and two punts.We have to find ways as an offense to

Sebastian Giovincos arrival at Toronto FC from Juventus last year was a surprise to many. An Italy international, landing from one of the worlds elite leagues at the peak age of 27, Giovincos move was to some more integral than David Beckham, Kaka and Frank Lampards song-and-dance arrivals.Why? Because Giovinco was one of the first 20-something players to take the leap to MLS with so much still to prove. Giovinco has taken MLS by storm since his move to Toronto FC. We take a look at the diminutive forwards finest moments. Beckham was 31 when he joined LA Galaxy, but with nearly 100 England caps having just won the Liga title with Real Madrid.Kaka had won nearly every personal and team prize in the game before moving to Orlando last year, while Lampard, like the others, had nothing left to prove with over 600 Premier League appearances and 177 goals.Giovinco played a bit-part role in Juventus side since 2013, and had earned just seven Italy caps in two years having previously been a regular.His career hadnt reached its peak, but instead of taking a step back and searching for European football across the continent, he took a risk by joining a franchise who had yet to reach Major League Soccers play-offs in their eight-year history. Giovinco has scored two in two for Toronto this season Make no mistake, he is paid handsomely. His salary of $7.1m a year is the second-highest in MLS in 2015 behind Kaka, but the pressure of the price tag has not shown. He scored 22 goals in 33 MLS appearances as Toronto FC reached the play-offs, and was named 2015 MVP winner, Golden Boot winner, Newcomer of the Year winner and single-season points record winner for goals and assists combined.Giovincos transfer to Toronto to was very surprising, says Sky in Italys Augusto De Bartolo. No Italian players went to MLS at the peak age of their careers. The last two established Italians to choose soccer were Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo, but they went in the twilight years.He is the most important player in the young history of Toronto FC, he has won all of these awards without changing his style of play. The Italian was WhoScored.coms player of the season for MLS in 2015 He was not fully appreciated in Italy, due to the desire of the coaches to use players with physical strength. He made the choice to move to MLS when he was still on the roster of the Azzurri at an age when players generally show all of their potential.Just 5ft 4ins and with bags of skill, Giovinco has suited MLS to the ground. His low centre of gravity and eye-catching guile has been a breath of fresh air to the league, which is enjoying a period of rapid growth.Giovinco has been so impressive, he even attracted a small approach from Barcelona of all clubs.I didnt believe it myself, Giovinco told SportItalia last year. It was true though, even if there was nothing concrete. A small approach, shall we say. Sky in Italys August De Bartolo says Giovincos style is comparable with Gianfranco Zolas For those yet to watch him at length on these shores, one comparison springs to mind.When you watch Giovinco on the pitch, the only player you think of is Gianfranco Zola, says Sky in Italys De Bartolo. They are not only very similar on a physical and technical basis, but in their career too.Like Giovinco, Zola was not fully appreciated in his country, and moved to another championship. It is not uncommon for Italians to notice the value of a player when he leaves the country. It happened with Zola, it is happening with Giovinco. He is a little big player, like Zola.Zola earned just 35 caps for Italy, retiring after not being selected for the 1998 World Cup, but Giovincos international career has life left in it - one of a growing number of players to see their national team prospects improve following a move to MLS. The leagues retirement home tag is fading, and Giovinco has contributed to much of the erasing.In my opinion, Giovinco could play in La Liga, the Premier League or Bundesliga. Many thought his decision would prevent him playing a big role at Euro 2016 with the Azzurri, but Antonio Conte is still considering him as a big resource for the squad. Steven Gerrard and Andrea Pirlo both moved to MLS, but Giovinco took the challenge on his mid-20s He played the last two matches of the Euro Qualifying campaign against Azerbaijan and Norway, and Conte actually prefers him to Napolis Lorenzo Insigne.Could that Barcelona interest, or that of any other European powerhouse, turn from small to something serious? Like many MLS stars, the anonymity of life in the league is a major positive, something Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Pirlo have all strongly referenced. Giovinco scored a fine goal in Torontos 2-2 draw at NYC FC last week Giovinco told The Guardian last year: The difference between Italy and here is that here we can enjoy time with family, time with friends. So after training, we can just go for a walk, go for ice cream, shopping, whatever. And when we do get stopped by fans, they are very respectful. Its a difference lifestyle, and Im definitely enjoying it.The faster the league grows, and the more Giovinco stars, the sooner that might change, but his risky move has paid off. Watch Giovinco in action as Toronto FC travel to Sporting Kansas City on Sunday evening in MLS, live on Sky Sports 5HD at 11pm Also See: WATCH: Incredible Amarikwa chip 10 MLS questions for Ridgewell WATCH: MLS top 5 young players WATCH: MLS ridiculous questions Replica Soccer Jerseys . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Clearance Soccer Jerseys . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Soccer Jerseys China . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers talked throughout the offseason about avoiding a Super Bowl hangover.It might be time to get the aspirin.The Panthers suffered a colossal meltdown on Sunday, blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter and losing 20-17 to the Kansas City Chiefs.It was a game that the defending NFC champion Panthers (3-6) likely would have closed out a year ago. But now they are in danger of joining a long list of teams with lackluster results the year after losing in the Super Bowl.The last time a Super Bowl losing team returned to the championship game was the 1993 Buffalo Bills. Carolina had won two in a row coming into the weekend, but that momentum is gone now.We had the game pretty much won and we obviously made some critical errors there, tight end Greg Olsen said.Kelvin Benjamins fumble at the Carolina 34-yard line with 20 seconds left was the biggest error. The miscue set up Cairo Santoss winning field goal as time expired.You cant even describe it, Benjamin said. Its tough. Its a tough loss.But Olsen said Benjamins fumble isnt what cost the Panthers the game.There were several other mistakes:-The Panthers wasted a 20-play drive in the third quarter when Cam Newton took a pair of sacks , moving Carolina out of field-goal range and prevent the team from possibly making it a three-possession game.-On the next possession, Newton threw a ball up for grabs while being pressured, resulting in an easy interception for Eric Berry, who returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. Newton said he was trying to give my guy an opportunity, but there were three Chiefs defenders in the area.dddddddddddd-And then there were the next two drives that resulted in just two first downs and two punts.We have to find ways as an offense to muster more points, Newton said.Said Olsen: You cant be up 17-3 at the half and have the ball for it felt like the whole quarter and have the ball at the 20 and not even attempt a field goal. Thats why we lost the game -- things like that.Carolina outplayed Kansas City for the better part of three quarters.The Panthers outgained the Chiefs 342 to 256. They held the ball for 11 minutes longer. Their defense didnt allow a touchdown and limited Alex Smith to 178 yards passing.But it didnt matter.Its a matter of protecting the ball late in the game, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said of the teams two fourth-quarter turnovers. You cant do that. If you do that you dont give yourselves a chance to win.In the locker room after the game, the Panthers tried to take solace in the fact that division foes Atlanta and New Orleans both lost on Sunday. But the Panthers are still three games behind the Falcons and two behind the Saints and Buccaneers with seven games left.We have put our backs completely and utterly up against the wall now, Rivera said. There is no room for error.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '