Libertadores Cup – domain of the Golden Oldies?

January 23, 2010

What more could Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos have in common with Juan Sebastian Veron later this year apart from being among the greatest players in South American football?

As Rex Gowar and Pedro Fonseca write, it is not new for South Americans to return home after brilliant careers in Europe and gain a new lease of life well into their 30s. Veron, though, touched new heights when he led Estudiantes to victory in the Libertadores Cup — South America’s Champions League — in 2009.

Corinthians, with Ronaldo and now Roberto Carlos on board, are celebrating their centenary this year and they have set themselves the target of winning South American football’s top club prize for the first time.

The other big clubs in the Sao Paulo region, Pele’s Santos in the 1960s, Sao Paulo and Palmeiras in the last two decades, have all won it. So have Cruzeiro from Belo Horizonte, Flamengo and Vasco da Gama from Rio de Janeiro and Gremio and Internacional from the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

It rankles with Corinthians that the Libertadores Cup has not embellished their trophy cabinet. They have not even reached the final, something a few lesser Brazilian sides like Sao Caetano and Atletico Paranaense have achieved.

Ronaldo, 33, has already had a year at Corinthians, having turned his back on Flamengo to join them after recovering from the knee injury that ended his European career at AC Milan.

He spearheaded them to victory in last year’s Paulista state championship and the Copa Brasil, the title that secured their place in this year’s Libertadores.

Corinthians, looking to the pair to emulate their great Real Madrid days together, signed Roberto Carlos from Turkey’s Fenerbahce this month to boost their chances.

However, fans of other Brazilian sides have a different view of Roberto Carlos. They see him as one of the men responsible for Brazil’s defeat by France in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals in Germany.

When Thierry Henry scored the only goal, the Brazil left back was bending down pulling up his socks –- a scene repeated and commented on extensively on television after the elimination of the defending world champions.

Three and a half years later, and now 36, Roberto Carlos hopes to put that episode behind him at Corinthians alongside Ronaldo, also criticised for his 2006 performance.

The played together again this week for the first time since 2007 at Real Madrid, when they turned out for Corinthians in an unimpressive 2-1 win over Bragantino in the Paulista championship.

Expectation was enormous, though. Corinthians’ first home match of the year drew 32,000 fans, double the number who watched national champions Flamengo at the Maracana in their opener last weekend in the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) state championship.

PHOTO: Ronaldo of Corinthians (R) talks to teammate Roberto Carlos before their Paulista soccer match against Bragantino in Sao Paulo January 20, 2010. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Tags: ac milan, belo horizonte, brazil, brilliant careers, Carlos, european career, flamengo, Germany, gremio, juan sebastian, juan sebastian veron, knee injury, libertadores cup, new lease, palmeiras, Paulo, Pedro Fonseca, rex gowar, Rio, rio de janeiro, rio grande, Roberto, roberto carlos, Santos, sao caetano, South America, South American, south american football, South Americans, target, thierry henry, trophy cabinet, Turkey, vasco da gama

Donetsk sign Brazilian starlet

January 7, 2010

Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk have completed the transfer of highly-rated Brazilian youngster Douglas Costa from Gremio for a reported fee of €12 million.

Costa had been linked with a move to Europe for some time, with Manchester United and Milan showing interest in the talented 19-year-old.

“This transfer was in everybody’s interest. Douglas asked us to sell him and we needed the money to satisfy our creditors,” said Gremio president Duda Kroeff during a press conference.

Shakhtar have reportedly acquired 80% of the player’s transfer rights and Gremio will receive 15% of the transfer fee in the event of his transfer from Shakhtar in the future.

Costa was a part of the Brazil U-20 squad that won the South American Youth Championship in 2009.

Tags: brazil, creditors, donetsk, Douglas, Douglas Costa, Europe, gremio, Manchester, manchester united, Milan, money, South American, starlet, United, youngster

Flamengo win Brazilian Serie A

December 7, 2009

Flamengo have won the 2009 Brazilian championship in dramatic fashion as the Rio de Janeiro needed to come back from behind to beat Gremio 2-1 and defend their top spot on the final day of the season.

Gremio initially appeared to ruin Flamengo’s party at Roberson put the away side in the lead on 21 minutes.

But David equalised eight minutes later and Ronaldo Angelim’s goal for 2-1 in the 69th minute was enough for Flamengo to clinch the trophy.

It is Flamengo’s fifth national title, and their first since last winning the championship in 1992.

Internacional and Sao Paulo, who both needed Flamengo to drop points, won their home games over Santo Andre and Sport Recife respectively. Internacional closed their season with a 4-1 win, while Sao Paulo did so with a 4-0 result.

Tags: brazilian championship, dramatic fashion, fifth national title, flamengo, gremio, home games, Recife, rio de janeiro, ronaldo, Ronaldo Angelim, santo andre, sao paulo, sport recife, trophy

Brazil: Atletico Mineiro close on Palmeiras

October 25, 2009

Atletico Mineiro kept championship hopes alive in the Brazilian Serie A, with a 1-0 win over Vitoria on Saturday.

