Archive for May, 2009

The craziness is heating up as we head into the final matches of The EPL season that will take place on Saturday May 23rd. Manchester United has the title wrapped up but Newcastle, Middlesbrough, and Sunderland are having a hissy fit over the fact that Sir Alex will rest some of his regulars in the final match of the season against Hull City.

Grow up guys! Stop acting like babies. Manage your own teams. If you cats had put more effort into winning you wouldn’t be belly aching over the fact you are in the drop zone. Get over it. It’s your fault not Sir Alex’s that your teams stink to high heaven.

Manchester United can play anybody they want to play. If Sir Alex plays the janitor, it’s none of your business. It’s not your decision anyway so bugger off and take a flying leap. The Red Devils have a huge match coming on Wednesday May 27th with Barcelona to decide The Champions League Title.

The quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil are underway. Flamengo is playing better but we will see. I am listening to the match on Globo Radio de Rio de Janeiro.

Flamengo gave an early cheap goal in the 42 minute when Internacional’s Nilmar intercepted an errand pass by Flamengo’s Juan. Nilmar hit teammate Taison with a frozen rope. Taison flicked home the winner to make 1-0 Internacional.

Flamengo was on the ropes until Kleberson cruised into the box. Kleberson drove a perfect pass to teammate Emerson who touched the twines in the 74th minute to this baby up at one all.

Flamengo screwed up. Andrezinho hit the accelerator and nailed a beautifully angled shot into the top self of the goal in the 89th minute to lift Internacional to the victory. And as they say that’s all she wrote baby. Internacional is on to The Copa do Brasil semifinals where they will take on Ponte Preta.

Corinthians and Fluminense drew two all but Corinthians advanced to the semifinals on goal difference. Corinthians will take on Vasco in the other semifinal.

Vasco and Vitoria tied one all but Vasco advanced on goal difference as well.

I am sad Flamengo lost. If Flamengo continues to play this way, their entire season could wind up in the toilet. But let’s not give up hope yet. There are a lot more matches to be played. So there is always hope Flamengo will right the ship and play better.

www.uol.com.br sums it up this way for Flamengo: Na etapa complementar o Flamengo, nervoso, não conseguia chegar na frente e cometia muitas faltas. O Colorado aproveitava a pressa do adversário, explorava os espaços e parecia mais perto de marcar. Apesar do domínio gaúcho, o jogo era tenso, já que o Flamengo só precisava empatar.

A loose translation goes like this Flamengo played with a lot of trepidation. They played scared and felt the pressure from the crowd in Rio Grande do Sul. Flamengo as a team didn’t arrive to play instead they played with lack and missed many opportunities to win the match.

I made a mistake on Wednesday’s blog so go ahead and do whatever. I said semifinals and I meant quarterfinals. I get mixed up all the time just ask my wife and she will tell I am not all there. The reason why we are here is because we are not at there.

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Check out these three great futebol sites by my friend Ruben. He has great insight to the world of futebol. Check em out.

http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com/index.php/link-directory-2/Football/Blogs-%26-Forums

http://www.afonso-alves.com/football-soccer-websites.html

http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com/brazilian-football-soccer-links.html

It’s all-quiet on the futebol front today. But lots of rumors are spreading around The EPL world.  The rumor mills are spreading the word that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is quitting.

This is the time of the year when all kinds of rumors fly around yet many of them are purely full of hot air.

Since Wenger led the Gunners to their record setting EPL crown four years ago Arsenal has not tasted a title since. I think the natives are getting very restless. During the off-season Arsenal will need to make many changes.

Since Wenger took over the reigns at Arsenal in 1996, he has led the club to three EPL Titles.

 Maybe things are getting stale at Emirates and a change might be order. This is just a thought. That’s all.

One semi-final match was played last night in the Copa do Brasil. Coritiba defeated Ponte Preta 1-0. Marcelinho Paraiba cruised his way into the box and hit teammate Ariel with a great pass and Ariel headed the winner home in the 88^th minute to seal the deal for Coritiba.

