Chicago tops Columbus to snap five-game skid

Soccer Betting Lines

06/04/2007 - Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chad Barrett's amazing 75-yard scoring run helped Chicago defeat Columbus, 3-2, on Sunday and end a five-game winless streak.

Barrett picked up a loose ball about 10 yards outside his own box off a corner and raced all the way down field with a defender on his back before scoring. It was his third goal of the year and the game-winner for the Fire.

Jeff Curtin and Willian Oliveira also scored for Chicago, which had lost four of its last five games. The Fire hadn't won since a 1-0 victory over Houston on April 29, which capped a four-game unbeaten streak to start the year.

Chicago (4-4-1) needed a win to stay close to Kansas City, New England and New York in Major League Soccer's Eastern Division. The Fire are five points back of first-place Kansas City, four behind New England and three behind New York.

Columbus, which entered the game with the fewest goals in the MLS, turned the game into an unexpected offensive battle. The Crew had 18 shots (nine on goal) to the Fire's 12 (four on goal).

But the Crew (1-3-5) were unable to finish as well as the Fire and weren't able to climb out of last place in the Eastern Division. It was just the third loss in nine games this season for Columbus, but it also has just one win. The loss extended the Crew's winless streak to five games.

Columbus looked like the much better side early in the game, nearly getting the first goal a few times.

In the ninth minute, Guillermo Barros Schelotto controlled the ball in the middle of the field and passed to Alejandro Moreno in the box but his shot was saved by Fire goalie Matt Pickens.

Schelotto had his own scoring chance minutes later, but despite getting behind the defense he decided to unleash a hard shot from just outside the 18 and it was right at Pickens.

Moreno had another great chance in the 18th minute on a nice give-and-go, but after his hard shot deflected off a defender Pickens made a great sprawling stop to save a goal.

Despite all of Columbus' chances, Chicago was the first to get on the board when Curtin scored on a great leaping header in the 25th minute. Off a corner kick from Oliveira, Curtin charged in toward the far post and left his feet to head the ball from a tough angle past Crew goalie Andy Gruenebaum.

Columbus was rewarded for its surprising amount of offense late in the first half when Duncan Oughton scored off a header. Schelotto crossed the ball and Oughton soared into the air to head the ball toward the right post. Pickens was able to get his fingertips on the ball but it deflected off the post and into the net.

Moreno's chances continued to come in the second half, and just five minutes in he was able to get behind Chicago's defense again following a great pass from Robbie Rogers. Although Moreno was one-on-one with Pickens, the Fire goalie got off his line and was able to take the ball off Moreno's feet to prevent a shot on goal.

Chicago converted another set piece in the 61st minute when Oliveira sent a free kick off a Columbus defender, through traffic and past Gruenebaum. It initially looked like another Fire player got a touch on the ball just in front of the net, but Oliveira was credited with the unassisted goal.

The Fire's lead looked to be in jeopardy when Curtin was sent off in the 68th minute on a soft red card, but the Crew were unable to take advantage of the man advantage.

Then in the 78th minute, a Columbus player whiffed on a shot off a corner and Barrett controlled the ball a few yards outside his own box. Barrett dribbled the ball down the middle of the field with Columbus' Kei Kamara on his back and a few steps into the box on the opposite end of the field was able to beat Gruenebaum.

Columbus was able to get one goal back in the 84th minute when it converted its first corner kick since October of 2005 - a span of more than 200 chances. The ball was played into the box where it was headed by Moreno, then touched by Oughton before Chad Marshall buried it in the back of the net.

With a little momentum and a man advantage, Columbus had a good shot to get the tying goal in the final minutes before it lost Danny O'Rourke to a red card in the 86th minute.

With each team playing with 10 men, the Crew managed one last chance in extra time when Frankie Hejduk was taken down just outside the box. The free kick was sent into the wall, but Hejduk one-timed the deflection and Pickens dove to his right to make one last save - his seventh - to preserve the victory.

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Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament odds  
As of February 9, MySportsbook.com has released its coveted 2007 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament betting odds. “March Madness betting ” only a month away, the top ranked Florida Gators are favorite at 7-2 to win it all. The defending champs have not disappointed at all this season and currently have a 22-2 record and are undefeated (9-0) in SEC play. The Gators’ thrive off of their extremely balanced, experienced and versatile attack. All five starters started in last seasons National Championship game. What is most impressive with this group is their balance; the five starters all average between 10.7 and 13.6 PPG. The Gators have been on an absolute roll having won 15 straight by an average of 16.4 PPG.

Right behind the Gators are the 5th ranked UNC Tar Heels at 9-2. The Heels (21-3, 7-2) are absolutely loaded with top notch talent and are as deep as any team in the country. A concern for the Tar Heels might be inexperience. Of their top four scorers/ minute earners, three are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. The rest of the regular season, the Tar Heels play only one team that is currently ranked (Duke). Their remaining opponents do combine for an impressive 107-58 record though.

Other teams that the MySportsbook.com members seem to believe will win it all include the west coasts’ top team #2 UCLA (6-1), #3 OSU behind man-child Greg Oden (8-1), and #4 Wisconsin (10-1) behind their defense which has given up 70+ points only three times all season.

Below is a list of some of the favorites to win the 2007 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship lines. For the full list of teams and March Madness odds be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com. If you want to use your credit card to bet on college hoops or any other event, MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

Arizona 20-1

Butler 20-1

Duke 30-1

Florida 7-2

Georgetown 30-1

Indiana 35-1

Kansas 15-1

Marquette 25-1

Maryland 40-1

Memphis 50-1

Nevada 50-1

UNC 9-2

OSU 8-1

Oregon 30-1

Pittsburgh 15-1

Texas 30-1

Texas A&M 18-1

UCLA 6-1

Wisconsin 10-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook betting needs.

Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.