Columbus hosts downtrodden New England at Crew Stadium

Soccer Betting Lines

05/07/2010 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Crew host a New England Revolution squad that played just three days earlier in Major League Soccer action on Saturday.

The Revs (2-4-1) are coming off an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Chivas USA that concluded an unsuccessful three-game home stand. New England was only able to pick up one point during the stretch.

Handcuffing the squad recently is a run a red cards that has seen it play down a least a man for extended periods. In this past Saturday's 1-1 tie with FC Dallas, New England earned two red cards, while midfielder Marko Perovic was ejected inside half-an-hour on Wednesday.

"We can't keep playing men down," New England coach Steve Nicol said. "Not only did we play for another hour a man down [on Wednesday], but having played two men down on Saturday, 10 men for an hour and nine men for 40 minutes, you just can't do it. It's impossible. Up until the sending off, we hadn't been good anyway."

The Revs were already down a goal before the sendoff on Wednesday, and things came unglued quickly after as they took an 0-2 hole into halftime. The deficit grew to three shortly after the break before Chivas closed out the scoring in the closing minutes.

But Nicol was able to take something positive out of the game.

"You've got to be realistic: two goals down and a man at halftime, I don't know too many people who are going to put any money on us winning the game," he said. "But what we were looking for is some spirit. And I think we got that, and that's important. At least we take that out of the game: as much as everything was against us, we showed some spirit. The guys out there laying it on the line and giving it everything they've got. And that's about all we could have asked for the second half, that's why the second half was important that we showed some spirit, because when you have that, you have a chance. So, we'll dust ourselves down and get going for Saturday."

Columbus (2-0-2) is coming off a 1-1 draw at Seattle this past Saturday, and will be gunning for the win as it returns home this week. The club is not expecting an easy game against a seemingly downtrodden New England squad, however.

"They usually play a physical game here so I don't expect them to do anything less than that, especially coming off a 4-0 loss at home," Crew coach Robert Warzycha told mlssoccer.com.

The Crew will probably be playing without defender Gino Padula, while defender Chad Marshall is probable, both with injuries. Also, defender Danny O'Rourke will be absent because of a red card he received against Seattle.

On top of being without Perovic because of the red card ejection on Wednesday and Shalrie Joseph because on indefinite leave of absence from the club, New England will be without defender Emmanuel Osei, goalkeeper Matt Reis, forward Taylor Twellman and midfielder Mike Videira because of injury. Defender Kevin Alston's status is also in question because of an illness.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

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With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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