, Cordell James and Tyson Fawcett had a goal and an assist each for

ATLANTA -- Major League Soccer is closing in on a deal with Falcons owner Arthur Blank to bring an expansion franchise to Atlantas new downtown stadium. The team would likely begin play in 2017, when the $1 billion retractable roof stadium is set to open next to the Georgia Dome to provide a new home for the NFL Falcons. "Our discussions with Major League Soccer continue, but we do not have a final agreement at this time," Kim Shreckengost, the chief administrative officer for Blanks AMB Group, said Tuesday in an email to The Associated Press. "We hope to complete the agreement soon, at which time we will make a formal announcement." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that a new team will be announced April 16. "We are continuing discussions with Arthur Blank to bring a Major League Soccer expansion team to Atlanta," said Dan Courtemanche, a spokesman for MLS. "However, we have not finalized an agreement at this time." The MLS has long coveted the Atlanta market, the largest in the U.S. without a team, as it moves toward its goal of expanding to 24 franchises. The 19-team league has already announced expansion franchises in New York City and Orlando that are scheduled to begin play next season, in addition to a provisional franchise in Miami owned by a group that includes David Beckham. That team is contingent on a deal for a new soccer-specific stadium in south Florida. There are no such concerns in Atlanta, where the Falcons new stadium was designed to accommodate an MLS team, providing Blank with additional revenue streams for the elaborate facility. While most MLS teams are moving toward smaller stadiums that are built solely for soccer, the Atlanta franchise would follow the model of teams in Seattle and Vancouver, which play in larger facilities downsized to provide a more intimate setting. For instance, Vancouvers BC Place has a curtain system that blocks off the upper deck, reducing capacity from 54,000 to 21,000. Atlantas new stadium will likely have a similar capability. Atlanta had two franchises in the old North American Soccer League. The Chiefs won the leagues first championship in 1968 but folded after the 1973 season, having spent their final year known as the Apollos. The Chiefs returned to the NASL in 1979 when the Colorado Caribous moved to Atlanta. That incarnation lasted only three seasons, never drawing as many as 8,000 fans a game before folding due to heavy financial losses. Atlanta has a team in a new version of the NASL, a league that ranks below MLS on the U.S. soccer ladder. The Silverbacks play at a 7,500-seat stadium on the outskirts of the city and are apparently not involved in talks on the MLS expansion team. Discount Baseball Jerseys . Pikul Khueanpet scored early in the second half and Kanjana Sungngoen made it 2-0 in the 65th minute of the playoff. Tuyet Dong narrowed the margin with goal four minutes from time. The win gave Thailand fifth place at the Asian Cup and the last of the continents qualifying spots for the 2015 Womens World Cup in Canada. Cheap MLB Jerseys USA . The Thornhill, Ont., native, who is ranked 11th in the world, said hed hoped he would be ready when Canada begins its World Group first-round tie against Japan in Tokyo on Friday. http://www.chinajerseysmlb.com/ . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Wholesale MLB Jerseys . Arsene Wenger reportedly wants to convert the player into an attacking force, much like he did with Robin Van Persie. Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping . -- What Anthony Jennings lacked in experience, LSU more than compensated for with a talented supporting cast in the Outback Bowl.SAGINAW, Mich. - The Ontario Hockey League postponed three Saginaw Spirit games on Wednesday so that the team may mourn the death of centre Terry Trafford. Traffords body was found dead in his car on Tuesday. The 19-year-old from Toronto was last seen on March 3rd. The OHL postponed Wednesdays game between the Spirit and Ste. Sault Marie Greyhounds in Saginaw. The league offered to reconvene the teams regular season when the Spirits players felt ready. After consulting with the team, Saginaws players asked to resume their season on Friday in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. The Spirit will then play in Saginaw against the London Knights on March 15 and host the Greyhounds on March 17. Wednesday nights game between the Plymouth Whalers and Owen Sound Attack was postponed due to inclement weather. --- STORM 7 RANGERS 3 GUELPH, Ont. — Brock McGinn had a hat trick as the Storm downed Kitchener. Jason Dickinson scored and added three assists for Guelph (51-12-3), while Kerby Rychel and Scott Kosmachuk both had a goal and two assists. Robby Fabbri added a single and Matthew Mancina made 19 saves for the win. Dominik Kubalik struck twice for the Rangers (22-41-3) and Jimmy Soper also scored.dddddddddddd Matthew Greenfield stopped 46 shots. --- COLTS 7 FRONTENACS 5 KINGSTON, Ont. — Zach Hall scored and added two assists to lead Barrie past the Frontenacs. Brendan Lemieux, Cordell James and Tyson Fawcett had a goal and an assist each for the Colts (35-28-3), while Andrew Mangiapane and Garrett Hooey also scored. Mackenzie Blackwood earned the win in net with 41 saves. Lawson Crouse two goals and two assists for Kingston (37-23-6). Robert Polesello and Darcy Greenaway both scored and added three assists, while Evan McEneny had a goal. Lucas Peressini made 25 saves on 30 shots in 51:25 of work before being replaced by Matt Mahalak, who stopped six-of-seven shots. --- BULLS 6 PETES 2 BELLEVILLE, Ont. — Cameron Brace had a four-goal night to power the Bulls past Peterborough. Scott Simmonds and Niki Petti also scored for the Petes (32-29-5), while Charlie Graham made 38 saves. Josh MacDonald and Michael Clarke had goals for Belleville (22-38-6). Jason Da Silva stopped 27 shots for the Bulls. --- ' ' '