Lotta goals not enough for Sweden to advance

Soccer Betting Lines

09/18/2007 - Tianjin, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sweden came up short in its bid for a fifth consecutive appearance in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup, beating North Korea 2-1 on Tuesday, but failing to achieve the three-goal win that was necessary to advance.

Lotta Schelin was dangerous throughout the match for Sweden, and she put the team ahead after only four minutes. However, a long-range shot from Un Suk Ri in the 22nd minute pulled the teams level heading into halftime. Schelin added her second goal of the game in the 54th minute, but Sweden could not get any closer, allowing North Korea to proceed past the group stage for the first time in its three World Cup appearances.

The North Koreans will now play Group A winners Germany on Saturday, while the United States, who won Group B with a 1-0 win over Nigeria on Tuesday, will meet Group A runners-up England on Saturday.

Things got off to a great start for Sweden as the team took advantage of its first chance of the game.

Therese Sjogran did well on the right flank to shake free of her defender and carry the ball to the end line. The midfielder then pulled the ball back and lobbed a cross into the six-yard box. The ball floated over the head of the keeper and Schelin got inside her defender to head home the opening goal.

After such a great start, things slowed for Sweden over the remainder of the half. They failed to test keeper Myong Hui Jon and the Korean defense did well to deal with any long ball that Sweden attempted.

Korea hit back in the 22nd minute to level the score. Ri picked up the ball in midfield on the left and carried it toward goal. She cut into the middle of the field and fired a perfect shot from 35 yards out. The ball sailed over the head of keeper Hedvig Lindahl and into the upper right corner of the net.

The goal continued the strategy that Korea has implemented for this tournament of firing shots from distance and putting pressure on the keeper.

The second half started well for Sweden also, as they found themselves ahead nine minutes after the restart. Victoria Svensson slid a pass to Schelin, who was running toward goal. Schelin split two defenders to get into the box and knocked a shot toward the right corner. The keeper came off her line and got a hand to the shot, but it rolled across the line and Sweden had new hope.

The next five minutes saw Sweden continue to put the pressure on, forcing a Korean defender to clear the ball off the line after a Svensson effort.

Over the final 30 minutes, Korea sat back and played for counter attack chances, which allowed them to get a couple of good opportunities to equalize.

Un Gyong Ri got open at the penalty spot and took a cross with a good look at the net. However, she volleyed the ball well over the crossbar to keep Korea down a goal.

Sweden still needed two more goals, and Schelin was doing everything she could to get another. Schelin found Svensson inside the box with a pass, but as Svensson turned and fired a shot, a Korean defender was there to block it away.

It was a scene that would play out on a couple of other occasions over the final 15 minutes as Korea did well to cut down the space that Sweden had and did not allow the Scandinavian side to get room for a good shot.

Korea had two good chances to equalize in the last 15 minutes, with both coming on counter attacks. Kum Suk Ri had the first opportunity as she received a pass at the edge of the area and had a wide open shot at goal. She fired the ball high but Lindahl did well to tip the shot over the net.

The Swedish keeper was called upon once again with 10 minutes to play when Son Hui Kil was played into the box on the right and fired a shot toward the near post. Once again, Lindahl was up to the task and deflected the shot over the crossbar.

Unfortunately for Sweden, it saved its best game of the tournament for the end, when they had already put themselves in a hole. Sweden is a top team that belongs in the last eight but will now head home wondering what went wrong after advancing to the final in the 2003 Cup.

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MySportsbook.com: NBA Championship Odds

With the playoffs about two months away, the top two teams in the Western Conference are the clear cut leaders to win the NBA Championship. The Dallas Mavericks have the best record in the NBA (44-9) and have been absolutely scorching since the second week of the season.  What makes the Mavs’ record more impressive is the fact that they dropped their first four games of the season.  Currently they have won 17 out of their last 18 and are MySportsbook.com’s favorite (2-1) to win it all.  Right behind the Mavs are the Pacific leading Phoenix Suns (39-13).  Last season, the Suns lost in the Conference Finals to non-other then the Mavericks four games to two.  Of course the Suns were without center Amare Stoudemire who has is averaging 19.9 PPG and 9.5 RPG since coming back from his knee injury.  Unlike the Mavs, the Suns have struggled a bit lately having lost their last three and four out of their last seven.  Of course the main reason for their three straight loses is due to the absence of two time MVP Steve Nash, who is out with a shoulder injury.  Heads-up, the Mavs have beaten the Suns in both of their meetings this season.

In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons (32-19) are the favorites to win it all at 6-1. The addition of Chris Webber seems to have been a good move for the Pistons.  Since coming over from the 76ers, Webber has averaged 13.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG and the Pistons are 11-4.  Even though the defending champion Heat are currently on the playoff making cusp, they are the Eastern Conference team that is getting the most action to win it all (9-1).  The fact that Shaquille O’Neal is back in the starting lineup after missing 39 games probably has something to do with this.  No doubt, Shaq makes a difference when in the lineup as their winning six out of their last seven would indicate.

Just because it is the All-Star break doesn’t mean that you can’t bet on NBA hoops this weekend.  Be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com to bet on who you think will cut down the nets this July. Also, be sure to check out all of the lines and props for All-Star weekend.  With the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry, there are plenty of ways to cash in on the NBA this weekend.

MySportsbook.com’s NBA Championship odds:

Atlanta Hawks 1000-1

Boston Celtics 5000-1

Charlotte Bobcats 5000-1

Chicago Bulls 20-1

Cleveland Cavaliers 20-1

Dallas Mavericks 2-1

Denver Nuggets 25-1

Detroit Pistons 6-1

Golden State Warriors 250-1

Houston Rockets 12-1

Indiana Pacers 60-1

Los Angeles Clippers 45-1

Memphis Grizzlies 5000-1

Miami Heat 9-1

Milwaukee Bucks 1000-1

Minnesota T-Wolves 200-1

New Jersey Nets 50-1

New Orleans Hornets 150-1

New York Knicks 150-1

Orlando Magic 75-1

Philadelphia 76ers 1000-1

Phoenix Suns 5-2

Portland TrailBlazers 1000-1

Sacramento Kings 250-1

San Antonio Spurs 9-1

Seattle Sonics 5000-1

Toronto Raptors 35-1

Utah Jazz 20-1

Washington Wizards 25-1

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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