Archive for May, 2009

We have all kinds of great stuff that happened on Sunday in the  EPL and Futebol Brasileiro.

Oh what a glorious Monday. Manchester United turned the screws tighter on The EPL crown by blanking cross-town rival Manchester City 2-0. The first score really hurt City when Cristiano Ronaldo curled home a free kick in the 18^th minute to Manchester United an early 1-0 lead. This was a brilliant shot by Ronaldo.

Carlos Tevez nailed a free kick in the 45^th minute that gave the Red Devils a huge 2-nil lead. Tevez shot was a thing of beauty as the shot ripped the twines. Man City’s keeper Shay Given never had a chance. Given was stuck to the pitch like a wooden duck.

That was all Manchester United needed to move three points clear of Liverpool in the race for The EPL crown.

Chelsea cleaned Arsenal’s clock 4-1. If this was a fight, this would have been stopped in the first round.

Chelsea scored first blood on a well-placed free kick by Drogba. Alex flicked the header that hit the cross bar and the ball dropped straight down into the bottom of the goal. Brilliant goal. It was great. Alex nailed that puppy to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead in the 28^th minute.

What’s that old saying when it rains it pours. Or better yet, Katie bar the door on this baby. Chelsea scored again in the Nicolas Anelka whirled in space at the top the box and found the right corner to give Chelsea 2-nil advantage after 39 minutes.

It got worse for Arsenal when the bouncing ball bounced off of Kolo Toure’s foot and found the back of his own net to make 3-0 Chelsea.  This is like adding salt to a wound or insult to injury. Yes! Folks this was bad.

Stick a fork in em. They’re done. Chelsea won going away 4-1.

The EPL standings look like this:

1. Manchester United   83 points   35 games
2. Liverpool                      80 points   36 games
3. Chelsea                           77 points   36 games
4. Arsenal                           68 points   36 games

Manchester United has a game in hand. All Man U needs is four points in their next three games and The EPL crown is theirs.

Now it’s time for Futebol Brasil.

Flamengo stunk the joint out and lost Cruzeiro 2-0. Cruzeiro played with a man down throughout the entire match yet they took it to Flamengo.  Flamengo gave up two horrible goals. The first was a dumb penalty.  Cruzeiro’s Wagner had a great run into the box. It was a clean tackle but the ref called the penalty. Kelber scored the penalty to make 1-0 Cruzeiro.

Cruzeiro added another goal in the 44^th minute. Ramires was left wide open. Ramires received the pass. The Flamengo “D” look stupid. Ramires slipped past two Flamengo defenders. The keeper Bruno was standing in Ramires way. Ramires did a little razzle- dazzle and tapped the ball off of Bruno’s hands and the ball trickled into the net.  

Flamengo played like a bunch of schoolgirls.

One match does not a season make but if Flamengo plays like they did yesterday, it will be a very long season indeed.

Sao Paulo’s Rogerio Ceni will miss most of the season when he broke his ankle about a month ago. Ceni is the key to Sao Paulo’s defense. Without him, Sao Paulo is a very ordinary club.

Corinthians lost to Internacional 1-0. Internacional’s Nilmar weaved his way through the Corinthians “ O Lay” “D”. Nilmar single handily scored the match winner in the ninth minute.

Atletico MG was shutout by Vitoria 2-0.

Goias and Nautico kissed their sister and 3 all.

Botafogo scored a late goal on Victor Simoes de Oliveira header in the 84^th minute to pull even with upstart Santa Andre.

Santos and Gremio tied at 1-1.

Check these sites out too:

www.palau.org

http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com 

http://www.afonso-alves.com

http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com

Brasil futebol begins for real this weekend. The fake junk is out of the way and now we get down to nut cutting time. Palmeiras and Coritiba opened up the Brasil Primeiro campaign. I listened to the battle on CBN Globo Radio do Brasil, Sao Paulo. Check the site out http://cbn.globoradio.globo.com/home/HOME.htm

Palmeiras blew three scoring chances in the first half. One of them was a clear shot on goal. Palmeiras’s Willians faked the keeper out of his jock but Willians header missed the open net. This play was set up by a great pass from Souza.

Coritiba was up one –nil on a penalty by Marcelinho Paraiba in the 33^rdminute of the first half. This was a totally bogus penalty. It stunk. It was wrong. Bad call! It’s halftime and Coritiba’s  up 1-0 on Palmeiras.

