05/09/2008 - Santa Clara, CA (Soccer Betting) - When asked how the Columbus Crew, who have won four straight and five of six, could continue their early-season success, forward Alejandro Moreno had a simple answer.
"Well," Moreno said, "we keep doing the things that we're doing."
What exactly does that mean? Luckily, Moreno had an answer for that too.
"We don't get away from our script. We're a team that has to be organized," he said. "We're a team that has to battle and take advantage of the opportunities that we create and be solid defensively."
"As long as we do that, we're going to give ourselves a chance in every game."
Columbus will try to extend its winning streak to five games Saturday night at the San Jose Earthquakes. The Crew need a win to move back into first place in the Eastern Conference.
Columbus has scored at least two goals in four of its five wins and has posted two shutouts. Three of the Crew's wins during their current undefeated run are by one goal.
"It's great to be 5-1," Crew coach Sigi Schmid said.
What does Columbus have left to prove? Well, the Crew need to play as good on the road as they have at home. Columbus is 4-0 at Crew Stadium but dropped one of its two road games against Red Bull New York, 2-0, on April 5.
The Crew can erase all doubt about how dangerous they are at Buckshaw Stadium.
San Jose, which returned to league this season after a two-year absence, isn't playing great, but has allowed just five goals in five matches. In two matches at home, the Earthquakes have allowed only one goal but are 0-1-1.
"The shutouts are always great, the defense is great," San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon said. "We just need the forwards to get some goals."
San Jose hasn't scored in four of its five games. The Earthquakes scored both of their goals this season in a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids. San Jose tied FC Dallas, 0-0, last week.
"Take out not scoring and it was a terrific performance by us," San Jose coach Frank Yallop said after last week's game. "We did everything right but score and I do not want the guys to start to get anxious because that will come.
"It was a great performance by us and I think that if we perform like that we are going to win a lot of games.
"It was disappointing because I thought the guys worked hard and should have gotten something out of it. We should have won the game to be honest, but we will look forward to ... Columbus."
"It's a long season, so we can't panic or anything like that. It's too early for that," San Jose midfielder Ramiro Corrales.
Columbus has two players - Moreno and Robbie Rogers - with more goals than San Jose and another one - Adam Moffat - with as many goals this season. Moffat is out this week with a meniscus tear in his right knee.
<< Reds place Mercker on DL
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds placed relief pitcher
Kent Mercker on the 15-day disabled list on Friday, retroactive to May 6,
with lower back pain.
The 40-year-old left-hander has a 3.86 earned run average
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling San Francisco Giants will open a 10-game
homestand this evening, when they welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to AT&T
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A solid pitching matchup is on tap tonight at Petco Park,
where Jake Peavy will lead the San Diego Padres against Aaron Cook and the NL
West-rival Colorado Rockies.
Peavy is 4-1 with a 2.22 earned run average in seven
<< Reeling Brewers return home to face Central-leading Cards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers are back at home after a lengthy road
trip, and they will try to stop a six-game slide tonight in the first of four
straight games versus the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park.
Milwaukee went 2-7 o
Golf Tidbits: Inkster's major streak to end >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There have been significant winning
streaks in golf over the years, and there have also been plenty of players who
have stressed family over golf. Occasionally the two intersect.
Consider the case of Juli
Wolfsburg, Stuttgart highlight key Bundesliga games >>
Wolfsburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath described
Saturday's Bundesliga match against Stuttgart as a "final."
Wolfsburg has climbed from 11th at the halfway point of the season to seventh
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Cubs activate Eyre >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs activated pitcher Scott Eyre
from the 15-day disabled list and optioned left-handed pitcher Sean Marshall
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Houston looks for first win vs. first place Rapids >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The back-to-back defending Major League Soccer
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Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch
Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.
Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.
"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."
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