These have been trying times for Canadian Mens soccer. Sebastian Lletget USA Jersey . A struggling national team, and likewise Canadian Major League Soccer franchises have tested the patience of the most ardent support of the game in this country. Tuesday night at our National Soccer Stadium in Toronto told a different story: attractive play, highlight reel goals and a winning experience. The Canadian men gave head coach Benito Floro a winning home debut in a 3-1 victory over CONCACAF rival Jamaica. It was all-around a fun night for the Canadian faithful. Baby steps and hints of progress. To say its been a rough two years for the Canadian Mens National Soccer team would be an understatement. The players, program and supporters all deserved a night as such. A 16-match winless streak dating back to the 8-1 World Cup qualifying humiliation to Honduras in San Pedro Sula in October 2012 has cast a cloud of negativity over our Mens Soccer program. A seemingly never-ending goalless streak, soul searching and an absolute loss in confidence in the players and leadership has made for an all-time difficult time for the program. A losing mentality can be contagious. But that negative demeanour was nowhere to be found at Canadian camp over the last week heading into Tuesdays win. There was passion, energy and excitement around the team getting back at it for a long-anticipated home date. It was the mens first home date in 2014, and just the third match on home soil in the last two years. The players are well aware of all the negative talk about the team, individually and as collective. They felt they had something to prove. The win wont take away the sting of 8-1 but sets the tone of where this group plans to go. Its time to move forward. The players can now do so with confidence and reasoned belief in their new manager. The move by the CSA to bring in Floro was a calculated one; a man of vast experience looking for a new opportunity. How the marriage would work out was up for great debate. Much work was to be done, and many questioned whether Floro would be up for it. The initial returns are showing steps in the right direction. His players are speaking of tactics and compartmentalization in approach: something entirely different than recent years when survival and keeping heads above the water always seemed the goal. The new coach won over the crowd by bringing on Canadian and local soccer legend Dwayne De Rosario, as well as defender Karl Ouimette, who lost his sister to cancer earlier this month, for second half appearances a€“ an appropriate touch and show of understanding by the manager. As for game-play, Floro has a clear vision how he wants his team to play. From attacking perspective, the initial returns speak to improvement. Its about making the most out of what he has. Canada will not win through individual ability: it must be a team approach, top-down. The intelligence and purpose of the Canadian attack against Jamaica was something unlike we have seen out of the Mens program for quite sometime. Canada may not be blessed with the natural goal-scorers of yester-year, but the team has pace. The ability to attack down the wings and move off the ball accordingly was refreshing. Tosaint Ricketts led the line well and looks a much more active player than in the past. His goal came off a mistake from goalkeeper Andre Blake, but the Canadian striker put himself in position to finish. It was a standout performance from the Israel-based player. Ricketts goal was the clincher after Canada scored three unanswered en route to victory. The other two goals were of the highest quality. Patrice Berniers corner finding David Edgar on the top of the 18, who volleyed home for a spectacular goal, rivaling Terry Dunfields wonder-strike against Ecuador in 2011. Marcel de Jong scored the other on a picture perfect free kick. Top goals, no matter what league or side youre watching worldwide. Atia Hutchinson remains the pulse of the team, outstanding again Tuesday night. The Besiktas player is a step above, and can be argued he could start for any CONCACAF nation. Hutchinson stands of evidence this country can still produce players of such high quality and deserves any and all the praise he gets. The team with speed around him takes advantage of his poise, composure and overall gifted ability to read the game. Hutchinson remains the centerpiece, and with Julian de Guzman, Patrice Bernier and the absent Will Johnson around him, make for a formidable middle of the park. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise was the play of goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Multiple top saves and intervention helped keep Canada in a position to win on home soil. His positioning was sound and shot-blocking ability was equal to the task. The defensive line was shaky in front of him and will need work growing as a unit. Toronto FCs Doneil Henry played at right-back and provided size and strength on the outside. Henry needs more polish at the position but was an interesting look for a player used to playing centre-half. Borjan is without a club at present time. He, along with de Guzman and Adam Straith need club teams as soon as possible. It need not matter the inexperience in the Jamaican team or the lack of preparation time for the visitors. Its the result that matters. Its time to turn the corner from the negative narrative to developing something positive. That only comes through results. Belief in Benito and better days ahead for the program is paramount looking ahead to the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying in the not-so-distant future. Its important for the Mens program to gain prominence on the Canadian sports landscape. Canada has become