DELRAY BEACH, Fla. Calvin Pryor Jets Jersey . -- Serena Williams levelled the United States Fed Cup World Group playoff match against Sweden, waiting out a long rain delay to beat Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-2 on Saturday. In the opening match, Swedens Sofia Arvidsson beat Sloane Stephens 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. The top-ranked Williams finished off the 66th-ranked Larsson in 66 minutes under the lights. "Ive been through many rain delays so I know what to do," Williams said. "I was back there with the team just trying to stay as fresh as I could." The winner of the playoff is rewarded with a spot in the 2014 Fed Cup World Group competition. The losing team will play in 2014 World Group II action. On Sunday, the teams will play the reverse singles matches and doubles with Varvara Lepchenko and Venus Williams scheduled to face Arvidsson and Larsson in the fifth match of the weekend. "Were in a good position," U.S. team captain Mary Joe Fernandez said. "Every match is a big match, and looking forward to tomorrow." Swedish captain Lars-Anders Wahlgren was happy with the 1-1 tally. "Of course its a little bit of a surprise for the Swedish team its 1-1," Wahlgren said. "I always believe in my girls that I work with. I was hoping for even two-love with a good positive thinking." Williams dominated Larsson from the outset, posting 31 winners, five aces and scoring on four of five break-point opportunities the Swede offered. Larsson did have three break-point chances in the second set -- two in the first game and one in the third game. Larsson made two unforced forehand errors on her first two break-point chances, and Williams hit a forehand winner on the third. "She played a lot better and I also made more errors in the second set than the first set," Williams said. The 16th-ranked Stephens was playing her first Fed Cup singles match and was clearly nervous. "Unfortunate that I didnt get my first Fed Cup live rubber win at this home tie," Stephens said. "But its OK. Just got to keep pushing and get ready for the next one." Stephens played a sloppy and rushed match, while the 54th-ranked Arvidsson manipulated Stephens throughout most of the two-hour contest. The 29-year-old Arvidsson is playing in her 48th Fed Cup tie and has a 48-35 overall record in Fed Cup competition. "I was focusing on myself and just trying to play my game," Arvidsson said. "The wind was difficult, but just tried to be aggressive and be the one who hit first." Stephens acknowledged that Arvidssons experience was a great benefit for the Swede in the match. "Definitely tough losing to her," the 20-year-old Stephens said. "I played someone that really knew what they were doing. Definitely a lot to learn from. Just going into my next tie Ill definitely know what to expect."http://www.nfljetsus.com/Elite-Geno-Smith-Youth-Jersey-New-York-Jets-7-Road-White-Nike-NFL-88.html . 1 team in the FIFA rankings, and the host nation will kick off as No. 3. Spain and Germany remain 1-2 in FIFAs monthly standings, while Brazil leapfrogs No. Jace Amaro Jets Jersey . That obstacle in the divisional round of the postseason was of course, eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay. The field-stretching Packers had the opposite game plan than Atlanta, which primarily opted to run first before letting quarterback Matt Ryan do his thing in the pocket last season.GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Kevin Dineen learned quickly what the U.S. womens hockey team is all about ahead of the Sochi Winter Games. In his debut as Canadas womens team head coach, Dineen watched his club drop a 4-1 decision Friday to the Americans in exhibition action. "Tremendous amount of respect for that opponent, thats an exceptional team there," said Dineen about his first taste of the U.S program. Brianna Decker scored the eventual winner for the Americans while sisters Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux each had a goal and an assist. Hilary Knight added one more to round out the offence. Haley Irwin scored Canadas lone goal of the game as Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette picked up assists. U.S. goaltender Molly Schaus earned the win while Shannon Szabados took the loss for Canada. Irwin opened the scoring for the Canadians at 17:22 of the first period. But the lead didnt last long as Monique Lamoureaux tied it for the Americans with less than 10 seconds to go in the first frame. "Getting scored on in the last 10 seconds of the first gave them momentum and we made some pretty big mental errors," said Irwin. Things got worse for Canada in the second period as they gave up three goals in a seven-minute span. Decker scored for the U.S. at 8:37, Knight tacked on another at 13:24 and Jocelyne Lamoureux made it 4-1 just over two minutes later. "There were preventable plays that led to scoring chances," said Dineen. "The second period was an area I thought we were out played." The Americans not only controlled the scoreboard through the first 40 minuttes, but they kept the Canadian squad from any real scoring chances. Antonio Allen Jets Jersey. Heading into the third period Canada had registered just 11 shots on goal. "Ive seen that we need to look for ways to create more offence," said Dineen. "Certaintly putting pucks on the net is a good way to start and we didnt do that enough tonight." The Canadians tried to battle back in the third period, but couldnt find a way to beat Schaus. Eventually, emotions took over and with the game out of reach. Tempers flared in the final minute as 12 players -- six from each club -- were handed penalties with just eight seconds remaining in the contest after a 10-player altercation unfolded in front of the American net. In total, 10 fighting majors and a string of other infractions were dealt. The two teams also fought in October late in a game in Burlington, Vt., with all 10 skaters squaring off late in the third period. They had another big scrap in 2010. "Its no different than any other rivalry in sport," Irwin said about the tussle. "That emotional part that came out at the end for both teams ... obviously you dont want players to have major penalties, but emotions do run high in hockey." Dineen took his first international coaching job after Dan Church stepped down unexpectedly last week with less than two months before the start of the Sochi Olympics. Dineen served as head coach of the NHLs Florida Panthers for just over two seasons until he was fired last month. The Americans will host the Canadians in an exhibition game Dec. 28 in St. Paul, Minnesota. ' ' ' |