Lekic, Osasuna sink Barcelona
Soccer Betting Lines
02/11/2012 - Navarra, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona's title ambitions took a massive hit on Saturday as Dejan Lekic scored a first-half brace to help Osasuna stun the defending champions, 3-2, at the Estadio El Sadar.
Lekic provided an early blow to the visitors when he scored in the fourth minute, while the advantage was doubled in the 21st when Lekic got on the other end of a low cross from Alvaro Cejudo to finish off the play at close range.
Barca found a way back into the match early in the second half with Isaac Cuenca's cross being converted from a few yards out by Alexis Sanchez, only for the hosts to restore their two-goal lead five minutes later with Raul Garcia knocking a shot off the near post and into the net.
Cristian Tello came off the bench to pull a goal back for Barca in the 73rd with a fine left-footed strike from inside the penalty area, but Osasuna continued to threaten as Francisco Punal struck the post.
The visitors poured on the pressure over the final 15 minutes, and after Sanchez had a goal ruled out for offsides, the Chile international was denied by a good save from Osasuna goalkeeper Andres Fernandez.
Barca's final chance to claim a point came deep into stoppage time when a header from Cesc Fabregas was saved by Fernandez from eight yards.
Pep Guardiola's men are now seven points back of leaders Real Madrid, who can move 10 points clear with a win on Sunday at home against Levante.
Real Betis 2, Athletic Bilbao 1
Seville, Spain - Real Betis moved three points above the drop zone on Saturday as Nelson's stoppage-time goal handed the home side a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Ruben Castro fired Betis in front in the opening 10 minutes when he curled a shot inside the far post from 10 yards, only for Javi Martinez to cancel out the tally 12 minutes later with a headed goal from a corner kick for Athletic.
But Martinez received his second yellow card in the 63rd, and Nelson snatched all three points for his side with a well-struck volley from the edge of the penalty area to help Betis snap a run of three losses in four games.
Racing 0, Atletico Madrid 0
Santander, Spain - Atletico Madrid was held to a second successive 0-0 draw on Saturday, this time at Racing.
The visitors dominated play for long spells, especially in the second half, but were unlucky not to leave El Sardinero with three points.
Atletico was especially in control in the second half as Diego struck the post after exchanging passes with Arda Turan, while Radamel Falcao also wasted a great opportunity as he shot the ball against the post after collecting a rebound from Diego's shot.
A win could have temporarily lifted Atletico into the top four, but the club will have to settle for extending its unbeaten streak to six games.
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder each scored 23 points, as the 18th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles dominated the Cincinnati Bearcats, 95-78. Jamil Wilson and Vander Blue added 15 and 14 points
<< Wojta powers Green Bay past Wright State
Green Bay, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Julie Wojta may only be six feet tall, but
she stood head and shoulders above Wright State on Saturday.
The undersized forward scored 30 points, pulled down 20 rebounds, blocked four
shots and added eight
<< Senior joins Pavin in the lead in Boca Raton
Boca Raton, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Peter Senior birdied the final hole Saturday
to join Corey Pavin atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the Allianz
Championship.
Senior carded a four-under 68 in round two, while Pavin managed a two-under
<< Hall lifts Oilers over Senators in OT
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Taylor Hall scored 17 seconds into overtime to
lift the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Magnus Paajarvi, Ben Eager and Shawn Horcoff also scored for the Oilers and
Horcoff
<< Milan rallies to down Udinese
Udine, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - AC Milan scored twice in the final 15 minutes
to claim a 2-1 comeback win at Udinese on Saturday, moving the Rossoneri two
points clear of Juventus at the top of Serie A.
Antonio Di Natale fired Udinese i
Lawrence, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Thomas Robinson had 26 points and 14 rebounds, helping the seventh-ranked Kansas Jayhawks dominate the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 81-66. Jeff Withey also had a double-double with 18 points and 19 boa
Thunder Moccasin strikes in Hutcheson Stakes >>
Hallandale Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Odds-on favorite Thunder Moccasin had
a successful three-year-old debut Saturday in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at
Gulfstream Park. The colt covered the seven-furlongs in 1:24.16 on a track
listed
UNLV holds off San Diego State >>
Las Vegas, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Justin Hawkins forced a turnover with one
second remaining and UNLV preserved a 13-point second-half edge as they held
off San Diego State, 65-63, at Thomas & Mack Center.
Mike Moser led the way w
Tennessee knocks off No. 8 Florida >>
Gainesville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trae Golden had 17 points to go with seven
assists as the Tennessee Volunteers earned their first true road win of the
season with a 75-70 triumph over No. 8 Florida.
Jeronne Maymon recorded a double-
Morgan's late heroics lift U.S. past New Zealand >>
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Morgan scored twice in the final minutes to
cap a 2-1 comeback win for the U.S. women's national team against New Zealand
in a friendly on Saturday.
The Americans dominated play in the first half but were
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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