De Futebol

The Argentina Clausura has three matches under their belt. From the perspective of this observer, there are two surprises.

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I thought Boca Juniors would come out breathing like a house on fire instead Los Xeneizes have with played with the explosiveness of a pop gun.

Boca had their clocks, shirts, and tails handed to them by Newell’s Old Boys on Saturday. Newell’s destroyed Los Xeneizes 4-2.

Newell’s Old Boy jumped all over Boca. Newell’s scored the first three goals of the match. Before Los Xeneizes could turn around it was 3-0. In rapid succession, Newell’s scored in the 2^nd, 15^th, 18^th minute of the match. Juan Insaurralde ripped the twines in the 2^nd minute.  Jorge Achucarro tickled the twines in the 15^th minute. Three minutes later, 18^th minute, Mauro Formica hit pay dirt.

Boca made it close with a couple of cosmetic goals in the 34^th minute and 86^th minute. Martin Palermo nailed the PK in the 34^th minute to cut the lead to 3-1.

Lucas Viatri hit the winner in the 86^th minute to make it close.

Newell’s put this sucker away in the 90^th minute. Lucas Bernardi left fly with a wicked shot that beat the keeper dead to rights.

Newell’s was firmly in control of this match from the outset.

River Plate was coming off a hot 3-2 won over Chacarita Juniors. River Plate defender Paulo Ferrari found the Midas touch scoring twice in the win.  However, Sunday was a different story for River Plate. River Plate reverted to their old ways and tied nil-nil with Rosario Central.

Godoy Cruz started out the season with two straight wins but this came crashing down in flames on Sunday. Godoy and Independiente kissed their sister nada-nada.

All is not lost for Godoy for they are in second place with seven points.

Velez Sarsfield has seven points as well but Velez has a better goal difference. Velez is a plus four while Godoy is a plus two.

Defending champ Banfield is off to a slow start. They have one win, and one tie. Banfield has three points but they do have a game in hand.

Both Boca and River have identical records of 1-1-1. River and Boca each have three points. Boca is in ninth place while River is in eleventh.

Boca is even Steven in goal difference while Boca is a minus one.

There is big news coming out of Brasil. Dunga has named the squad for Brasil’s final tune up against Ireland on March 2^nd before World Cup play begins for real in June. Dunga did not include Ronaldinho. Dunga has come under fire from the locals as well as the press for not including him.

This is a good move. This clown Ronaldinho was a good player. Yes, he still exhibits some of the scoring flair that made him one of the best players in the world but he is still a head case. Ronaldinho’s inclusion to the squad will kill the team’s chemistry.

He is still not a team player.

Good for Dunga not succumbing to the pressure to use this idiot.

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De Futebol

The more things change the more they stay the same. Please tell me something I don’t know or I haven’t seen, done, or heard. River Plate is still in the crapper. Boca Juniors can’t hold onto a lead.

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When will these two clubs finally realize they are slipping big time. Boca and River have failed to make the Copa Libertadores for the first time in well over twenty years. Oh, God what is happening in Buenos Aires.

My friend Doctor Luis Palau must be a sad puppy.

The summer tourney the Clausura began last weekend.

The Clausura runs until May.

Argentinos Juniors came from behind twice to tie Boca Juniors two all.

Ismael Sosa saved Argentinos Juniors bacon in stoppage time. He nailed the equalizer to send Boca home with a two all tie.

Martin Palermo rammed the twines in the 45^th minute to give Boca 1-0 lead.

Boca Juniors was in control of the match until the 82^nd minute. Boca was nursing a delicate 1-0 lead. Then whamo bamo just like that Boca defender Ezequiel Munoz knocked the ball into his own net to level this sucker up at one all.

Three minutes later, 85^th minute, Riquelme kissed the ball between the post and the keeper. This made it 2-1 Boca.

Enter Argentinos Juniors Superman Sosa. Sosa’s poke into the net off a crazy scramble ball in the 93^rd minute  broke Boca’s heart and thus left them with a two all draw.

