they are fasting and want to," he said. "It can be a spiritual and psychological aid."

MONTREAL -- It wasnt pretty or convincing, but it was a win and the Montreal Impact will take it. Ra Shede Hageman Falcons Jersey .
Felipe Martins scored in the 15th minute and the Impact held on for a
1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on a rainy Saturday afternoon
for their first win of the Major League Soccer season.
It was the Impacts (1-4-3) first victory in 10 league games since a 2-1
triumph over Philadelphia on Oct. 19 last season and their first clean
sheet since a 5-0 thumping of Houston last Aug. 24.
"We did a great job of fighting for every ball," said Felipe, who got
his team-leading second goal of the season. "But the most important
thing was the three points.
"We waited for this a long time and its very nice to be back with a
win."
The Union (1-3-5) are winless in their last seven games and havent
scored in their last two.
It was Montreals first home game on the grass field at Saputo Stadium --
after playing three times indoors at Olympic Stadium -- but the stands
were only half full in chilly, wet weather, although attendance was
listed at 19,075.
Felipe scored when Patrice Bernier stole the ball from Sheanon Williams
and took a long shot that Zac MacMath blocked, only to fall to the
Brazilian who banged in the rebound.
The Impact and goalkeeper Troy Perkins spent the next 75 minutes holding
off the Union, who outshot them 17-7 and wasted some glittering
chances.
"We have to grow and improve because we didnt play a good game for 90
minutes," said centreback Matteo Ferrari. "Some parts were good.
"But it was very important to get the three points. For us, it wasnt a
moment to play well but it was a moment to get points."
It was the first meeting between the teams since the Impact sent Andrew
Wenger to the Union for Jack McInerney in a swap of strikers three weeks
ago.
Wenger was dangerous all afternoon, taking four shots, including two on
goal.
He missed the net by a long margin in the 22nd minute, but five minutes
later forced Perkins to stretch out a hand to save a shot from the edge
of the penalty area.
"The whole teams been dangerous lately but we havent been able to put
the ball in the back of the net," said Wenger, who has one goal in four
games since the trade. "Thats whats frustrating.
"We knew they were dangerous on counterattack, like they were today, but
we had the better of the play going forward. We couldnt translate that
into goals and thats something me and some other guys have to figure
out."
McInerney had a glittering chance in the 54th, but MacMath dove to get a
hand on the shot.
The striker known as Jack Mac said it was fun to play his former
teammates.
"Whenever Id walk by someone there would always be a little comment
made, but at the end, it was business," he said. "Every tackle had a
little something extra in it."
It was also a first Impact win for former Chicago Fire coach Frank
Klopas, who replaced the fired Marco Schallibaum in December.
There had been grumbling among fans and the media that Klopas and
sporting director Nick De Santis should be let go if the teams record
winless run to start a season continued, although De Santis met with the
media during the week to give his third coach in as many MLS seasons a
vote of confidence.
The discontent showed when their staunchest supporters who cluster
behind the west goal held up banners that read: "3 years, 3 coaches, 1
De Santis."
"It felt really good," Klopas said of the win. "Some games are not going
to be pretty soccer and you have to find ways to compete.
"It gives us confidence. You can do things in training, but its
important to get results. You have more enthusiasm."
The Impact would probably wish to play again as soon as possible, but
they are entering a bye week and dont play again until May 7 when they
face either Ottawa or Edmonton in a Voyageurs Cup semifinal.
Their next league game is at home May 10 against Kansas City.
The Impact are 4-1-2 against Philadelphia in two-plus seasons in MLS,
including 4-0-0 in Montreal.
Fullback Hassoun Camara was shown the yellow card for clotheslining
Fabinho in the 37th minute. It was his fifth caution of the season and
he will be suspended for Montreals next MLS game.
The Union play next week at Seattle.
Notes: Fullbacks Camara and Jeb Brovsky were back in the starting 11 for
Montreal as Eric Miller and Maxim Tissot saw action as substitutes.
Calum Mallace, who started last week, was back on the bench as McInerney
started. . . Conor Casey and Crisitian Maidana were on the bench for
Philadelphia while Fabinho started.

