Scotland captain Scott Brown believes the two victories over Czech Republic and Denmark in the past week has provided a confidence boost. Gordon Strachan is trying to build some momentum for the World Cup qualifying campaign which starts in Malta on September 4.Strachan conceded Scotland were not at their best in either match, but recording two 1-0 victories in five days with completely different starting line-ups has been good for confidence. Brown became just the ninth Celtic player to win 50 caps for Scotland in the match with Denmark, and he reckons work ethic had much to do with the double success.And that was exemplified by the goal at Hampden when Matt Ritchie chased what appeared to be a lost cause and took advantage of a defensive mix up to score.I think we needed it, said Brown. Its two huge results. Maybe not the prettiest games in the world but victories matter and hopefully we can do that in the World Cup qualifiers.Gordon has got us back to winning ways. He understands that sometimes you dont play well but we got a result and thats what matters.Its about hard work, and thats what we have got in this squad. You see people like Matt Ritchie closing down a centre-half and, lucky enough, he got in and scored a great goal again. Kieran Tierney impressed on his Scotland debut There was further cause for optimism for Scotland given the seamless transitions to international football made by Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney and Hibernian midfielder John McGinn.And Brown was delighted for his 18-year-old Celtic team-mate, who may well prove hard to shift from the position.Brown said: Hes excellent, his attitude is unbelievable. He just seems to join in with top quality players. He doesnt look out of place.Nobody gets the better of him, and I mean nobody, and he proves that week in, week out. Its great to see people come through from your club.Brown felt he formed a solid partnership with McGinn as well after his surprise call up following an impressive campaign in which Hibs have beaten several top-flight clubs in both domestic cup competitions.It was great playing with John McGinn, the two of us seemed to bounce off each other.The gaffer told them to play how they do for their teams and they definitely did that. They were confident and they have so much energy about them. Also See: World Cup section Features Latest video Get Sky Sports Air Max 97 Cheap Australia .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Cheap Air Max 97 Australia Sale .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. http://www.cheapairmax97australia.com/ . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Wholesale Air Max 97 Australia . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. Air Max 97 Australia Wholesale . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. OLYMPICSLAUSANNE, Switzerland -- In a show of unity after sharp divisions caused by the Russian doping scandal, Olympic leaders gave the World Anti-Doping Agency increased powers to lead the fight against drug cheats and pushed ahead with plans for a separate independent body to carry out global drug-testing.A summit of top global sports officials backed WADA to continue to oversee worldwide anti-doping efforts, upholding the agencys central role following months of strained relations caused by its call to ban Russia from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics over state-sponsored cheating.The leaders called for WADA to lead a more robust, more efficient, more transparent, and more harmonized anti-doping system, and promised more funding for the cash-strapped agency if it enacts reforms.The summit also supported previously announced plans for the Court of Arbitration for Sport to take over the role of imposing sanctions on doping cheats, removing the responsibility from sports federations in order to make the system more independent. CAS handled doping sanctions during the Rio Games for the first time.AUTO RACINGSAN MARINO -- One spectator has died and several more are seriously injured after a car veered off course into a crowd during a rally event in the Republic of San Marino.RallyLegend organizers say in a statement that the car went off the road and hit some straw bales protecting a runoff path and that the spectators affected were standing right behind the bales.The car involved was a Renault Clio Maxi driven by Enrico Bonaso with Alice Palazzi as navigator.Sundays race was canceled and local authorities immediately opened a criminal investigation into the incident.It was the 14th edition of the event.San Marino is nestled atop a hill in central Italy near Rimini and the Adriatic coast.SOCCERCHICAGO -- Five of the starters from the United States 2-0 win at Cuba have been released to return to their clubs and will miss Tuesdays exhibition against New Zealand in Washington, D.C.Defenders John Brooks, Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson were let go along with midfielder Christian Pulisic and forward Bobby Wood, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Saturday. They were among nine players to leave the team, a grouup that also included goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, defender Timmy Chandler and forwards Jordan Morris and Chris Wondolowski.ddddddddddddSeven players were added, leaving the U.S. with a 20-man roster: goalkeeper Bill Hamid; defenders Kellyn Acosta, Matt Besler, Michael Orozco and Tim Parker; and forwards Juan Agudelo and Terrence Boyd.Boyd has not been with the national team since he was on the 30-man preliminary roster for the 2014 World Cup. The 25-year-old tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in December 2014.Agudelo has not been with the national team since June 2015.COLLEGE FOOTBALLCOLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolinas stadium is mostly OK after a brush with Hurricane Matthew. So is the athletic directors house.There was little visible damage to Williams-Brice Stadium, a day before it will host South Carolinas delayed game with Georgia. Athletic director Ray Tanner said he and his family also were doing well after a fallen tree damaged their house.Tanner said on Twitter that he and his family were safe and all is well.At Williams-Brice, a few letters from GAMECOCKS above the press box area came off in the storm. South Carolina executive associate AD Charles Bloom said staff was inspecting the stadium to make sure it was safe for fans and both teams Sunday.The schools and the Southeastern Conference moved the game from Saturday night because of Matthew.PRO FOOTBALLDENVER -- Broncos coach Gary Kubiak experienced flu-like symptoms and was taken from the stadium to a hospital by ambulance following Denvers 23-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.Team spokesman Patrick Smyth said Kubiak was transported as a precaution about 45 minutes after the game.Players had already left the stadium, but some tweeted their well wishes to their coach upon learning of his illness.Prayers out for Coach Kub! safety T.J. Ward wrote from his account.Kubiak had a health scare in 2013 when he was coach of the Houston Texans, suffering a mini-stroke in a frightening scene in which he collapsed at halftime during a game against the Colts. He returned to the sideline 10 days later but was soon fired. ' ' '