The wait continues for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Since joining Major League Soccer in 2011, the Caps have been unable to win against their Cascadia foes; the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers. The latest disappointment came Saturday night at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, where the Whitecaps wasted a great opportunity to get all three points. Instead, they came away with nothing after a second half performance where they fell apart defensively, letting slip a 2-1 halftime lead against a severely understrength Seattle team that was missing six players due to international call ups, injuries and suspensions. Beating their Pacific Northwest rivals for the first time was one of the objectives set out by Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie ahead of this season, and now in two attempts so far this year they have fallen short. On both occasions, they were holding a lead as they headed into the closing stages of the match. Poor defending cost them at home to Portland last month in a 2-2 draw, and again on Saturday, they were undone by individual mistakes and some below par performances. In Seattle, an injury to central defender Andy OBrien influenced the outcome of the match, but even before the Republic of Ireland international went off, it seemed only a matter of time before the home team would find the tying goal. The second half fight back from the Sounders overshadowed an excellent first 45 minutes from the Caps and a couple of really well taken headed goals by Camilo. They were playing a high tempo, getting forward well and rarely looking threatened defensively. But it was a different story after the break. Had referee Hilario Grajeda not made a terrible call to award a free kick instead of a penalty, the Sounders would have had a spot kick before OBriens injury. When Jun Marques Davidson hacked down Obafemi Martins inside the box, it was a lucky escape for the Whitecaps when the referee thought the incident had occurred outside the penalty area. It was clearly the wrong call. However, there was no denying the Sounders a penalty later in the half when substitute Greg Klazura made a reckless challenge on Lamar Neagle. After, Servando Carrasco tied the match from the resulting penalty, the Sounders then won the game with a goal from Lamar Neagle after good work by Martins. It was a well worked goal, but the Caps defending made it far too easy for the Sounders to find a path to goal. So it was a familiar feeling for Whitecaps fans. A thousand of them had travelled down the I-5 and they contributed to a fantastic atmosphere with a crowd of over 53,000 packed into CenturyLink. But for those Caps fans in the stadium and watching at home, it was the same old story - a massive letdown in one of the games that matters most against one of their biggest rivals. In a Western Conference filled with quality, the Whitecaps now have a three match stretch against teams they really need to beat if they are to challenge for the playoffs this year. Back-to-back home matches plus a trip to the leagues worst team DC United will provide the opportunity to close the five point gap between the Caps and the top five. Martin Rennie has talked about the need to make it count at times when the schedule gets more favourable for his team, but in their current situation that is now looking like a major challenge. The defence is a major concern. With Jay DeMerit out long term, and Andy OBrien, Brad Rusin and Caryle Mitchell injured, Rennies team will have to face this crucial stretch with a makeshift backline. The loss of OBrien is a massive blow, not only because of his own defending, but the way in which he organizes those around him. The trade of Alain Rochat last week now looks to have come at a bad time, as the Whitecaps really need additional bodies at the back. So there are big challenges ahead for a club that has not met expectations so far this year. There is plenty of quality within the squad, but it is getting to the stage in the season where that quality has to produce on a more consistent basis rather than letting points slip away, otherwise the Whitecaps will find themselves with too much ground to make up. Matthew Adams Hoodie . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Cheap Colts Hoodies Store . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. http://www.cheapcoltshoodiesjerseys.com/ . 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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The trend in the NFL over the past decade has been away from the bell-cow running backs of the 1970s and `80s, instead keeping fresh legs and healthy players on the field.Andy Reid has been doing it longer than that.As the Chiefs prepare for their season opener Sunday with a four-headed backfield of Jamaal Charles, Charcandrick West, Spencer Ware and Knile Davis, they are doing so with the understanding that all of them will get ample opportunities to make plays in Reids offense.Its really never been a problem, Reid said of distributing the carries. Ive done that a number of years; before I came here I did it. So well find a way to get it in their hands.It could be easier in the opener against San Diego with Charles still working his way back from last seasons ACL surgery. He participated in practice Wednesday, but Reid has said its a stretch that the four-time Pro Bowl running back will make it on the field this week.Still, that leaves a capable trio of West, Ware and Davis to handle the ball.West and Ware combined for more than 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, most of them after Charles went down in Week 5. And they have complementary skillsets that give the Kansas City offense another unique twist for which defensive coordinators must prepare.Perhaps it wasnt surprising that they worked so well in tandem.Only once in his head coaching career has Reid had a running back carry more than 300 times in a season, and that came with Duce Staley in 1999 -- his first season with the Eagles. In fact, there was rarely a running back that came close to that total the following 16 years.Instead, it was more common for Reid to split carries among two or three options.Take the 2003 season, when the Eagles went 12-4 and made it to the NFC title game. Staley had 96 carries for 463 yards, Brian Westbrook had 117 carries for 613 yards, and Correll Buckhalter led the way in attempts with 126 carries for 542 yards. The trio also combined for 20 touchdowns rushing and seven receiving.Five times Reid has had at least two running backs wiith 100 or more carries in a season.ddddddddddddThats the thing about our coaching staff: They dont show favoritism, West said following Wednesdays morning walk-through. The best man is going to play and we respect that.West said it is never predetermined how the carries are split up going into a game. Reid and new offensive coordinators Brad Childress and Matt Nagy will instead go with the hot hand.Its commonsense, West said. I mean, we have smart coaches. If someone is rolling, were going to keep them rolling. I think that way even if Im on the sideline.That approach should, in theory, allow the Chiefs running backs to establish some sort of rhythm, which is usually the biggest drawback of going with a committee method.I wish I could put them all out on the field, Chiefs running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said with a smile. We come out with a personnel group and call it `Cadillac or `Jet personnel and get them all out there. Lets just go line up and play ball.Well, that probably wont be feasible this week.The Chiefs are taking a slow-and-steady approach to getting Charles, who missed all four of their preseason games, into the mix. They would rather have him for the long haul than Week 1.Meanwhile, West has been nursing a pesky elbow injury, though hes expected to play Sunday.On many teams, having two running backs hobbled for the opener would be reason to fret. But considering Reids history and their committee approach, it hardly seems like a reason to worry.Im very blessed and fortunate to have guys that understand what it takes to be a pro, Bieniemy said. They do a great job of understanding all the rules of things thats going to help them be the best player that they can be.Game notes Reid said everyone on the 53-man roster participated in practice Wednesday, including LB Tamba Hali (knee). He sat out most of training camp and all four preseason games.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Wholesale NFL Gear Cheap Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap ' ' '