GO at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. \'You want to finish on a high, with

MONTREAL - After a devastating start to the season, Patrice Bernier would love to see the Montreal Impact head into the World Cup break on a high note. Dante Brazil Jersey . The Impact (2-6-4) host D.C. United tonight before a two-week respite from Major League Soccer, and Bernier says a tough defeat against third-place United (6-4-4) could hurt the teams morale, and undo much of their recent success. Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. "You want to finish on a high, with positive emotions," the Impact midfielder said after practice this week. "We want to start the second half of the season with good energy, so its important to take points from a conference rival. We havent quite reached our full potential yet. We have to use everything weve done over the last few weeks, use that intensity, and finish with something to build on before the two-week break." After stumbling out to a horrible start, the tide may be turning for the Impact. While still at the bottom of the MLS standings, with only 10 points from 12 games, Montreal has strung together a few convincing performances in the last four weeks. The team has only lost once in its last six games (3-1-2) in all competitions, has posted consecutive clean sheets, and is unbeaten at home in its last three. The Impact havent conceded at Saputo Stadium in the last 206 minutes. Whats more, the Impact are flying high after taking home the Amway Canadian Championship last week, beating their Toronto FC rivals in the second leg of the final on home soil. "Its good to walk with your chest up a little, with broad shoulders and with more confidence," Impact coach Frank Klopas said of the teams newfound optimism. "But you have to stay level-headed and continue to work. We cant let anything get to our head. The attitude and the mentality have to be right — and then we can enjoy the break." Montreal is facing a consistent D.C. United club on a good stretch of their own. Ben Olsens men have only lost twice in their last 12 contests — both defeats coming in one-goal decisions on the road. D.C. is stingy at the back. Theyve conceded an MLS third-best 14 goals on the season — only Toronto (13) and Los Angeles (11) have surrendered less. Goalie Bill Hamid has only been beaten three times in his last six games. And like the Impact, United have recorded back-to-back clean sheets. At the other end of the pitch, Fabian Espindola is playing equally well. The Argentine striker, who has scored in three consecutive contests, leads the team in almost every offensive category. He has seven goals, five assists, 34 shots, and 14 shots on target so far this season. "They have a team where if we lose our concentration or focus at any moment, it can hurt you," said Klopas. "They have a lot of talented players in the final third that can create problems. We cannot lose our focus. "Its a tricky game because you cant be thinking about the break. Weve worked so hard that we cannot relax right now. The attitude has to be the way its been in the last couple of games. If we dont, were going to make it very difficult on ourselves." Klopass men seemed to lose their focus the last time these two teams met on May 17, settling for the 1-1 draw after conceding late to DCUs Eddie Johnson. The Impact took the lead in the 56th minute courtesy of Jack McInerney, but coughed it up five minutes from time. Montreals lax defending allowed Espindola to send a cross in the penalty box to a loosely-covered Johnson, who headed it home. Wary of a similar outcome, Klopas made sure his team focused on their box defending in training on Monday. Bernier says the Impact squad that blew the lead at RFK Stadium last month is long gone. "The group is more solid in defence," he said. "We arent giving up many chances. Up front, were creating chances and were winning tight games. Were more confident and better organized now. Were working better as a team. Were giving up fewer freebies than we did at the start of the season." The Impact could be without the services of midfielder Justin Mapp, who hurt his groin in the Canadian Championship final. Mapp, who played three games with D.C. United in 2002, didnt practise with his teammates on Monday, instead doing various strength exercises along the sidelines. Officially match fit for the first time in more than six months, Spanish defender Adrian Lopez was on the pitch practising with the team. Lopez tore his right ACL in September and underwent surgery the following month. Although he is cleared by the team doctors, he will likely make his first appearance for the club after the two-week break. Notes: D.C. United are one point off the Eastern Conference lead. … Montreal and D.C. have split their six all-time meetings (2-2-2). … Newly-acquired Mamadou Danso could make his Impact debut on Wednesday. … Espindola missed a penalty kick deep into stoppage time against Columbus on Saturday. The goal would surely have given D.C. a 1-0 victory. … McInerney has four career goals versus DCU. … The two teams meet up one final time when they wrap up their MLS seasons on Oct. 