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PARIS - Edinson Cavani scored after just 57 seconds as Paris Saint-Germain beat Apoel Nicosia 1-0 on Wednesday in a scrappy game to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.The strikers fourth goal in as many games threatened to spark a rout, but PSG ultimately flattered to deceive.With injured striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic watching from the stands, Cavani also hit the post while Brazilian winger Lucas spurned other first-half chances.But the well-organized Cypriot side defended resolutely and PSGs performance became disjointed as the game wore on.We deserved to win by a bigger margin, and we should have scored more, PSG coach Laurent Blanc said. We were a bit clumsy but we did what we needed to do.PSG, unbeaten so far this season, has not lost at home in European competition since Nov. 2006 and tops Group F with 10 points —one more than Barcelona, which won 2-0 away to Ajax thanks to two goals from Argentina star Lionel Messi.Hopefully we can finish top of the group, because thats an advantage, even if its a small one, Blanc said. The fact were not conceding goals is a big advantage in the Champions League, and what I saw tonight reassured me that were very solid at the back.Ibrahimovic is nursing a heel injury and hopes to be fit to face league leader Marseille on Sunday.Cavani started at centre forward, flanked by Ezequiel Lavezzi and Javier Pastore.Having scored a last-gasp winner away to Apoel two weeks ago, it was the total opposite this time — with a well-taken effort signalling the Uruguay forwards return to form after some poor early-season performances.Full back Gregory van der Wiel broke down the right and picked out Cavani just inside the penalty area. With his back to goal, he flicked the ball up, spun and hit a firm shot that goalkeeper Urko Pardo fumbled, as the ball slipped through his fingers and rolled over the line.Apoel missed its only chance to level in the 12th minute when midfielder Nuno Morais whacked a shot high over the bar after goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu had beaten away a header from midfielder Vinicius.After a brief spell of neat possession from Apoel, PSG exposed the visitors weak left flank.Pastore released Lucas after a quick one-two and, from his curling cross, Cavani beat Pardo with a stooping header that hit the right post. The rebound fell to Lavezzi but, with Pastore getting in his way, he was unable to shoot.Lucas saw his angled shot skim just past the left post in the 27th, and soon after he left three defenders in his wake as he burst from midfield before forcing Pardo into a low save.Apoel looked lively at times going forward, only to lose possession too easily.This is our worst performance of the group stage, Apoel coach Giorgis Donis said through a translator. We cant feel sad about it because we didnt deserve anything. We conceded an early goal and lost our concentration.From one failed attack, Pastore carved a hole in midfield and released Matuidi, who then touched the ball on to Cavani, bearing down from the right. But Cavani hesitated, decided against shooting, and then lost his footing as he tried rounding Pardo.With only 64 seconds played of the second half, Cavani almost repeated the his first-half trick but fluffed his shot from the near the penalty spot and, three minutes later, his curling effort went wide of the upright.His goal was the least easy chance he had, Blanc said. Hes a lad wholl always score goals but hes also lacking a bit of spontaneity in front of goal.Lucas then tried jinking his way to goal, but got the ball tangled up in his feet after trying to beat a third defender, and the crowds frustration was audible when Cavani hit a shot well over after Pastores cut-back from the right.Pastore had the next go and saw his effort saved as he tried to dink the ball over Pardo from a tight angle.Cavani should have done much better with 10 minutes remaining, swiping a shot wide and then substitute Jean-Christophe Bahebeck saw his shot charged down in the last minute.Although PSG was rarely troubled, this performance was not one to send fear into Europes other big clubs. Larry Csonka Youth Jersey .5 million, four-year contract with the Texas Rangers that could be worth $32. Cameron Wake Youth Jersey .C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes used a strong third period to extend their winning streak to three games. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Christian-Wilkins-Jersey/ .com) - John Wall supplied 24 points and 11 assists in leading the Washington Wizards to a 102-91 win over the New York Knicks on Christmas Day. Mark Clayton Dolphins Jersey . Leave it to Matt Niskanen, the newly proclaimed Eddie Haskell of the Washington Capitals. Michael Deiter Dolphins Jersey . -- Creighton apparently has Villanovas number.DUNEDIN, Florida – The Yankees roughed up R.A. Dickey on Wednesday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dickeys final appearance before he throws his second consecutive Opening Day for the Blue Jays. Dickey met with the media to preview the season, discuss the clubs decision to keep Josh Thole over Erik Kratz and outline his plans for the next few days. He will not travel with the team to Montreal. Here is a transcript of the conversation: QUESTION: R.A., kind of one last chance to work a few things out as opposed to looking at it as a regular season game? DICKEY: Oh yeah. Today was not a day about results for me. I mean, ideally, it would be great to get out of there with some clean innings but what was paramount for me was to exercise my arm in a way where I felt good and I was able to use a large range of velocities and mix in pitches that I would never throw during the regular season maybe to put it in their head that thats another weapon that I might use on them later. So I did exactly what I wanted to do. I got my exercise. I came out of spring feeling good. It was a good spring for me. My velocity is there. Now its just a matter of going to work." QUESTION: Not to say anything bad about Kratz but with Thole now being named your guy, I mean he has more experience with you than pretty much any catcher. Is that a good feeling to know that Tholes going to be your guy this year? DICKEY: Yeah. Look, Kratz did a great job. He improved every time out. There is, obviously, no replacement for experience and I think thats probably