Three semi-finals matches will be played in the Copa do Brasil tonight. Corinthians takes on Fluminense at Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. www.uol.com.br  states: Todo cuidado é pouco no Corinthians para o jogo desta quarta-feira, diante do Fluminense, na decisão de uma vaga nas semifinais da Copa do Brasil. A comissão técnica se cercou de cautela na véspera do confronto para não dar armas ou motivar ainda mais o adversário no duelo do Maracanã.

A loose translation of this statement goes something like this Corinthians needs to train very hard for the match with Fluminense today. Fluminense will be a formable adversary. Corinthians needs to a little bit careful in their match with Fluminense in Rio.

My team Flamengo will be taking on Internacional tonight. Flamengo has been playing like garbage for the past two weeks. I hope they will turn it around but I am not holding my breath. My hope is that Flamengo will return to the form that led them to the Campeonato do Rio. But don’t bet on it.

Vitoria battles Vasco in the other semifinal match later tonight.

I will listen to the Flamengo game on Globo Radio de Rio de Janeiro tonight. I am a die hard Flamenguista. I will be wearing my Flamengo hat and jersey.

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The Argentina Clausura is starting to ratchet up the pressure on Boca and River Plate. River Plate is doing its classic slide while Boca played much better last Sunday.

Boca gave up an early goal to Arsenal de Sarandi. It was a classic strike by Mauro Matos in the sixth minute.

Boca’s Riquelme missed a penalty shot in the 12^th minute. However, Luciano Gabriel Figueroa made up for the blown penalty shot when he nailed the winner in the 24^th minute to level this puppy up at one all.

Cristian Chavez booted home the match winner in the 40^th minute.

Boca defeated Arsenal 2-1.

This win gives Boca some breathing room. They are now 16^th in the table with 16 points.

What is wrong with River? This is the second straight week they have played like crap. I mean they are playing like pure garbage. River lost to Huracan 4-0 on Saturday. This was a classic blowout. River had a chance to make up some ground on league leaders Lanus. Not on this day. Huracan is third in the table with 26 points.

Javier Pastore started off the hit parade for Huracan in the 39^th minute when he fired a lethal strike to make 1-0.

River lost Cristina Villagra on a stupid penalty. When River went a man down they just gave up.

From that point on it was Katie bar the door. Huracan won going away 4-0.

Pastore had the daily double for Huracan when he nailed his second winner in the 76^th minute. This laser shot made the River keeper Daniel Vega look really silly.

In River’s last seven matches, they have won one, lost three, and tied three.

Lanus sits a top the table with 28 points. Velez Sarsfield is second with 27 points and Huracan is third with 26 points.’

Boca is in 16^th spot with 16 points.

There are five matches left in The Clausura season.

In The EPL on Monday, Portsmouth defeated Sunderland 3-1. The Black Cats took the early lead when Kenwyne Jones torched the twines to make 1-0 in favor of Sunderland.

But two defensive blunders lead to two quick goals for Portsmouth in a seven-minute span to give them a 2-1 lead over the Black Cats. One of those goals was an own goal by Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley.

Sunderland is now in danger of getting the heave hoe.

The eight-sixth race or the heave hoe race looks likes this:

West Brom brings up the rear with 31 points. Middlesbrough is in 19^th spot with 32 points. Newcastle is in 18^th spot with 34 points. Hull City is in 17^th spot with 35 points and Sunderland is in 16^th spot with 36 points.

It will all come down Saturday’s final matches in The EPL season to see who gets the last two heave hoe spots.

So, stay turned for more of As The EPL Turns.

The rumor mills have it that Manchester United will decide the fate of Carlos Tevez in June. My guess is the Red Devils will make him an offer he can’t refuse. Tevez will stay with Man U. I don’t care what the futebol pundits say. They are wrong.

