WASHINGTON -- Toronto FC coach Ryan Nelsen could probably provide a slew of reasons for his teams recent slide. But after TFCs 3-0 loss to D.C. United on Wednesday, he boiled it down to a simple explanation. "We had the opportunities to score goals. We didnt take them," Nelsen said. "Then when he had to defend our box, we didnt defend it very well." Toronto outshot United 14-10 at RFK Stadium, but Nelsens squad couldnt pull off the win. They dropped to 1-3-4 since the World Cup break. Eddie Johnson found the net in his third straight match to open the scoring for United (11-5-4), which then got a Chris Rolfe tally and Nick Hagglund own goal after halftime to extend its winning streak to four games. Toronto (7-7-5) played without starting defenders Steven Caldwell (quad tear), Mark Bloom (MCL strain) and Doneil Henry (suspension). Warren Creavalle, acquired in a trade with Houston last week, made his TFC debut filling in for Bloom at right back. It was the visitors who carved the games first chance, with Michael Bradley slipping in Dominic Oduro. In alone on goal, the winger buzzed his shot wide of the far post. Toronto paid for the miss a minute later. As United midfielder Perry Kitchen lobbed in a cross from the right flank, Johnson got away from Creavalle, rose and buried his point-blank header. "Goals change games," Nelsen said. "I think if he got that first one, with the chances we had, it wouldve been a whole different game." Toronto nearly tied the match in the 42nd minute when Bradley again set up Oduro, but D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid charged out to stifle the shot. While United found the back of the net moments before halftime, Bobby Boswell saw the headed goal disallowed because of a foul. Hamid again came up big moments into the second half, denying Luke Moores chip after the striker connected with a clever through ball from Jermain Defoe. United made it a two-goal lead in the 59th minute. Even though Creavalle took down Nick DeLeon for what would have been a penalty kick, referee Chris Penso let play continue as the ball fell to Rolfe. One-on-one with the goalkeeper, Rolfe sent Joe Bendik leaning the wrong way and converted a simple finish. "We created chances we werent able to finish, and in our box we werent able to stop them," Creavalle said. "At both ends we just have to be a little bit tougher." Eight minutes later, a stunning individual effort by DeLeon made it 3-0. The winger deftly evaded challenges from Justin Morrow and Hagglund, then saw his shot deflected into the air by Bendik and inadvertently nodded in by Hagglund. The goal iced Torontos second straight loss, and fourth straight match without a victory. "We werent ruthless enough, we werent hard enough," Nelsen said. "We didnt deserve to win any football game." Toronto continues its four-game road trip Saturday against the Montreal Impact (3-12-5). As Nelsen said post-game, its "definitely" beneficial for his side to quickly put the result in the past and turn its attention to that next match. Added Bradley: "Its important that we now find a way to mentally stay strong, find the right way to challenge ourselves and to look hard at ourselves but still know there are a lot of games left and the big stuff is still to come." Discount NHL Jerseys . Right-hander Ricky Nolasco and the Twins agreed to terms on a free-agent contract Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings (3) - Early goal against was on the power play. https://www.chinanhljerseys.us/. PETERSBURG, Florida – Its been almost seven years since the Blue Jays last won a series at Tropicana Field. Clearance NHL Jerseys .com) - Pittsburgh Steelers running back LeVeon Bell, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil and New England Patriots punter Ryan Allen were selected as the AFCs top players for Week 14 of the NFL season. Custom NHL Jerseys . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014.NEW YORK -- Nick Young and the Lakers 3-point shooters couldnt miss early. Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Wesley Johnson made the tiebreaking basket when he stole Pierces pass and dunked with 1:35 left, and the Lakers used their sizzling start to bounce back from a loss in Washington a night earlier and win for the fourth time in five games. "We werent doing anything wrong (early in the game)," Lakers coach Mike DAntoni said. "Everything was going and going, and guys were hitting shots. We just have to understand how we do it and bottle it and keep going." Pau Gasol added 21 points for the Lakers, moving into second place on the NBAs career list for points by a European player. Wearing new black uniforms and hearing "Lets go Lakers!" chants, the Lakers jumped on the Nets right from the start and were ahead 48-21 early in the second quarter. But the Nets fought all the way back, also behind their bench. They had a chance to tie it again at the end, but Pierce just missed from straightaway with 2.2 seconds left, capping a 4-for-17 night. "Its frustrating when the ball doesnt go your way, but eventually I know these shots throughout the course of 82 games are going to fall for me," Pierce said. Joe Johnson scored 18 points but missed nine of 10 shots in the second half for the Nets, who failed in their bid to win consecutive games for the first time this season. Mirza Teletovic had a career-best 17 for the Nets, Andray Blatche and Alan Anderson each added 14, and Pierce finished with 12. Still without starters Deron Williams and Brook Lopez, plus key reserves Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko, the Nets fell to the Lakers for the 11th straight time. Gasol has 15,773 points. He entered 10 behind Detlef Schrempf for No. 2 among European players, and the centre from Spain now trails only Dallas Dirk Nowitzki. Jordan Farmar scored 15 points and Jodie Meeks had 11 for the Lakers, hitting a pair of free throws with 8.3 seconds left that never wouldve seemed necessary the way the game began, with Los Angeles making sevenn of its first nine 3-point attempts and hitting Brooklyn with an 18-0 run.dddddddddddd "We were playing well, moving the ball and making shots and getting stops," said Farmar, a former Nets reserve. "We knew they would make a run, though. Once we relaxed, they took advantage of it." Steve Blake hit consecutive 3-pointers to open it and the Lakers sprinted to an 11-2 lead after barely 2 minutes. The Nets were only down seven with under 2 1/2 minutes left in the opening quarter before Young ran off the final nine points to make it 34-18. Farmar then opened the second with three straight 3-pointers to make it 43-18, capping the Lakers run of 18 straight points. He later added another that bounced on the rim a bunch of times before falling, pushing it to 48-21 with 8:30 to play. The Nets came right back with 15 in a row to trim it to 48-36, and the Lakers led 54-40 at halftime. "The Lakers came out and they hit us right off the bat, but the guys kept fighting," said Nets coach Jason Kidd, who caused a bit of a delay at the end when he dropped his drink onto the court in front of the bench. A video of Kidds drink fumble showed him appearing to tell guard Tyshawn Taylor to "hit me" as he walked toward the bench. Taylor then bumped into Kidd, who spilled the drink in his hand, giving the Nets time to discuss strategy while the floor was cleaned. Brooklyn played a strong third quarter, the period thats so often been such a big downfall this season, then pulled within six to open the fourth on Teletovics 3-pointer. He gave them their first tie at 92 with a pair of free throws with 3:57 left. Wesley Johnson then stepped in front of Pierces pass for an easy two points the other way. "I saw his eyes look over to where I was, but I think he didnt see me," Johnson said. "So I played the passing line and took a gamble and got my hand it." Blakes free throw made it 95-92. Andersons dunk cut it to one with 9.8 seconds left before Meeks free throws, and Xavier Henry closed it out with two free throws after Pierces miss. NOTES: The Nets last victory over the Lakers was Nov. 25, 2007, in Los Angeles behind 15 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds from Kidd. The Lakers finished 13 for 30 behind the arc. ' ' '