KRAKOW, Poland -- Its a tough life on the road for new FIFA member Kosovo.Sundays 3-0 loss to Ukraine in a Group I game staged in Poland meant the Kosovans have conceded nine goals this week at neutral venues.Fresh off a 6-0 home loss to Croatia which was actually played in Albania because Kosovo still doesnt have a certified stadium, Kosovo had to face Ukraine in Poland because the Ukrainian government doesnt recognize the tiny Balkan nations independence.Second-best for most of the game, Kosovo nevertheless kept the margin to 1-0 until the 81st minute, when Andriy Yarmolenko scored one goal, then set up another, to end a five-game winless run for Ukraine. The Dynamo Kiev winger has scored in all three of Ukraines games so far in World Cup qualifying as the team tries to rebuild after losing all its games at the European Championship.There had been fears of crowd trouble but the game appeared to pass off peacefully.Ukraine took the lead thanks to Artem Kravets deflected first-half goal. Kosovo could have taken something from the game, with Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov coming close to an own-goal in the 61st before a Kosovan shot rattled the crossbar minutes later.Ukraine was angered by having three close penalty appeals turned down, but nerves were calmed when Yarmolenko controlled a cross from substitute Alexander Karavayev and slotted it into the net. Soon after, he set up the third goal for Ruslan Rotan, who had seen an earlier strike ruled out because offside players were interfering with play.---FINLAND 0, CROATIA 1Mario Mandzukic hasnt had much luck in front of goal for Juventus this season, but he cant stop scoring for his country.Fresh off a hat trick against Kosovo, the Croatia star scored the only goal of the game in Finland with a simple finish from point-blank range after Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky failed to deal with Andrej Kramarics cross.That keeps Croatia top of the group on seven points, level with Iceland and two ahead of Ukraine. Only the group winner qualifies automatically for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.Finland is level with Kosovo at the bottom of the group on one point.---ICELAND 2, TURKEY 0After Icelands impressive run at the European Championship, the success keeps coming.Turkey is the latest victim, beaten 2-0 in Iceland thanks to two goals shortly before halftime. The first was an own-goal from center-back Omer Toprak before Iceland forward Alfred Finnbogason scored with a volley 90 seconds later, hitting the back of the net for his third international game in succession.Iceland went out to France in the Euro 2016 quarterfinals. It reached the playoffs in 2014 World Cup qualification, losing to Croatia, which may prove its toughest opponent in the current qualifying campaign too.Coach Fatih Terims Turkey, meanwhile, now has just one win from its last seven games, continuing a miserable year which also included a group stage exit at the European Championship.Turkey has two points in Group I after three matches. Kyrie Irving Shoes For Sale . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Clearance Kyrie Irving Shoes . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. https://www.cheapshoeskyrieirving.com/ . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Wholesale Kyrie Irving Shoes . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Kyrie Irving Shoes Deals . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Long acknowledged as one of the best womens basketball leagues in the world, the WNBL is feeling the heat as season 36 tips off.With no television deal tabled for the second season running -- and at least ten local stars not appearing in the domestic competition this year -- the WNBL looks at first glance, to be on shaky ground.Newly appointed Head of the league, Sally Phillips, has barely had time to get her feet under her desk since taking up her post at the end of August but is optimistic about returning Australias longest running elite womens national competition to the top of the pile.With more than 25 years of basketball experience both on and off the court, Phillips is aware the challenge is manifold, given the rise of netball, AFL, cricket and football in the competition for womens sport sponsorship dollars, exposure, eyeballs and even playing talent.However despite off-court concerns and the retirement of drawcards such as Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor, the competition on-court is set to be tighter than ever and the opportunity is ripe for the next generation to announce themselves.Last seasons grand final combatants Townsville Fire and Perth Lynx look to be early favourites, but while the Fire