Manchester United named Nemanja Vidic as the team and fan’s favorite player of the year.

This came as a total shock to Vidic.

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In Europe, the current futebol season is winding down. The Champions League final will be played on May 27^th.  There is one glorious week left in The EPL season before I bid adios and turn my complete attention to Futebol Brasil and Argentina. Oh yeah, World Cup qualifying will be heating up in about a month too. I can’t wait. It should be a great month of June. We’ll see.

 I remember when I first went to Brasil in 2003. Iwas really cool. It was the dead of winter in Brasil. It was summer here in Los Angeles. I got to see both summer and winter all at the same time.

 While the European leagues are finishing up for the season, Brasil and Argentina leagues are beginning to rev up for real.

Liverpool cleaned sheeted West Brom 2-0. Chelsea had their way with Blackburn 2-nil.

Liverpool clinched the second spot in the table. Chelsea will wind up third.

West Brom is headed outta here. But anyone in their right mind knew that West Brom was getting the heave hoe since mid-March.

The race for the final two heave hoe spots are kinda up in the air.

I bet dollars to holes in a donut that Middlesbrough and Newcastle are gone.

Hull City battles EPL Champ Manchester United. A loss for Hull City.

Newcastle has a fight for EPL lives when they take on Aston Villa. This will be a big fat “L” for Newcastle.

Middlesbrough needs a win at West Ham. Not in this lifetime.

West Brom is dead last with 31 points. Middlesbrough sits in 19^th spot with 32 points. Newcastle is 18^th with 34 points. Hull City is one step above the outta here league with 35 points and currently sitting in the 17^th spot.

The race is on for the last two places in please don’t let The EPL sun go down on my season for I will be lonely and miss you guys when I am gone.

My wife’s team Sao Paulo played to a two all draw with Atletico-PR. Atletico jumped out an early 2-1 lead but Sao Paulo fought back salvage a draw when Hugo had a great run into the box and hit teammate Andre Lima with a pinpoint pass. Lima hit the open net in the 44^th minute. Atletico–PR keeper Galatto was hung out to dry and never had a prayer to stop the shot.

Sao Paulo has started out the season very slow. They have one loss and one draw in two matches. Sao Paulo is the defending Campeonato do Brasil.

Oh boy! Sao Paulo sorely misses keeper Rogerio Ceni. Ceni went down with a broken left ankle about a month ago. He will miss most of the season.

Santos and Goias tied at three all. Santos jumped out two a 3-1 lead but they could not hold on to it as Goias scored two late goals to tie it at three all. This was a wasted opportunity for Santos.

www.uol.com.br described it this way:  O Santos tinha tudo para se reabilitar e obter a primeira vitória no Campeonato Brasileiro. Porém, um gol de Rafael Tolói aos 42min do segundo tempo acabou com as pretensões alvinegras. Neste domingo, a equipe de Vagner Mancini falhou muito na marcação e cedeu um empate por 3 a 3 para o Goiás na Vila Belmiro. Desta forma, amplia para mais de um mês seu jejum de vitórias na temporada.

After Corinthians won the Paulista Championship and the addition of Ronaldo to their team, I thought they would have a great season. Not so far. Corinthians has one loss and one tie.

Botafogo and Corinthians battle to a zero-zero tie.

Ronaldo has not found the back of the net so far this Campeonato season. I thought he would have at least had one goal by now. We’ll see.

Internacional destroyed Palmeiras 2-0.

Internacional and Vitoria is a top the table with six points.

My team Flamengo is one step above dead last with one point.(19^th)

My wife’s team Sao Paulo is in 14^th spot with one point.

Goal difference separates the bottom clubs Flamengo, Corinthians, Sport, Gremio, Sao Paulo, and Atletico-PR.

The heat is on.

If the Campeonato do Brasil continues to unfold this way, it will be a long hard season for many clubs including my team Flamengo.

Check these sites out. You will love them.

