Archive for July, 2009

Liga de Quito blew out Brasilian side Internacional 3-0 last night to win the Recopa. The match was played before a wild and crazy crowd in Quito, Ecuador.

Liga defeated Internacional 1-0 in Porto Alegre two weeks ago. Liga won on aggregate 4-0. 

The Recopa features the winner of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.   This is only the second international title  won by an Ecuador side. Liga won last years Copa Libertadores. 

The match wasn’t even close. Sure, Internacional had some good early chances however Liga was up to the task. Liga scored first blood when Espinola headed home a winner off a perfectly placed corner kick in the 10^th minute to take a 1-0 lead.

Liga kept up the pressure. The reward happened in the end of the first half when striker Claudio Bieler nailed a perfect shot to make 2-0 in the 40^th minute.

In the 54^th minute, Vera’s deflected shot slipped past Internacional keeper Lauro added icing on the cake. It was 3-0 and that was all she wrote baby.

As Gomer Pyle would say, “ Surprise, Surprise, it’s me Sergeant Carter.”

This was another one of those surprises.

Internacional played like crap.

Internacional is in first place in the Campeonato do Brasil.

There are some big matches coming this weekend. My team Flamengo takes on Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo is my wife’s team. A little bit of household friction but that’s what makes futebol so much fun. Flamengo is in sixth spot with 14 points. Sao Paulo is in 10^th  spot with ten points.

The break down of the match looks like this according to www.uol.com.br
Em situação incômoda na tabela, o São Paulo recebe o Flamengo em casa, e Ricardo Gomes aposta em modificações no time para reagir no Brasileiro. Insatisfeito com a apresentação da equipe diante do Coritiba, o treinador acenou com a possibilidade de adotar o 3-5-2, porém provavelmente seguirá no 4-4-2. Em má fase, o centroavante Washington dará lugar a Hugo. Arouca ganhou a vaga de Zé Luis, e Jean, a de Jorge Wagner. Do outro lado, o Flamengo não perde há três rodadas e quer se aproximar do G-4. A aposta é Adriano, que retorna ao Morumbi, onde se destacou em 2008.

Sao Paulo headman Gomes will make several changes in their match with Flamengo. Sao Paulo will take on Flamengo in Sao Paulo’s house. Gomes was very dissatisfied with the teams play against Coritiba. Flamengo has not lost in their last three matches.

This should be a great match. However, Flamenguistas have stunk the joint when they play on the road. Lets hope this doesn’t happen on Sunday or I will a very unhappy camper.

Gomes is your typical coach. He doesn’t want to tell the press anything. I thought we only did this in America. Not so! Read this from www.uol.com.br

O comandante são-paulino preferiu adotar o mistério para não dar pistas ao Flamengo, adversário de domingo, no Morumbi. “Dúvidas não tenho, mas vocês [jornalistas] vão ter paciência porque antes do jogo não vou anunciar nada. Trabalhamos bem ontem [quinta-feira] e nos outros dias, e tenho duas opções em relação à forma de jogar”, comentou.
“O Hugo pode atuar um pouco mais na frente, e ele também participa da criação. Com isso, o Marlos fica um pouco mais adiantado. Isso foi trabalhado, e existe, sim, essa possibilidade de começar com o Hugo e sem o Washington”, revelou Gomes.

 Gomes also adds Hugo will attack a little bit more. Marlos will attack more to.  Sao Paulo will start the match off without one of their key players Washington.

Check out these sites.

www.palau.org

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

Ronaldo scored  a hat trick to lead Corinthians past Fluminense 4-2 on Wednesday night.  Ronaldo can score but the old flair he once had will never return. Yes, he did score three goals but if you look closely at his movement and agility, he is still a step slow. Ronaldo will still give you goals but he is clearly past his prime.

I can hear the naysayers telling me I am dead wrong. I am not. Ronaldo was one of the greatest pure scorers in futebol history. The key word was. Can Ronaldo deliver this type of magic on a consistent day in and day out basis?  No. He will display the goal magic he once had every once in a while.

Look at the tape and you will notice his movement is labored. He is not a fluid as he once was. This is called age. And then put on top of that the three knee surgeries, weight gain and it is miracle Ronaldo can even walk let alone play futebol.

Brasileiros faithful fans will be screaming for him to rejoin the national team. This would be a huge mistake on Dunga’s part. Ronaldo can score however the negatives out weigh the positives. Ronaldo can’t play a full ninety minutes let alone play twelve months out of the year without his body breaking down.

Futebol is not just scoring but playing defense as well. Pele was a great all round player. Pele knew when to quit. Pele never had a debilitating knee injury like Ronaldo has had. Count them up. There are three of them. Thank God for modern medicine. Without the doctors, Ronaldo wouldn’t be able to walk to the bathroom.  

www.uol.com.brwrote this about Ronaldo goal fest.

Ronaldo comandou o retorno do time titular ao Brasileiro. Fez três gols, participou da jogada de outro e ainda se tornou o artilheiro corintiano nesta temporada, com 14 gols. A equipe agora tem 14 pontos e termina a nona rodada na quinta colocação, a seis pontos do líder Internacional.

Check these sites out.

www.palau.org

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

This was one of those crazy nights. I tried to watch both matches at once. This was very hard to do. I spent most of the night watching Estudiantes and Cruzeiro. I tried to time it right so I could see the USA score but each time I just missed. As Maxwell Smart used to say, “ I missed it by that much.”

Now back to my passion, Brasilian futebol. Estudiantes and Cruzeiro tied nil-nil in the first round of the Copa Libertadores finals played last night in La Plata, Argentina. Round two will take place next week in Belo Horizonte, Brasil on July 15^th.

Both teams had great scoring opportunities throughout the match. Estudiantes and Cruzeiro came up firing blanks.

This was one of those tough matches. There was lots of very rough play. Both teams pushed the envelope. The tackles were hard.  Estudiantes and Cruzeiro used their sharp elbows to inflict some damage on each other. All this match lacked was “The Fight Doctor Freddie Pacheco.”

Estudiantes sure could have used him.

Two Argentine players needed to leave the pitch. One had a deep gash on the head and the other a vicious slash under the right eye. The Doc patched em up and on their merry way, they went.

Round two should be a blood bath as well.

Both teams have won this prestigious tournament. Cruzeiro was crowned champ twice in 1976 and 1997. Estudiantes won it three times in 1968, 1969, and 1970. It has been a long dry spell for both teams. I want Cruzeiro to end its 12-year title drought.

www.uol.com.br wrote this last night O Cruzeiro aposta no bom retrospecto em casa na Libertadores para ficar com o terceiro título da competição – foi campeão em 1976 e 1997. Em seis jogos nesta edição, obteve seis vitórias. A expectativa da diretoria é de grande público no Mineirão. O Estudiantes, que ganhou três vezes a competição (1968, 1969 e 1970), busca a quarta conquista.

The USA defeated Honduras last night 2-0.

Two-second half goals by Santino Quaranta and Brian Ching sealed the deal for the USA.

Check ou these two sights.

www.palau.org

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

Tuesday is one of those tweener days. Not much happening so this will be a Hodge podge of stuff. 

My team Flamengo just signed a new player. Denis Marques is an ex-Atletico Paranaense player. Marques has been playing in Japan the past few years.

Marques will begin playing for Flamengo on August 3^rd. That is when the international transfer window will open.

www.uol.com.br  wrote this about the signing of Denis:   Flamengo tem cara nova na área. Foi apresentado no início da tarde desta terça-feira, na Gávea, o atacante Denis Marques, ex-Atlético Paranaense e que estava no futebol japonês. Aos 28 anos, o reforço chega para brigar por uma vaga de titular com Emerson para poder formar dupla com Adriano. Com as características trancinhas, visual que remete a Oséas, que também defendeu o Furacão com bom destaque, o atleta disse estar realizando um sonho de infância.

