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TORONTO -- When Michael Bradley stepped off the plane in Toronto after the United States heartbreaking loss to Belgium at the World Cup, he made his intentions immediately clear. "He came up to me and said, I want to train," said Toronto coach Ryan Nelsen. The 26-year-old midfielder is expected to play Saturday night when Toronto hosts D.C. United, returning to his Major League Soccer squad with mixed feelings about the Americans World Cup run -- sad that it ended when it did but proud of his teams performance. "Theres disappointment for sure because we felt like things had come together in a good way for us, and we felt like there was more there for us," Bradley said after Fridays practice at BMO Field. "Thats sports ... you realize in those moments again how fine the margin is between going home and going on. "I think for every guy on our team there is a huge sense of pride for the way we went about it when the spotlight came on the brightest. For every guy who was there, the commitment, the determination, the willingness to leave everything on the field in every moment was incredible." He rejoins a Toronto team that has been climbing the Eastern Conference standings. TFC is fourth (6-4-3), but with four games in hand over leaders Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United. Striker Jermain Defoe, who was left off Englands roster for the World Cup, said Bradley could easily have requested a week or two off to rest and decompress. "He decided to come in and he wanted to play. Thats brilliant. He had a fantastic World Cup and hes just ready to go," Defoe said. "Great character to say to the manager, Im up for selection, I want to play, I dont need to go away and have a rest." The Americans finished second in Group G, then dropped a 2-1 decision to Belgium in extra time in their dramatic round-of-16 game. "Its always a draining experience in the World Cup, especially when you get eliminated," Nelsen said. "Theres this incredible sense of finality to it, and it can have repercussions. Id be worried if it was any other player other than Michael." Bradley said the feedback from the Belgium game has been unanimous in that it was a great game to watch. "The drama at the end, all the emotion that went into it ... when youre little, those are the games you dream of playing in," Bradley said. "Unfortunately at the end somebody has to be on the losing side but when you get a taste of playing in those kinds of games, you want more." Bradley was overwhelmed by the support the team received in Brazil. Before their opening game against Ghana in the coastal town of Natal, the local paper reported 30,000 Americans had arrived in town. "Youre thinking, maybe well have a chance to have a home crowd," Bradley said. "We walked onto the field and the national anthem starts and the entire stadium was singing. Thats a special feeling, to be playing in a World Cup representing your country, thousands of miles away from home but having the entire stadium full of Americans. "The atmosphere, the people and the support pushed us on in such a big way." The success of the Americans, and the amount of attention paid to the team in North America, was seen as a big thumbs-up to MLS. Commissioner Don Garber posted on Twitter moments after the Americans elimination: "We proved to the world we are a soccer nation!" Six starters on the U.S. team, including star striker Clint Dempsey, play in the MLS, plus several other countries boast MLS players -- TFC keeper Julio Cesar is Brazils starting keeper, Australian international Tim Cahill plays for the New York Red Bulls, to name two. "Were all realistic, we all know the MLS is not THE best league in the world yet, but its on the right path, its growing, its continuing to improve, the quality gets better and better," Bradley said. "And when you get to the World Cup and see the number of players who come out of this league and have done well, and had a big impact on whats gone on there, you cant help but have respect for what goes on here on a weekly basis." The league recently attracted a couple more big stars. Spains all-time leading goalscorer David Villa is headed to New York City FC, while Kaka, a Brazilian and former star for Real Madrid and AC Milan, recently signed with Orlando. Theyre both expansion teams that will make their league debuts next season. Defoe called the recently Kaka news a "massive signing. Such a massive name." "Someone who has achieved so much in the game, great footballer, still has a lot to offer," he said. "The names just keep coming and coming and its only going to help the league. And obviously for me, I sit back and think Im so glad that Ive come over here, and just to be a part of it all is really good." Bradley, who tried to make time to watch Torontos games online when he was in Brazil, is excited to rejoin a team that looks poised for its first playoff appearance in franchise history. Toronto marked the end of the MLS break for the World Cup by tying the Red Bulls 2-2 on the road on Wednesday night, dictating much of the play before relinquishing the lead when the Red Bulls scored in the third minute of injury time. "Credit to all the players, and obviously the manager and staff ... were just improving each day, taking small steps but really improving as a team," Defoe said. Defoe scored the lone goal of the game when TFC beat D.C. United 1-0 in their second game of the season. "Weve played them already this season but we know theyve