The second half has started with lots of  fireworks. Both sides squandered numerous scoring chances. It’s racehorse style futebol. Both teams were flying up and down the pitch. Neither team has scored as of yet. We’ll see. 

Palmeiras scored on a great run into the box by Willians who fired home the winner  in the 70^th minute to tie this puppy up at one all.

Palmeiras scored again to make 2-1. Keirrison scored in the 89^thminute on a wonderful ball placed right inside the box. Keirrison dribbled to his right and touched the twines for the match winner. Coritiba’s keeper looked like a fool on the play.

It’s all over. The home crowd was going nuts. Palmeiras pulled out a 2-1 win over Coritiba to open the 2009 Brasileiro Primeiro Futebol campaign.

Sport Recife and Barueri (Sao Paulo) kissed their sister at one all.

Avai (Santa Catarina) and Atletico MG (Minas Gerais) played to a two-two draw. Avai should have won this match. Avai scored twice in the first half but they couldn’t hang on the lead. Atletico MG scored twice in the second half  to escape with the tie. Shame on Avai for blowing the lead.

You had to the first goal of the match scored by Avai. Odair fired a shot from at least forty meters out from the left side line. Evando stepped in front of the Atletico defender and squirted  the ball past the dump struck Atletico keeper Juninho. This was totally unreal. This reminded me of a Stanley Kubrick movie.   

On Monday, we’ll give ya the update from Brasil futebol played on Sunday as well as The EPL.

Have a great weekend.  We have lots of sun here in LA.

 Take look at these sites. You’ll love em.

 www.palau.org

 http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com 

http://www.afonso-alves.com

http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com

Meu amigos Bruno, Carlos e Liga muitas abracaos.

www.comendobola.blogspot.com

The marine layer has invaded us in Los Angeles. It is a welcome sight because it was horribly hot the past few days. Oh what a glorious Saturday morning. The birds are singing praises to God. The TV is on and I am watching Tottenham and Everton on Fox Soccer Channel. Yes, I know I am nuts. I do have the papers to prove I am certifiable crazy. 

There is lot of important stuff happening in The EPL this weekend.  Liverpool will take on West Ham. Liverpool needs to win this baby if the Reds want to keep the pressure on Manchester United.

Manchester United has big match with Manchester City on Sunday. This derby should be a good contest. Both sides despise each other. It will be a fight to the finish.

Manchester United needs just seven points in their next four matches for a three peat.

I really want Man U to do it.

However, it would be really neat if Liverpool would upset the whole apple cart and sneaked into the top spot and with this baby.

I can hear all you English cats screaming at me you’re crazy. I am so who gives a hoot anyway. Yeah! I know you choose one club and root for them. I do. But! I love seeing the dog (underdog) win. It’s the American in me. We always root for the dog.

The race for the heave hoe is underway too.

There is one huge surprise brewing in The EPL. Bottom feeder West Brom is leading Wigan 3-1 in the 76^th minute.

Hull City is losing to Stoke City 2-nil. Eleven minutes to go plus injury time is left in the match. Hull City has a three point cushion on both Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Sunderland and Bolton are Nil-nil in the 84^th minute.

It’s all over between Bolton and Sunderland. This dud ended a Nil-nil draw. Sunderland picked up a badly needed point. Sunderland is now five points clear from the drop zone.

Hull City just made it interesting with a late score in the 90^th minute by Andy Dawson. It’s all over but the shouting. It’s too little too late for Hull City. Stoke City won 2-1. This might have put a nail in Hull City’s coffin. We will see.

West Brom defeated Wigan 3-1. This is upset city baby.

Liverpool accomplished the task at hand with a 3-nil shellacking of West Ham. For the Reds this was walk in the park massacre of West Ham.

Steven Gerrard did a little dipsy-do past West Ham keeper Robert Green and found the back of the net in the second minute to give Liverpool and early 1-nil lead.

Steven Gerrard  ripped home a winner in the 38th minute as he sliced and diced his way through the porous West Ham defense to make 2-nil for the Reds. 

Ryan Babel got his name on the score sheet when he banged home the rebound in the 86^th minute. West Ham keeper Robert Green blocked Babel’s first shot a header.    

Liverpool sits a top The EPL on goal difference. This will change when Manchester United battles Manchester City tomorrow.

The top of the table shapes up this way.

