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TORONTO -- Maximiliano Urruti is the latest prospective saviour for Toronto FC. The 22-year-old striker was officially introduced to the media Friday, ending a months-long quest to lure the talented Argentine from Newells Old Boys in his native country to Major League Soccer. "Finally, it all came together. The news is great news for everyone," Urruti told reporters before leaving with his new teammates for a flight to Columbus and a game against the Crew on Saturday night. "Now its time to get to work." While terms of the deal between Toronto and the Argentine club were not disclosed, and neither the player nor TFC management would discuss details of what broke the logjam between the two sides, team president Kevin Payne said the youngster is signed through 2015 with club options after that. "We hope that hes a player that can be an important player here for years to come and part of the young group that were really trying to build around and make the nucleus of Toronto FC," Payne said of Urruti, who he and chief scout Pat Onstad first became aware of while still working for D.C. United. Urruti will not be the clubs third designated player alongside Dutch striker Danny Koevermans and fellow Argentine Matias Laba, a midfielder signed earlier this season. Payne called Urruti "a very clean and sharp forward" who moves well, has decent size, is good on the ball and can take people on whether he plays up top of the formation or underneath. "Hes shown, when he has the opportunities, that he knows where the net is," Payne said of Urruti, who scored 14 goals in 56 matches for Newells Old Boys. "Itll take Maxi a little bit of time to get accustomed to the league and get fully fit but were excited about it." Urruti began training with TFC on Wednesday and pronounced himself fit and ready to go if called upon Saturday in Columbus. But head coach Ryan Nelsen suggested that role, if any, would be small early on. "He hasnt done much in quite a bit of time so were going to ease him in," Nelsen said. "But, you never know." Urruti joins a club that has had revolving door in the locker-room over its seven-year history. The tremendous turnover has seen most of those expected to have a huge impact and a long stay at TFC sent packing, including Dwayne DeRosario, Julian de Guzman, Pablo Vitti and Luis Silva. Urruti, who said a phone conversation with Laba made him feel very comfortable about signing with Toronto, is "well aware" of TFCs past and current struggles but is excited to play and have an impact. "Im ready and willing to go, score goals and do what Ive got to do to get the team ahead," he said. Both Nelsen and Payne went out of their way to temper expectations on Urruti coming in and filling nets around MLS, noting achieving game fitness and adjusting to the league will take some time. But its clear the Reds (4-11-8) can use some scoring touch. With 21 goals in 23 matches, Toronto has the third fewest in the 19-team league, ahead of only D.C. United at 13 and the 20 scored by Chivas USA. A goalless drought of 423 minutes snapped last month is the leagues second-longest in 2013. "Weve been defending well but we need to be finishing," said midfielder Bobby Convey. Columbus (7-11-5) comes in off a 2-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls last week, which snapped a three-game losing streak. The Crew will be looking to avenge a 2-1 loss at BMO Field last month in which Toronto scored two late goals to capture its first win at their home stadium in more than a year. Last weeks 2-1 home loss to the Seattle Sounders typified the season in many respects. The Reds carried the play against one of the leagues better teams but two sloppy plays defensively and an inability to capitalize on chances created at the offensive end spelled the difference in the match. Despite the defeat, Toronto has played its best soccer of the season in recent weeks. The Reds have earned seven points from their past four matches, including the first two-game win streak in more than a year. Along the way they have looked stronger at the back and posted a pair of shutouts. "Were improving all the time and its about keeping on doing that," said Robert Earnshaw, TFCs leading scorer with six goals. Earnshaw came on last week as a second-half substitute after missing three games with a hamstring injury and hit the post with what would have been the equalizing goal. Paul George Shoes Free Shipping . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Cheap Paul George Shoes . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. https://www.cheappaulgeorgeshoes.com/ . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Paul George Shoes From China . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Paul George Shoes Outlet . