Emelec beat Newell’s Old Boys for Libertadores berth

February 11, 2010

Emelec of Ecuador are the last team to advance to the group phase of the 2010 Copa Libertadores following a 2-1 win over Newell’s Old Boys in the qualifying round.

After a goalless draw in Argentina on January 27, both teams had everything left to play for in the return leg in Guayaquil on Wednesday.

Joao Rojas put Emelec in the lead in the first minute after the break, but the advantage would not last as Hugo Barrientos equalised seven minutes later.

Emelec had the final say however as Jose Quiñonez netted the winning goal six minutes after the hour.

The Ecuadorians join their compatriots of Deportivo Quito in Group 5, which further consists of Cerro of Uruguay and Internacional of Brazil.

It was a particularly bad qualifying round for Argentina, which had both Colon de Santa Fe and Newell’s Old Boys eliminated. As such, only four Argentinian sides participate in the group phase instead of the aspired six.

Tags: Argentina, barrientos, berth, brazil, Colon de Santa, colon de santa fe, compatriots, copa libertadores, Ecuador, ecuadorians, emelec, group phase, guayaquil, Hugo, Hugo Barrientos, Internacional, january 27, Joao Rojas, Jose, newell, return leg, six minutes, uruguay

Top two lose in Argentina

December 14, 2009

Both leaders Banfield and second-placed Newell’s Old Boys crashed to defeats in Sunday’s Argentinian Primera Division action.

Banfield always faced a tough task in an away match with Boca Juniors, who despite their poor recent form managed to deliver a solid performance in this game.

It was former Villarreal player Martin Palermo to inspire Boca’s 2-0 victory, with a penalty goal in the seventh minute followed by a second goal near the hour mark.

Newell’s failed to take advantage and conquer the top spot, losing 0-2 to San Lorenzo themselves.

Both goals in this match were scored by Fabian Bordagaray, who first found the target in the 11th minute and did so again in the 67th.

Tags: advantage, Argentina, argentinian primera division, banfield, boca juniors, fabian, Fabian Bordagaray, game, Juniors, martin palermo, match, newell, old boys, penalty goal, performance, San, san lorenzo, target, victory

Newell’s beat River Plate to defend lead

November 8, 2009

Newell’s Old Boys successfully defended their Argentinian league lead with a 2-1 win over troubled River Plate on Saturday.

Joaquin Boghossian put Newell’s ahead after 4 minutes, but had his goal cancelled out by Diego Buonanotte in the 63rd.

However, Boghossian had the final say as he netted again in the 79th minute. This time, his goal was enough for three points.

Newell’s shared the lead with Banfield ahead of this game, but now leave the pressure on Banfield to beat San Lorenzo on Sunday.

River Plate meanwhile, are in 17th place with just ten points from 13 games.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: banfield, boghossian, buonanotte, Diego Buonanotte, game, games, Joaquin Boghossian, Lorenzo, newell, old boys, pressure, River, river plate, San, san lorenzo, sunday river

Velez win in Argentina, San Lorenzo drop points

November 1, 2009

Although most of their competitors have a game in hand, Velez Sarsfield at least get to enjoy a moment at the top of the Argentinian Primera Division following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Godoy Cruz.

Fabian Cubero put Velez in the lead after 13 minutes at Jose Amalfitani stadium of Buenos Aires, and Leandro Somozo made it 2-0 three minutes before the hour mark.

San Lorenzo failed to collect three points at Gimnasia La Plata, despite leading the game until the dying minutes.

Jose Vizcarra gave Gimnasia the lead on 22 minutes but Juan Menseguez (penalty) and Pablo Pintos turned things around with goals just before and after half time. Paraguay Ruben Maldonado had the final say however, equalizing in the very last minute.

Joint leaders Estudiantes, Banfield and Newell’s all play on Monday. Banfield and Estudiantes face each other, while Newell’s play away to Tigre.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Argentina, argentinian primera division, BUENOS AIRES, fabian, Fabian Cubero, game, godoy cruz, jonathan, Jose, Juan, La Plata, Maldonado, newell, Pablo Pintos, paraguay, roorda, san lorenzo, three minutes

Argentinian classic ends undecided

October 26, 2009

The Argentinian classic between River Plate and Boca Juniors ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that helps neither side at this point.

At only a few spots from the relegation zone, most of the pressure was on River to deliver a good performance in this match. Boca on the other hand, needed a win to limit the gap with the top of the Argentinian Primera Division.

River Plate were first to find the net at their own Estadio Monumental, with Marcelo Gallardo beating Boca keeper Abbondanzieri after 39 minutes.

Both teams had a player sent off in the first minutes of the second half. River’s Cristian Villagra conceded a second yellow card in minute 46, and Julio Caceres of Boca followed with a direct red card four minutes later.

Three minutes after the hour mark, it was former Villarreal player Martin Palermo to level the score for Boca.

The draw leaves Boca in tenth place at five points from joint leaders Estudiantes, Banfield and Newell’s Old Boys, while River Plate are in 16th place with just seven points from ten games.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: abbondanzieri, argentinian primera division, banfield, boca juniors, cristian, Cristian Villagra, Estadio, Estudiantes, first minutes, five points, four minutes, gallardo, julio caceres, marcelo, martin palermo, newell, old boys, pressure, relegation zone, river plate, roorda, seven points, three minutes, villagra, yellow card

Argentina: San Lorenzo stay on top as Estudiantes lose

October 19, 2009

Estudiantes left the Argentinian league lead to San Lorenzo as result of a 2-1 defeat at Newell’s Old Boys. Boca Juniors earned a 2-1 win over Tigre.