1. Liverpool                       80 points 36 games.
2. Manchester United    80 points 34 games 
3. Chelsea                            74 points 35 games
4. Arsenal                            68 points 35 games

The race for the heave hoe or as I like to call it lets get 86^th and you’re outta here stand this way:

2o.  West Brom          31 points 36 games

19.  Middlesbrough  31 points 35 games

18    Newcastle           31 points 35 games

17      Hull City            34 points 36 games

16      Sunderland         36 points 36 games.

 So, that’s it from the land of The EPL.

Futebol Brasil begins today with three good match-ups.

Please check out these websites. These are my favorites.

 www.palau.org

 http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com 

http://www.afonso-alves.com

http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com

The Champions League final is set. It should be a battle royal between two of the top clubs in Europe. I can’t wait until this baby kicks off. We’ll take more about this match when we get closer to May 27^th.

For now, let’s talk about The Copa Libertadores. This is the premier club futebol tournament in South America. The winner of The Copa takes a trip to Japan each December and battles the other top futebol from Europe, Asia, South Africa, and Pacific Rim to see who is the best club futebol team in the world.

Last year Manchester United was crowned The FIFA World Cup Club Futebol Champion. 

I love The Copa Libertadores. I have been watching this event since 2005 on Fox Soccer Espanol.

The knockout stage is revving up.

There were a couple of good matches last night on the Fox Soccer Espanol.

Brasilian club Cruzeiro scored on a very early first half goal by Soares. Soares goal was a quick flick into the net. The Chilean keeper was totally helpless.

Cruzeiro added another goal in the 51^st minute by Marquinhos power blast to give the Brasilian side an insurmountable 2-0 lead. 

Universidad de Chile added a late goal by Manuel Villalobos in the 85^thminute. Cruzeiro’s defense fell asleep. It was too little too late for Universidad. Cruzeiro won 2-1 in Santiago, Chile.

Argentina’s Estudiantes destroyed the Paraguay club Libertad 3-0.

Thirty seconds into the match Estudiantes Gaston Fernandez fired a well-placed ball into the back of the net.

Mario Boselli header off a missed shot touched the twines in 69^thminute to give Estudiantes the 2-0 lead.

Boselli slammed home another winner in the 70^thminute to complete the 3-0 rout of Libertad.

Ecuador’s Deportivo scored a scary come from behind victory 2-1 over Venezuelan club Caracas. Deportivo played very badly. Caracas committed a stupid foul. This dumb foul was red carded and this was the turning point of the match. At the time, Caracas was up 1-0. Deportivo scored at the hour mark to level the match at one all on a penalty shot by Rodrigo Texeira. The match winner for Deportivo came when Ismael Villalba scored in the 69^th on a nifty shot that fooled the Caracas keeper.   

That’s a wrap from the world of The Copa Libertadores. Happy hunting.

On Saturday, The EPL heats and we’ll talk more about that later.

When you get a chance check out these websites you will love em.

 www.palau.org

 http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com 

http://www.afonso-alves.com

http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com

www.comendobola.blogspot.com

The media pundits and so-called futebol experts were screaming Barcelona this and Barcelona that.

Dig this! Chelsea scored first blood off a block shot just inside the box. The ball rebounded to just outside the box and Chelsea’s Michael Essien one timed the shot home to it make 1-nil in the ninth minute of the match.

Barcelona’s keeper Victor Valdez was totally helpless. Essien’s laser shot ripped into the top left corner of the net.

We are at the halfway point of the first half and Chelsea is taking it to Barcelona. Chelsea has missed two golden opportunities to score. There should have been two penalty shots awarded but nada-nothing.

Both fouls were committed on two brilliant runs by Drogba into the box.

It’s halftime and Chelsea’s up 1-nil.

Barcelona is attacking but for each attack, Chelsea has an answer.

Chelsea’s counter attack is very deadly.

We will see what happens in the second half at Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona was completely out played throughout the match.

You had to see this.

This result completely came out of left field.

The unthinkable happened. Barcelona scored in the 93^rd minute on a beautiful goal by Andres Iniesta.

Chelsea keeper Peter Cech never had a chance on that laser shot from right outside at the top of the box.

Cech never saw the rocket.

It ripped the twines.

It was a great pass from Lionel Messi that set up the winning goal for Barcelona.

The Chelsea players were pissed. They screamed obscenities at the ref Tom Henning Ovrebo. 

Ovrebo is a clown. He should be fired. This idiot missed foul after foul. This guy was a walking abomination.

In the second half Barcelona lost Eric Abidal on a red card. It was a horrible call. It stunk. It was bad.

Barcelona won on away goal difference.

The battle for The Champions League title is between two heavy weights Barcelona and Manchester United.

The knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores is underway. Many of the matches were postponed due to the swine flu bug.

Hated foes Palmeiras and Sport-Recife squared off on Tuesday night. It was a slugfest but Palmeiras prevailed 1-0. Palmeiras striker Jose Maria Ortigoza hit a rocket to salt the game away for the home side.

This was the first time Palmeiras defeated Sport in Sao Paulo in six years.

All Palmeiras needs to do is tie Sport when they travel to Recife next week.

Good luck. Recife is a very hard place to play. The fans are nuts. They yell obscenities at the opposing players. Expect lots of fights both on the pitch and in the stands.

Last night Gremio killed Peru’s San Martin 3-1 in the first leg of the knockout stage in The Copa Libertadores.

Playing in the high altitude in Lima, Peru didn’t affect Gremio at all. Gremio applied the pressure all match long. Gremio’s Souza fired a rocket from the edge of the box in the ninth minute to give Gremio a 1-0.

San Martin got the equalizer in the 34^th minute when Martin Arzuaga weaved his way through the Gremio defense and fired a winner right past the Gremio keeper Victor to make one all.

Gremio put the match away in the second half with two goals. Thirty seconds into the second half Gremio striker Lopez put away a glancing header into the back of the net to make it 2-1. Lopez found the back of the net in the 30^th minute when he fired home the winner off a great pass from teammate Jonas.

Gremio has the all-important away win.

Gremio and San Martin will battle next week in Porto Alegre next Wednesday.

That’s a wrap from the futebol zone.

You gotta check out these websites. They are great.

http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com 

http://www.afonso-alves.com

http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com

www.palau.org

Manchester United started very slow. Arsenal applied the pressure early but Man U recorded first blood on a beautiful breakaway goal by Ji-sung Park.

A few minutes later Cristiano Ronaldo fired a rocket of a free kick from thirty-five meters out to give The Red Devils the early 2-0 lead.

The glue that holds Manchester United defense together Rio Ferdinand is back.

It’s halftime and Man U is up 2-nil and 3-nil on aggregate.

The Red Devils continued to play very well. Manchester United applied more pressure at the start of the second half. 

Manchester United played tick, tack, doe futebol. Cristiano Ronaldo scored on a break way goal set up by a brilliant defensive play that led to a well coordinated attack. Great passes by Ji-sung Park and Wayne Rooney. Rooney threaded the needle to Ronaldo who fired it past the defenseless Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia to make 3-0.

That’s two goals for Cristiano Ronaldo.

It’s all over but the shouting for Manchester United.

“ Turn out the lights. The party’s over.”

Stick a fork in Arsenal! They’re done!

The ref called a bad penalty on Darren Fletcher. Fletcher clearly was going after the ball instead the ref said no. He awarded a red card to Fletcher and a penalty shot to Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie who rammed it home to make a respectable 3-1.

Man U is still up on aggregate 4-1.

The clock is going tick, tick, tick, towards the end of the match.

It’s finally over. Manchester United won 3-1 and 4-1 on aggregate.

It’s on to The Champions League Final for The Red Devils.

Great match lads.

Up next is either Barcelona or EPL rival Chelsea.

We’ll find out later today.

Check out these websites

http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com 
http://www.afonso-alves.com
http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com

Check out this one too.

www.palau.org

Hull City had a chance to give themselves some breathing in the race for the heave hoe or the 86^th race out of the Premier league but not on this day. Aston Villa held serve and defeated Hull City 1-0 yesterday.

John Crews tap in shot from in front of goalmouth in the 34^th minute was all that Aston Villa needed to propel them to the win.

With victory, Aston Villa moved past Everton into 5^th spot in the table and thus secured a spot in next in the Europa League next year, which was formally known as the UEFA Cup.

This was Aston Villa’s first victory in thirteen matches.

Hull City on the other hand is locked a death vice for drop zone.

Hull City still has the some breath room.

Hull City is in 16^th spot with 34 points.

Newcastle is in 17^th spot with 31 points and Middlesbrough is in 18^th spot with 34 points. Newcastle has a minus 19 as compared with Middlesbrough’s minus 26 separates these two teams.

What on gods green earth is wrong with both River Plate and Boca Juniors for they both lost on Sunday in The Clausura?

River Plate gave up a gimmie goal in the 81^st minute to Old Newell’s Boys and lost 1-0 while Boca was out shot and outplayed by Banfield 3-2.

I guess both River and Boca were suffering hangovers from their recent wins in The Copa Libertadores. Sure Boca had a reason to take it easy and celebrate but River come on and give me a break. River bombed out of The Copa in the Group stage. River should be playing a lot better but River is playing without passion and fire. River is going through the motions this year.

For the past three years, River has lost a lot of key players and fired at three coaches.

River Plate is in turmoil.

Boca is one of the favorites to win the Copa. Boca has played in neat perfect form in the Copa Group stage.

Surprisingly Boca has six losses in The Clausura and they are currently in 16^th spot.

River Plate is still just barely within striking distance of The Clausura title.

Velez Sarsfield sits a top the table with 26 points.

Lanus is in second with 24 points and Huracan is third with 22 points.

When you get a chance get out these futebol websites.

  http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com 

http://www.afonso-alves.com

http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com 

Doctor Luis Palau has a great message of hope. Doctor Palau is a huge futebol fan and he loves Argentina futebol.  He’s a huge Boca Juniors fan. So please check out his website.

www.palau.org

Up next is the second leg of The Champions League between Arsenal and Manchester United later this afternoon at Emirates Stadium. It should be a great match. I can’t wait to see it on ESPN 2.

Liverpool did what they needed to do yesterday when The Reds beat lowly Newcastle 3-0.

It wasn’t even close. Liverpool skunked em bad. It was one of those classic blowouts.

Everton defeated Sunderland 2-0. Sunderland had a lot at stake in yesterdays match. Sunderland badly needed a win to move away from the relegation zone.

Everton shut the door on the Black Cats.

The noose is slowly tightening around Sunderland’s neck.

As for that matter, Newcastle and Middlesbrough are in the same boat.

The saving grace for Sunderland is they have a three-point cushion on both Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

Manchester United is a top the table with 80 points in 34 games.

Liverpool is second with 77 points in 35 games.

Chelsea is third with 74 points in 35 games.

The race for the heave hoe looks like this:

     20 West Brom with 28 points in 35 games.

     19 Middlesbrough 31 points in 35 games.

     18 Newcastle 31 pints in 35 games.

     17    Hull City 34 points in 34 games.

     18     Sunderland 35 points in 35 games.

Hull City takes on Wigan this afternoon.

My team Flamengo defeated hated rival Botafogo 4-2 in a penalty shootout.

Maracana was hopping. The joint was going wild after Flamengo keeper Bruno closed the door on Botafogo’s Juninho and then stopped stone cold Leandro Guerreiro’s final shot to preserve the 4-2 penalty win.

Flamengo is the Carioca Champion for the 31^st time.

Flamengo jumped out to an early lead 2-0 on two powerful strikes by Ronaldo Angelim in the 19^th minute and Kelber in the 38^th minute.

Flamengo played like crap in the second half.

In the second minute of the second half Flamengo committed a stupid foul and Botafogo was awarded a penalty shot.

Flamengo keeper Bruno stopped Victor Simoes cold.

Botafogo scored twice in a two-minute span to level the match at two all.

Juninho scored in the 16^th minute on a shot that deflected off of Flamengo keeper Bruno.

Sousa scored in the 18^th minute to even it up 2-2.

Corinthians was crowned Paulista Champions. Corinthians tied with Santos 1-1 in the second leg but won the championship on aggregate 4-2.

This was a huge win for Corinthians.

In 2008, Corinthians was sent packing to the second division of Brasileiro Futebol.

Corinthians was in complete shambles. They had to sell their best players. The Club’s President was caught laundering dirty money.

Corinthians won the second division title in 2008 to move back up to the Premier Brasilian Futebol league.

So, I take my hat off to Corinthians and salute them for a job well done.

When you get a chance check out these website. If you love futebol, you will love these.

http://www.bestplayersdirectory.com/index.php/link-directory-2/Futsal-players/Brazilian
 

http://www.afonso-alves.com

http://brazilianfootballplayers.50webs.com

Oh what a glorious Saturday morning.

I have Fox Soccer Channel on the TV.

I am watching Arsenal take of business with Portsmouth.

It’s already 2-nil in favor of The Gunners.

The Gunners scored quickly when Nicklas Bendtner broke free and put away an easy goal in the 13^th minute.

Then in the 41^st minute, Andrei Arshavin had a great run into the box but Portsmouth Sean Davis tackled him. Davis complained but it was definitely a foul.

Nicklas Bendtner powered the ball right through Portsmouth keeper David James to make 2 nil.

That’s where we stand at halftime.

