o they can both get a feel for each others playing style. "I know that well probably skate together for two or three weeks before camp starts," he said. "Playing with a guy like that is easy." The Senators gave up plenty to get Ryan, sending forward Jakob Silfverberg, prospect Stef

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- The final score might not have been historic, but it was sufficiently satisfying for a team trying to take the first step toward a historic gold medal in womens soccer.The Americans beat New Zealand 2-0 on Wednesday. Carli Lloyd scored the opening goal in the ninth minute, while Alex Morgan added the second in the opening minute of the second half.There were uneven moments and lulls that left a crowd to figure out the minimum attendance required to successfully pull off the wave (when it wasnt booing U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo with increasing delight every time she touched the ball). But in its sixth Olympics, the United States opened with a win for the fifth time.The United States remains in Belo Horizonte to play France on Saturday, a matchup of medal favorites and two of the top three teams in the world.More to come, but here are three observations from the Group G opener.1. Injury questions answeredWell, mostly answered. Some deft juggling at halftime marked Megan Rapinoes only appearance on the field once the game began. U.S. coach Jill Ellis elected not to give the veteran her first minutes since suffering a torn ACL in Hawaii in December.But it didnt take long to get a feel for the status of Morgan Brian and Tobin Heath, the other two health concerns entering the tournament. Both were in the starting lineup for the first time since June. And both, as Ellis suggested beforehand, looked ready for duty. That was particularly true of Heath, so easily overlooked but such a dynamic presence in wide spaces and on set-piece deliveries. She set up Lloyds opening goal and created several other chances.Squad rotation will be a common phrase here, but Heath looked indispensable enough to likely squeeze minutes from Crystal Dunn, Mallory Pugh or both.2. Midfield questions remainThere is a difference between a problem and a question. And after one game, the composition of the midfield behind Lloyd remains squarely in the camp of the latter. But there are questions as to how things best fit together after Ellis elected to pair Morgan Brian and Allie Long in the starting lineup for just the third time. That arrangement pushes up Brian to the No. 8 role, while Long fills the No. 6 role that Brian played through much of the World Cup (although rarely ever before that). And the arrangement pushes Lindsey Horan to the bench.Brian was able to slip in the ball that Morgan converted for the second goal, although Brian wasnt always a noticeable presence as the U.S. women went wide.Given that Ellis probably never intended to play Brian 90 minutes in her first start back, it made for an easy swap when Horan came on midway through the second half. And with the condensed schedule of this tournament, all three are going to play. Still, it leaves open the question of what happens against France? Ellis was pleased with the way her team played when those teams met earlier this year, and that was with Brian and Horan paired together to deny French possession.3. Carli Lloyd is agelessLloyd is effectively the same age in this tournament as Abby Wambach was when the World Cup began a year ago. That was a farewell tour, a role and minutes that had to be delicately managed. Lloyd at 34? Just put her out there for 90 minutes and let her score. She might have more memorable highlights than a looping header to the opposite post, but she put the ball in the net for the fifth game in a row at a major tournament.Site Asics Pas Cher . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Asics France Soldes .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. http://www.franceasics.fr/ . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Asics Magasin France . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Chaussure Asics Pas Cher . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country.OTTAWA -- Seeing himself as a bit of a chameleon, Bobby Ryan believes he can blend in on just about any team. And while he is convinced that he will adapt to any spot in the lineup, the new Ottawa Senators star forward has no intention of filling Daniel Alfredssons skates. Ryan made an appearance in the nations capital Wednesday for the first time since being acquired in a July 5 trade from the Anaheim Ducks. "I dont think theres anyone whos going to take that place," the 26-year-old Ryan said of the leadership role former captain Alfredsson had on the team. "Especially with what hes done in the community," he added. "If anybodys going to do that, its going to be (Jason Spezza)." The Ryan trade was overshadowed by Alfredssons surprising decision to sign with Detroit as a free agent after 17 seasons in Ottawa. Ryan said it will take some getting used to being in a hockey-mad market like Ottawa. "Its a completely different culture from what its been like the past six years," he said. "(Being in Ottawa) is a completely different way of viewing hockey. I cant wait to be a part of it." Ryan is expected to play on the Senators top line alongside Spezza and says in addition to getting to know the city, he needs to get to know his fellow teammates.dddddddddddd He says hes spoken to Spezza a couple of times but they havent yet skated together, something Ryan said he needs to do so they can both get a feel for each others playing style. "I know that well probably skate together for two or three weeks before camp starts," he said. "Playing with a guy like that is easy." The Senators gave up plenty to get Ryan, sending forward Jakob Silfverberg, prospect Stefan Noesen and a first-round pick in 2014. Ryan had 11 goals and 30 points last season in Anaheim, where he played in the shadow of teammates Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. "Last year was kind of a write-off," he said of the lockout-shortened season. "It just never really took off for me." Ryan said hes happy to moving to the East Coast so he can be closer to his hometown of Collingswood, N.J., a suburb of Philadelphia. "I get to be in Philly and play there, too," said Ryan. "So Im excited about that." ' ' '