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http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com/index.php/link-directory-2/Football/Blogs-%26-Forums

http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com/brazilian-football-soccer-links.html

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My team Flamengo stunk the joint out on Saturday May 16^th. They tied with Avai zero-zero. Flamengo had numerous scoring opportunities but they could not find the back of the net. It was bad. You could hear the boo birds all the way here in Los Angeles via Globo Radio do Rio de Janeiro.

Brasilian website www.uol.com.br described the match this way: Num jogo em que os dois goleiros se destacaram, Flamengo e Avaí empataram em 0 a 0, na noite deste sábado, no Maracanã, pela segunda rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, e seguem sem vencer na competição. Os catarinenses conseguiram seu segundo ponto, enquanto o Rubro-Negro conquistou apenas o seu primeiro.

A very loose translation goes like this. Flamengo played like crap. Their collective heads were somewhere else.

This is a very bad start to the 2009 campaign for Flamengo. Flamenguistas have one loss and one tie. We are now at the bottom of the table. Yes, folks I want to cry. It’s bad but what the heck I will learn to live with it.

Maracana is Flamengo’s house yet they played like a bunch of little children. If Flamengo continues to play this way, it will be a long season.

 Gremio gave up a late goal and lost to Atletico-MG 2-1. Atletico-MG Paulo Autuori fired a free kick into the box. It was a great ball. The ball bounced off  Gremio’s Ruy Joilson chest and then touched his hand. The ref called a handball in the box. Atletico-MG  Diego Tarddelli fired the penalty shot home for the match winner in the 91^st minute.

Should this penalty have been called? I think not. It was a bad call. The ref should have let it pass.

www.uol.com.br states:  Aos 46min, o árbitro assinalou pênalti depois de a bola tocar no braço de Joílson, que estreava pelo Grêmio, para a reclamação dos gaúchos.

Santo Andre doubled up Coritiba 4-2.

That’s a wrap from Brasil Serie A.

Check these sites out

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 http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com/index.php/link-directory-2/Football/Blogs-%26-Forums

 http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com/brazilian-football-soccer-links.html

http://www.afonso-alves.com

It’s all over but the shouting. Manchester United is crowned EPL Champions today for the third straight year. All the Red Devils needed was a tie with Arsenal and that’s what Man U got. A one –one kiss your sister draw.

The three-peat is in the books.

I am very happy but sad at the same time. I hate seeing teams playing for a draw. That’s exactly what Manchester United did. They attacked some but for 90% of the match the Red Devils sat back in a defensive shell and did nothing.

I have seen teams use this same tactic many times. Yet, how times has this tactic failed? Lots of times! I have seen this stall ball, defensive shell ball, or sit back and wait ball come back and bit you in the butt. Thank God on this day the shell ball worked out for Sir Alex Ferguson and his mighty lads at Manchester United. I guess that’s why they pay Sir Alex the big bucks.

Since Sir Alex took over the reigns at Manchester United in 1986, he has won eleven titles. This is an amazing feat.

Liverpool and Manchester United are tied for the most Premier Titles. Both clubs have won eighteen titles since The EPL began in 1889.

Now everyone at Old Trafford can take a deep breath, breathe easy, and concentrate on The Champions League final against Barcelona on May 27^th. 

This match between two European heavy weights should be a classic. We’ll talk about this puppy next week.

This is the second three-peat for Man U in the last eleven years.

Oh, what a glorious day for the faithful at Old Trafford.

The match between Liverpool and West Brom on Sunday is a moot point.

Now lets look at the heave hoe race. Or as I like to call the battle to get eighty-sixth out of The EPL. Anyway you look at it, it will come down to the final week of the season.

For sure, West Brom and Middlesbrough are on the way out. The only race that is undecided is the one between Newcastle and Hull City.

Both teams are tied on points with 34. Newcastle leads on goal difference. Newcastle is a minus 17 while Hull City is a minus 24.

