Everything still possible in Brazil
November 23, 2009
The Brazilian championship is everything but decided as Sao Paulo crashed to a 3-2 defeat at Botafogo on Sunday.
Jobson put Botafogo in the lead after 14 minutes but goals from Washington (45th) and Jorge Wagner (55th) turned things around in Sao Paulo’s favor.
But Botafogo had the final say, as it was Jobson to complete his hat-trick with goals in the 59th and 59th minute.
The hosts finished the game with only eight active players, as Juninho, Jobson and Rodrigo Dantas were all sent off in the final phase. Sao Paul’s Richarlyson had already been red-carded earlier on.
Flamengo could have jumped to the top of the league with just two rounds to go, but instead remain at one point from the leaders after a goalless draw with Goias.
International did win their match at Atletico Mineiro, thanks to a 15th-minute goal from Giuliano. As such, the gap between Internacional and Sao Paulo is now only three points.
Jonathan Roorda
Tags: Botafogo, brazil, dantas, final phase, gap, giuliano, goias, hat trick, hosts, jobson, jonathan, juninho, match, minute goal, richarlyson, rodrigo, sao paulo, WagnerRelated posts
Rogerio Ceni steals the spotlight as Sao Paulo beat Santos
October 26, 2009
Sao Paulo remain alive in the Brazilian championship, thanks to a hard-fought 3-4 victory at Santos on Sunday.
The Sao Paulo derby started well for Santos, who went ahead through Andre in the 5th minute. Hernanes leveled six minutes later, but Rodrigo Souto restored Santos’ lead in minute 25.
Washington (38th) and Jorge Wagner (59) then turned things around for Sao Paulo, but the hosts then set the score to 3-3 with an equaliser from Robson, six minutes after the hour.
The winning goal came from Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni in the 68th minute. The keeper went from hero to villain when given a red card nine minutes later, but substitute goalie Denis made sure that Santos wouldn’t score another goal.
Palmeiras lead the Brazilian Serie A with nine games to go, and have one point more than Atletico Mineiro. Internacional and Sao Paulo follow at another point.
Jonathan Roorda
Tags: Andre, atletico mineiro, brazilian championship, brazilian serie, denis, equaliser, games, hero, hosts, Internacional, Jorge Wagner, Robson, rodrigo, Rodrigo Souto, rogerio ceni, roorda, Santos, sao paulo, six minutes, souto, spotlight, t score, victory, villain, Wagner, WashingtonRelated posts
Korea too strong for Paraguay at Under-20 World Cup
October 6, 2009
Korea Republic are the second quarter finalists at the 2009 World Youth Championship following a 3-0 win over Paraguay. All goals were scored in the second half.
The score at Cairo’s International Stadium was opened through Bo-Kyung Kim in the 55th minute, and Min-Woo Kim added a second five minutes later.
Things got even worse for Paraguay when they had midfielder Rodrigo Burgos sent off with a second yellow card in minute 61, and Min-Woo Kim went on to net a third goal nine minutes later.
The Asians play their quarter final on Saturday, against the winner of the match between Ghana ans South Africa.
Jonathan Roorda
Tags: asians, bo kyung kim, Bo-Kyung, burgos, Cairo, five minutes, ghana, International Stadium, jonathan, Kim, Korea, korea republic, match, midfielder, Min-Woo, paraguay, quarter finalists, rodrigo, Rodrigo Burgos, score, second half, second quarter, South Africa, World Cup, world youth championship, yellow cardRelated posts
Simoes installed as new manager of Ticos
September 18, 2009
Rene Simoes, who was dismissed as Jamaica’s manager a year ago, has been selected as coach of Costa Rica, looking to resurrect the Ticos chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
The Costa Rican federation announced the appointment Wednesday night, installing the 56-year-old Brazilian two days after dismissing Rodrigo Kenton following a third straight loss in World Cup qualifying. The latest loss, 1-0 to El Salvador on September 9, dropped Costa Rico to fourth in the final round of World Cup qualifying.
Three teams are guaranteed a berth in the World Cup finals in June in South Africa, while the fourth-placed team earns a two-game playoff against the fifth-placed South American team, currently Argentina, for the last spot in the 32-team field. Costa Rica has 12 points, four behind “hexagonal” leader the United States, one behind third-placed Honduras and four ahead of fifth-placed El Salvador.
“We will, with a lot of courage, do what we can so that Costa Rica has a strong group that can qualify to the World Cup,” Simoes said in a statement released on the Costa Rican federation Web site.
(“Con mucho coraje, haremos lo posible para que Costa Rica tenga un grupo fuerte que pueda clasificar al mundial”, dijo Simoes.)