the angle that the leadership was coming from in making the decision to stick with Thole. Its important for us to get off to a good start, I think, this year and whatevers going to help us do that, so to take that doubt, even if it was just a miniscule doubt, out of the equation completely is good for me. Its good for everybody. QUESTION: But they didnt ask you personally what you thought? DICKEY: No and I didnt want them to. I wanted them to evaluate it on their own. They have enough baseball people in place to be able to see with their own eyes and make the decision accordingly. Thats a tough position for a teammate to be put in and I didnt want any part of it. QUESTION: Are you comfortable throwing to (Kratz) if that happens later in the season? DICKEY: Absolutely. I thought he did a very good job of improving every time out. QUESTION: Are you as ready as you think you can be for your Opening Day assignment? DICKEY: Yes. I feel prepared. I feel confident, which is great. Last year, I didnt feel very confident simply because I didnt feel as prepared. Im really looking forward to getting started and being able to adjust my schedule this year in a way that really maximizes my preparedness has been great. To have the two games where I pitched eight innings and then to have this taper down outing is great. QUESTION: R.A., what are your plans for the two or three days the team is in Montreal? DICKEY: Well, Im going to be hanging back and staying with Josh. Josh is going to stay back. Well throw a bullpen on Friday and then well probably head over together on Saturday, meet the team and it will become regimen after that. The season will begin and Ill just be working out at the minor league complex until its time to go. QUESTION: At the beginning of camp, you were talking about how hopefully somebody steps up and becomes that surprise guy. Now youve got McGowan and Hutchison making the rotation. Has camp pretty much gone as you expected that, you know, you get some kids that come out and maybe a McGowan that no one expected? DICKEY: Yeah, I dont think it ever goes as you expect it to. Theres always a knuckleball thrown in there, you know, for lack of a better word. This year, you know, some guys have been called on to step up that maybe werent expected to. McGowan probably didnt come into spring training thinking he was going to be a starter. He may be our fourth guy in the rotation and great, hes got the stuuff for it and I think he wants to do it.dddddddddddd Like I said early on, its going to take one or two guys that you dont really count on when you come into camp stepping up and doing something special and weve got those guys in place right now. QUESTION: R.A., the routine you got back to this spring, was it very similar to what you would have done in New York or were their adjustments? DICKEY: No, its almost exactly like 2011, 2012 for me where I was able to pitch a lot early on and then get to a place where I felt comfortable with my stuff and could just go out there and get my exercise that last outing. Again, this outing in particular for me was not at all about results. It was much more just about conditioning. QUESTION: You had that upper back and neck issue, obviously, last year. Was that something that was even bothering you at the end of camp or was that something that didnt really pop up until later? DICKEY: No, I was having to kind of step on the gas. A lot of times you labour to get to where you want to get to and I was labouring last year. This year, I feel like its just coming pretty naturally for me so thats a big encouragement. QUESTION: Is there an overall different feeling with the team as you get set to break camp compared to last year? There was so much going on, expectations were different. Whats the difference in feeling this year? DICKEY: I think the heartbeat is a lot different this year. I think, one, were very comfortable. If I had a word to describe what this camp has been, its been comfortable. Guys really know that this is a big year for us collectively. Were kind of getting a mulligan this year. Last year, a lot of things went wrong. This year, were pretty much all healthy, were here, weve been here all spring, weve been able to do relationship with one another and now were in a much different place than we were last year and its a much more comfortable place. QUESTION: So does that mean it was uncomfortable a year ago? DICKEY: It was for me, sure. I mean, coming in and out of camp, WBC, people flying all over the place, people getting hurt, yeah it was uncomfortable. I dont think it was what anybody wanted last year but every team has to deal with adversity throughout the season. We just were forced to deal with it very early on. Hopefully, this year, we will not have to do that. QUESTION: Your thoughts on pitching Opening Dday. You got to do it last year but theres got to be something special about taking the mound in that first game? DICKEY: Yeah, Ive worked my whole career to try to be trustworthy. I think thats something Ive always longed to be for a team is a trustworthy component. When you get the ball on Opening Day, the manager is saying, We trust you. Thats a special thing and its not something I take lightly at all and so Im very excited and very honoured to have the honour. QUESTION: Getting back to the health issues, did you do anything differently in the offseason to change your conditioning regimen in response or in a way that might curb the possibility of a recurrence? DICKEY: Yeah, I started earlier. I started earlier in the sense that last year, at the World Baseball Classic, I had to be game-ready a lot earlier in the spring than I did this year because youre competing in, basically what it came down to, an Olympic event. You just had to really step on the gas and my body just wasnt ready for that. This year, I didnt have that. I could really take my time and I did take my time. I started a little bit earlier and I was able to pump the brakes a little bit when I needed to and get to a place where I felt very comfortable taking the next step and then the next step. Youre always trying to eliminate excuses. You dont want to have to say, well I dont feel great, or I have a WBC or we werent together. Now were starting to eliminate all those excuses out there that you could hold on to that could make you less than who you should be. So for me, being prepared and being healthy, those are not excuses for me. ' ' '