Argentina tops Greece to cap perfect group stage

Soccer Betting Lines

06/22/2010 - Polokwane, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin Demichelis and Martin Palermo scored late in the second half, helping Argentina complete a perfect run through Group B of the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 win over Greece on Tuesday at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Demichelis scored the opener in the 77th minute and the 36-year-old Palermo added his first-ever World Cup goal in the 89th, as Argentina won for the third straight time in as many games to easily finish atop Group B. Greece was eliminated with the loss.

Argentina plays Mexico on Sunday in the round of 16, while South Korea also advanced from Group B with a 2-2 draw against Nigeria on Tuesday, and plays Uruguay on Saturday in the first knockout round.

Argentina dominated possession in the opening 45 minutes, but outside of a few half chances, failed to put Greece under any real pressure.

Sergio Aguero had a decent chance in the 18th minute for Argentina, but Greece goalie Alexandros Tzorvas palmed the ball wide of the left post.

Juan Veron returned to the lineup after missing Argentina's 4-1 win over North Korea and made his presence felt with a 40-yard blast that Tzorvas pushed high in the 19th.

Diego Milito created a good chance for Argentina in the 32nd, but Tzorvas dove to deflect his cross out of danger.

Maxi Rodriguez had an open look from the right side of the area in first-half stoppage time, then Lio Messi followed with a dipping 20-yard shot seconds later, but Tzorvas was able to save both to leave Argentina scoreless at halftime for the first time through three games.

Greece opened the second half with its first shot when Georgios Samaras played down a long pass to avoid Demichelis in the 48th, then curled a ball just wide of the right post.

Clemente Rodriguez drove a pass into the area that Milito was unable to reach, and Tzorvas easily grabbed the ball in the 57th. Clemente Rodriguez then fired wide left one minute later on a long-range shot.

Messi curled a long shot wide right in the 69th, and Mario Bolatti unleashed a bullet into the mid-section of Tzorvas from six yards to waste Argentina's top chance seconds later off a corner kick.

Demichelis ended Argentina's frustrations with under 15 minutes left after he headed an initial shot into Milito, then hammered the deflection home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Messi nearly sealed Argentina's win in the 89th, but Tzorvas pushed his shot wide and Palermo ran onto the rebound and easily slotted inside the right post to overtake manager Diego Maradona as the oldest Argentine player to score in the World Cup.

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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."

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs.

Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.