Denis Marques chega por empréstimo até dezembro de 2010. Apesar de animado, o novo reforço só poderá vestir a camisa de maneira oficial a partir do dia 3 de agosto, data da abertura da janela de transferências internacionais. O atacante estava no Omiya Ardija e explicou qual motivo o levou a retornar ao Brasil.

The Copa Libertadores finals between Cruzeiro and Estudiantes is a huge surprise. Most experts predicated that Boca  and Sao Paulo would meet in the finals. Both teams received the early heave hoe. This should be a hotly contested final.

Argentina and Brasil futebol teams hate each other. I will guarantee that both of these  teams will fight tooth and nail until the bitter end. I want Cruzeiro to win.

Round one begins later today in La Plata, Argentina.

The USA returns to Gold Cup play when they take on Honduras tonight. The USA squad looked like world beaters against Grenada. Can the young guns have another encore performance against Honduras? We will see.

Check these sites out.

www.palau.org

 http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

The fur is still flying over Velez Sarsfield 1-0 victory over Huracan. The entire media world was screaming goalkeeper interference on Velez player Larrivey.  From my perch in front of the TV,  there was a definite foul committed by Velez Sarsfield player Joaquin Larrivey. Larrivey charged into the box.  Huracan keeper Gaston Monzon had to after the loose ball. Crash, bang, boom. Larrivey came at Monzon with spikes up and nailed him in the knee. Both players hit the ground. The ball went flying into open space thus giving Velez Sarsfield Morales an open net to put home the winner in the 83^rd minute.

The foul wasn’t called however Huracan quit playing after that. One thing I learned in my years of playing, coaching and writing sports you can’t quit when the calls go against you. You have to play until the final whistle blows. Huracan quit.

Sure, it’s hard to play after a sure fire foul wasn’t called. Many times, I felt like quitting too but this little voice inside of me said, “ Don’t you dare quit. There is still time left. Give it your all and leave it on the pitch.”

At least some of the Huracan players went after Larrivey who tried to injury Monzon.  Guys, take a real swing at the guy who tried to injury your teammate. Don’t bitch slap him. Nail him square on the kisser. Act like real men and fight.

Futebol players fight like baseball players. They push and shove making all kinds of noise signifying nothing.

On the Copa Libertadores front, the first leg of the finals is scheduled to be played on Wednesday July 8^th, in La Plata, Argentina between Estudiantes and Cruzeiro will likely go on despite the outbreak of swine flu.

Cruzeiro Club President wants the match postponed however CONMEBOL the governing body of South American futebol stated the match will go on.

Check out these sites.

www.palau.org

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

Sao Paulo lost to Coritiba 2-0 on Sunday. The boo birds will be out in full force in Sao Paulo this week calling for the scalp of head coach Ricardo Gomes.

Marcos Aurelio scored the first goal of the match in the 19^th minute on a sharp angled shot that beat Sao Paulo keeper Denis.

Ariel Nahuelpan did a pirouette at the top of the box and fired home the winner in the 47^th minute to make 2-0 Coritiba.

That was all she wrote baby.

It looks like Sao Paulo is sinking into deep disarray. They seem to be going through the motions in this match. Sao Paulo lacks the fire they had the past three seasons. They are going for a four peat. I don’t think a four peat will happen especially the way Sao Paulo is playing now but remember Campeonato de Brasil is a very long way from being settled. The season ends before Christmas so anything is possible.

Botafogo and Atletico-MG tied at one all. Eder Luis scored for first for Atletico-MG on a brilliant header that flat out beat the keeper.

Botafogo found the equalizer in the 22^nd minute when Juninho fired a long-range bomb of a free kick that ripped the back of the nets.

Gremio blasted Atletico-PR 4-1.

Goias got by Cruzeiro 1-0.