Simoes was fired as Jamaica’s manager after the Reggae Boyz were virtually eliminated from the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in September 2008 following two losses in five days.
He coached Jamaica from 1994 to 2000, including to the 1998 World Cup in France, coached Brazil’s women to the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and also Trinidad & Tobago from 2001 to 2002. He resigned from Brazilian second-division club Portugesa on August 26 after only two weeks on the job, saying armed men threatened his players in the locker room after a loss.
Costa Rica next plays Trinidad & Tobago at home on October 10 before finishing against the United States in Washington four days later.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica
Tags: 2004 olympics, armed men, berth, brazil, Con, Costa Rica, costa rico, courage, El Salvador, federation web, France, game playoff, Honduras, Jamaica, jose costa rica, locker room, Olympics, qualifying for the world cup, reggae boyz, Rene Simoes, Rico, rodrigo, Rodrigo Kenton, San Jose, san jose costa rica, september 9, silver medal, South Africa, South American, straight loss, Tobago, Trinidad, United States, Washington, wednesday night, world cup finalsRelated posts
Kenton dismissed as Costa Rican manager after third straight loss
September 16, 2009
Rodrigo Kenton has been fired as manager of the Costa Rican national team, dismissed less than a week after the Ticos suffered a third straight loss that threatened its chances to qualify for the World Cup.
The Costa Rican federation announced the firing on Monday, but did not specify a replacement or any timetable for installing a new manager.
“We thank Rodrigo and his coaching staff for the effort and dedication offered during this time, but we believe that at this moment the Costa Rican national team needs a change,” federation president Eduardo Li said.
Under Kenton, who replaced Hernan Medford in 2008 after the second round of CONCACAF qualifying, Costa Rica won seven straight World Cup qualifiers, and 10 of 11 matches through June, taking command of the final hexagonal round of CONCACAF qualifying.
However, it lost 4-0 at Honduras, 3-0 at home to Mexico and 1-0 at El Salvador in the past month to fall to fourth in the six-team standings, four points behind group leader the United States. Three teams are guaranteed berths in the World Cup finals next year, while the fourth place team must face off against the fifth-place finish from South America in a two-game playoff for the final slot in the 32-team field in South Africa.
Costa Rica has two remaining qualifiers: October 10 in San Jose against Trinidad, and four days later against the United States in Washington. El Salvador is four points behind Costa Rica for the fourth-place spot in CONCACAF qualifying.
Costa Rican federation general secretary Joseph Ramirez tried to dismiss some of the speculation about Kenton’s replacement.
“There are some names out there, but we are not going to speak about that at the moment. We are going to sit down, look over the names and hopefully make the best choice,” Ramirez told La Prensa Libre.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica
Tags: best choice, concacaf, El Salvador, face off, federation general, federation president, four points, game playoff, group leader, Mexico, rodrigo, Rodrigo Kenton, San Jose, san jose costa rica, South Africa, South America, speculation, straight loss, straight world, ticos, Trinidad, United States, world cup finals, world cup qualifiersRelated posts
Pachuca routs Jalapa 7-1 to reach Group Stage
August 5, 2009
JALAPA, Guatemala – Ulises Mendivil scored three goals — two in the first half — and Pachuca easily advanced to the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League with a 7-1 victory over Jalapa on Tuesday.
Pachuca, which won the last two CONCACAF Champions Cup titles in 2007 and 2008, will join the Houston Dynamo, Metapan of El Salvador and either Olimpia of Honduras or Arabe Unido of Panama in Group A.
It was the second straight year Jalapa has been eliminated in the Preliminary Round, limited to one goal in each attempt.
Last year, Jalapa was eliminated by Panama’s San Francisco on 5-1 aggregate. This year it was overwhelmed by Pachuca 10-1.
Already ahead 3-0 from its first-leg victory at home last week, Pachuca comfortably added to its lead in the third minute when Christian Gimenez was able to get behind Osmar Lopez and head in a cross at the left post.
Gimenez then set up Mendivil for the first of his two, running onto a ball on the left side out of the deep middle, dribbling into the area and sending a low rolling ball across the top of the six-yard box. Mendivil merely had to tap in to an open net in the 14th minute.
Mendivil added his second in the 36th, this time running to the right post and volleying a cross from the opposite side by Paul Aguilar. He knocked it off the underside of the crossbar for a comfortable 3-0 lead and 6-0 aggregate advantage. Jalapa, which hit the underside of the cross bar in the 19th minute, finally tallied when Pachuca keeper Rodolfo Cota raced off his line to intercept a bounding ball in the area and instead brought down Rodrigo de Leon to draw a yellow card. Mario Pineyro then converted the ensuing penalty to leave Pachuca ahead 3-1 at halftime.