Newcastle is losing to Fulham 1-0.

Hull City was losing to Bolton 1-nil. In a flash this all changed when Hull City’s Craig Fagan’s left footed shot found the back of the net to tie this baby up a one all in the 46^th minute.

If Hull City wins or ties, this might put a lethal nail in Newcastle’s coffin. We’ll see. Lots of futebol to play on this wonderful day.

The clock is winding down. Tick, tick, tick, goes the clock as it marches towards the final moments on who will get the heave hoe. Will it be Newcastle or Hull City? We’re in injury time in The Hull City-Bolton match. This is same for Newcastle- Fulham.

It’s all over for Newcastle. Fulham won 1-0.

The shouts can be heard from the Hull City faithful. Hull City and Bolton tied one all. This was a huge upset. No one including me thought Hull City would tie Bolton. It happened. 

West Brom and Middlesbrough are headed out.

Newcastle is now in the final heave hoe spot.

Hull City is one point clear.

The eighty-sixth race looks like this after today’s matches:

West Brom brings up the rear with 31 points. Middlesbrough is in 19^th position with 32 points. Newcastle is in the 18^th spot with 34 points. Hull City is in 17^th position with 35 points.

One match left in the season. West Brom and Middlesbrough are gone. The race is on for the final outta here. The final spot of the heave hoe race will come down to what happens on Saturday, May 23^rd, when Newcastle takes on Aston Villa and Hull City battles EPL Champ Manchester United.

It’s nut-cutting time.

Stay tuned for As The EPL Turns.

Check out this sites. You will love them

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http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com/brazilian-football-soccer-links.html

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www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

Boca Juniors has finally played their first match in the knockout stage in The Copa Libertadores. Boca is locked in death match with Uruguay’s Defensor Sporting in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Boca opened up the scoring on great goal by Martin Palermo in the third minute of the match.

Boca suffered a brain fart in the 45^th minute when Defensor corner kick was lifted into the box. The ball was headed straight to Pablo Daniel Gaglianone who tapped home the easy winner past the helpless Boca keeper Abbondanzieri to tie this puppy up at one all.

The entire Boca defense took a siesta.

Enter the second half and Rodrigo Palacio found the back of the net when teammate Martin Palermo whiffed on a wide-open shot in front of the net. The ball dribbled to Palacio who knocked it home past the helpless Defensor keeper Silva to make 2-1 in the 57^th minute.

Boca applied the pressure yet they couldn’t put away the pesky Uruguayan side. Lacking the killer instinct, Defensor got the equalizer in the 83^rd minute. Rodrigo Mora header flew past the hung out dry Boca keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.

Boca and Defensor tied two all but Boca has the all-important away goal edge.

Its back to Buenos Aires and the friendly confines of The Bon-bon box for Boca on Thursday May 21^st when they battle Defensor.

This should be a battle royal.

Brasil’s Cruzeiro eased past Universidad de Chile 1-nil.

Brasil’s Sao Paulo, Cruzeiro, Gremio, and Palmeiras all have advanced to the quarterfinals of The Copa Libertadores. My Brasilian heart is very happy.

FC Caracas of Venezuela, Nacional of Uruguay, and Argentina’s Estudiantes are the only three non-Brasilian sides to advance. 

Argentina’s Estudiantes advanced to the quarterfinals of The Copa. Libertad and Estudiantes walked their way to a nil-nil draw at Asuncion, Paraguay. It was a lack luster performance by Estudiantes. Only needing a draw the Argentina club went into a defensive shell and played boring ball.  Estudiantes won 3-0 in La Plata, Argentina the week before. Libertad needed a major miracle to pull this puppy out and advance to the next round.  

There is more fallout predicted on the horizon from the forced withdrawal of the two Mexican Clubs Chivas and San Luis from the Copa Libertadores knockout stage. CONCACAF AND CONMBOL is having a war of words.

The Mexican Futebol Federation has decided to pull all its teams from participating in the Copa Sudamerica and The Copa America.

