kicked off with patches of empty sets in the Italian champions

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- After being introduced at centre ice, the new owners of the Phoenix Coyotes made their way down a red carpet in front of the team bench. Instead of just walking past and down into the tunnel, they pumped their fists at the players, shouted words of encouragement and slapped hands with anyone who was near the boards. The enthusiasm carried over onto the ice, sparking a rousing start to a new era in the desert. Radim Vrbata scored three goals, Mike Smith stopped 23 shots, and the Coyotes opened their first season with an owner in four years by routing the New York Rangers 4-1 on Thursday night. "It was real exciting for us to see how excited those owners were on the ice," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "When they walked back in front of the bench, they looked like they were living their dream, just like were living our dream with the jobs we have." With NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in attendance, the Coyotes introduced each member of the team and coaching staff before the game, then had the group of owners from IceArizona take their turn at centre ice. Charged by the raucous cheers for the owners and the playoff-like atmosphere inside Jobing.com Arena, the Coyotes jumped on New York early, answered the Rangers lone goal quickly, and ran away behind Vrbatas second straight hat trick -- dating to last season -- and fifth career. Kyle Chipchura also scored, Martin Hanzal had two assists, and Smith made some tough saves on a pair of early penalty kills, including one from his stomach on a shot by Benoit Pouliot. "Thats what everyones been waiting for the past four years," Vrbata said. "The fans liked it, we liked it on the bench and took advantage of it early on. Thats a good thing." The Rangers withstood Phoenixs initial surge in their first game under new coach Alain Vigneault, tying the game on Marc Staals power-play goal early in the second period. New York was no match for the Coyotes the rest of the way, missing on a couple of scoring chances while giving Phoenix too many, particularly during and after a power play in the second period that led to Vrbatas first goal. "If we get out of that period, keep the momentum after that power-play goal, it might be a different game," Rangers centre Brad Richards said. "Little details that we can control, and we got ourselves in trouble with those penalties." This opening night in the desert was one many didnt think would ever come. Ownerless since 2009, the Coyotes spent the previous four years playing under the shadow of an uncertain future. That changed over the summer, when George Gosbee, Anthony LeBlanc and the rest of IceArizona followed through where so many suitors had failed, purchasing the franchise from the NHL for $170 million. The deal revitalized the fan base and immediately triggered a change of fortune, giving Phoenix the financial footing to compete with the NHLs other 29 teams. They got the new era off to a great start, playing the kind of stay-at-home, counterattacking game theyve developed under Tippett in front of a sellout crowd of 17,125. "We competed well. We played how we need to play to be successful," Tippett said. "Smitty made some big saves, got a couple of big plays from some players, and its a good way to start." The Rangers went into this season with a fresh start of sorts, as well. Following the firing of coach John Tortorella, New York turned to Vigneault. The former Vancouver coach brought with him a softer voice than the growling Tortorella -- not a hard thing to do -- and promised an aggressive, attacking style. The Rangers faced some big obstacles to start the season, though. Captain Ryan Callahan was out for at least the opener, and forward Carl Hagelin will be out at least the first 10 games, both with shoulder injuries. New York also starts with a daunting road trip, playing nine games in 23 days away from home because of renovations to Madison Square Garden. The Rangers looked sluggish early in the opener, and Phoenix capitalized with Chipchura scoring on a one-timer off a feed from Rob Klinkhammer from behind the net. New York picked up the pace late in the first period and early in the second, tying it early on a goal by the defenceman Staal, who beat Smith with a wrister to the stick side. It was all Coyotes after that. Vrbata scored less than four minutes after Staals goal, collecting his own rebound and lifting it over Henrik Lundqvist. Vrbata made it 3-1 early in the third period on a power play, beating Lundqvist from above the left circle on a shot through traffic. He put the game away and sent the hats flying to the ice by completing the natural hat trick on a 4-on-4, punching in a rebound after creating a turnover behind New Yorks net. Vrbata also had three goals in last seasons finale against Anaheim. "That second goal really turned the game back to their favour," said Lundqvist, who made 28 saves. "It was a tough one." NOTES: The Coyotes said Vrbata is the first NHL player to have a hat trick in a season finale and in the opener of the next season since Los Angeles Luc Robitaille in 1988. He is also the first Coyotes player to open a season with a hat trick and the first to have an opening-game hat trick against the Rangers. ... Phoenix will play its next five games on the road, starting at San Jose on Saturday night. ... Rangers C Dominic Moore was on the ice for the first time in over a year after missing last