Archive for June 20th, 2009

The Copa Libertadores is down to the final four teams. Sao Paulo stunk the joint out losing to hated foe Cruzeiro 2-0. I guess the American style of futebol is rubbing off on Sao Paulo these days. Eduardo Costa second yellow card just before halftime may have  cost Sao Paulo the match. Sao Paulo was down to ten men. Cruzeiro scored on a long-range bomb by Henrique in the 66^th minute made it 1-0.

Sao Paulo needed to score two goals to advance so they pressed the attack. Sao Paulo pushed everyone into the attacking zone. This means they became vulnerable on defense because they were pressing everyone forward and on top of  that; Sao Paulo was only playing with ten men.

A handball by Andre Dias in the box gave Cruzeiro a freebie penalty shot. Kelber booted the final nail in the coffin in the 81^st minute to make 2-0. That’s was all she wrote for Sao Paulo.

The final score Cruzeiro two and Sao Paulo- Zippo-nada. You can still hear the cries all the way here in Los Angeles. It is a very sad day in Sao Paulo. Even my buddies at Bola de Neve Radio in Sao Paulo are crying.

Cruzeiro advances on aggregate 4-1.

Cruzeiro will play rival Brasilian club Gremio on June 24^th.

www.uol.com.br wrote this: Mais uma vez eu tive a felicidade de vencer um jogo contra o São Paulo. A gente sabe que é muito difícil, a equipe deles é muito boa, mas a gente jogou muito bem”, afirmou Kléber, que chegou a dedicar o triunfo não apenas ao torcedor cruzeirense, mas também ao palmeirense.

www.uol.com.br further added: O Gladiador finalizou quatro vezes, fazendo o gol em cobrança de pênalti, aos 36 minutos do segundo tempo, no triunfo por 2 a 0. Nas suas outras três conclusões, Kléber obrigou em duas delas o goleiro Dênis a fazer boas defesas e na terceira chutou forte, mas para fora.

This is a loose translation of what Kleber said. Cruzeiro was very happy they beat Sao Paulo in Morumbi. This is a very difficult team to play. We played very well.

Estudiantes defeated Uruguayan side Defensor 1-0 in La Plata, Argentina.  Estudiantes won on aggregate 2-0. Leandro Benitez stuck the deathblow in 13^th minute to give Estudiantes the 1-0 lead. That goal stood up as the Uruguayan side for some strange reason fielded an inferior team. Why? I don’t know.    

Estudiantes will take on Nacional in the other semifinal.

Have a great Saturday. Check out these sites.

www.palau.org

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