River lost to defending champ Banfield 1-0.

Sebastian Fernandez ripped the twines in the 30^th minute to seal the deal for Banfield. A huge shout out to his mate Walter Erviti who set up the goal with a get pass.

This is not a good start for the Los Millonarios. River looked bad. They hardly mounted an attack all Sunday afternoon.

The Los Millonarios lost striker Diego Buonanotte for the entire season when he was injured in a car wreck in December 2009.

Ouch, this hurts big time.

Both River and Boca have slipped so much that now down looks like up. River Plate and Boca Juniors have been perineal powers in the Copa Libertadores. Not this year.  They stunk so bad they didn’t qualify.  

Boca won Copa in 2007. Boca lost in the 2007 FIFA World Cup final to Milan in a 4-2 PK shootout.

Oh hard the mighty has fallen.

This breaks my heart.

I am not a huge Los Xeneizes fan.

River Plate has taken a huge swan dive as well. The Los Millonarios were fixture atop the Clausura and Apertura for many years. River Plate has won twelve combined Clausura and Apertura titles. River Plate has won 33 domestic titles.

Sure, this gives clubs like Newell’s Old Boys, Lanus, and first time titleholder Lanus a chance for the glory.

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De Futebol

A huge way to go garoto goes out to Banfield for winning their first Argentinean League title in 113 years. El Taladro (The Drill) was founded in 1896. English, Irish, and Scottish immigrants founded the club.

Banfield is located 17 Kilometers south of the center of Buenos Aires. The club is named after Edward Banfield. He was general manager of the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway from 1865-1892.

Banfield was given the nickname El Taladro (The Drill) by the newspaper El Pampero because the forwards on the futebol team drilled the rival defenses.

Please Bobby Gee enough of the history BS. I can dig it. But I thought you might like it.

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I knew Boca Juniors would come out loaded for bear in their house the La Bombonera.  

This was Boca’s final match of the year. Pride was on the line for Boca Juniors. Lets be really honest Boca was having a crappy year. Los Xeneizes were play like dung. Yes, it was that bad.

Martin Palermo had the daily double for the Genoese. Palermo took it to the rack and was pulled down in the box. Wham. Bam. PK in the 8^th minute and Boca were up 1-0.

Palermo fired a wicked strike that ripped the twines in the 61^st minute to seal the deal for Boca.

Newell’s Old Boys were hoping for this result. Los Leprosos (The Leapers) now had the opportunity to steal the crown. No way Jose. Newell’s lost to San Lorenzo 2-0. You can kiss the title bye-bye.

El Taladro needed a little bit of luck to win the title. Banfield was locked in scoreless draw with bottom feeder Tigre. Then Bam. Shot. Score. Victor Lopez nails the header in the 85^th minute. Game over. El Taladro escaped with a 1-0 win. Hello championship.

Both Boca and River Plate struggled throughout the season. Struggled is a huge understatement. Both teams stunk the joint out. The players should be quartered and shot at dusk for horrible play.

Boca finished in eleventh place with 27 points. River wound up in 13^th place with 21 points. ‘

Both Boca and River are two of the most famous and storied clubs in Argentina futebol history.

Boca has won 24 league titles.

Boca’s last title came with the Genoese won the Apertura in 2008.

Since then, the Los Xeneizes have bombed out of the Copa Libertadores, the Clausura, and the 2009 Apertura.

River Plate has won 33 titles in their 108-year history. The Los Millonarios name came about when River Plate bought two players from rival Argentinean futebol clubs in 1931 and 1932. River secured the services of Carlos Peucelle from Sportivo Buenos and Tigre’s Bernabe Ferreyra.   

To get under the skin of a River Plates fan call them River Gallinas and see what happens.

The EPL has some huge matches coming up on Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ll talk about them when the results come in.

Manchester United battles bottom feeder Wolves on Tuesday. Aston Villa has a hot date with Sunderland.

On Wednesday, Arsenal battles Burnley and Chelsea take on Portsmouth.

