Daniels says Hayes was trying to dial 911 to report Smiths

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- Javier Hernandez cemented his status as Mexicos leading striker Saturday, sending his team home from the Confederations Cup on a high by scoring twice to clinch a 2-1 victory over Japan in their final Group A match. With seven goals in his last eight games for Mexico, the 25-year-old Manchester United striker has now climbed up his countrys all-time scoring leaderboard to third spot, which he shares with retired forward Luis Hernandez. "Hes always been a very insistent, determined player," said Mexico coach Jose Manuel De la Torre, who also managed Hernandez at Guadalajara. "Hes highly competitive, and has a huge dynamic and sense of timing in order to score ... and that is what has taken him to be at these very high levels with Manchester United. Now hes simply responding with these goals for the national team." After struggling to threaten in the first half at the Mineirao Stadium, Hernandez met Andres Guardados cross in the 54th minute and headed in again in the 66th from Giovani Dos Santos corner. Shinji Okazaki pulled one back for Japan in the 86th and Hernandez won a penalty in stoppage time, but his weak effort was saved and he then sent the follow-up against the crossbar. Both Mexico and Japan were playing only for pride, having been eliminated from the Confederations Cup by losing their first two matches at the 2014 World Cup test event. "We have an unpleasant taste in our mouths -- we dont like seeing our team being eliminated early from a tournament," Hernandez said through a translator. "But Mexico at least made it to the (Confederation Cup) finals ... and this victory helps us in building the confidence back." Although Japan leaves Brazil having finished bottom of its group without a point, the teams return trip to Brazil is already guaranteed. The Asian champions were the first World Cup qualifiers while Mexico is still slugging it out for a spot from the CONCACAF confederation. Japan was the speedier and hungrier initially, picking up where it left off in Wednesdays slender 4-3 loss to Italy. Using their pace down the flanks, the Japanese were displaying the dynamism the Mexicans were lacking at first. Japan striker Shinji Okazaki found the net after 10 minutes from the edge of the area, but it was ruled out for a border-line offside decision. An early effort from Shinji Kagawa was blocked by the boot of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who also easily collected a low strike from Keisuke Honda. For all the creativity and slick passing, the Japanese had nothing to show for its domination. Mexico eventually got a foothold in the game, with Jesus Zavala heading over from a free kick and testing goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima with a long-range effort that was turned wide. Only the post prevented Mexico going in at half time in front, with Andres Guardado given the space to meet Jorge Torres cross with a free header that crashed against the woodwork. The Mexican momentum carried over into the second half, with the team looking sharper as Japan faded. "You could say there was little petrol in our tank," Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said through a translator. Hernandez soon began to find himself in goal-scoring positions, with defender Hiroki Sakai throwing himself at the ball to deny the strikers first effort of the half. The Japanese defence was finally breached as it failed to track Hernandez in the penalty area and headed in twice, from a cross and a corner. "He was very good at headers even though hes not that tall," Zaccheroni said. "If you look how we conceded goals, our defence line was all there and we conceded goals because of high play ... it wasnt the case of the opposing players outnumbering ours," Zaccheroni added. Dos Santos has been one of Mexicos most dangerous players in Brazil and, on the turn, twice unleashed powerful shots that Kawashima did well to keep out. As Mexico pressed with confidence, Japan struggled to gain control of the ball, and the finishing was deficient when it did, with Ryoichi Maeda and Yasuyuki Konno striking wide. The consolation came when Okazaki was left in space in front of goal to meet a cross from captain Yauhito Endo. And Hernandezs penalty miss -- after being fouled by Maya Yoshida -- ensured the result was the same as when the sides met at the 2005 Confederations Cup. Clearance MLB Jerseys . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Discount MLB Jerseys . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. https://www.mlbjerseyschina.us/ .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . 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. MLB Jerseys Outlet . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. NEW ORLEANS -- The Latest on the second-degree murder trial of Cardell Hayes, who fatally shot former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith during a traffic dispute (all times local):6:15 p.m.The second day of the Will Smith shooting death trial has ended after dramatic testimony from the widow of the retired New Orleans Saints star.Racquel Smith insisted that her husband was not the aggressor in an April 9 confrontation with 29-year-oild Cardell Hayes, who faces a second-degree murder charge in Smiths death.Hayes also faces an attempted second-degree murder charge because Racquel Smith was shot in the legs that night.I didnt do anything for you to shoot me, Racquel told Hayes from the witness stand at one point.Under cross-examination from Hayes lawyer, John Fuller, she acknowledged that her husband had been drinking during a day that included trips to the annual French Quarter Festival, a bar and two restaurants. But she insisted he did nothing to provoke the shooting.---4 p.m.The widow of slain New Orleans Saints star Will Smith has confronted her husbands killer, looking at him as she told the jury, He didnt have to do that to my baby.Racquel Smith then showed jurors the gunshot wounds to her legs, suffered just before her husband was killed.Tuesdays testimony came on the second day of the trial of Cardell Hayes, charged with murder in the death of Smith and attempted murder for shooting the NFL stars wife.Hayes defense says the Smiths were the aggressors in a confrontation following a traffic accident last April.Raquel Smith, however, said she thought she had defused the argument and was walking with her husband away from Hayes when she heard two gunshots -- the ones that hit her -- followed by the series of shots that killed her husband.---1:05 p.m.It was a surprise first witness in the trial of the man who shot retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith: Not an eyewitness or an investigator, but popular retired Saints player Deuce McAllister.The beefy ex-running back choked up on the stand as he began to describe his years as a teammate, neighbor and friend of Smith.The testimony Tuesday at times drew objections from defense lawyers for the shooter, Cardell Hayes. They had earlier cautioned jurors about letting Smiths popularity sway them.Defense lawyer John Fuller drew a concession from McAlister that he wasnt with Smith constantly and therefore couldnt testify that the slain star, or anyone else, was always well-behaved.Fuller has said Hayes was in fear of his life when he shot Smith after a traffic crash.---12:05 p.m.New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is among the NFL players in a packed courtroom at the trial of the man who shot retired Saints defensive leader Will Smith.Other current or former Saints on hand Tuesday include former running back Deuce McAllister; former safety Steve Gleason, now batttling Lou Gehrigs disease; safety Roman Harper; and guard Jahri Evans.ddddddddddddOn trial is 29-year-old Cardell Hayes. Prosecutors have charged him with second-degree murder for shooting Smith during an argument after a traffic crash on April 9.Hayes attorney insists Hayes fired while in fear for his life, fearing that an angry and intoxicated Smith was reaching for a gun in the glovebox of his SUV.---11:30 a.m.A defense lawyer says the man who fatally shot retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith last April did so in self-defense, fearing that an angry Smith was fetching a gun from his SUVs glove box during a heated argument after a traffic accident.Attorney Jay Daniels made the claim during Tuesdays opening arguments in the second-degree murder trial of 29-year-old Cardell Hayes.Prosecutors cast Hayes as a raging killer who purposely rammed Smiths SUV before the shooting.Daniels says Hayes was following Smith because Smith had struck his vehicle moments earlier. Daniels says Hayes was trying to dial 911 to report Smiths license number when he accidentally ran into Smiths vehicle.Daniels says Hayes only fired his handgun after Smith reached into the glovebox.---11:10 a.m.A prosecutor says the irony of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smiths death is that the retired NFL defensive leader died defenseless.In Tuesdays opening arguments in the trial of Cardell Hayes, prosecutor Jason Napoli acknowledged that Smith was intoxicated the night Hayes killed him. But he stressed that Smith was unarmed when he was shot.Hayes faces life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.Both men got out of their cars after Hayes Hummer slammed into Smiths SUV, but Hayess lawyer has argued that Smith was the aggressor. Police have said there was an unfired, loaded gun in Smiths car when he was shot last April.In the courtroom are friends and family of both Smith and Hayes, as well as Saints players Roman Harper and Jahri Evans.---6 a.m.After a jury selection process that lasted well into the night, opening statements are expected in the trial of the man charged with murder after he shot retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith.Cardell Hayes faces life in prison if convicted on a second-degree murder charge. Hes also charged with attempted second-degree murder because Smiths wife Racquel was wounded by gunfire.The shots rang out during an argument that followed an April 9 traffic crash.Twelve jurors and four alternates were chosen Monday.Hayess defense lawyer has cast Smith as the aggressor in the argument.Prosecutors have said Hayes willfully rammed Smiths SUV -- leading to the confrontation.Surveillance video from near the scene showed Smiths vehicle had earlier lightly struck Hayes vehicle. ' ' '