25. Bernard Jersey . TSN.ca has exclusive live streaming of the First Four round match-ups. Catch tonight and Wednesdays games beginning at 6:30pm et/3:30pm pt. The winner of this matchup between these two 16th-seeded squads advances to face the tournaments top overall seed, Kentucky, in the second round on Thursday. Fernandinho Jersey . -- Age really is just a number for Eduardo Sebrango.NEW YORK -- Robinson Cano shrugged off the boos in his return to Yankee Stadium and walked away a two-time winner. Cano doubled and drove in two runs to help the Seattle Mariners beat the New York Yankees 4-2 Thursday night behind an impressive pitching performance from rookie Roenis Elias. Michael Saunders had three hits, including an RBI double, and Elias struck out 10 in seven innings as the Mariners won their fifth in six games following an eight-game skid. Seattle took both games in a rain-shortened series that marked Canos first trip back to New York after leaving for a $240 million, 10-year contract last off-season. "Both days felt good because both days we won, so it has to feel good," Cano said. The All-Star second baseman was booed again and finished the series 2 for 9 with three RBIs. Seattle has won four straight at Yankee Stadium dating to last season. "There werent any expectations from the crowd today. I just wanted to go out and take care of business," Cano said. "You have to understand the fans, but it is not going to be a distraction for me." Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda (2-3) gave up four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits in six innings, lowering his ERA slightly to 5.14. It was an improvement over his previous outing Friday night, when the 39-year-old right-hander was hammered in a 13-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. "I think its a step in the right direction," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "A lot of nights thats going to be good enough to win." Elias (2-2) gave up a leadoff homer to Jacoby Ellsbury but not much else in his first appearance against the Yankees. The left-hander from Cuba threw 73 of 110 pitches for strikes, starting 75 per cent of his 28 batters with a strike. He allowed six hits and one earned run while walking two. Yoervis Medina worked a perfect eighth, and Fernando Rodney got three outs for his sixth save. "The adrenaline comes from the spotlight," Elias said through a translator. "Ive never been to the stadium so it was good to come here and beat the Yankees. Ive seen it on TV but never been here." Ellsbury, who sat out Tuesday with a sore left hand, sent Elias fourth pitch to right field for his first home run with the Yankees. It was New Yorks first leadoff shot since Derek Jeter connected at the Chicago Whhite Sox on Aug. Maicon Jersey. 21, 2012. Elias, who skipped Triple-A, struck out the next three batters and settled in from there. Showing good command of a sharp curve, he induced two double-play grounders and struck out the side in the fifth. "He was hitting his spots. He was getting ahead. He pitched a good game. Hes got a good arm," Jeter said. "Sometimes pitchers are going to be better than you. He threw really well. Hes not a typical lefty who tries to trick you. He gets it up there pretty good." Cano hit an RBI double in the first and a run-scoring groundout in the third after Jeter made an error at shortstop. Brad Miller dumped a two-out RBI single in front of hesitant left fielder Brett Gardner in the fourth. Saunders followed with a ground-rule double that made it 4-1. New York cut it to 4-2 in the sixth on Brian McCanns run-scoring single with two outs after Cano was charged with an error. Elias retired Yangervis Solarte with two on to end the inning. The Yankees did not get another baserunner until a two-out single by pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki in the ninth. "The young man threw a tremendous game. We thought hed be OK in this environment," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said about Elias. "The young man is tough." NOTES: After the rainout Wednesday, the Mariners pushed back ace Felix Hernandez one day to Friday night in Houston. Elias had been scheduled to start Wednesday, followed by Hernandez on Thursday. "Give him an extra day and it also gives Elias an extra day. It just made sense," McClendon said. "Felix has been taxed quite a bit and hes pitched on regular rest for quite a while. Its an opportunity to get him where we need him to be. His last two outings have not been sterling outings, I think we would agree. So it gives us a chance to freshen him up and get him back on the right track." ... Seattle has not announced a starter for Saturday or Sunday. McClendon said its possible All-Star RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (finger) will come off the disabled list to make his season debut this weekend. ... McClendon sat struggling CF Abraham Almonte, who was replaced by Saunders in the leadoff spot. Almonte entered on defence in the eighth. ... Many players on the Mariners received autographed Jeter jerseys -- but not Cano. ... Ellsbury has 11 career leadoff homers. cheap jerseys from china ' ' '