The South American Federal said okay two can play at this game.  We’ll take a look at the situation and see if we want you. It’s the tit or tat game.

 Take a chill pill guys. Have some fun. Think about God’s grace.

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Manchester United gave up an early goal to Wigan.  Hugo Rodallega’s goal in the 28^th minute was a very strange goal indeed.  It was a scramble ball in the box between Manchester United defender Vidac and Rodallega. The ball went plop. Rodallega overpowered Man U defender Vidac. Rodallega slammed the shot home to give Wigan a 1-nil lead.

The conditions on the pitch were horrible. It was very wet and rainy.

Down 1-nil Manchester United sucked up. Enter superman Carlos Tevez and magic presto he scores a goal in the 61^st minute to tie this puppy up at one all.

Michael Carrick’s shot from long range just missed. Tevez in one single motion back heel flicked the ball into the back of the net.

Michael Carrick added the final nail in Wigan’s coffin. O’Shea’s brilliant dribble drive into the box forced the defenders to defend him. O’Shea flipped a beautiful pass to Carrick who rammed home the winner in the 86^th minute to make 2-1 Manchester United.

This goal may have just sealed the deal for the Red Devils.

All Man U needs is one point in the next two matches and The EPL Title is theirs for the third straight year.

Hold on to your horses for up next is hated foe Arsenal on Saturday at Old Trafford.

Cup your ears and I bet you can hear the Liverpool faithful crying in their collective beers. Yes, it tis a sad sound, Johnny me boy. For the Manchester United die hards it tis a different tune. It’s a Beethoven symphony. The chants one more point, one more point can be heard all over England.

O it tis a glorious day when Manchester United gets it’s a date with a three peat. Oh happy days for those brave souls who cram the stands at Old Trafford. For tis a wonderful site indeed to behold when the mighty Red Devils destroy Arsenal on Saturday.

Let’s not put the chicken before the cart just yet. Arsenal may have a few tricks up their collective sleeves.

Yes, I know I’ve been kissing the blarney stone.

I can’t wait until Saturday. It should be a good one between Arsenal and Manchester United.

In the Copa Libertadores, Gremio (Porto Alegre, Brasil) defeated Peru’s San Martin 2-nil. Gremio won 5-1 in aggregate. It’s on to the quarterfinals for Gremio.

Brilliant passing set up both of Gremio’s goals. Jonas received a perfectly placed corner kick from teammate Tcheco. Jonas flickered the header into the back of the net in the 17^th minute to give Gremio a 1-0 lead.

German Herrera added Pierce de resistance in the 74^th minute when teammate Maxi Lopez feed him the ball just outside the box. Herrera weaved his way through the helpless San Martin defense and nailed the winner to make 2-0 Gremio. That was all she wrote.

Gremio has won The Copa Libertadores in 1983 and 1995.

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The battle raged between two heated and hated rivals Palmeiras and Sport-Recife last night in the second leg of the knockout stage in Recife.  Tuesday night was hot and humid. The sweat was pouring off the players like a hard rain.

Palmeiras had 1-0 aggregate edge. Palmeiras needed to win or shutout Sport to advance to the quarterfinals. 

Palmeiras defense fell asleep in the 81^st minute and gave up a horribly easy tap in goal to Sport’s Wilson. Luciano Henrique’s dribble drive run through the entire Palmeiras defense set up this easy gimmie goal by Wilson. There was so many holes in the Palmeiras defense I thought it was Swiss cheese.

Sport won the match 1-0 however; both teams were tied on aggregate at one all.

 Enter the PK shootout time. This is the heart thumping, chest-pounding time of the match where every mistake is magnified to the thousandth degree. 

Palmeiras keeper Marcos made three great saves to lift them to a 3-1 PK shootout win over Sport.

