Columbus hosts Chicago in rematch of Eastern final

Soccer Betting Lines

04/24/2009 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Fire travel to take on the Columbus Crew in a Major League Soccer clash at Crew Stadium on Saturday. The fixture will be a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference final, although the teams are on the opposite sides of the table five games into the 2009 season.

The Crew are one of just two winless teams in MLS with an 0-2-3 record while the Fire (2-0-3) are one of only two unbeaten clubs, meaning their fortunes have changed since Columbus defeated Chicago route to the 2008 MLS Cup championship.

Chicago is coming off a 2-2 draw with Kansas City last weekend in which it gave up two late goals to settle for a share of the points.

"It was a great game for 75 minutes," Fire defender Bakary Soumare said. "And then we lost our concentration. We kept things tight and kept playing the way we had been playing. Being up 2-0, we didn't feel much pressure to score a third or fourth goal. You play hard for such a long time and then blow it at the end ... it's unspeakable."

Despite the fact that the team felt it gave two points away, Fire coach Denis Hamlett was very happy with his team's performance, especially in the first half when two Brian McBride goals gave his club the early lead.

"I think it was the best half the team has played this year," he said. "I think our mentality showed from the start. We were on the same page - playing one and two touch soccer, moving the ball and when we created opportunities to go one-on-one we did that.

"Brian [McBride] scored two good goals. It was unselfish soccer and I tell the group when we play like that, it looks good. I think the second half got away from that in terms of trying to get that third goal, we didn't really need it, we just kept pushing and we got caught in an open game."

The Crew, who haven't played since April 11, are coming off a 1-1 draw with Colorado that snapped a two-game losing streak. The team actually had an early lead, but gave up a late goal.

"I am proud of the team because they had a very good performance. We were better in every aspect of the game," Crew coach Robert Warzycha said. "We were just unlucky not to score some goals. We give up a goal at the end and we give up two points."

Columbus' bye week has allowed it to get a little healthier, but veteran back Frankie Hejduk will be out, and goalkeeper Will Hesmer is questionable for Saturday. Also out for the Crew are forward Jason Garey and midfielder Cory Elenio, while defender Chad Marshall midfielder Robbie Rogers are probable with injuries.

"I feel so much better. I don't even feel it [hamstring] at all," Rogers said. "I'm glad I took the rest. I was in more of a passing role . I really couldn't take guys on. Pressuring guys defensively was tough because it was hard for me to stop and cut but I was trying to help as much as possible. It's going to be a different me when I start playing again."

Chicago will be without forwards Peter Lowry and Calen Carr and defender Daniel Woolard, defender C.J. Brown is doubtful, defender Wilman Conde is questionable, and defender Gonzalo Segares is probable with injuries.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

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Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

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Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

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The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

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