CHICAGO -- Tom Sermanni coached the U.S. womens soccer team to a 2-0 win over China in Colorado in the afternoon. By evening, he was out of a job. Sermanni was fired by the U.S. Soccer Federation on Sunday after a disappointing finish last month at the Algarve Cup. The surprising move came just 16 months after he was put in charge. The dismissal was announced hours after Lauren Holiday and substitute Megan Rapinoe scored in the exhibition victory over China in Commerce City, Colo. "We felt that we needed to go in a different direction at this time," USSF President Sunil Gulati said. He said the federation will begin looking for a new coach immediately, with the team looking toward qualifying for the 2015 Womens World Cup. On Monday, a message on goalkeeper Hope Solos Twitter account addressed the firing: "Its a sombre day for us all today. Tom is simply a classy man in every way, and he will certainly be missed." Jill Ellis, the USSFs director of development, will serve as interim coach. She went 5-0-2 in that role in 2012. The womens team faces China again on Thursday in San Diego. "I was completely blindsided," Sermanni told SI.com on Sunday night. "Maybe Im losing my intuitive and perception skills, but I didnt sense a real unease in the team. But I could be wrong in that regard." Sermanni said he assumes there was "some degree of dissatisfaction among the players, otherwise we wouldnt have gotten to this point so quickly now." He added that the players did what he asked and he has "no qualms with them in the sense of having poor relations with them." He was hired in October 2012, but Ellis served as interim coach until he took over that January. Sermanni made his debut in a 4-1 win over his native Scotland on Feb. 10, 2013. He spent the previous eight years coaching Australias womens team, leading the Matildas to the quarterfinals of the last two World Cups. Sermanni helped the U.S. to a 13-0-3 record last year, but the Americans went 1-2-1 at the Algarve Cup, the last major tournament for the U.S. before qualifying for next years World Cup. The seventh-place finish included a 1-0 defeat to Sweden and former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, ending a two-year, 43-game unbeaten streak. That was the first loss following a 16-0-4 start under Sermanni. "To put it in a nutshell, they just felt that the way I was managing the team wasnt working," Sermanni told SI.com. "It could be the U.S. team is a unique team that has certain demands that perhaps my management style or my philosophy didnt quite jell with." His firing came about six months before North and Central American and Caribbean World Cup qualifying, which takes place from Oct. 16-26 at Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Mexico. On Sunday, Sermanni experimented with a 4-3-3 alignment (four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards) and talked about the team making the most of its offensive opportunities. "I thought our movement was good, thought our passing was quite incisive," Sermanni said. "What we shouldve done better is finish the game off a lot earlier. We really need to be finishing these games off when were creating chances." The U.S. outshot China 23-1 and ran its unbeaten streak on home turf to 81 games (71-0-10). Holiday was back in the lineup after missing the Algarve Cup because of a family commitment. She scored in the 39th minute -- the U.S. finally solving goalkeeper Zhang Yue after a flurry of shots. Holiday nearly had another goal early in the second half, only to have it deflected near the goal line. The defence allowed only one scoring chance to China, which played defensively even after falling behind. "The most important thing is coming together now and figuring out what works and what doesnt," forward Sydney Leroux said. "Were getting better every single day." Any further improvement will come under a new coach. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Sale . Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the Houston Texans No. 1 pick in the draft, was on the field Tuesday for the first time with former NFL Defensive Player of the Year J. Custom Nike New York Yankees Jerseys .