a leader in the womens game in terms of development and fan support. The success of the womens game has been a boon for the Canadian Soccer Association. But the Mens program on a global scale will always be the primary, long-term moneymaker and the barometer by which a countrys soccer success will be judged. It was unfortunate young boys club teams didnt flock out Tuesday night as girls club teams do for the womens program. It all comes from perception. When the perception of the mens program turns to one of success, we can expect similar fandom to follow. So some headlines the night before tickets went on sale for the 2015 FIFA Womens World Cup is well-taken by the CSA and the Canadian soccer community. Its a big year for Canadian soccer and there is no reason the Mens team cant be part of the headlines. The goal is all programs finding on and off-field success. Progress should be embraced as it comes. Tuesday was just that. More baby steps. Gareth Wheeler can be reached at: @WheelerTSN gareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca Jesse Gonzalez Jersey . Then youve got to worry about the other up and coming teams in the two weaker divisions in the "Junior Circuit". Andrija Novakovich Jersey . -- John Senden never imagined it would take more than seven years to win again. http://www.usasoccerauthority.com/justin-morrow-usa-jersey/ . Nine years later, he might have finally figured it out. He had only five rounds in the 60s in his previous eight trips.BEREA, Ohio - Johnny Manziel should come with a warning sticker: Watching can be hazardous to your health.On Sunday, the NFL will get its first extended look at Manziel, who routinely turned broken plays into touchdowns at Texas A&M and will now try to rescue the Browns wilting playoff hopes.As he prepares Manziel for his first career start, Cleveland offensive co-ordinator Kyle Shanahan said hes not sure what to expect from the cocksure rookie quarterback when he faces the Cincinnati Bengals.Once Shanahan sends a well-designed play in from the sideline theres no telling what Manziel might do with it after the balls snapped.Everything out here is pretty much scripted and stuff, Shanahan said following Thursdays practice. Im waiting. Im sure its going to happen pretty fast. We call a pass play, and hes going to do six spins reversing back and forth outside the pocket. Im going to hold my breath be yelling half the time, and then probably be running and jumping on top of him excited at the end of it.Who knows what will happen. I think thats why everyone enjoys watching him, and thats why Im excited to see what he does. Itll be fun.The Browns (7-6) need more than entertainment out of Manziel. They need him to take care of the ball, make good decisions and inject some energy into to Clevelands lifeless offence. Manziel may be the 21st quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999, but the team is discarding its sordid history at the position to see what the 22-year-old can do.Cleveland has tapered its offence to suit Manziel, who came off the bench for deposed starter Brian Hoyer two weeks ago at Buffalo and flashed some of his Johnny Football magic by tucking the ball away, recognizing a lane many quarterbacks wouldnt have seen and darting to the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown run.With a week to install plays to best use Manziels arm and legs, the Browns hope to keep the Bengals off balance. But the bigger issue may be getting Manziel to understand that he doesnt have to transform every play into a TV highlight.Browns coach Mike Pettine doesnt want to put a collar on Manziel, but he doesnt wantt him running wild. Tim Ream Jersey. Its going to be more within the structure of our offence, but at the same time, if you have a guy that has a unique skillset, you dont want to quell that either, he said. You want to allow him to do it, but youve got to be able to pick and choose your times to do it. On every drop-back pass he cannot look to turn it into a punt return.We just dont want to turn it into, Hey, lets run his college offence and let it turn into street ball, but we also dont want to say, Hey listen, heres the playbook. We need to follow this exactly to the letter. Were not going to do that either.Shanahan said he has occasionally looks at game tapes of Manziel in college to help him put together plays.The Browns dont have any allusions that Manziel will be able to run around and do what he did while winning a Heiman Trophy. Theyre going to let Johnny be Johnny and hope that its good enough.Hes tried to develop in every facet, but when that ball snaps, I dont want him thinking about coaching points. I dont want him thinking about how the play is supposed to be. I want him reacting, and hopefully when someone is open, he reacts and lets it rip. Hopefully when someones not, he reacts and does his deal.You just dont want to take that away from him.NOTES: Browns WR Miles Austin expects to play next year after his season was ended by a lacerated kidney suffered against Buffalo. Austin said he had urine in his blood for several days, which led to his hospitalization. Hell undergo further tests in a few weeks. Austins contract ends after the season, but he wants to re-sign with Cleveland. Ive had such a great experience with the guys here, he said. I just have to heal up and make sure everythings right. ...CB Joe Haden said he and his teammates have not forgotten the negative postgame comments Bengals RB Jeremy Hill made about them after the Browns won 24-3 in Cincinnati on Dec. 14. Weve got them up. Its bulletin board material, Haden said. You see what he felt about us. Theyre coming in here with something to prove.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '