Archive for June 11th, 2009

Argentina’s woes continued at high altitude. Argentina stunk the joint out in a 2-0 loss to Ecuador. Tevez missed a gimmie penalty shot in the first half. Messi miss fired on some early scoring opportunities and that always will come back and haunt you.

It did. Ecuador scored twice in the second half to win going away.

The first goal by Walter Ayovi was a great strike that ripped the back of the nets in the 71^st minute.

Pablo Palacios added an insurance goal in the 83^rd minute to make 2-0.

This makes the second straight loss for Argentina at high altitude. It’s tough playing in the rarefied air. I know I have played at 7,000 as well as 10,000 feet. It is tough.

This begs the question should Maradona be fired? I like the guy. He is good for the game. He is one of the all time great players but does that translate into being a good coach. So far, no. Give him a chance and see what happens in the Confederations Cup. If his team bombs out give him the heave hoe.

All is not as bleak as the Argentina Press paints this loss.  Despite losing, Argentina still remains in the fourth spot with 22 points.

Ecuador is in fifth spot with 20 points.

Brasil gave up an early goal but came roaring back to defeat Paraguay 2-1. Brasil started out playing like crap. The first goal woke up the sleeping giant. Paraguay scored first blood. In the 26^th minute Cabanas scored on a beautiful counter attack to make 1-0.

The crowd in Recife was going nuts. Brasil turned up the heat and Robinho scored on a beautiful goal in the 41^st minute to tie this baby up at one all. Kaka, Robinho, and Daniel Alves had a great build up that led to the lethal strike by Robinho.

Nilmar added the second goal for Brasil in the 49^th minute to make 2-1. Big kudos for Nilmar. He plays for my team Flamengo. He’s a Flamenguista.

This was a big win for Brasil. It was badly needed as Brasil now heads to the Confederations Cup later this month on a huge upswing.

www.uol.com.br states: Nenhum adversário leva vantagem nos confrontos com o Brasil durante a era Dunga. Na noite desta quarta-feira, a seleção contou com o apoio da torcida pernambucana no estádio do Arruda e superou o algoz que restava. Venceu de virada o Paraguai por 2 a 1, com gols de Robinho e Nilmar, e se isolou na liderança das eliminatórias sul-americanas.

This is very funny. Before these two convincing wins, Dunga was portrayed as an idiot now he is a genius. Go figure. The press hated his selection of the team now the clowns in the media sing his praises. What a bunch of two-faced liars the press in Brasil and the rest world is.  

Brasil is now in the drivers seat with 27 points.

Uruguay and Venezuela tied at two all.

Chile massacred Bolivia 4-0.

Colombia defeated lowly Peru 1-0.

The standings look like this:

Brasil sits atop with 27 points. Chile is second with 26 points. Paraguay is third with 24 and Argentina is fourth with 22. Fifth spot is held by Ecuador with 20 points. Uruguay is in sixth place with 18 points. The top four earn a berth in the World Cup while fifth place team has to play off match with a CONCACAF fourth place team.

That’s it for today.

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www.palau.org

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