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66. METAIRIE, La. -- As mounting losses bury them deeper and deeper in the Western Conference standings and Anthony Davis holds out for help like a kitten caught on a telephone wire, the New Orleans Pelicans have cautioned not to expect any miracles upon the return of Jrue Holiday.We dont want to put pressure on him and make him feel like hes the savior, general manager Dell Demps said.Jrues not the cavalry, coach Alvin Gentry said last week. Hes not coming in with the white horse and the stuff like that.Indeed, when it comes to New Orleans postseason chances, the white horse may have already left the barn.The Pelicans, at 2-10, are one game better than they were this point last season, when an injury-induced malaise ultimately gave way to a disappointing 30-win season. Precedent doesnt foretell a much kinder future this time around, either: In NBA history, of the 65 teams that have started 2-10, eight have gone on to make the playoffs.But perhaps this offers a shred of hope: The most recent team to begin 2-10 and make the postseason cut was the 2010-11 Philadelphia 76ers, who started a 20-year-old point guard named Jrue Holiday.Thats just the beginning of why Holidays return from a three-month hiatus to tend to his wife and new daughter has loomed over this beleaguered franchise, even as every member with a speaking role has, to their credit, stressed patience and family first.Hes an All-Star, point-blank, said Pelicans forward Solomon Hill, a fellow Los Angeles native who shares a trainer with Holiday.Hes a great defender, scorer everywhere. Hes a leader. Hes been there, hes been in the playoffs, hes upset guys in the playoffs. Hes a proven vet, but hes still young. Hes definitely a core-type player, one that you [build] a franchise around.The Pelicans obviously have one of those in Davis, whose numbers have swelled across the board as his role expands to include keeping tempo, singing backup and cleaning up afterward. Even after missing Wednesdays loss in Orlando, the 23-year-old superstar leads the team in minutes played, points, rebounds, blocks, steals, field goal attempts, field goal makes, free throw attempts, free throw makes and morose interviews.But as anyone with internet access will tell you, Davis needs more support. Even as their superstar maximizes an offensive workload befitting Atlas, the Pelicans rank a meager 27th in offensive efficiency. Take Davis and the since-waived Lance Stephenson off the ledger and their field goal percentage (40.8) would rank tied for last.The leagues basement is also where youll find a 3-point percentage (29.1) that somehow dips on open looks (22.3 percent, per NBA.com/Stats), of which there are plenty thanks to the attention Davis draws.ETwaun Moore has stretched out his legs in new environs but an aversion to contact leaves him dependent on a slow-coming 3-ball.Tim Frazier scraps and knows how to keep Davis stuffed with touches (40 percent of Davis buckets come off Frazier passes, per NBA.com/Stats), but has seen his turnover rate steadily rise as defenses adjust to play the pass.Terrence Jones had perhaps the best non-Davis offensive performance with 26 points in Wednesdays loss to the Magic, but their skill ssets may overlap too much to coexist like they did in Kentuckys 2012 national title run (the duo has a minus-8.dddddddddddd net rating in 134 minutes this season, per NBA.com/Stats).The Pelicans dont need a second-coming. Theyll take something, anything from a talent like Holiday to galvanize an offense that mustered league-average last season despite a parade of late D-League call-ups but has struggled this season with parts coach Alvin Gentry admits are better-suited in tertiary roles.With a guy like [Holiday], a guy that can score the ball the way he does -- youre not just talking about scoring but efficiently, Hill said. Getting to the line, creating for others. You cant just all of a sudden triple-team Anthony Davis anymore. You have to account for [Holiday]. Regardless if he plays five minutes or 48 minutes, hes going to affect the game. He just brings an intensity that if youre not ready for him youll never be ready for him.Davis, whose effective field goal percentage last season rose four points when he played next to Holiday, per nbawowy.com, has been looking forward to the opportunity since the summer.We worked out a couple times together in L.A. We just tried to develop that chemistry, Davis said. Theres always been that gap where we couldnt really build that chemistry. But this summer was a good summer for us. Its unfortunate he had to go through what he had to go through with his family. But now that hes going to be back, we got to try to find a way to rekindle that chemistry.How quickly theyll be given the opportunity to showcase their pick-and-roll synergy remains to be seen. Holiday, at least from the jump, is likely to come off the bench until he gets back up to NBA speed.It will be harder to keep Holiday -- who occupied a bigger role on offense than ever last season yet kept his turnover rate among his career lows and assist rate among his career highs -- away late. The Pelicans are tied for the most crunch-time opportunities this season, per NBA.com/Stats, but have also totaled the most losses (7) in those situations in large part because of the sixth-worst clutch offense.I think I can do whatever they want me to do, if its cheerlead, hand out Gatorades, play defense, call a set, whatever it is. Im just here to help, Holiday said. Down the stretch I do think I could help with some directing and just tightening it up at the end of the game.No one will confuse Holidays talents for those of Davis, whose origin story has reached the part where the superhero begins to hone his newfound powers. But a steady hand to guide him may be enough to save the day.Until he gets back I really wont be able to understand it, but Im pretty sure he has [maybe] the largest role on our team, Hill said. AD, being a young guy still coming into his own. Of course [Davis] can score the ball. But just that leadership role hes taken -- hes definitely taken strides, but Jrues done it. Jrues played with multiple All-Stars, played in the playoffs.He knows who he is. I definitely think when he gets back, hell be able to be that guy for us. ' ' '