Both Brasil’s Sao Paulo and Nacional of Uruguay have advanced to the quarterfinals of The Copa Libertadores. Mexican clubs Chivas and San Luis had to pull out of the tournament because of the swine flu outbreak. 

Rumor has it there is a war brewing between the Mexican Futebol Federation and the governing body of South American Futebol Association. Rumors are swirling that the Mexican Clubs were forced to withdraw from The Copa.

Racism charges are swirling in the winds too. We will see.

Now back to futebol.

Caracas of Venezuela destroyed Ecuador’s Club Deportivo Cuenca 4-nil. Deportivo never had a chance. Caracas came out the gate fast. Prieto started the hit parade with a headed that found the back of the net in the 43^rd minute. The rout was on and Caracas never looked back. It’s on to the quarterfinals for Caracas. This is the first time Caracas has made to the quarterfinals of The Copa Libertadores.

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What in the world is going on with Boca Juniors? They are world-beaters in The Copa Libertadores yet in The Clausura they play like a bunch of clowns disguised as schoolgirls. I don’t get it. Yeah, Boca is resting the big boys for The Copa competition but this is nuts. Boca gets the early lead on goal by Facundo Sebastian Roncaqlia in the 26^th minute to make 1-0. San Lorenzo’s Juan Torres commits a stupid foul and gets red carded in the 50^th minute. Torres takes the early shower. San Lorenzo is down a man. The unthinkable happens. Its Deja Vu all over again ala the Chelsea-Barcelona match. Instead of putting away, a wounded opponent Boca doesn’t score. San Lorenzo scores in the 86^th minute on wonderful strike by Gonzalo Berqessio to tie this baby up.  Instead of getting, three badly needed points Boca ends with just one.

Boca is buried near the bottom of the table.

River Plate is in the same boat. River takes the early lead on a beautiful goal by Radanmel Falco Garcia in the seventh minute. River Plate finds a way to give up a late goal and wind up with a 1-1 tie.

Velez Sarsfield sits a top The Clausura with 27 points in 13 games. Lanus is second with 25 points in 13 games. Colon de Santa Fe is third with 24 points in 13 games. River Plate is still with in striking distance of league leader Velez Sarsfield. River has 20 points in 13 games. Boca is currently sitting 16^th place with 13 points.

Newcastle finally got off the schnid with a 3-1 pasting of Middlesbrough. This is Newcastle’s first home win since December 21^st, 2008 and only their second win in their last eighteen matches.  

It started badly for the Magpies when Habib Beye mistakenly kicked the ball into his own net after a brilliant block by keeper Steven Harper in the third minute of the match.

Instead of quitting, the Magpies sucked it up and scored six minutes later. Steven Taylor blasted the twines to tie this baby up at one all.

Skipper Alan Shearer made two key substitutions late in the match and they paid off handsomely for the Magpies. Thirty seconds after Michael Owens was taken out, Obafemi Martins found the back of the net to give Newcastle a 2-1 lead.

Sub Peter Lovenkrands put the match away in the 86^th minute to give Newcastle those elusive three points.

With the victory Newcastle moves out of the drop heave hoe zone.

The race to get eighty-sixth out of the Premier League looks like this: West Brom, Middlesbrough, and Hull City are the front-runners now. Newcastle is tied with Hull City but the Magpies have a better goal difference. The Magpies have a minus 17-goal difference. Hull City’s goal difference is minus 24. 

With two matches left it’s a good bet that West Brom and Middlesbrough will get “The you’re outta here.” The other team? My educated guess will be Hull City. Why? Hull City has Bolton and league leader Manchester United left. Yikes! Batman! That’s not good. Only the Lone Ranger can save Hull City now. Hull City can beat Bolton but to do the unreal and defeat Manchester United Hell must freeze over. That’s not happening in this lifetime.

The only saving grace is that Newcastle has to take on Fulham and Aston Villa. Holy Cow. Newcastle should lose both of these matches.

It will all come down to goal difference.

Oh my, what a year in The EPL.

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