Womens Tony Gonzalez Jersey .
And well he should.
The Serb outlasted Rafael Nadal to defend his Australian Open title in
the longest ever Grand Slam final and become the fifth man to win three
straight majors in the Open Era. Womens Tyson Jackson Jersey .
They sure powered their way past this latest deficit.
Carlos Gomez hit a three-run homer against his former team to spark the
comeback for the Brewers in an 8-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on
Thursday.ALGIERS, Algeria -- The Muslim players in World Cup teams that
have qualified for the second round in Brazil face a thorny question on
Sunday when much of the Islamic world will start observing the holy
month of Ramadan with a dawn to dusk fast.
The question is trickiest for the Algerian team, which faces a
formidable German side on Monday. There are also Muslims on the Nigerian
and French teams and those players also will have to weigh their
religious convictions against the possible effects of fasting on their
performance.
"We need to discuss it among ourselves," Algerian player Djamel Mesbah
said. "Its clear that our religion is very important for the team, so we
will talk about it and see how to go forward."
Athletes in the Olympics in 2012 faced the same hurdle, with many teams
allowing their players to eat during Ramadan so as not to impair their
performance and make up for it at another time or make donations to
charity.
While fasting during daytime over the 30 days of Ramadan, including
abstaining from drinking liquids, is mandatory for all able bodied
Muslims and one of the five pillars of Islam, there are exemptions,
including for the sick, pregnant, infirm or elderly. Those travelling or
going to war are also excluded and it is under this provision that most
athletes will likely delay the fast until a more suitable time.
Algerian team captain Madjid Bouguerra pointed out in interviews with
the Algerian press that it is a challenge Muslim players in European
clubs have long faced and when he was with the Glasgow Rangers, he
fasted but made sure he kept his performance up.
"The hardest thing is staying hydrated, but its ok, the weathers good
here," he said. "Some players will postpone their fast for another time,
but depending on my physical condition, I think I will do it."
Bacary Sagna, a Muslim player in the French squad, said that many of the
players who do it are used to it from their time in the European
leagues and able to function.
"As a Muuslim I know that there are certain rules that allow us to avoid
it," he told The Associated Press in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. Womens Kemal Ishmael Jersey. "Personally Im not going to do it, everyones free to do as they will
and I totally respect those that will do it."
From a religious standpoint, however, it becomes a bit more complex.
Islam lacks a central hierarchy like the Catholic church and any imam
can issue an opinion that is then obeyed depending on how much respect
they command.
Even in Algeria, which is bathing in the euphoria of qualifying for the
second round of the World Cup for the first time in its history, there
have been a range of opinions from religious scholars, with some coming
out quite strongly against fasting exemptions.
"It is not allowed for an Algerian player to avoiding fasting just for a
game -- they must fast because God is with those who fast and young
people can fast and play at the same time," said Mohammed Mekerkab, the
head of Algerias association of religious scholars.
He also dismissed the exemption for travel claimed by most athletes
since the provision was only for voyages undertaken in the search for
knowledge, health reasons or fighting jihad.
Algerias government-appointed High Islamic Council, however, has come
down in favour of those wanting to delay their fast. Sheikh Mohammed
Sherif Kaher, the head of the councils commission for religious opinions
said "those playing can abstain from fasting."
Dr. Hakim Chalabi, a specialist in sports and fasting who accompanied
the team to Brazil, admitted in an interview that it is a delicate
question because of the need for hydration and the increased risk of
injuries.
He noted, though, that fasting wasnt always a total hindrance to
players.
"We are often asked to urge players not to fast, but oddly, in some
cases, there are athletes that get better results during Ramadan because
they are fasting and want to," he said. "It can be a spiritual and
psychological aid."

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