Joaquin Boghossian scored the opening goal for Newell’s after 28 minutes against Estudiantes, for whom a win would have left them in first position.

Leandro Benitez equalized in the 30th minute but Rolando Schiavi made it 2-1 in minute 77.

Estudiantes are now stuck in fifth place behind San Lorenzo, Colon, Argentinos and Velez Sarsfield.

Boca Juniors beat Tigre 2-1 with two goals from Osvaldo Gaitan, one in the 50th minute and one in the 59th. Carlos Luna scored one back in minute 78.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Argentina, boca juniors, boghossian, carlos luna, colon, first position, Joaquin Boghossian, newell, old boys, osvaldo, Rolando Schiavi, San, san lorenzo, schiavi, stay on top, velez sarsfield

Rosario prepares for rare sight of Messi

September 5, 2009

So often ahead of a great sporting event, there is little evidence of a city’s awareness that it is hosting something special, like last year’s Euro2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Not so Argentina’s big match with arch football enemies Brazil in this riverside city 300 km north of Buenos Aires, home to a bitter rivalry of its own between Rosario Central and Newell’s Old Boys.

Saturday’s World Cup qualifier is the talk of the town which was surprisingly offered the match in June after national team coach Diego Maradona criticized River Plate’s Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.

Fans of Rosario’s two big clubs, kept apart to avoid potential fights, have been queuing for tickets since Monday outside their respective stadiums, braving the rain and cold of an Argentine winter in real or makeshift tents.

There is a new breed of profiteers called queuers, people who stand in line for a fee and buy your tickets for you, a local journalist said.

With so much at stake for Argentina, who need to pick up points to keep their World Cup qualifying hopes alive, there are fears of violence after the match if Maradona’s team lose.

Far fewer people will be able to go to the match at Central’s ground, commonly know as the Giant of Arroyito, which holds 41,000, than would have got into River Plate, with a capacity for 65,000.

But the move has been a boon for Rosario’s hotels and restaurants, which usually have a quiet time in the winter, and street vendors of football paraphernalia.

Light blue and white striped Argentina shirts with Messi and the number 10 on the back are among the biggest selling items.

Lionel Messi, a son of Rosario, has never played an official match in his home town, having been whisked away to Barcelona as a mere 13-year-old, forging a career in Europe that has him on the verge of being named the world’s top player.

One of the youngsters queuing for tickets, a fan of Messi’s former club Newell’s Old Boys, said: “It’s worth waiting because don’t often see the ‘seleccion’ and even less Leo (Messi), whom we see on TV playing for Barcelona.”

Fans hope to see Messi tear Brazil apart and ensure he and Argentina go on to play at the World Cup in South Africa next year.

PHOTO: A street vendor sells masks outside Rosario Central stadium ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Brazil, September 4, 2009. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

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Tags: Argentina, Argentine, arroyito, Austria, Barcelona, bitter rivalry, boon, brazil, BUENOS AIRES, diego maradona, euro2008, Europe, Leo, makeshift tents, Marcos Brindicci, messi, national team coach, new breed, newell, old boys, paraphernalia, player one, quiet time, river plate, riverside city, Rosario, rosario central, South Africa, stadiums, street vendors, Switzerland, world cup qualifier

Boca lose again, River back on track

February 23, 2009

Argentinian giants Boca Juniors suffered their second defeat in three Primera Division games, losing 1-0 to CA Lanus in a Buenos Aires derby.

The only goal of the match was scored after only three minutes, and came from youngster Eduardo Salvio who recently demonstrated his skills at the South American Sub-20 Championships.

River Plate, who finished last in this season’s Apertura, seem to be back on track and beat CA Banfield 2-0 at the Monumental stadium. Matias Abelairas scored the opener on 36 minutes and Colombian Radamel Falco added a second eight minutes from the end.

River are currently one of four leaders, together with Newell’s Old Boys, Colon and Godoy Cruz. Boca Juniors are in 15th position.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Abelairas, apertura, Argentina, banfield, boca juniors, BUENOS AIRES, Championships, colon, division games, Eduardo Salvio, falco, giants, Godoy, godoy cruz, jonathan, Jonathan Roorda, Juniors, lanus, match, Monumental, newell, old boys, river plate, roorda, salvio, South American, three minutes, youngster

Boca Juniors lose to Newell’s Old Boys

February 15, 2009

Boca Juniors haven’t been able to earn their second win in a row in the Argentinian Clausura, as the Buenos Aires outfit lost 0-2 to Newell’s Old Boys.

Diego Armani scored the opening goal, in favor of Newell’s, on 61 minutes. Boca failed to reply and instead allowed Mauricio Sperdutti to add a second twelve minutes later.

Newell’s also won their opening match last week, and as such move into shared first place with Huracan, who defeated Racing Club 1-4 on Friday.

In Sunday’s action, Lanus, San Lorenzo and Arsenal de Sarandi could all catch up with the leaders, while River Plate hope to record their first win of the season at Rosario Central.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda