JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- The African Cup of Nations couldnt provide a goal in two indifferent matches on the opening day on Saturday -- and Cape Verde coach Lucio Antunes didnt mind one bit. Antunes saw his inexperienced team of second-leaguers from the tiny island nation hold host South Africa to 0-0 in front of around 80,000 frustrated home fans at Soccer City in a resilient debut at the tournament. "Today, I can hold my head up high," Antunes said as the Cape Verdeans earned their first point in their first appearance at a major tournament. Morocco and Angola also couldnt score in the second of back-to-back games in Group A at the 2010 World Cup final venue, but by then most of South Africas dispirited fans had trudged off -- vuvuzelas dragging behind them -- having sat through persistent rain to have their hopes dampened by a discouraging display from the host. A nervous South African team was awful in the first half and little better in the second to underline worries that Bafana Bafana may make even less of an impact at the African Cup than they did at their World Cup nearly three years ago. "The first half was a complete waste of 45 minutes," South Africa coach Gordon Igesund said. "We got a point. I dont think we deserve too much more than that, to be honest." While South Africa struggled to create any openings, Cape Verde defended resolutely to celebrate the draw like a victory. "Itll make Cape Verdes 500,000 people happy," Antunes said. Morocco and Angola provided more chances and better football, and Angolan captain Manucho should have stolen victory when he glanced a diving header wide with two minutes to go. Africas top tournament had opened with a vibrant and noisy opening ceremony as South Africas vuvuzelas blared again in the stands of Soccer City. It was followed by a muted 180 minutes of football. Hours before, Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou briefly visited recent calls from within African football for the continent to be given more places at the World Cup. Hayatou said there was "not a single African that will not wish for us to have an extra team representing our continent at the World Cup." Going on what Saturday served up, few outside Africa would feel the continent deserved any more. Still, Antunes -- who counts Real Madrids Jose Mourinho as a close friend -- was delighted and didnt agree with criticism of a relatively poor opening game. "I have a different opinion," he said. He would, because both results raise Cape Verdes hopes of a quarterfinal place. The little known Cape Verde team had better chances against a South African lineup suffering from severe stage fright at the start of its second big football production in three years. Helson Ramos screwed a shot wide of the right post when clear in the area early on and forced South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune into a scrambling save with his diving header in the 72nd minute that nearly brought a far worse result for the home team. "Ive never seen them like this," Igesund said of his shrinking team, adding some players "may have been hiding." Morocco dominated much of the first 45 against Angola, then rode a late surge of energy from the Angolans when Manucho twice went close. "We were well motivated but we lacked efficiency," Morocco coach Rachid Taoussi said. Sunday is another, hopefully better, day for the African Cup. Title contender Ghana opens its campaign in Group B against Congo in Port Elizabeth and Mali plays Niger. South Africa moves on to Durban, a game against Angola and, it hopes, a vastly improved performance. Around 80,000 fans came out in the rain to watch the first game but they may drift away if South Africa doesnt improve drastically, possibly pushing the cup toward the half-empty stadiums that often blight what organizers call world footballs third biggest event. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/]http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/... . Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte face off Saturday in the 400-meter individual medley, a grueling race encompassing all four strokes and an appropriate next chapter in this most intriguing of rivalries. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/russell-wilson-jersey.html]http://www.... . Nadal pulled out of the London Games because of a sore left knee, missing the chance to defence his title and serve as Spains flag bearer in the opening ceremony. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/marshawn-lynch-jersey.html]http://www.... . According to French newspaper LEquipe, the 2014 Giro will start in the Northern Irish capital before crossing over into Ireland and heading into Dublin. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/12th-fan-jersey.html]http://www.authen... . Italy had more of the possession, the better of the chances, and thoroughly deserved to advance to the semifinals at UEFA Euro 2012 with a penalty shootout win over England on Sunday. [url=http://www.authenticseahawksshop.com/richard-sherman-jersey.html]http://www... . The 47th-ranked Paire swept the first set despite landing only three first serves against the 45th-ranked Tomic, who was seeded eighth after getting a wild-card entry to the clay-court tournament. MILWAUKEE -- Left for dead in the playoff race a month ago, the Milwaukee Brewers inched closer to a wild card spot after sweeping the Atlanta Braves, a scenario that had backup first baseman Travis Ishikawa searching to explain the teams recent surge. Ishikawa, subbing for the injured Corey Hart, blasted a bases-clearing double in Milwaukees eight-run fifth inning, coming after a three-run home run by Rickie Weeks earlier in the frame, and the Brewers beat the Braves 8-2 Wednesday night. "I felt like we had dug a hole pretty deep that we werent going to be able to get out of," Ishikawa said. "That just shows you the character of this team. As far out as weve been and as bad as we played earlier this year, we just found a way to play the ball we knew we were capable of playing. Weve got a little ways to go, but its definitely going to be a fun few weeks." The victory was the Brewers ninth in a row at Miller Park and 18th in the past 23 games overall. Milwaukee (72-71) climbed above .500 for the first time since it was 4-3 on April 12. The Brewers moved within three games of St. Louis for the second NL wild card. Despite the loss, the Braves continue to have a strong hold on the top wild card position. Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo also connected for a run-scoring double in the game-turning inning, during which the Brewers sent 13 batters to the plate while collecting eight hits and two walks. Milwaukee trailed 2-0 entering the frame. Gallardo (15-8) pitched seven strong innings in his majors-leading 24th quality start of the season. He gave up two runs on only four hits while walking three and striking out six. Relievers Jose Veras and Kameron Loe combined to shut out the Braves over the final two innings. "Its pretty exciting in here right now, for all of us," Gallardo said. "Weve just got to keep it up. Thats a tough team on the other side and being able to win all three games is huge." Brewers manager Ron Roenicke credited Gallardo for overcoming early control issues. "At the beginning the command was a little off. Then he gets it going again and starts getting in a rhythm," Roenicke said. "He threw some great curveballs today." Atlanta starter Paul Maholm (12-10) held the Brewers scoreless through four innings before running into major trouble in the fifth. Maholm gave up nine hits, eight runs -- six earned -- in 4 1-3 innings. He walked two batters and struck out a pair. Maholm entered the game 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA in two prior starts against the Brewers this season. "I cant say I like this place. Im kind of glad to be out of here and not coming back this year. Theyve got a good lineup. Obviously, they know me and I know them," Maholm said.dddddddddddd Roenicke struggled to explain the Brewers success this season against Maholm. "We didnt do much until that (fifth) inning. Why we didnt do anything and all of a sudden we bust out, I dont really know," he said. Weeks connected for his 18th home run of the season to spark the fifth-inning outburst, giving the Brewers a 3-2 lead. Weeks, who began the season in a horrendous slump, has been on an torrid streak at the plate. "Hes been good for a long time now and this stretch has been really good and at a time when we really need him," Roenicke said. Following Weeks blast, Milwaukee added five more runs in the inning, three on a double by Ishikawa. "Coreys been doing a tremendous job over there. Hes definitely a guy you cant replace," Ishikawa said. "Im doing everything I can in my own capabilities to hold my own over there and just pray that he gets back healthy and quickly." Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez thought the Braves were poised for a victory after the team jumped out to a quick 2-0. "Early in the game, we made some great defensive plays. Guys were bouncing everywhere and got a couple of quick runs and I thought, OK, here we go," Gonzalez said. "But its hard to win ball games when we score three runs in three games and we give up a bunch." The Brewers are having success in all phases of the game, which has allowed the team to climb into the playoff hunt, he added. "In the second half of the season, theyre one of the hottest teams in the National League. Theyre playing good, theyre pitching good, putting the ball in play when they have to," Gonzalez said. Jason Heyward got the Braves on the board in the first inning when he hit a two-out, solo home run. The Braves added a run in the fourth. NOTES: Brewers CF Carlos Gomez left the game in the second inning with a lower quad contusion. Hes day-to-day, according to team officials. .The Brewers presented Chipper Jones with a Weber gas grill and a years supply of Klements sausages in an on-field ceremony prior to the game to mark the retirement of the Braves third baseman. Jones, who played his 42nd and final game against the Brewers on Wednesday, announced earlier this year his plan to retire at the end of his 18th full season in the majors, all of them with Atlanta. Jones got a loud standing ovation and tipped his cap to the crowd in his final at-bat in the ninth inning. ... Brewers 1B Hart took batting practice but sat out Wednesdays game as he continues to struggle with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Team officials said Hart, who hasnt played since Sunday, is questionable for the teams next game on Friday at home. ' ' '