improved since then and we feel weve improved also," said captain Steven Caldwell. "So it should be a really good game, hopefully an attacking game. We feel for us weve really improved in that area, were looking very dangerous when we go forward, we just have to make sure weve got that nice balance and were tight at the back." Toronto plays its next three games at home. After Saturday, they host Houston on July 12, then the Vancouver Whitecaps on July 16. . - Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar each had two goals and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings secured top spot in the Eastern Conference by defeating the host Red Deer Rebels 7-4 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. . The question all fans want to know heading into this light heavyweight affair is will Rua display his true potential. Working with UFC welterweight fighter Demian Maias team in Sao Paulo Brazil and having training partners such as fellow UFC stand outs Fabio Maldonado and Daniel Sarafian, the 32-year old feels very well prepared for Friday nights encounter. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.com/patr ... rs-jersey/. Ashton scored a hat trick -- giving him 13 goals in 16 AHL games this season -- to power the Toronto Marlies to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Lake Erie Monsters in AHL action on Sunday. .com) - Delon Wright scored 17 points and No. . Head coach Randy Carlyle confirmed the news after the Leafs morning skate on Monday. Kozun was hurt during Friday nights home game against the Red Wings and did not make the return trip to Detroit for Saturdays game.GLASGOW -- All that Tamerlan Tagziev wanted to do was make his adopted homeland proud. He succeeded in impressive fashion at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday. The Russian-born freestyle wrestler arrived in Canada five years ago, and won his first international gold medal for his new country with a dominant victory in the mens 86-kilogram division final. Still trying to catch his breath after the match, Tagziev pointed to the Maple Leaf on his chest as the reason for his 14-4 manhandling of Nigerias Andrew Dick. "Its a big deal to represent our country. Im proud of being Canadian," said the 32-year-old who lives in Toronto. "Im so happy that I can make all Canadians happy. "Im so proud. The national anthem (played) for me." Tagzievs gold came on the heels Danielle Lappages earlier victory in the womens 63-kilogram division and capped a great event on the mat for Canada on a day that also saw Brittanee Laverdure and Jevon Balfour win silver medals. Canadian wrestlers finished with 12 medals -- a Games-high seven gold along with two silver and three bronze -- in Glasgow, tied with Nigeria and behind only Indias 13 (five gold, six silver, two bronze). Dick jumped out to an early 4-2 lead in the first round against Tagziev, but the native of Beslan, Russia, quickly countered to score 12 straight points. "I knew I was going to beat him easy," said Tagziev. "He surprised me (early), but I was sure I was going to beat him." Indias Pawan Kumar and South Africas Armando Heitbrink split the bronze medals. Meanwhile, Lappage defeated Indias Geetika Jakhar 7-0 in the womens 63-kilogram final to also cap off her first Commonwealth Games in style. "It was awesome. The Games experience, the whole thing was just incredible," said the 23-year-old from Olds, Alta. "The crowd was amazing. Ive never wrestled in front of this many excited people before." Lappage and Jakhar got off to a tentative start in their bout before the Canadian scored six points in the second round to seal the victory.dddddddddddd "I think that I was just really nervous and hesitant to make a mistake at the beginning," said Lappage. "As I warmed up I started to calm down a bit. "There was built up excitement and nervousness. I feel relieved. Im really excited." Cameroons Blandine Metala Epanga and Nigerias Blessing Oborududu won bronze. Earlier in the day, Laverdure suffered a nasty hand injury in the closing moments of her loss in the womens 55-kilogram division final to Indias Babita Kumari. "I looked down and the finger was poking out of the skin," said the 32-year-old Calgary lawyer, who shrugged off the pain to accept her silver along with bronze medallists Louisa Porogovska of England and Ifeoma Nwoye of Nigeria. Laverdure, who also hurt her shoulder last year and only got back competing in March, found herself down 5-0 halfway through the match before falling 9-2. "For me it was a slow start because I shouldnt give up the first four or six points because they take the points and shut down," she said, before adding: "Im happy with a silver." Canadas other podium finish in wrestling came by way of Balfour, who dropped the mens 65-kilogram final to defending Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt of India by a score of 10-0 in the first round. "I knew he was a good wrestler," said 19-year-old from Brampton, Ont. "I dont know if that got to me or not, but hes a good wrestler. Obviously he knew what he needed to do. "I know what I need to work on. I need to train harder." Sampson Clarkson of Nigeria and Scotlands Alex Gladkov settled for bronze. Balfour said that despite the disappointment of his final match in Scotland, he was pleased with his first Games. "My personal goal was to medal. If I didnt medal, I would be pretty upset at myself," he said. "I dont like going to a competition, coming all this way, and not getting on that podium." ' ' '