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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Nate Ebner couldnt really have set up more of a dramatic finish for the U.S. team at the Olympics.The New England Patriots safety and special teams player, given special permission to play rugby sevens for the United States in Rio de Janeiro, ran almost half the length of the field with world champion Fijian players in pursuit and scored with a minute to go in the most crucial game of the pool stage.The U.S. team needed to stay within four points of Fiji in the last group-stage game on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals at the expense of 12-time world series champion New Zealand.At the moment Ebner scored, the difference was five points with a conversion to come -- two crucial points that would have cut the difference to three.U.S. captain Maddison Hughes took the conversion attempt, wide on the right sideline, but couldnt angle it between the uprights.Seconds later, the Americans were out of contention with a 24-19 loss, and New Zealand got a backdoor pass into the quarterfinals at the expense of the United States.Honestly, Fiji closed me off so much the way they chase so hard, there were three of them, I had no-one to pass to, so I just put the ball down, said Ebner, explaining why he scored in the corner and wasnt able to touch down closer to the posts and make the kick easier for Hughes. We had a minute left and I was confident for Maddy to kick it from anywhere on the field. Hes done it multiple times.Ebner said the Americans did everything they could against back-to-back world sevens series champions Fiji, and it was more disappointing that a last-minute loss to Argentina on the opening day had cost the team a spot in the playoffs.To just lose to the best team in the world, and a great team in Argentina like that, and to not be able to make the quarters -- its heartbreaking, he said. But were going to finish this out strong. Thats all we can do.Ebner grew up playing rugby but switched to play football in college. The lure of the Olympics drew him back to rugby sevens, and hes not disappointed with the experience.Its been awesome. I wouldnt have done anything differently, he said. I just wish wed had a better day yesterday to put ourselves in a better position.Ultimately we gave everything we had to this -- no regrets at all.Ebner was one of the standouts for the U.S. team which surprised many people with its speed and physical approach to the game.Perry Baker scored in the second half against Fiji, a burst of speed that caught the defense off guard, and Carlin Isles scored three tries in the later classification match against Brazil, a 24-12 win.The Fijians went on to edge New Zealand 12-7 in the quarterfinals and remain on course to win the countrys first ever Olympic medal. Theyll face Japan, the most surprising team at the tournament, in the semifinals.The Japanese players say this Olympics will help them prepare for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. For Ebner, thats too far away to think about.After two more classification matches for ninth-12th matches on Thursday, hell switch gears again from being an Olympian to thinking about his day job.Ill go back to camp and get into the NFL football season, he said. Hopefully Ill be in better shape.He said hed probably have to explain some of the finer points of rugby to his Patriots teammates who were following the Olympics closely, but thought the tournament was a good advertisement for rugby. The U.S. women placed fifth, holding the gold medal-winning Australians to a 12-12 tie in the group stage and having chances to beat silver medalist New Zealand before losing 5-0 in the quarterfinals.Its been exciting to play, he said of the extra exposure the Olympics brought to the game. I can only imagine people who havent seen it, its got to be exciting to watch. Cheap Pedro Martinez Jersey . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Cheap Keith Hernandez Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. http://www.cheapmetsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-tom-seaver-jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Cheap Dwight Gooden Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. Wholesale Mets Jerseys . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. MEXICO CITY -- The Mexican Grand Prix threw more heat into an already spicy rivalry between Red Bull and Ferrari.Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were both engaged in late-race duels with Ferraris Sebastian Vettel that resulted in penalties, two drivers being bumped from the podium and plenty of cursing.All of it nearly overshadowed Lewis Hamiltons critical victory Sunday as he chases Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg for the season championship.At the age of 19, Verstappen has stormed through his second Formula One season with his first career victory, five more podium finishes and aggressive moves that have drawn complaints from other teams -- notably Ferrari -- and safety warnings from race officials.That success helped push Red Bull past Ferrari into second place in the team championship, piling more frustration onto a disappointing season for the Italian team.The latest flare-ups started when Vettel and Verstappen were battling for third in Mexico City.Vettel tried to pass Verstappen heading into a turn after the long straight at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Verstappen swung wide through the grass -- similar to what Hamilton did on the opening lap -- and held position.Vettel was furious that Verstappen made an illegal move. The Red Bull team even advised Verstappen to yield position to the Ferrari.Verstappen ignored the call. Vettel cursed in his car radio and shouted, He has to let me go! Move! Move for Gods sake!After the checkered flag, Vettel drove up beside Verstappen and wagged his finger. Verstappen responded by shaking his fist.The teenager went all the way to the podium-finishers cool-down room before learning that race officials penalized him five seconds for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.dddddddddddd Bumped to fifth, Verstappen stormed off as Vettel was brought in for the post-race champagne celebration.But Vettels smiles wouldnt last.About two hours after the race, Vettel was penalized for a dangerous defensive move against Ricciardo on lap 70 of 71. Formula One officials have warned drivers such moves would be punished, prompted in part by Ferraris previous complaints about Verstappen.I was frustrated by that, Ricciardo said. We know Maxs moves have been a bit questionable. That was the same case today with Seb. Dont get me wrong, I love racing, I love racing hard and even a bit of contact. But this whole moving under braking, you dont move after youve been out-foxed.Verstappen, however, was seething over being penalized. He took some pointed shots at Vettel, a four-time champion who hasnt won this season.Hes a very frustrated guy, shouting on the radio like a child, Verstappen said.Vettel said Verstappen should calm down on the track.I think hes a great kid. Hes fast, hes pushing, hes redefining the limits, not in a negative way, but in terms of playing with the car, Vettel said. Hes a skilled kid. I like him in general. I think some of the moves on track he needs to learn. He needs to calm down. I think hes ultimately hurting himself more than hes helping him