Japan continues late magic against Argentina

Soccer Betting Lines

09/14/2007 - Shanghai, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Yuki Nagasato rescued all three points for Japan as she scored in stoppage time to give the Japanese a 1-0 win over Argentina on Friday.

After being held scoreless for 90 minutes against the struggling Argentines, Japan received a nice break when Argentina keeper Romina Ferro gave up a bad rebound from Yukari Tinga's shot. Nagasato was left with an easy tap-in goal and Japan now finds itself with a chance to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1995.

After downing Argentina 6-0 in the 2003 Women's World Cup, Japan was let down in the final third in this year's competition, and came within minutes of a draw that would have all but given them no chance at advancing.

Japan must play a strong German team on Monday in its final group stage match, while Argentina looks to salvage something against England on Monday.

Things nearly started in disastrous fashion for Argentina, which scored two own goals against itself in the opener. Tomomi Miyamoto drove a cross into the area from the left, but Argentina defender Eva Gonzalez cut inside her mark and got a foot to the pass in an attempt to clear the ball. However, her clearance attempt was not hit cleanly and it ended up going off the post.

Argentina did not generate much offensively, but after conceding 11 goals against Germany on Monday, the fact that it held Japan scoreless over the first 45 minutes was a small victory.

Japan was able to create a few chances, with Nagasato threatening on two occasions. She made a run toward the box in the ninth minute and took a pass from the left. After holding off her defender, she drove a shot on net from just inside the box, but it was saved comfortably by Ferro.

Nagasato turned a header wide from 10 yards out, and Aya Miyama, who scored two free-kick goals against England on Tuesday, was given another dangerous chance in the 31st, but did poorly with the kick, knocking it over the net.

Tomoe Sakai lofted a promising cross for the back post from the right after the restart and Ferro came off her line to try and punch it clear. However, the keeper missed the ball and it ended up on the head of Nagasato, but her header went well over the net.

Nagasato found more room for a solid strike on goal in the 71st, but her effort was hit right at the keeper.

Japan keeper Miho Fukumoto was not called upon all match, but she was almost caught off guard on a long-range shot from 40 yards out by Fabiana Vallejos. Fukumoto faded back on the ball and as she jumped up to tip it over the net, the ball struck the crossbar and stayed out.

The Japanese then went back on the attack, with Kinga getting two good looks at goal. The first came in the 79th minute when she cut the ball back on the right and drilled a hard shot on goal. The keeper was in a good position and punched the ball over the top, but Kinga would get another chance five minutes from time.

Rumi Utsugi drove a brilliant cross from the left to the back post, where Kinga made a long run and got on the other end of it. She headed the ball back across the face of goal and it rolled along the goal line, inches from crossing over, before sliding past the far post.

It looked like Japan would suffer a terrible draw, but a mistake by Ferro in net allowed them to claim all three points. Kinga received the ball in space on the right and drove a low shot on goal. Ferro got down to stop it but spilled a bad rebound, allowing Nagasato to move in and tap the ball home for the game winner.

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Online Sportsbook Football Betting

Colts give the ‘D’ its due

The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.

They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.

"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."

Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.

New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.

Not so sound on the ground

If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.

Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com

“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.

Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.

Brees says bring it on

Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.

Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.

Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.

"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."

SportsBooks ready for a shootout

Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.

“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”

New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.

The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.

“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”

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