Barca earns draw with late Henry goal

Soccer Betting Lines

04/25/2009 - Valencia, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Thierry Henry's goal with five minutes to play allowed Barcelona to earn a 2-2 draw with Valencia at the Mestalla on Saturday.

Barca took the lead 24 minutes into the match through Lionel Messi, but Valencia scored twice in the final three minutes of the first half to claim a 2-1 lead at the break.

However, Henry picked up a loose ball inside the box after a failed clearance attempt by Valencia goalkeeper Cesar, and his deflected effort made its way across the goal line.

The result leaves Barca seven points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, but a Real win over Sevilla on Sunday would close the gap to four points, with the two Spanish giants set to meet on May 3.

Valencia remains in fourth place, one point behind third-placed Sevilla.

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes was the first to be called into action in the 18th minute when he was forced to get down and stop David Villa's free kick, but it was Cesar that was first to pick the ball out of his own goal.

Messi exchanged passes with Andres Iniesta inside the area, and after Cesar came off his line to challenge Iniesta, he slipped the ball back to Messi to slam into the empty net.

It was a neat piece of play from Barca's talented duo, but the rest of the half belonged to the home side, who had a penalty appeal turned down five minutes after Messi's goal.

Valencia looked increasingly threatening as the first half wore on, and they nearly leveled the match when Carlos Marchena floated a long ball over the top for David Silva, whose looping header forced Valdes to tip the ball over the crossbar.

It was a good save from the Barca keeper, but it was his mistake on the ensuing corner kick that handed Valencia the equalizer.

The ball was whipped into the six-yard box and Valdes attempted to claim it, but he collided with defender Carles Puyol, allowing the ball to slip through and hit off of Hedwiges Maduro and roll into the back of the net.

There was nothing Valdes could do two minutes later as Pablo and Mata worked a nice one-two outside the box, with Pablo pushing the ball between two Barca defenders and firing into the bottom right corner.

The hosts took the momentum into halftime, but the pace of the match slowed considerably in the second half.

Henry was able to get a few shots on goal, but nothing that seriously threatened the Valencia net.

The home side didn't get a good look at goal in the second half until the 74th minute, when Mata fired wide of the near post from inside the box.

However, a free kick with five minutes to play handed the visitors another chance and they made the most of it.

The ball was played into the middle of the box for Sergi Busquets and Cesar came off his line to punch it clear. The keeper nearly collided with the Barca player and didn't get enough on his clearance, and the ball ended up on the foot of Henry, whose deflected effort ended up in the back of the net.

Almeria kept Numancia on the bottom of the table with a 2-1 win while Malaga could have jumped into the top five but had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Deportivo.

Albert Luque put Malaga in front in the 33rd minute but his opener was canceled out by Sergio.

Malaga was then given a penalty kick with two minutes to play, but goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia saved Apono's spot kick.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

Bet on NFL Football

Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.