BANGKOK -- There were times when the World Cup qualifier between Thailand and Australia felt like a game of football, and there were other times when it seemed so much more.A day after the end of the official mourning period following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej -- during which public entertainment and celebrations were banned -- the game was a chance for the Thai public to cheer, chant and celebrate after a month of strictly observed mourning.Most of the fans at Rajamangala Stadium on Tuesday were still dressed in black, and the Thai royal anthem was played and enthusiastically sung by the crowd. There was a minutes silence prior to kick-off, and prior to the game, a group of supporters combined outside the ground to form the Thai numeral for nine, marking the late kings position in the Chakri dynasty.Those formalities completed, the informal and spontaneous outpouring of patriotic support took over, and rarely has the Bangkok stadium heard celebrations as loud as those which greeted Thailands two goals.They were not enough to secure victory, but were sufficient for a 2-2 draw against a team on track for a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.It was the first point for Thailand in the final stage of Asian qualifying, following four successive losses, and while a place at Russia 2018 remains a long shot, the avoidance of defeat on such an occasion was important.I am disappointed with a draw, Thailand coach Kiatisuk Senamuang said. The players fought 100 percent for this game, but Australia is a very good team.This point we want to give to His Majesty for giving us the spiritual support for this game. I am very happy this point can bring some happiness and a smile to all Thai fans.It was a game decided chiefly from the penalty spot. Australia captain Mile Jedinak slotted two spot kicks -- the first in the ninth minute for a handball and the second in the 65th on a contentious referees call for holding as Australia took a free kick in an attacking position.Thailands opening goal, in the 20th minute, resulted from panicked Australian defending that set up Teerasil Dangda for a tap-in for close range. Thailand went ahead in the 56th with a penalty following a collision between Mathew Leckie and Thai captain Theerathon Bunmathan.Teerasil sent the keeper the wrong way for a short-lived lead that had Thai fans briefly anticipating a memorable victory.Australia coach Ange Postecoglou was frustrated by what he considered two points dropped, but acknowledged Thailand was an inspired team.It was a big occasion for them and they rose to that occasion, Postecoglou said. With the special occasion, we knew they would play with a lot of passion and heart, and they certainly did that. We knew they could be a danger.With the top two teams in both Asian qualifying groups going through to Russia, Australia is in third, a point behind co-leaders Saudi Arabia and Japan. With three of the remaining five games at home -- and one on neutral territory against Iraq -- Postecoglou was confident of Australias chances.Weve had three tough road trips and we havent lost a game, Postecoglou said. 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Discount Balenciaga .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. NEW YORK -- There were two celebrations at Yankee Stadium during the seasons final week -- both in the visitors clubhouse.This is not what New York and its fans are accustomed to.The Yankees like to spend the season wondering how deep they will go in the postseason, not whether they will reach it.The goal here is not to get into the playoffs. The goal is to win World Series, manager Joe Girardi said before Sundays season finale, when the oval home clubhouse already was filled with boxes to be shipped to players homes.New York has not won a postseason game since Derek Jeter broke his ankle in the 2012 AL Championship Series opener. The Yankees have failed to reach the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.General manager Brian Cashman finally persuaded owner Hal Steinbrenner in late July to start jettisoning veterans and initiate a youth movement. Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran and Ivan Nova were traded for prospects, and Alex Rodriguez was released.As an organization, we thought it was in our best interest to make trades and try to get back to the World Series-caliber type of team that we know that is going to take some work, Girardi said.Rookie catcher Gary Sanchez came up from the minors on Aug. 3 and finished with a .299 batting average, 20 homers and 42 RBI in 53 games. Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin arrived 10 days later and made an instant impact -- homering back-to-back in their first major league at-bats.I love the guys that we have here, said outfielder Brett Gardner, at 33 one of the senior Yankees. I love a lot of the young players we saw that came up over the course of the season. Im a pretty big Gary Sanchez fan. So I think weve got a lot of young guys that are ready to contribute at this level.Girardi directed a blunt message to the young players on the final Friday of the season.Theres a lot of work to do to get to where we want and theres younger kids knocking on older players doors, and for the younger kids that have had some success, the hard part is not getting here, the hard part is sticking, he recalled telling them. As people adjust to you, you have to make adjustments as a ballplayer. Soo I think next years camp could be extremely competitive and you need to be ready.ddddddddddddWHAT WENT WRONG?New York scored 680 runs, more than only Kansas City, Oakland and Tampa Bay among AL teams, and was shut out an AL-high 13 times. The inability to play small ball and move runners was most evident on the road, where the Yankees went 36-45. Home runs, especially to right field, seemed to compensate at Yankee Stadium, where they went 48-33.WHOS BACK?Greg Bird missed the entire season following shoulder surgery and is the favorite to start at first base next year; Girardi says Austin will be given a chance to win the job during spring training. Bryan Mitchell figures to compete for a rotation spot after missing most of the season following a toe injury late in spring training. He had a 3.24 ERA in five September appearances. Luis Cessa and Chad Green also could compete for spots in a rotation that includes Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda.WHOS GONE?New York probably wont offer a contract to Nathan Eovaldi, allowing him to become a free agent after the right-hander had Tommy John surgery for the second time. Relief pitchers Branden Pinder, Jacob Lindgren and Nick Rumbelow also will not be available for most or all of next season following elbow ligament replacements.WHERE DOES LUIS SEVERINO GO?The 22-year-old right-hander followed a strong debut in 2015 with an awful 2016, and he could become the next Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, a pitcher the Yankees are uncertain about how to use. Should Severino start or come out of the bullpen?WHO COULD COME UP NEXT YEAR?New Yorks farm system has transformed from one of the worst to one of the best. Outfielder Clint Frazier, shortstop Gleyber Torres and left-hander Justus Sheffield were acquired in the summer trades and joined a minor league system that already included touted infielder Jorge Mateo and outfielder Blake Rutherford. With an 84-78 record, three wins fewer than last year, the Yankees will draft 17th in the first round next June. ' ' '