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston. https://www.customnikebaseballjerseys.com/241n-custom-nike-st-louis-cardinals-jerseys-baseball.html .Derrick Rose scored 23 points, and the Bulls pulled away from the Nets for a 105-80 victory on Wednesday night. Chicago held Brooklyn to 29 points on 26. Custom Nike Minnesota Twins Jerseys . Mike Babcock has turned to the Montreal Canadiens goalie over Roberto Luongo, who backed Canada to a gold medal in Vancouver in 2010, for Canadas final preliminary round game against the ailing Finns. Cheap Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . Nick Holden scored two goals and had an assist and the Avalanche held off the Nashville Predators 5-4 Saturday night for their fourth straight victory.DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday. Toronto shortstop Jose Reyes left the game after the third inning due to tightness in his left hamstring. Reyes said his exit was just a precaution and insisted that he is fine. Two-time American League MVP Miguel Cabrera was 0 for 2 with a strikeout and an RBI for the Tigers. Encarnacion connected off Tigers starter Kyle Lobstein in a five-run first inning, which included a solo shot to right field by Moises Sierra and an RBI double from Melky Cabrera. It was Encarnacions third home run of the spring. Encarnacion finished 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. If you look at it, our regulars have been getting a lot of hits all spring," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We havent necessarily been scoring a lot of runs, but lately we have. But, top guys are swinging the bats pretty good. Were kind of starting to put it together a little bit these last few days." Tigers outfield prospect Ezequiel Carrera homered and Tyler Collins hit a two-run double against Blue Jays starter Todd Redmond in the sixth inning. Redmond, a candidate for the fifth spot in the Blue Jays rotation, allowed five hits, walked one and struck out eight in six innings. STARTING TIME Blue Jays: Gibbons said Redmond was outstanding during his first five innings, but thought fatigue settled in when the right-hander gave up four runs -- three earned -- in the sixth. "We tried to stretch him out a little bit, but you look at his first few innings, he was dominating," Gibbons said. "He had a real good splitter, nice little slider and was spotting the ball pretty good." Tigers: Lobstein yielded seven hits with five runs, one walk and four strikeouts in three innings. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said the left-hander lost command too many times when he was behind in counts, which led to trouble. "He was just getting behind, I think," Ausmus said. "Commands a big part of his game. When he gets behind, it tends to be a little more painful." TRAINERS ROOM Blue Jays: Gibbons said he doesnt have any worries about Reyes, despite the three-tiime All-Stars history with leg problems.dddddddddddd Reyes has landed on the disabled list five times in his career with hamstring injuries, most notably with the New York Mets in 2009 when he missed all but 36 games. For now, though, Gibbons said he is not going to dwell on it. "Zero (concern), right now," he said. "If he hasnt played a week from now, weve got a lot of concerns." Infielder Maicer Izturis felt better, but was given the day off after fouling two pitches off his ankle on Friday against Tampa Bay. Tigers: Left fielder Rajai Davis missed his fifth straight game with a sore right hamstring. Ausmus said Davis participated in running drills for the second straight day and could return on Monday against Pittsburgh. DONT RULE OUT VIZQUEL With shortstop Jose Iglesias out for the season because of stress fractures in his legs, Ausmus joked that he may need to convince Tigers first base coach and former major league shortstop Omar Vizquel to come out of retirement. Ausmus said hes actually spoken with the 46-year-old Vizquel about the possibility and thinks the 10-time Gold Glove Award winner could play on a temporary basis if he wanted to. "He could probably do it part-time, to be honest with you. But then Id have to go find a first base coach," Ausmus said with a laugh. "I dont know if he could play 150 games, but he could probably be a platoon shortstop if he got himself in shape. He certainly still has the hands." Vizquel played 24 seasons with the Mariners, Indians, Giants, Rangers, White Sox and Blue Jays before retiring in 2012. SANCHEZ THROWS Ausmus said starter Anibal Sanchez did not have any issues after his bullpen session on Saturday morning. Barring an unexpected setback, Sanchez, who has been out with shoulder inflammation, will pitch in a minor league game on Monday in Lakeland. "Everything went well," Ausmus said. "We just want to see how he feels tomorrow; see how he bounces back. But if hes fine in the morning, well stay on schedule for Monday starting on the minor league side." ROSTER MOVES The Blue Jays optioned right-hander Aaron Sanchez, first baseman Dan Johnson and outfielder Kevin Pillar to minor league camp. ' ' '