Los Angeles that everybodys making a big deal about. "I think Johnnys actually probably got a better all-round game than either one of them." Nelsen believes Osorio is a legitimate rookie of the year candidate. "For a guy who you could kind of say is coming out of nowhere in a way, its been an absolutely fantastic year," said the former New Zealand international. "But what I love about Jon is that he only wants to get better and wants to improve every day." Thanks in part to Osorio, Toronto snapped a six-game winless streak last weekend with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew. Osorio scored in the 87th minute to pull Toronto into a 1-1 tie that set the stage for Andrew Wiedemans 94th-minute winner in a torrential downpour at BMO Field. While he had been shifted to the wing recently, the arrival of Spanish winger Alvaro Rey is likely to return Osorio to the middle. Osorios four goals are second only to Robert Earnshaws six on a team where goals have been hard to come by. Toronto has just 19 in 21 games. Top strikers Danny Koevermans (calf) and Earnshaw (hamstring) have both been sidelined of late. Osorio says hes always had "a nose for the (penalty) area." "Im one to always attack the box and I think I do it pretty well. So as long as I keep doing that — thats where more than 50 per cent of the goals happen in football." Osorios goals have all come late. And would have meant more had it not been for defensive lapses. Osorio scored in the 78th minute against Los Angeles (the Galaxy replied in stoppage time for a 2-2 tie), in the 66th minute against Philadelphia (the Union scored in stoppage time for a 1-1 tie) and the 83rd minute against New York (the Red Bulls scored in the 89th minute for a 2-1 win). "Its a great story for our other academy kids," said Payne. "When they see kids actually transition from the academy to the first team and get games and have the opportunities to make impacts, that really helps their confidence. They now believe that Wow if I work hard, there really is a pathway. "That kid is very talented. Johnny Osorio. Hes a tough kid ... He looks like a cool, detached sort of player on the field but he actually has a great deal of emotion within him. He plays with a lot of passion." Osorio didnt spent much time with the Toronto academy. He signed in September after impressing with SC Toronto in the Canadian Soccer League. In February, he was at Toronto FCs camp in Florida and was included in Nelsens his first starting 11, against the Columbus Crew. "You knew it right there, he had confidence in me to play and to be ready to play at a professional level," Osorio said. The young Canadian says he is growing in confidence every week. "I feel really good out there," he said. "Im always hungry to score goals or assists or help the team in any way." Said Nelsen: "Nothing fazes him. Not even bad moments in games. He always tries to do things positively. Instead of going into his shell, he tries to keep doing stuff. And I love that because the game and life in general rewards those people." Osorio took the long road to his home-town club, spending two years at Club Nacional in Montevideo, Uruguay, thanks to his talent and the connections of coach Jorge Amura at the Clarkson Sheridan Soccer Club in suburban Mississauga. He spent two years there, starting in the under-19 ranks before making his way into the reserves before deciding to return home at the end of 2011. Nike Roshe Clearance Sale . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Nike Roshe Sale Cheap . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. http://www.discountnikeroshe.com/ . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Discount Nike Roshe Shoes . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Clearance Nike Roshe . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. One of the most, if not the most, iconic smaller weight fighters in mixed martial arts history intends to hang up his gloves at the end of the year.Former WEC featherweight champion and four-time UFC title challenger Urijah Faber, 37, announced on Monday he plans to retire following a Dec. 17 fight against Brad Pickett in Sacramento, California.Faber (33-10) is a longtime Sacramento resident and the founder of Team Alpha Male gym, which currently houses Chad Mendes, Cody Garbrandt and Paige VanZant, among others. A former collegiate wrestler, Faber made his professional fighting debut in 2003 and is universally credited for drawing early attention to smaller weight classes.Ive been teetering with [retirement] for a long time, said Faber during an appearance on The MMA Hour. The thing that Im lucky [about], I have my health and I really love what Im doing, but just as far as the passion goes -- I have passion for what Im doing still, but it doesnt get the same emotion that it has in the past.My favorite fighter of all time is Roy Jones Jr., and I remember them talking about him kind of feeling that -- where he was playing little basketball games the same day as a boxing match. [My last couple fights] II havent found that emotional rise and fall.dddddddddddd That is kind of a strange thing for me. I still love what Im doing and thats the reason why Im doing it, but I just feel like this is going to be something thats going to be an emotional thing for me.Faber was the face of the WEC earlier in his career. He won the championship at 145 pounds in 2006 and went on to defend it five times. His title reign included a submission win over now-UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in 2007.Between 2011 and 2016, Faber appeared in four UFC bantamweight title fights but came up short in each one. He suffered a close decision loss to Cruz at UFC 132 in a fight he since has said he thought he won. He also took a TKO loss against Renan Barao in 2014, even though he was showing a thumbs-up to referee Herb Dean at the time the bout was called.In 2012, Faber coached a season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series.Faber will face a fellow veteran in Pickett (25-12), who also fought in the WEC prior to joining the UFC. The televised event will take place at Sacramentos Golden 1 Center. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
