NEWCASTLE, Australia - The Palestinian players had plenty of support in their Asian Cup debut, even though Japan scored all the goals.Palestine has become the feel-good story of the continental tournament after qualifying by winning the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives. On Monday, the teams vocal and colorful fans cheered wildly, but it was defending champion Japan that won 4-0 in the opening Group D match.The Palestinians kept a clean sheet in all five qualifiers to make it to Australia, but goals from Yasuhito Endo, Shinji Okazaki and Keisuke Honda put Japan ahead early. In the second half, Maya Yoshida scored another.We wanted to close them down because they have good players who want to play on the ground, with one or two touches, Palestine striker Mahmoud Dhadha said. We cannot make these mistakes again against the other teams. I hope we can do better.For Palestine, playmaker Ismail Alamour and striker Ashraf Al Fawaghra, better known as Numan, showed good technical ability when running at defenders, but failed to create any clear openings.The teams best chance came in the 81st minute when defender Abdallatif Albahdari sent a header narrowly wide.Palestine meets Jordan in Melbourne on Friday and then faces Iraq in Canberra on Jan. 20. Joe Ledley Wales Jersey . Kevin Durant certainly played like there was on Sunday night, scoring 36 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Thunder made quick work of the visiting Pacers with a 118-94 win. Joe Allen Jersey . Dillon Brooks scored 26 points on 9-17 shooting for Canada while pulling down six rebounds and picking up six steals. Teammate Chris Egi had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. http://www.soccerwalesstore.com/ashley-w...FA-EURO-jersey/. That still leaves a big hole.You dont replace the leadership, defensive co-ordinator Billy Davis said. You just dont. Leadership is something that is earned over time. Wales Soccer Jerseys . The Missouri Tigers Defensive End and SEC Defensive player of the year is eligible for the upcoming NFL draft in May. Custom Wales Soccer Jerseys .com) - The Eastern Conferences best team takes on one of its worst Tuesday night when the Atlanta Hawks pay a visit to the Wells Fargo Center to take on the Philadelphia 76ers.KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Atlanta has released pitcher Freddy Garcia, who was contending for a spot in the Braves battered rotation. The team announced the decision Monday, the deadline for Garcia to be put on the major league roster -- which would have triggered a $1.25 million guaranteed salary. "They said they didnt want to pick it up. I have to go," said Garcia, who started Game 4 of last years NL division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 37-year-old right-hander was let go despite a strong outing Sunday, when he limited the New York Mets to an unearned run and two hits over 5 1-3 innings. He was 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in five spring training starts. With Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy out for the season, and Mike Minor on the disabled list through at least mid-April as he comes back from a sore shoulder, the Braves are pursuing a trade, waiver-wire deal or signing. "Its a fluid situation," general manager Frank Wren said. "There could be other things that happen. Be patient." Clubhouse attendants already were preparing for the arrival of right-hander Aaron Harang, who was released from a minor league contract by Cleveland on Monday. If a move isnt made, the opening-day rotation would consist of Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, rookie David Hale and non-roster invitee Gus Schlosser. Ervin Santana, signed late in sppring training to a $14.dddddddddddd1 million, one-year contract after Medlen and Beachy got hurt, is set to join the rotation the second week of the season after building his arm strength. Gavin Floyd, coming back from elbow surgery, could be ready by the end of April along with Minor. Minor is scheduled to make his first appearance of spring training Saturday in an exhibition at Rome, Ga., against a Braves minor league squad. Floyd is to pitch for the first time Friday in a minor league game. "Out rotation depth will change drastically in a few weeks and that was part of our decision," said Wren, who insisted that cutting Garcia wasnt financially motivated. Garcia, who has won 156 games, was visibly shaken. "I want to pitch, but not going to the minor leagues," he said. "I come here and try the best I can. I threw yesterday the way I want to pitch and they decided to go the other way. ... They made a decision, and I got to go with it." The team trimmed its active roster to 29 players by optioning left-hander Ryan Buchter and outfielders Jose Constanza and Joey Terdoslavich to Triple-A Gwinnett, and reassigning infielders Tyler Greene and Tommy La Stella to the International League team. The demotion of Buchter left another non-roster pitcher, Ian Thomas, as the second left-hander in the bullpen behind Luis Avilan. ' ' '