Arsenal just scored again in the 56^th minute to make 3-0. Carlos Vela touched the twines to put this baby out of reach for Portsmouth.

It’s all she wrote for Portsmouth. Arsenal won 3-0.

The Gunners picked up the three points they needed to stay with in striking distance of Chelsea for the third spot in The EPL.

Chelsea defeated Fulham 3-1 to keep a six-point lead over Arsenal in the race for third spot in The EPL.

My team Manchester United did what they needed to do today with 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Looming ahead for Man U on Tuesday May 5^th is a date Arsenal in the final leg of The Champions League semifinal.

The Red Devils rested many of their key players Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, and Anderson so they will be ready for the big Champions League semifinal at Emirates Stadium.

Despite the some of the big guns being rested Man U took it Middlesbrough.

Ji- sung Park and Ryan Giggs scored for Manchester United to keep The Red Devils a top The Premier League table with 80 points in 34 games.

Manchester United has a game in hand.

This win by The Red Devils squarely places the ball in Liverpool’s court.

The Reds must defeat Newcastle on Sunday for Liverpool to continue to entertain a chance to wrestle The EPL crown from Man United.

Manchester United is in first place with 80 points in 34 games.

Liverpool is second with 74 points in 34 games. Liverpool takes on Newcastle on Sunday.

Chelsea is third with 74 points in 35 games.

The bottom half looks like this.

20. West Brom 28 points 35 games.

19. Middlesbrough 31 points  35 games.

18 Newcastle 31 points 34 games. Newcastle and Liverpool battle on Sunday. It should be a win for Liverpool unless a miracle happens.

17. Hull City 34 points 34 games. Hull City has important date with Aston Villa on Monday.

16.   Sunderland 35 points 34 games. Sunderland and Everton duke it out on Sunday.

15. Blackburn 37 points 35 games.

If Newcastle can beat Liverpool, the Magpies will move into a tie with Hull City. Not in this lifetime.

Hull City takes on Aston Villa on Monday if Hull can win or tie they will inch away from the drop zone. Don’t count on it.

The beat goes on in The EPL.

With three weeks left in The EPL the race for the heave hoe is on.

We know at least one team that is getting 86^th and that’s West Brom. The other two who are going down time will tell.

Boca Juniors played in the friendly confines of the Bon-Bon in Buenos Aires, Argentina last night.

Boca routed Deportivo Tachira of Venezuela 3-0.

Boca superstar Martin Palermo scored twice in the rout. The first was on a penalty in the 17^th minute and the second came when Palermo fired a laser into the back of the net in the 63^rd minute.

Rodrigo Palacio scored on a gimmie goal in the 83^rd minute to put this puppy out of reach for Boca.

For once Boca played the way they are capable of performing.

Boca toyed with Tachira all match long.

It wasn’t even close.

Boca won Group 3 with 15 points. Ecuador’s Club Deportivo Cuenca finished in second place.

Both Boca and Cuenca advanced to the knockout stage of The Copa Libertadores.

Cuenca and Guarani tied at one all in the other match up in Group 3.

With the tie Guarani just missed having a perfect zero points in Group 3.

But what the heck not everyone is perfect.

Many are called but few are chosen.

River Plate salvaged their horrible showing in The Copa Libertadores Group play by destroying Peru’s San Martin 3-0.

River was a huge disappointment in this year’s Copa. River Plate bombed out in the Group stage.

River has been an up and down club all year. One match they look great and the next they stink the joint out. Go figure.

River Plate is one of the most successful futebol clubs in Argentina but many times River plays futebol like a bunch little kids.

Boca Juniors the other top Argentina futebol club plays the same way too.

Boca is one of the heavy favorites to win this year’s Copa Libertadores.

Boca travels to Uruguay’s Defensor Sporting in the first stage of the knockout round.

Two of the Brasilian Clubs Sport Recife and Palmeiras square off against each other in the knockout stage. The bad blood between these two top-flight Brasilian clubs runs very deep. This battle royal could be a blood bath both on the pitch and in the stands.

I can’t wait to watch this puppy on Fox Soccer Espanol.

Both Sport and Palmeiras faced each other in the Group stage so this is Déjà vu all over again.

Fun times in The Copa are waiting to happen.

You have to check out this website.

You will love it.

Doctor Palau is from Argentina and he is a huge futebol fan.

Go to http://www.palau.org/

Doctor Palau travels allover the world.

He is one of the kindest loving men I have ever met.

So when you get a chance get out his website.

You will really like it.