Jalapa appeared to be gaining momentum when keeper Ricardo Jerez blocked Gimenez’s penalty attempt in the 50th, but Aguilar scored with a deflected ball on the ensuing play less than a minute later.
Second-half substitute Edgar Benitez continued to add to the route in the 64th, heading a cross inside the far post.
Mendivil’s finale in the 77th was another tap in, running straight through the six-yard box to volley a low cross from Luis Montes. Captain Gabriel Caballero completed the scoring in the 86th.
Pachuca, which has won both of its first games in the Mexican Apertura, will open its Group Stage schedule against either Olimpia or Arabe Unido away on August 19.
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Tags: A. It, Arabe, arabe unido, Captain Gabriel Caballero, christian gimenez, concacaf, concacaf champions league, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, cota, cross bar, crossbar, cup titles, de leon, Edgar Benitez, El Salvador, gaining momentum, group stage, Guatemala, Honduras, Houston, houston dynamo, jalapa guatemala, Leon, Luis Montes, Mario Pineyro, mendivil, metapan, olimpia, osmar, Panama, Paul Aguilar, Ricardo Jerez, Rodolfo Cota, rodrigo, San Francisco, ulises, Ulises Mendivil, yellow cardRelated posts
Costa Rica makes three roster changes for Gold Cup
July 2, 2009
CARSON, California – Costa Rica won’t have the services of Andy Furtado, Christian Bolanos or Michael Umana at the Gold Cup, replacing them on its roster with Josimar Arias, Warren Granados and Pablo Salazar.
The Costa Rican federation late last week announced that Furtado’s “A” sample had tested positive for a banned substance during the Costa Rican league finals, while Bolanos wasn’t released by his club team, IK Start of Norway, and Umana sprained a left knee ligament June 27 against Venezuela.
Furtado has scored two goals in three games for Costa Rica during its World Cup qualifying bid, helping them to the top of the CONCACAF final round standings at its midpoint.
“The whole situation is unfortunate but we have to apply the FIFA regulations and doping regulations and there’s not very much we can do,” Costa Rican football federation General Secretary Joseph Ramirez said.
The circumstances deal a blow to Los Ticos’ hopes of winning its first Gold Cup and potentially its World Cup qualifying chances.
Manager Rodrigo Kenton also will have to adjust to the loss of Bolanos and Umana as his squad heads into its Gold Cup opener against El Salvador on Friday.
Kenton called on Bolanos, who expressed interest in playing, but the club refused to release him claiming Bolanos didn’t want to participate in the Gold Cup.
That prompted Costa Rica to drop Bolanos and send a complaint to FIFA.
“We are in the final stretch and it’s not a good time for a club to start acting in this way particularly for the players,” Ramirez said. “The coaching staff is going to figure out who’s going to play and is going to participate in the World Cup, so it’s matter of opportunities and priorities.”
Despite the changes, particularly the loss of Furtado, Kenton has no plan to alter his team’s style of play heading into the Gold Cup.
“We go with the same approach to all the different teams, be it El Salvador, USA or Mexico,” Kenton said. “We try to have a pattern and style and we don’t change it depending on the opponent. We always continue straight and want consistency and keep the same rhythm and the same speed.”
By Vijay Setlur
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Tags: Andy Furtado, arias, California, CARSON, carson california, christian bolanos, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, El Salvador, federation general, final stretch, football federation, general secretary, gold cup, good time, Joseph Ramirez, josimar, june 27, knee ligament, left knee, los ticos, Manager Rodrigo Kenton, Mexico, Michael Umana, midpoint, pablo salazar, rodrigo, roster, three games, USA, venezuela, Warren Granados, World CupRelated posts
Cristiano Ronaldo ignores Portuguese award
May 23, 2009
Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to receive the Portuguese ‘Personality of the year 2008′ award, becoming the first recipient in 20 years to ignore the honor all-together.
“We are not going to hand over the award as [Ronaldo] hasn’t replied in any way to the invitation to receive it,” said organisation president Belen Rodrigo.
“It is a shame not having received even a few words of gratitude from his part. Previous winners always received it with great pride. Ronaldo doesn’t value the award with which he represents his country,” she added.
In the past, the award has been received by well known personalities as Luis Figo and European Commission President Jose Barroso.
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Tags: belen, cristiano ronaldo, English Premier League, European, european commission, european commission president, few words, hasn, invitation, Jonathan Roorda, luis figo, Manchester, manchester united, personalities, personality, President Jose Barroso, pride, recipient, rodrigo, ronaldo, shame, words of gratitudeRelated posts
Sivasspor lose Turkish lead to Besiktas
May 10, 2009
with three matches to play in the Turkish league, Besiktas are the new leaders as Sivasspor crashed to a 1-2 defeat by Istanbul BB.