Two days after Palmeiras’ surprising 2-0 defeat by Santo Andre, Atletico Mineiro knew that a win in their game allowed them to reduce the gap with the leaders to just one point.

A goal from Diego Tardelli in the 28th minute was enough for Mineiro to achieve exactly that. Vitoria tried to do something back but weren’t helped by a second yellow card for Leandro late on.

International and Sao Paulo, both currently five points behind Palmeiras, play on Sunday and face Gremio and Santos respectively.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Atletico, atletico mineiro, brazil, brazilian serie, diego tardelli, five points, game, gap, gremio, International, Jonathan Roorda, Mineiro, roorda, santo andre, Santos, sao paulo, Sunday, Vitoria, weren, yellow card

Argentinian hope as Estudiantes advance to quarters

May 15, 2009

Estudiantes de la Plata made sure that there will be at least one Argentinian representatives in the quarter final stage of the Copa Libertadores.

The return leg with Libertad Asuncion, in the Paraguayan capital, ended without goals. However, Estudiantes’ 3-0 win in the home leg was enough for them to advance to the next round.

The Argentinian influence in the quarter finals will be rather limited this year as only Boca Juniors may be able to join Estudiantes. Boca drew 2-2 with Defensor in their first leg clash.

Other sides that are already through are Caracas FC, Cruzeiro, Gremio and Palmeiras.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Argentina, asuncion, Boca, boca juniors, Caracas, clash, copa libertadores, cruzeiro, defensor, Estudiantes, gremio, home leg, jonathan, Libertadores, palmeiras, paraguayan, Plata, quarter finals, quarters, return leg

Cruzeiro through to quarter finals in Libertadores

May 15, 2009

Brazilian side Cruzeiro are through to the quarter final stage of the Copa Libertadores, beating Universidad de Chile 3-1 on aggregate.

The first leg in Santiago de Chile ended in a 1-2 Brazilian victory, and the Chileans lacked the strength and skills to do something about that deficit in the second leg.

The only goal of the match was scored by Kleber after 74 minutes of play.

After Palmeiras and Gremio, Cruzeiro are the third Brazilian team to advance to the quarter finals. Sao Paulo could make it four.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: aggregate, Brasil, brazilian side, brazilian team, Chile, chileans, Copa, copa libertadores, cruzeiro, gremio, Jonathan Roorda, Libertadores, match, palmeiras, quarter finals, Santiago, santiago de chile, sao paulo, universidad de chile, victory

Late goal leads Gremio past Aurora

March 26, 2009

Brazilian giants Gremio are still on course for a spot in the next round of the Copa Libertadores following a 1-2 win at Aurora Cochabamba of Bolivia.

Jonas put Gremio in the lead after 42 minutes but was also sent off just before the hour mark. By then, Derlis Paredes had already levelled for the home side.

But the winning goal came with about three minutes to play, and was scored by Tcheco.

Gremio lead Group 7 with seven points from three games, followed by Colombian side Boyacá Chicó with six. Universidad de Chile have four and Aurora seem to be on their way out with zero points.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: aurora, bolivia, Boyac, Brasil, Chile, cochabamba, Copa, copa libertadores, Derlis, giants, gremio, home, Jonas, Jonathan Roorda, lead, lead group, Libertadores, paredes, roorda, seven points, Tcheco, three games, three minutes, universidad de chile, way, zero points

S. America Under-20: Brazil too good for Uruguay

February 1, 2009

Brazil have begun their final round campaign at the South American Sub-20 Championships with a convincing 3-2 win over Uruguay.

The Uruguyans had won all of their first round matches, including the game with Brazil, but failed to maintain their perfect record on Saturday.

Walter scored in the 19th and 30th minutes to give Brazil a comfortable lead. Marcelo Silva got one back in the 40th but Gremio’s Douglas Costa decided the clash in the 77th, 3-1.

Peñarol forward Abel Hernandez did get one back in injury time but it was too little, too late.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: abel, arol, brazil, clash, game, gremio, injury time, jonathan, MLS, roorda, Silva, uruguay

Juventus about to sign Gremio’s Felipe

January 7, 2009

TURIN (SW) – Italian giants Juventus are about to sign Brazilian wing-back Felipe Mattioni of Gremio, according to Itasportspress.

The agency reports that the player and his agent had a meeting with Juventus sporting director Alessio Secco on Wednesday, and add that the Old Lady should be only days away from officially announcing the transfer.

The 20-year-old Felipe made his Brazilian Serie A debut in 2008 and soon attracted interest of many European top sides such as Manchester United, Ajax and Juventus. This week, Gremio said that a transfer is unlikely but this now seems to have changed.

Negotiations with Juventus began in November, and the Italian side are reportedly set to pay 7 million Euros for the player.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda