Twellman's bicycle kick snuffs Fire

Soccer Betting Lines

11/08/2007 - Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A couple days after the New England Revolution won their first trophy in franchise history, the U.S. Open Cup, Major League Soccer's 2007 Defender of the Year Michael Parkhurst said, "These opportunities don't come very much in the sport. We want to take advantage of these championship runs when they come along."

After a Taylor Twellman bicycle kick goal held up on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in the MLS Eastern Conference final, the Revs have a chance to take advantage of another championship run. This time for the MLS Cup after the team advanced to the league championship game for the third consecutive year.

Twellman scored the spectacular goal in the 38th minute after winger Wells Thompson crossed into the Chicago penalty area. Twellman headed the ball straight up in the air, turned and fired an overhead shot between defenders Dasan Robinson and Logan Pause and past goalkeeper Matt Pickens for the 1-0 lead.

The goal was Twellman's ninth in MLS playoff history to tie him with Brian McBride for seventh all-time. Twellman has tallied six goals in his last seven playoff games, including two in three games this season.

His fifth career playoff goal against the Fire would hold up as the Revolution knocked rivals Chicago out of the playoffs for the fourth time in their playoff history. The Revs also improve to 6-0-0 all-time at home against the Fire in the postseason while snapping the visitors 10-game unbeaten streak.

The game started with the Revolution getting a couple early shots - by Twellman and Thompson - in the first four minutes, but neither was on target.

C.J. Brown had Chicago's first shot, but it also went wide in the sixth minute.

Chicago forward Paulo Wanchope had the first legitimate chance two minutes later when he took control of the ball in the box, but his shot from the right side of the penalty area went wide of the far post.

Twellman had the best early chance of the game about 10 minutes later when he headed a shot from about six-yards out toward the far post, but a diving Pickens got a hand on it to tip it over the crossbar and keep the game scoreless.

Chicago's best chance of the first half occurred on a free kick from outside the left side of the Revs' box. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who drew the foul, took the kick and played a perfect ball to Wanchope, who was alone in the middle of the six-yard box and onside only because defender Avery John was level with him. Wanchope got his head on the cross, but he snapped it wide of the near post.

Twellman then gave the home side the first-half lead with a his bicycle kick goal seven minutes before the break.

Revs' captain Steve Ralston had a great look from the top of the box in the 44th minute after Twellman and Pat Noonan worked the defense before playing a ball to the veteran, but the league's all-time leader in assists blasted the shot high and wide.

The second half started slow as the Revs defense, led by Parkhurst and central midfielder Shalrie Joseph, shut down the Fire attack. The visitors did get a chance when a Chad Barrett blast from the top of the box went wide of the left post just before the hour mark.

Wilman Conde let a 30-yard knuckler loose three minutes later, but it just wide of the left post also.

Five minutes later, Twellman tried for the double with a chip shot after Khano Smith received a pass from Noonan and found the forward on the right side at the top of the box, but it was saved by Pickens.

About 10 minutes later, with the Fire pressing for the equalizer, Chicago defender Gonzalo Segares blasted long shot in on goal that was saved by Matt Reis, one of his 10 saves in the game.

Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio brought in Justin Mapp, who has missed the previous 11 games with an ankle injury, in the 77th minute in an effort to spark his team's offense, but the talented American had little impact in the final 13 minutes.

Pickens kept it close seven minutes from time with a save on Noonan, who drove at the defense, beat a defender then hit a shot from a crowd in the box.

Fire attacker Chris Rolfe, held in check most of the game after scoring two goals in the semis against D.C., had two shots in the final five minutes, but was unable to beat Reis.

The Fire's last good chance came in the 90th minute when late substitute Calen Carr headed a Blanco cross on goal from close range, but Reis did well to hang on for his third shutout in three postseason games this season and seventh all-time, good for a fourth-place tie with former Columbus 'keeper Tom Presthus.

The Revs will now play the winner of the other conference final between defending champs Houston and Kansas City on Saturday. The MLS Cup final will be Nov. 18 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

Wwclassifieds2000 Soccer Betting News

<< Gomez, Rangers down Pens
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Gomez had a goal and an assist to lead the Rangers past the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-2, at Madison Square Garden. Sean Avery scored a goal and set up another for the Rangers, who had won four straight

<< Devils continue dominance over Flyers at home
Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Karel Rachunek had a goal and an assist as the New Jersey Devils downed the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1, at Prudential Center. Dainius Zubrus and Brian Gionta each scored for the Devils, who snapped a two- game s

<< Holmqvist, O'Brien lead Lightning over Canes
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shane O'Brien netted a pair of goals to pace the Tampa Bay Lightning past the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-1, at the RBC Center. Vaclav Prospal had a goal and two assists and Michel Ouellet donated a pair of helpe

<< Wolverine guard Smith suspended one game
Ann Arbor, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michigan junior guard Jerret Smith has been suspended for the Wolverines' season opener against Radford on November 9 for violating the team policy regarding class attendance, the school announced Thursda

<< Tampa Bay Rays introduce new name, mascot, uniforms
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays officially dropped the "Devil" from their name, and the new Tampa Bay Rays introduced their new image, mascot, and uniforms in a ceremony held in downtown St. Petersb

Jefferson and Nets keep Washington winless >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Richard Jefferson finished with 25 points and hit a pair of difference-making free throws with under 30 seconds remaining as the New Jersey Nets recovered from a dismal first half to oust the sti

Kozlov, Capitals stun Senators >>
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Viktor Kozlov had a goal and two assists as the Washington Capitals shocked the Ottawa Senators with a 4-1 win at Scotiabank Place. Nicklas Backstrom scored his first career goal while Tomas Fleischmann a

Canadiens edge Bruins >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tomas Plekanec tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Montreal Canadiens to 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins in a tight contest between two Original Six and Northeast Division rivals at TD Banknorth Garden.

Fasth and Stadler lead in Shanghai >>
Shanghai, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Niclas Fasth and Kevin Stadler each fired rounds of eight-under-par 64 on Thursday to share the first-round lead of the HSBC Champions tournament at Sheshan International Golf Club. This is the first

Thomas leads the way as Bulls get first win, hand Pistons first loss >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tyrus Thomas scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, leading the Chicago Bulls to their first win of the season, 97-93, over the previously unbeaten Detroit Pistons. The win for the Bulls came despite a

Credit Card Betting: Sportsbook accepts U.S. credit cards

Online Sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard

MySportsbook.com is the best at processing US credit cards for deposits. Welcome to the most player friendly online sportsbook on the planet!

The principals behind MySportsbook are obviously a management group that understands the players needs as evidenced by their commitment to provide easy depositing with their high credit card acceptance rate and free weekly $10 bets they offer to clients with active betting accounts.

The perks don't end there! MySportsbook offers casino, poker and horses as well. Twice named Best Sportsbook by eGaming Review, this place is rock solid financially so you don't ever have to sweat the payout as you may with some other online bookies operating with less betting volume and client base.

Sign up today and grab your share of a 10% bonus that is added instantly to your betting account. Enjoy 52 risk free bets throughout the year as well!

Reasons to Play There: You have to see their no hitter, cycle hitter and slaughter rule promos for baseball. Worth a laugh and probably a few bucks throughout the MLB season. They offer supersized bonuses of 15% if you up your minimum deposit to $500 or more. Lay -105 on Friday NBA! Contests during the NFL football season!


Betting the NFL preseason

Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."

When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules. 

The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.

The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.

“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”

The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.

“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”

The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.

“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”

Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.

“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."

So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?

“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.

Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.

Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.

Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.

“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.

Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.

The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.

“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.

Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.