Sivasspor had a one-point lead over Besiktas to defend but couldn’t live up to expectations in their home match with Istanbul. Gokhan Kaba scored in the 8th and 17th minutes to give the away side a comfortable lead and although Herve Tum got one back on 75 minutes, it wasn’t enough for the hosts to earn even one point.
Besiktas visited BB Ankaraspor and took the lead through Filip Holosko in the 29th minute. Ediz Bahtiyaroglu levelled in the 62nd but Besiktas went on to score through Ibrahim Toraman, Bobo and Rodrigo Tello for a comfortable 1-4 win.
As a result, Besiktas are now two points ahead of Sivasspor who have three games left to reconquer their lead.
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Tags: ankaraspor, bb, besiktas, bobo, Filip Holosko, gokhan, Herve Tum, home match, hosts, ibrahim toraman, Istanbul, Jonathan Roorda, kaba, new leaders, rodrigo, rodrigo tello, sivasspor, Turkcell Süper Lig, turkish leagueRelated posts
Off-field issues settled, El Salvador now gathers for World Cup tilt against USA
March 26, 2009
El Salvador recorded an important victory last week and it wasn’t on the soccer field.
Earlier in the week 23 players left training camp for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier, protesting the non-payment of bonuses for reaching the CONCACAF final round.
The players returned to practice on Sunday after an agreement was reached with the El Salvadoran Football Federation.
Federation president Rodrigo Calvo told the media that "the parties reached an agreement which is satisfactory for both."
"Everything’s settled," El Salvador captain Sanchez added.
It is too early to tell whether the strike would bring the players together or tear them apart.
But if the strike has lasted any longer, the El Salvadorans seriously would have jeopardized their chances against the United States in San Salvador on Saturday night.
The Cuscatlecos already dropped two poings, needing to rally for a 2-2 draw at home with Trinidad & Tobago on February 11. Despite being rescued by two goals in the final 11 minutes by 22-year-old midfielder Osael Romero, El Salvador is 0-2-2 in its last four matches, which includes a poor run in the Central American Nations Cup.
Its task is especially daunting considering that four days after playing the United States, it must travel to Mexico for another qualifier April 1.
The Salvadorans are winless in their last 12 games (0-2-10) against the United States, and haven’t scored in six games against their rival, since a 4-2 loss on Nov. 16, 1997. Its only win in 18 games against the U.S. was 2-0 in a friendly in San Salvador on February 19, 1992. In six World Cup qualifying matches, its has lost four and at best drawn the other two.
"If we feed on positive ideas . . . we can have the confidence to make a good game," coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "We cannot play with fear.”
The U.S., on the other hand, has the momentum of its 2-0 win over archrival Mexico on February 11. Coach Bob Bradley has called in 10 starters from that match, including the scoring hero of the game, his son, midfielder Michael Bradley (two goals), and midfielder-forward Landon Donovan.
Donovan has scored the most goals in U.S. team history (37) and is one short of tying former international Brian McBride for the most in World Cup qualifying (10).
Donovan is one of four players on the U.S. roster who participated in the Americans’ most recent qualifying match in El Salvador, a 2-0 semifinal-round victory on October 9, 2004. The others are defender Frankie Hejduk, midfielder DaMarcus Beasley and forward Eddie Johnson.
A win in El Salvador would give the U.S. two victories with a match at home — against Trinidad & Tobago in Nashville, Tennessee — next on April 1.
“The games against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago represent a big opportunity to solidify our place in the group," coach Bradley said. "We had a fantastic team effort against Mexico, and if we put in the same type of performance we are confident of being able to get results.”
U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard is suspended for the game after accruing his second qualifying yellow card against. Mexico. Brad Guzan is likely to start with Marcus Hahnemann as his backup.
The roster will be bolstered by midfielder Pablo Mastroeni, who is back after serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation.
By Michael Lewis
Tags: april 1, bob bradley, brad guzan, brian mcbride, captain Sanchez, carlos de los cobos, Central American, coach bob, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, cup qualifier, Donovan, Eddie, El Salvador, federation president, football federation, frankie hejduk, good game, Johnson, Marcus Hahnemann, Mexico, Michael Bradley, Michael Lewis Off-field, midfielder, Nashville, nations cup, Pablo Mastroeni, quot quot, rodrigo, Rodrigo Calvo, romero, salvadorans, San Salvador, six games, soccer field, starters, Tennessee, tim howard, Tobago, training camp, Trinidad, U.S., United States, USA, World CupRelated posts
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