Ah yes, fun in the sun with the EPL.

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De Futebol

Arsenal righted their ship while Liverpool’s ship is taking on so much water it is about to sink. You can almost stick a fork in Liverpool’s season after the Reds were defeated in their house Anfield by Arsenal 2-1.

Liverpool played a very strong first half. Dirk Kuyt ripped the rebound winner in the 41^st minute to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead.

Aurelio hit a great free kick into the box. Lucas fired a header that was blocked by Arsenal keeper Almunia. The ball comes bounding out. Shot. Save. Rebound. Header. Goal.

The second half was a different story. The Gunners came out breathing fire. Arsenal played like their lives were dependant upon them winning.

It was.

Then wham bam thank you madam the match was spun around and changed on its head.

Nasri fired a great crossing ball into the box.  Whamo. The ball goes flying off of Reds defender Jamie Carragher. Liverpool’s Glen Johnson is cemented to the spot. Bing. Bam. Boom. The ball ricochets off Johnson and into the Reds net to tie this baby up at one all in the 50^th minute

Eight minutes later, 58^th minute, Liverpool’s Glen Johnson was once again the main ingredient in the Gunners second goal. Fabregas fired a wicked cross into the box. Reds defender Glen Johnson failed to make a play on the ball. Johnson gave Arsenal attacker Andre Arshavin a free play on the ball.

Arshavin took the gift. He quickly turned. Arshavin fired. Goal. 2-1 Gunners and this was all she wrote.

The fat lady sang.

Now you can say Voce Vai Liverpool for your season is surely cooked and burnt to a crisp.

This  was the Reds six loss for the season.

Liverpool’s only hope to save their sorry year is that if the top clubs Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal fall apart and lose their next four matches.

Stranger things have happened.

Do you remember what I said about Aston Villa and Manchester United? 

I do have ESPN, I mean ESP.

They way it stands right now. Chelsea is the top dog with 37 points. The Red Devils are in second place with 34 points. Arsenal is in third position with 31 points. Villa is in fourth place with 29 points.

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De Futebol

This is really a strange day. I don’t have my beloved Flamengo to write about. I am lost.

I am lost with nothing to do or write about.

This is really strange but I will get over it.

So, lets talk about the Argentina Apertura. I haven’t written or spoken about Argentinos futebol in a long time.

This is the final week of the Apertura. It comes down to one match and winner takes all. Banfield battles hated rival Boca Juniors. All Banfield has to do is beat eleventh place Boca and the title is theirs. If Banfield wins this will be their first title in 113 years.

Banfield scored a last second goal by Victor Lopez to beat bottom feeder Tigre 1-0 to set up the drama this Sunday December 13^th.

Second place, Newell’s Old Boys defeated Gimnasia La Plata 1-0 on Wednesday night to keep the title out of Banfield’s eager waiting paws.

So, this is the deal.

Banfield leads Newell’s by two points. Banfield has 41 points while Newell’s has 39 points.

Newell’s battles San Lorenzo.

Newell’s can win the title out right if Banfield losses and Newell’s Old Boy wins or if Banfield ties with Boca and Newell’s wins by three or more goals.

All Banfield has to do is win baby.

That’s it.

I am pulling for Banfield to win. I like the dog to win it all.

Why?

Banfield has zippo nothing nada in 113 years playing in both the Apertura and Clausura.

It is about time Banfield wins some hardware for their effort.

The Banfield-Boca match will be played in Boca’s house Estadio Alberto J Armando or better know as the Lá Bombonera or the chocolate box.

This is one of the hardest places for a visiting team to play in the world.

The Boca fans or as they are called Los xeneizos or the Genoese will jump up and down in the stands so that will be life a living hell for the opposition. The Chocolate box will vibrate as if an earthquake is happening while the match is being played on the pitch.

Boca is buried in eleventh place so I have this sneaky suspicion that the Los xeneizos will be loaded for bear in an attempt to stop Banfield from winning the first title in 113 years.

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