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09/15/2007 - Wuhan, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marta and Christiane each scored two goals as Brazil rolled to a 4-0 win over China on Saturday, its second impressive win in the World Cup.
Brazil defeated New Zealand 5-0 in its opener and with the win over China sits all alone atop Group D. The Brazilians are the only team with two victories in their first two games.
With the large goal differential, the Brazilians have essentially locked up a spot in the quarterfinals. Brazil has advanced to the quarterfinals of the last two World Cups, finishing fourth in 1999.
Marta has four goals in two games to lead the race for the Golden Shoe, given to the tournament's top scorer. Christiane is one goal back in a pack of five players with three goals.
Brazil (2-0-0) wraps up group play on Wednesday against Denmark. China (1-1-0) will try to bounce back from its first-ever loss in the group stage and worst Cup loss in history against New Zealand on Wednesday.
The pace of the game was fast from the opening whistle as Brazil's Christiane got in the box just 30 seconds in, but couldn't get any pace on her shot with a defender on her back. China goalie Wenxia Han handled the shot easily.
China's first great chance wasn't until the 16th minute but it was just inches from taking the lead when a ball smashed off the top of the crossbar.
China nearly found the back of the net in the 26th minute as well when Xiaoli Song, who scored the game winner in a 3-2 win over Denmark, unleashed a blast from 10 yards. Brazil goalie Andreia deflected the shot wide of the post.
Han made an equally impressive save for China in the 33rd minute, diving to her right to keep Formiga's shot out of the upper left corner.
After all the missed chances, Marta's spectacular individual effort led to the first goal of the match in the 42nd minute. On a long ball played over China's defense, Marta beat a charging Han to the ball 10 yards outside the box.
The reigning FIFA Player of the Year made a soft touch on the ball with her right foot to knock it past Han, then scored into the open net with her left foot.
Just like Brazil's opener, it started to open up its game late in the first half and exploded in the second half. Brazil also led New Zealand 1-0 at half.
Just two minutes into the second half Christiane got in one-on-one on Han and slotted a left-footed shot into the lower left corner for her second goal of the tournament.
A minute later, Christiane scored again as she received a pass from Marta on the right side of the box and just had to tap the ball into an open net.
Marta nearly got her second goal of the game in the 50th minute, but her shot hit the right post, bounced off Han and then the post again before being covered up.
The world's best player wouldn't be denied again in the 67th minute, losing two defenders on the right side of the box to get open before sending a shot off a defender and into the right side of the net.
Marta, who had three goals in the 2003 World Cup when she was 17, has seven career goals in six games spanning the last two tournaments.
<< Another late rally for Europe keeps it close
Halmstad, Sweden (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 18th hole doomed the Americans.
Two European teams won the 18th hole to earn crucial halves in the first two
matches of Saturday's foursomes matches at the Solheim Cup.
In the foursomes, each tea
<< New mom Davenport moves into Bali final
Bali, Indonesia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lindsay Davenport continued her remarkable
ride in Bali on Saturday, cruising past Italian Sara Errani, 6-1, 6-3, in
semifinal action at the $225,000 Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic.
The three-time
<< Denmark overcomes distractions to top New Zealand
Wuhan, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Katrine Pedersen scored and set up a goal as
Denmark, playing with its coach in the stands because of a suspension, topped
New Zealand, 2-0, on Saturday.
Coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller was suspended two games
<< Sinclair double leads Canada over Ghana
Hangzhou, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Christine Sinclair scored two goals to
lead Canada to a comfortable 4-0 win over Ghana in Group C action on Saturday.
Sophie Schmidt and Martina Franko also found the net for the Canadians, who
cont
Russians one win away from seizing Fed Cup >>
Moscow, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Anna Chakvetadze and Svetlana Kuznetsova
both did their part Saturday, taking the first pair of singles rubbers to hand
Russia a comfortable edge over defending-champion Italy heading into Sunday at
the 45t
Rangers try to halt skid versus A's >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers try to put the brakes on a four-game
losing streak this afternoon when they play the third contest of a four-game
set against the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum.
Texas continued to fall further away
Pirates continue road trip in Houston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates kicked off their 10-game road trip
in a good way and will try for another win tonight when they continue a three-
game series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Jose Bautista put the Pira
Butler uses safety, field goals to beat St. Joseph's 11-8 >>
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Butler held St. Joseph's (Ind.) to negative three rushing yards and scored a safety and three field goals to squeak past their Division II foe 11-8 on Saturday.Senior Derek North led the Bulldogs to their first 3-0 start since 199
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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