season due to the death of his wife, Katie. ... Rangers C Derek Stepan, who signed a two-year contract late in training camp, had an assist. ... Phoenix played without D Rostislav Klesla (concussion) and F Paul Bissonnette (suspension). Thomas Vermaelen Belgium Jersey .com) - Roosevelt Jones had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead No. Adnan Januzaj Belgium Jersey . Or at least on everyone elses expectations. Costa Rica followed up its surprise win over Uruguay with another World Cup stunner on Friday, beating four-time champion Italy 1-0 to secure a spot in the next round and eliminate England in the process. http://www.soccerbelgiumfansshop.com/Youri-Tielemans-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ . -- Zach Johnson asked his short-iron approach on the par-4 18th to "Do something right, baby. Michy Batshuayi Belgium Jersey . Braves reliever David Carpenter was also fined for throwing at Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson in the same game, which featured several ejections, including Colorado manager Walt Weiss. Belgium Jerseys . -- Kevin Harvick pulled away on a restart with 47 laps to go and ended Chase Elliotts two-race winning streak in NASCARs Nationwide Series with a dominating victory early Saturday at Richmond International Raceway.TURIN, Italy -- Penalty specialists Sevilla beat Benfica 4-2 in a shootout to win the Europa League after a 0-0 draw in the final on Wednesday, claiming another international title for Spanish football. Sevilla goalkeeper Beto saved two spot kicks from Benfica forwards Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo who failed to deceive with stutter-step approaches to the ball. Substitute Kevin Gameiro stepped up to score the decisive kick as the drama played out at the end housing Sevilla fans who have seen this story before. Sevilla had ousted city rival Real Betis on penalties in the last-16 round, and also won this competition in 2007 in a shootout. The Portuguese champion had dominated regulation time yet failed to score, and extended its streak of losing European finals to eight matches over 52 years. "The best team did not win," Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said. "Benfica players should be congratulated," Jesus said. "There is nothing I can criticize." Sevilla had seemed destined to win a competition it entered only after UEFA denied two Spanish clubs places because of financial problems. It had also been seconds from elimination in the semifinals against another Spanish team, Valencia. "We know how to suffer and we know how to fight. I think the result was fair," said Sevilla coach Unai Emery. "Its a very special evening." Sevilla, which won the competition for the third time in nine seasons, ensured Spain will sweep the season-ending European club competitions, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meeting in the Champions League final on May 24. Next month Spain will defend its World Cup crown in Brazil and seek to clinch a record fourth straight major international trophy after winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012. Benfica, however, has not won a continental trophy since its greatest player, Eusebio, inspired two straight European Cup titles in 1961 and 62. Four months after Eusebio died aged 71, the Lisbon club missed another chance to end the unwanted record. Benfica returned to the scene of its semifinnals triumph against Juventus and the match kicked off with patches of empty sets in the Italian champions stadium.dddddddddddd Three early opportunities for Sevilla broke down for Carlos Baccas lack of finishing. The Colombia forward failed to shoot when collecting a pass across the goalmouth, drifted offside in a fast break started by captain Ivan Rakitic, and then could not connect with Rakitics angled low cross. A testy spell midway through the half lacked creativity, and even Rakitics shot from the centre circle drifted well wide of goal. Benfica ended the half strongly, aided by loose play in the heart of Sevillas defence. Sevilla relied on Beto for a double save, swatting away Maxi Pereiras looping shot from close range and then parrying Rodrigos low drive. Benfica claimed a penalty when Nicolas Gaitan fell under pressure from defender Federico Fazio who poked the ball barely wide of his own goal. Poor positional play by Sevilla defenders in the 48th was redeemed by three crucial blocks in the goalmouth as Lima, twice, and Rodrigo fired shots from 10 metres (yards). German referee Felix Brych rejected repeated Benfica penalty claims, with one clean tackle on Lima bringing a shower of flag sticks thrown by Portuguese fans behind Sevillas goal. At the other end, former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes twice tested Jan Oblak around the hour mark with rising shots straight at the Benfica keeper. Sevilla needed another saving tackle in the 72th, when Coke denied Lima as the Brazilian shaped to connect with Maxi Pereiras lateral pass. Benfica again finished the half on top, and Beto leaped to tip over Limas shot in the 84th. When Beto then lost a deep cross, defender Ezequiel Garay headed over an empty Sevilla goal as the scoring chances continued to go begging. Bacca could have won it for Sevilla when breaking clear in the 101st minute but his rising shot flashed just wide. But Bacca, like his teammates, made no such mistake in the shootout - as Sevilla repeated its success on spotkicks in the 2007 UEFA Cup final against Espanyol. 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