Sinclair double leads Canada over Ghana

Soccer Betting Lines

09/15/2007 - 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 control their own destiny heading into the final group stage match against Australia on Wednesday.

Ghana, meanwhile, has lost its first two games by a combined score of 8-1, and is all but eliminated before the knockout round for the third consecutive World Cup.

After struggling offensively against Australia in its opener, Ghana got off to a better start against the Canadians, earning two free kicks in the opening 10 minutes from dangerous spots. Although both shots failed to hit the target, it was a sign from Ghana that it was ready to play.

Canada started slow, but picked up the pace 13 minutes into the contest. The first opportunity was created by Sinclair, who was played down the left flank and crossed a ball to the top of the six-yard box for Katie Thorlakson. The striker got her head to the ball but she turned it over the net.

Three minutes later, Sinclair was on the receiving end of a cross from Kara Lang and she did not fail with her finish. Lang lobbed the cross from the right to the back post. It started to drift over the head of Sinclair, but she faded back and got her head to the ball, knocking it over the keeper and across the goal line.

Ghana came to life right before the break and had two good chances to pull even. A left-footed shot from just outside the box by Memuna Darku whistled just over the crossbar.

Moments later Anita Amankwa should have put away Ghana's opening goal but was denied by the crossbar. Some nice work on the right allowed Rumanatu Tahiru to beat her defender and carry the ball into the box. She fired a shot toward goal that was redirected on target by Amankwa from a few yards out. However, with an open net staring her in the face, Amankwa's shot slammed off the crossbar.

Ghana keeper Memunatu Sulemana was called into action early in the second half when Sinclair put a header on target from close range, forcing a nice reaction stop by the keeper.

The Black Queens continued to look for the equalizer and Gloria Foriwa put a diving header on goal that was stopped comfortably by the keeper.

However, the Ghana defense once again allowed space for the Canadian attack, giving Lang room to fire a shot from the top left corner of the box. The keeper did well to tip the shot over the net, but Canada doubled its lead on the ensuing corner kick.

Kristina Kiss swung the cross into the area and Sinclair got her head to the ball, sending it on goal. The ball was headed off the line by a Ghana defender, but it went right to Schmidt, who put a shot on target with her head. Ghana's Hamdya Abass was positioned on the goal line and tried to clear the ball with her head, but it hit the bottom of the crossbar and settled into the back of the net.

Sinclair then put the result out of reach in the 62nd minute after some good work by Lang. Jodi-Ann Robinson slid a pass into the box behind the defense, forcing Sulemana to come off her line. Lang beat the keeper to the ball and touched it toward the end line. She pulled it back and found Sinclair with a pass, and the Canadian captain knocked home her second goal of the match to make it 3-0.

Another corner kick produced the fourth goal for Canada, with Kiss bending a cross into the six-yard box that was a little too close to the keeper. Sulemana got her hands to the ball but she could not hold it, which allowed Franko to get under the ball and head it into the net from a few yards out.

Narketwatch Soccer Betting News

<< Heavy wind delays Solheim Cup
Halmstad, Sweden (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Heavy wind gusts of 40 mph forced tournament officials to delay the start of the Saturday foursomes matches at the Solheim Cup. The wind knocked over signs, tents and even some trees at Halms

<< Greene's homer carries Padres over Giants in 10th
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Khalil Greene belted a home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the San Diego Padres to 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. With one out in the 10th, Greene smacked the fi

<< Francoeur's two-run single lifts Braves over Nats in 13th
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Francoeur's two-run single in the 13th inning led Atlanta to an 8-5 victory over the Washington Nationals. Chipper Jones, who returned to the lineup after missing three starts due to a strained

<< Guillen's sac fly lifts Mariners over D-Rays
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jose Guillen's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth sent Seattle over Tampa Bay, 2-1, in the second of four between the teams at Safeco Field. With Gary Glover (5-5) on the hill, Ichiro Suzuki began

<< Hermida leads Marlins over Rockies
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeremy Hermida homered and drove in three runs as the Florida Marlins edged the Colorado Rockies, 7-6, in the start of a three-game series at Coors Field. Dan Uggla also had two hits and scored a run for

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

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

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

Robredo, Gonzalez advance to China Open final >>
Beijing, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tommy Robredo and Fernando Gonzalez will meet in Sunday's final after each took care of business in Saturday's semifinals at the $500,000 China Open. Robredo nipped German wild card Nicolas K

Samba Queens dance all over China >>
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 ov

How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?

The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.

While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.

For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.

1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.

2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.

How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.

Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.

Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.

How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).

Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.

Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.

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