are gunning for a third consecutive title in season 2016/17, the Lynx have high hopes of bringing the trophy back to the West for the first time since a Tom Maher coached side beat Dandenong in 1992 (as the Perth Breakers) to win the Citys sole title.Andy Stewart has a classy cast at his disposal with four US born players in the ranks. Monica Wright, Ruth Hamblin, Kisha Lee and reigning club MVP Sami Whitcomb are set to light up the Bendat Basketball Centre and even with the departure of Louella Tomlinson to Spain and the loss of Tessa Lavey to injury for the opening weeks, with Olympian Nat Burton and the promising Carley Mijovic, back in Perth colours the Lynx will be hard to stop.Up north, the rookie talent in the Townsville Fire side is Head Coach Claudia Brassard who will be hoping to start her WNBL time with a title. Last seasons MVP Suzy Batkovic will be raring to go after inexplicably missing Opals selection for Rio and with the likes of Micaela Cocks, Darcee Garbin and Mia Murray suiting up once more for the Fire, joined by Washington Mystics Natasha Cloud and fellow American Amy Kame there is plenty of firepower for Brassard to work with.Brassards predecessor, Chris Lucas has shifted south to head up the Adelaide Lightning coaching staff. The return of four-time Olympian Laura Hodges from France is a boon for this side and the addition of Samantha Logic from San Antonio Stars to the roster means Lucas has strong on-court leadership with solid basketball IQs as the side starts its rebuilding campaign. This may take time and with his focus on retaining local talent, Lucas might be missing some of the biggest names of South Australian basketball such as Abby Bishop and Steph Talbot but having Lightning and Opals legend Racheal Sporn heading up the clubs new academy prrogram the future in SA looks very bright indeed.ddddddddddddA big loss for the Adelaide side was the departure of All-Star playmaker Leilani Mitchell. It will be new Sydney coach Cheryl Chambers who will reap the benefits that Mitchell brings to the Flames out on the floor. If the diminutive point guard is on one end of the height spectrum, the reach of 201cm import Jennifer Hamson should be easy to pick out inside the paint. Add Belinda Snell, Sarah Graham and Conneticut Suns Asia Taylor to the mix the Flames boast a wealth of experience in their hunt to break a 15 year title drought.While its more of a dry spell than a drought its hard to believe that only three years ago Bendigo Spirit completed back to back title wins in sensational fashion. MVP on both occasions was Kelsey Griffin who returns this year as an Australian. The import spots now belong to Blake Dietrich (Seattle Storm) and Canadas Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe and when combined with the talents of evergreen Bendigo legend Gabe Richards the right on-court chemistry could signal the start of another run for the Spirit.Canberra Capitals are another side hoping for brighter prospects this season and new coach Paul Gorriss will be delighted at Mariana Tolos return from the WNBA. Tolo will be an important figure in the Caps resurgence alongside imports Jazmon Gwathmey and Micaela Ruef who suits up for her 3rd WNBL franchise in 3 years (after stints at Adelaide and Sydney). The Canberra side have a host of fresh faces after the retirement of Jess Bibby, Lauren Jackson and Hanna Zavecz as well as the departure of Abby Bishop, Steph Talbot, Renee Montgomery overseas and Rosie Fadljevic to the Rangers.In contrast, Fadljevic joins a fairly settled Dandenong unit with Ally Mallot and Natalie Novosel the other additions to the roster. Steph Cumming , Sara Blicavs, , Aimee Clydesdale, Jacinta Kennedy are all back for the Rangers and will be the experienced heads the coach Larissa Anderson hopes will take this side one better than last seasons semi- final finish.For the Melbourne Boomers anything would be better than last seasons finish. After a year destroyed by injuries in 15-16, Guy Molloy should certainly feel that things can only get better. New American import Chante Black will be a strong presence in the key, Bec Cole is back from injury, the influential Alice Kunek suits up again while Maddie Garrick was a beneficiary of the injury list last season, gaining important experience. Young gun Monique Conti debuts for a Rangers outfit looking to build a once more mighty franchise.As with each new season, before a ball is bounced its anyones to win. However if the league can continue to be entertaining as well as competitive and continue to draw increasing live spectator support as they have in the last two years, surely a return to the small screen must follow -- and that would be a win for everyone. ' ' '