In battle for the Clausura Title Velez Sarsfield defeated Huracan 1-0 to win the title. This was one of those epic battles waged between two hated rivals. Velez Sarsfield had 40 points. Huracan had 38. If Huracan won, they would be the champs. All Velez Sarsfield needed was a tie or a win.

Both teams played as if there was no tomorrow.

The turning point came in the 83^rd minute. Velez Sarsfield scored off a crazy scramble ball in front of the Huracan net. Maximiliano Morales booted home the winner in the 83^rd minute to seal the deal for Velez Sarsfield. Velez Sarsfield is the Clausura Champion.

Check these sites out.

www.palau.org

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

Flamengo picked up a badly needed win. Flamengo defeated Vitoria 2-1. Flamengo played much better yesterday. After a slow start, Flamengo recorded first blood when Kleberson fired a perfect long ball into the box. Juan slipped past the Vitoria defense. He nailed the winner past the helpless Vitoria keeper Viafara in the 27^th minute to make 1-0 Flamengo.

Flamengo had one of those oh so common brain farts in the second half. Vitoria forward Roger slipped between two Flamengo defenders to score an unchallenged header that beat the defenseless keeper Bruno to even the match up at one all in the 61^st minute.

Flamengo found the go ahead goal in the 67^th minute. Emerson followed the bouncing ball and flicked it past the Vitoria keeper Viafara to make 2-1. 

Flamengo had a chance to put the match out of reach in the 77^th minute but Ibson missed a gimmie penalty.

This miss almost came back and bit Flamengo in the butt. Kleberson was given a second yellow card on hard tackle in the 82^nd minute.

Out manned Vitoria had a chance for the equalizer in the 93^rd minute when Leandro’s free kick from outside the box sailed wide right.

Flamengo escaped with a 2-1 win.

Flamenguistas picked the badly needed three points.

Flamengo is now in fourth place with 14 points.

Santos defeated Sport 1-0.

Santo Andre and Gremio- Barueri tied at one all.

www.uol.com.br reported that Flamengo kept calm after Kleberson was sent off for a second yellow card. The team played very intelligently.

Daí em diante a equipe do técnico Cuca só manteve a calma, tocou a bola com inteligência e ainda teve tempo de ver o sérvio Petkovic, que foi pedido pelos torcedores, entrar em campo para cadenciar a partida.

When Ze-Roberto came in for Juan in the second half was a key in the match as well.  

 O gol serviu para o Flamengo acordar e para aumentar a velocidade da partida. O técnico Cuca sacou Juan e colocou Zé Roberto em seu lugar. E foi essa alteração que deu outra vida à equipe. Aos 22, Adriano e Zé Roberto meio que se enrolaram em uma tentativa de tabela, mas a bola sobrou limpa para Emerson

Check out these sites.

www.palau.org

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

Boca Juniors was on top of heap last year. Now they are bottom feeders in the Clausura.  Mouth Juniors was bounced out of Copa in the knockout stage. They were picked by many to win the Copa. Not this year. Boca on skids is not good for Argentina futebol.

In an attempt to right the ship, Boca hired former skipper Alfio Basile.  Boca started falling apart when their two superstars Riquelme and Martin Palermo started feuding with each other.

Basile is a top-notch coach. He produces winners everywhere he coaches. Lets hope he can smooth over the ruffled feathers and stop the fur from flying between these two greats. If not it will be long winter Apertura season for Mouth Juniors.

Boca is currently in 17^th place with 19 points. There is one match left in the Clausura.

Boca has dropped their last two matches.

The press is celebrating Ronaldo’s return to the game. Yes, he added another title to his collection when Corinthians won the Copa do Brasil. This is great but we have to face the facts. Ronaldo is well past his prime. Three knee injuries have robbed him of his great scoring ability. Sure, Ronaldo has scored 11 goals since his return but he has left way too many goals on the table. In his prime Ronaldo would have double that amount.

Let me be really blunt about Ronaldo. Age and injuries have finally caught up with him. He will still score goals but the great flair and creative goal scoring ability he displayed in his younger days is past.

The media pundits are proclaiming Ronaldo is the key to Corinthians success. This is a totally false statement. Can Ronaldo have a huge impact in a match? Yes. Can he play ninety minutes? No. He will score however Ronaldo is a fading star whose best days are behind him.

Ronaldo is a step slow. He doesn’t have the fake you out of your jock move he once had.

Many will tell me that I am crazy. I am. Watch as the season unfolds and you will see him leave many sure goals on the table.

Check these sites out.

www.palau.org

 http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

Cruzeiro has it in cruise control. Two lightening quick first half goals in a span of two minutes by Cruzeiro’s Wellington Paulista may have put the kibosh to Gremio’s chances of reaching the Copa Final. All Gremio had to do was hold serve and win by a score of two zero and a berth in finals was theirs. Not.

Gremio lost to Cruzeiro 3-1 in Belo Horizonte on June 25^th. Gremio scored that all-important away goal but this did them no good as they are trailing at halftime on their home turf to Cruzeiro 2-0.

Gremio had two golden chances to score in the first half but they frittered them away. One was a point blank header that went Ka plunk off the post.

Wellington’s first goal was a thing of beauty. Wellington received a perfect pass in traffic from Kleber. Wellington fired a bullet right past the helpless Gremio keeper Victor in the 32^nd minute.

Two minutes later Jonathan perfect pass found Wellington’s noodle. Wellington head flicked the ball into the back of the net in the 34^th minute.

I still think Wellington was offside however, the ref said, “No.” It was a good goal.

Gremio scored on a well-placed corner kick into the box by Tcheco. Rever used his noggin to touch the twines in the 55^th minute. 

Gremio just tied this baby up on a rocket free kick from Souza in the 75^th minute to make it two all.  Gremio still trails on aggregate 5-3 and two to one on away goals. This is getting interesting. Gremio won’t die or go away. They still have some time left to pull out a major miracle. We will see.    

It’s all over but the shouting. Cruzeiro and Gremio tied at two all. Cruzeiro moves on to the finals of The Copa Libertadores where they will face Estudiantes.

Happy Birthday, America. We are 233 years old.  We are a nation that is protected by God’s grace and wisdom. God gave us many blessings. The most important of these blessings is freedom. Without freedom we have nothing.  Our founding fathers knew that all freedom comes from God. God bless and have a great Fourth of July.     

 Check out these sites.

www.palau.org

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

Estudiantes advanced to the finals of the Copa Libertadores with a convincing 2-1 road win over Nacional in Montevideo, Uruguay last night. Nacional trailed 1-0 entering into the return match on their home turf but failed to capitalize on home field advantage.

Argentina side Estudiantes was led by Mauro Boselli two-second half goals.

Nacional made close when Alexander Medina scored in the 77^th minute to tie it up at one all. Boselli put it out of reach with his second goal in the 90^th minute.

Estudiantes advances to the finals on aggregate 3-1.

Later today, two Brasilian foes Cruzeiro and Gremio will go at it. Cruzeiro won on their home turf 3-1. The winner will advance to the finals against Estudiantes.

The Brasil Cup took place last night in Porto Alegre between two heated foes Corinthians and Internacional.

Corinthians jumped out to an early 2-0 lead however Internacional scored two second half goals to tie this baby up at two all.

Then the fireworks started. After Internacional tied it up players from both sides started pushing and shoving each other. Internacional  D’Alessandro and Corinthians Elias both received red cards and they were send off to the sin bin for the rest of the match.

The match ended up tied at two all but Corinthians was crowned Brasil Cup Champion. Corinthians won the first league in Sao Paulo 2-0 thus forcing Internacional to win on their home turf to win the title.

Check out these sites when you get a chance:

www.palau.org

 http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp