Archive for August, 2009

Flamengo finally got off the schnid with a convincing 3-0 win over Santo Andre. Mengao finally was able to dent the scoreboard for a change. The boo birds Mengao drew first blood in eighth minute. Dennis Marques knocked home the winner off a great header pass from teammate Airton to give Flamengo the early 1-0 lead.

Mengao kept up the offensive pressure. Flamengo wasted at least six scoring chances. Ze-Roberto broke free. His dribble drive into the box caused Santo Andre keeper Neneca to try and stop Ze-Roberto. Neneca clearly tackled Ze-Roberto. A PK was awarded. Leonardo Moura calmly fired low left to give Flamengo a 2-0 lead at half.

Ze-Roberto scored Flamengo’s third goal. Petkovic made a great run to just outside the box. He stopped and popped. Petkovic’s shot went clang off the left post. Z-Roberto flicked home the rebound in the 90^th minute.

Rubro-Negro halted their three-match slide. Finally, Mengao found the back of the net and stopped the other team from scoring.   

This is a good sign.

Maybe the boo Mengao will finally start to right the ship.

One quick observation. Adriano has not played in Rubro-Negro last two matches. I guess he is spending time with the national team since his promotion last week. Or Adriano is in the doghouse for playing like crap for the past four matches. This is only a guess.

Saturday was a great day for me. Both my teams won Manchester United and Flamengo. 

Let’s hope Sunday turns out well too. Sao Paulo and Palmeiras are engaged in a death battle at Morumbi. These two Sao Paulo clubs have lots of animosity towards each other.

Palmeiras is in first place with 40 points. Sao Paulo is in third place with 36. 

It turns out this epic battle ended up in a zero-zero tie. Both teams had their scoring chances but neither could find the back of the net.

The crowd at Morumbi was primed and ready for lots of goals. The shouts were going back and back forth between Palmeiras and Sao Paulo faithful.

Nothing happened.

So, a tie is better than a loss.

Santos defeated Fluminense 2-0.

Atletico-MG and Sport kissed their sister at one all.

Goias had a chance to leap into first place but alas, this didn’t happen. Internacional handed Goias their lunch in 4-0 shellacking. 

Leandro Guerreiro scored in the 88^thminute lift Botafogo to a three-three tie with Gremio.

Vitoria and Cruzeiro tied at three apiece.

Palmeiras hangs on to the top spot with 41 points. Goias is in second place with 38 points. Internacional is third with 37 points. Sao Paulo slips to fourth place on goal difference. Tricolor has 37 points.

Mengao is now in 11^th place with 30 points.

Eleven points separate the top eleven clubs. Oh baby the season is going to get crazier as we round the bend into the second half.

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The pessimist in me picked Arsenal to beat Manchester United 2-1. I am fan of Man U and if I pick them to win they will lose. This goes ditto for my Philadelphia Eagles. I expect the worst and hope for the best. 

Go figure I had the right scored just for the wrong team. That’s just me. I always have a sense of impending doom for the teams I like.

Manchester United picked up a badly needed three points. The Red Devils squeaked by Arsenal 2-1 at Old Trafford yesterday.

I was right about one thing. This was race horse style futebol.  Both teams raced up and down the pitch. The Gunners and the Red Devils both had numerous scoring opportunities however more often than not misfired.

The Gunners drew first blood. Arshavin dribbled right then left and launched a rocket from 25 yards that blew up keeper Ben Foster in the 40^th minute to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead over Manchester United.

When leading at halftime Arsenal has not lost a match in sixty-eight tries. This was about to change.

The Gunners were in control of the match. Manchester United came out in the second half like a house on fire. The Red Devils kept up the offensive pressure. The Gunners found the answer again and again. The Gunners had a great scoring opportunity. Robin Van Persie fired a point blank shot on goal. Red Devil keeper Ben Foster’s kick save in the 48^th was the match saver. That’s the hockey announcer in me.

If Van Persie had scored, Manchester United would have been dust. You could have stuck a fork in Red Devils.

Presto magic Wayne Rooney had a great dribble drive into the box. Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia had to challenge Rooney. Almunia clearly clipped Rooney and a PK was awarded. It was a good call. Rooney calmly teed up the PK. He stared down Almunia. Almunia dove left and Rooney fired mid shelf right to even this baby up at one all.

The all hell broke loose in the 64^th minute. Ryan Giggs free kick from 45 yards out was fired into the box. A Bonehead play occurred. Gunners Abou Diaby well placed header beat his own keeper to give the Red Devils the 2-1 lead. And this my friends was the old ball game.

Arsenal almost found the equalizer in the 95^th minute however the Gunners were offside.  Van Persie goal didn’t count.

Can you say Thank you.

Yes, Arsenal played a great match. The Red Devils played well too. This style of futebol I like. It is in your face futebol. Lets attack and attack and may the best team win.       

Tottenham kept their perfect start of the season in tack. The Hotspurs scored in the dying moments of the match against Birmingham to escape with a 2-1 win. Aaron Lennon weaved his way free for the match winner in the 90^th minute.

Chelsea stomped Burnley 3-0. Goals by Anelka, Ballack, and Cole propelled the Blue to the win.

Liverpool fell behind 2-1 to Bolton however goals by Torres and Gerrard coupled by a red card issued to the Wanderers Sean Davis led to the Reds 3-2 victory. This was a must win for Liverpool. Three loses in their first four matches would have left the Reds in dire straights.

Stoke City got by Sunderland 2-1.

Wolverhampton and Hull City tied at one a piece.

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We have some wild and wooly matches this weekend in the EPL and Campeonato Brasil. I have circled Saturday August 29 and Sunday August 30^th on the calendar in anticipation of these matches.

First up Arsenal young guns verses Manchester United young guns. Manchester United and Arsenal will battled out at Old Trafford later today.

If history is an indication, this match will probably wind up a 1-0 final score.

Both sides are young and have blazing speed. My guess Arsenal and Man U will trade their best Sunday punches. I expect both sides to race up and down the pitch.  The Gunners are sorely lacking a striker while the Red Devils lost their top goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Arsenal has scored a plethora of goals. Ninety percent of these goals have come from the Gunners mid fielders or defenders.

Manchester United only recently found its scoring touch. This is the first major test for both teams. Man U is the defending EPL champ while Arsenal finished a disappointing fourth.

I expect balls to the wall futebol. Both sides will leave it all on the pitch and in the end the winner will be?

I am not telling ya.

I can tell you this I don’t expect a 6-1 or 5-2 final score. It will be more like 1-0 or 2-1.

The winner of this match will have a leg up in their quest for the title.

Arsenal has a point to prove and so does Manchester United.  Both sides want it badly. The so-called futebol pundits and experts have over looked these two sides and have all but declared Liverpool or Chelsea the champ. Not so fast guys. Liverpool has dropped two out of their first three matches. Chelsea has looked good but they have at times during their first three matches struggled to score and have made some bonehead defensive lapses that have led to easy scores.

Sao Paulo and Palmeiras will have a massive struggled on Sunday August 30^th at Morumbi. This is the battle for Sao Paulo. Both teams are from Sao Paulo.

Palmeiras is in first place with 40 points. Sao Paulo is in third place with 36 points. Muricy was fired by Tricolor in mid July. Muricy led Sao Paulo to a three peat in the Campeonato. He was axed because Tricolor was playing like crap. They were on a three match-losing skid. Sao Paulo couldn’t stop the dead from scoring nor could they find the back of the net with a howitzer.

Enter Gomes and the entire tricolor team and fan base goes bananas. Everyone was screaming at management for firing Muricy. It wasn’t safe for Gomes to walk the streets of Sao Paulo. Gomes hung there and presto magic a miracle happens. Gomes’s hiring sparks a seven match-winning streak. The streak ended last Sunday with a 1-0 loss to Atletico-PR.

Sao Paulo climbs up from near the bottom of the table to third place four points behind league leader Palmeiras.

Do you want to talk about the fur flying? This will happened on this Sunday. Part of me wants to see both managers come out smelling like a rose but this will not happen.

I would like to see Flamengo win.  I am just kidding.

Final score Arsenal 2 Manchester United 1.

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Mengao Boo birds are trying to improve their fading club. Flamengo signed two new players in the hopes of improving their sagging fortunes. Mengao added Chilean mid fielder Claudio Maldonado and they also signed former Internacional defender Alvaro this week.

Both players should improve Flamengo’s Swiss cheese defense. Mengao has given up eight goals in their last three Campeonato matches while scoring only two goals. . In football terms, this stinks. This equivalent to giving up 24 more points a game while you can only muster one TD a game. Flamengo has been outscored four to one. Guess what? You stink. You lose. No way on God’s green earth will you ever win a match by giving up that many goals and scoring so few.

Even if Pele played for Flamengo, he couldn’t produce enough goals to lead Mengao to victory with a “D” playing like the Little Old Ladies of the Poor.

This is bad folks. Flamengo should be shot at dusk to put the boo bird Mengao out of their collective misery.

At this rate, Flamengo should drop off the face of the earth by mid-September.

So, lets keep our finger crossed and hope Mengao can right the ship and at least get a tie with Santo Andre this Saturday. I am really hoping for a win but I think this is pushing it too far.

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Arsenal is on its way to the Champions League. The Gunners completely outplayed and outclassed Celtic. The first Arsenal goal was via the PK. This was not a foul in the box. Eduardo dived. He deserved an Oscar for his performance. Eduardo expertly placed PK made it 1-0 for the Gunners after twenty-seven minutes.

The Gunners played tick, tack, doe offensive futebol. Eboue scored an easy walk in goal in the 53^rd minute to put this baby out of reach at 2-0.

Arshavin juked right, then spun left, and beat the helpless Celtic keeper Artur Boruc lower right to make it 3-0 Gunners after seventy-four minutes.

This sequence of events was set up by a great steal by Denilson in the Celtic half.

Sloppy play by Arsenal set up Celtic’s lone goal. Donati broke free into the box. His sharp angled strike went bang off the right post and into the back of the net in the dying moments of the match to give Arsenal a 3-1 victory over Celtic.

Celtic does not belong on the same pitch with the likes of Arsenal or Barcelona. The Champions League needs to re think they way they let teams into the Champions League. Clearly, Celtic and Rangers are great in the Scottish League but when they step out and play other European clubs, they can’t compete.

Arsenal has one huge glaring weakness no strikers. If the Gunners don’t fix this problem, they could be in for a rude awakening when the take on the Red Devils this weekend.

Carioca clubs Flamengo and Fluminense battled each other last night at Maracana in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana. Both teams battled to a lack luster zero-zero tie two weeks ago at the same venue. Fluminense was the home for the first leg and Flamengo was the home side last night.

Flamengo is in a world of hurt. They have played like crap so far.

Mengao Rubio Negro played without heart. Flamengo had numerous scoring chances so far and  all they had to show for it was a big fat goose egg. 

Fluminense got on the board first on a questionable penalty. It looked like a clean tackle. Besides Roni was clearly a step outside of the box. Roni nailed the PK to make 1-0 Po-de-Arroz at the break.

Flamengo got the equalizer in the 61^st minute. Denis Marques had two Fluminense defenders hanging all over him. He dribbled a few steps. He stopped and popped the shot from the top of the box over the dumb founded Po-de-Arroz keeper Felipe to tie this baby up at one all.    

The match ended up a one all tie but Fluminense advanced to the next round on away goal difference.

Flamengo applied a lot of second half pressure but Mengao could not tickle the twines.  This team needs help. I am not too sure, what the problem is however I think it lies with Adriano. Adriano is good scorer but everywhere he goes discord and problems follow.  Dunga named him to play for the national team and this is huge mistake.

Flamengo now has to get ready for a huge match with Santo Andrea this Saturday night. This is a must for the Mengao

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Campeonato Brasil is heating up again. Last weekend Sao Paulo had a chance to narrow the gap between them and first place Palmeiras. No such luck. Palmeiras defeated Internacional 2-1 while Sao Paulo lost to Atletico-PR 1-0.

Palmeiras is in first place with 40 points. Goias is second with 38 points and Sao Paulo is third with 36 points.

The showdown that everyone is talking about takes place Sunday August 30^th between Sao Paulo and Palmeiras. Palmeiras coach Muricy was fired by Sao Paulo in mid-July. Muricy led Sao Paulo to three straight Campeonato titles. He was fired because Sao Paulo was playing like crap. Sao Paulo was near the bottom of the table. Tricolor stunk. Period, end of this discussion.

Tricolor and Sao Paulinos were down right angry. They were looking for blood. Sao Paulinos hated Gomes. I called him Gomes the clown yet Gomes pulled Sao Paulo together and they went on to win seven straight before losing last weekend to Atletico-PR.

This match will be a blood bath. Palmeiras and Sao Paulo will play for keeps. This will be a nail biter.

If Verdao Alviverde wins, Palmeiras will have a seven-point lead over Sao Paulo. If Tricolor wins, Sao Paulo will close the gap to one point.

This baby is huge for both teams. If a tie occurs, this will be a whitewash and the spread will stay the same.     

In my heart, I would like to see Sao Paulo win. Why? My wife is a Sao Paulinos even though she is Carioca. Go figure but this is Brasil.

However part of me wants to see Muricy and Palmeiras win to exact a little bit of revenge.  Or as I like to say, “ Let’s rub their noses in it.”

The wild card team in this whole mess is Goias. Verdao is one point behind Palmeiras. Goias battles Internacional on Sunday August 30^th. Internacional is in fifth place with 33 points. 

If Goias wins and Palmeiras losses Verdao will take over first place however if Palmeiras ties Goias and Verdao Alviverde will both share first place. There is a lot riding on these matches that will be played this final weekend in August.

A total of eight points separate top club Palmeiras and eighth place Gremio-Barueri.

Tomorrow I will talk about my beloved boo birds Flamengo or better known as Mengao Rubro- Negro. 

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The walls of Jericho came crashing down. Actually, Aston Villa demolished the walls of Liverpool. Aston Villa came marching into Anfield and won 3-1.  This loss puts a dent in Liverpool’s supposed coronation of this year’s EPL champs or should I say chumps.

An own goal by Lucas and a great header by Curtis Davis put Aston Villa up 2-0 at half.

Fernando Torres strike in the 72^nd minute pulled the Reds within one but Ashley Young’s PK in the 75^th minute sealed the deal for Aston Villa.

I kept telling you that Liverpool was not ready for the season to start. The Reds preseason preparation was a joke.  All this talk of Liverpool finally winning the EPL crown is down right premature and silly.

I hate to say it but this loss serves Liverpool right. “ Oh, look at us. We are the best. We don’t have to train. We are great.” This is what I call the Dallas Cowboy syndrome.  Screw the Dallas Cowboys. I hate the Cowboys. I hope the Dallas Cowboys rot in hell.

My mind is slowly changing about Liverpool. I sorta liked Liverpool but now I am leaning towards a stern dislike for them that borders on hate. I am beginning to see them as the Dallas Cowboys of the EPL.

This makes me want to laugh. Actually I am.

The top of the table is turned upside down.

Tottenham is in first place. Chelsea is second. Arsenal is third. The Red Devils are fourth.

Liverpool dropped to tenth place.

Folks, hang on to your hat for this is going to be a wild ride in the EPL.

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The huge surprise so far this season is Tottenham. Tottenham is a perfect three and zero in the EPL. The Hotspurs defeated West Ham 2-1. The Hammers took the early lead when Carlton Cole’s volley found the back of the net in the 49^th minute. Cole’s bad pass directly led to Jermain Depoe’s equalizer in the 54^thminute. Tottenham found the match winner in the 79^thminute when West Ham defender Jonathan Spector slipped thus allowing Aaron Lennon to rifle home the shot.

Chelsea kept pace with Arsenal and Tottenham with a 2-0 whitewash of Fulham. Drogba and Anelka both scored for the Blues.

Burnley picked win number two with a 1-0 win over Everton. Wade Elliot’s strike in the 34^thminute was the lone goal of the match. Former Man U player Louis Saha missed a PK for Everton in 76^th minute. 

Tottenham sits a top the EPL with nine points. Chelsea is second on goal difference with nine. Arsenal is third with six points. The Gunners have a game in hand. Manchester United is fourth with six points.

Later today, Liverpool has a must win match with Aston Villa. The Reds cannot afford a loss or a draw. If this happens, Liverpool will find itself in a precarious situation. The Reds will find themselves  five or six points behind league leaders Tottenham and Chelsea depending on if it is a loss or a draw. This could put a damper on Liverpool’s plans for winning the EPL crown.

Sao Paulo had their seven game match-winning streak snapped by Atletico Paranaense. Sao Paulo  lost to Atletico Paranaense 1-0. Paulo Baier header in the 86^thminute doomed Sao Paulo’s efforts to make up ground on Palmeiras.

Corinthians and Botafogo engaged in second half goal fest. Corinthians led 1-0 after the first half. Corinthians scored twice in the second half. Botafogo had three-second half goals. Corinthians and Botafogo tied at three a piece. This was one of the worst refereed matches I have seen in a long time.  

Both teams deserved Oscars for all the flopping and posing that was displayed on the pitch. A sure handball header was counted as a goal. Andre Lima’s goal in the 59^thminute looked like a great score off the header but replays showed he used his head as a shield and punched the ball into the net. A great ball was fired into the box.  A Botafogo defender had his elbow on Sousa’s back. The defender removed his elbow and Sousa fell to the ground like he was shot. The ref called a PK kick. Sousa new name should be “The Flopper.”   

Flamengo played like crap in a three zero loss to Avai. Flamengo couldn’t hit the board side of a barn with cannon. It was that bad.

Newly promoted Avai completely outplayed Flamengo. Luis Ricardo ran towards the right corner to receive the short corner kick. Ricardo dribbled along the goal line. He fired a shot that slipped between Bruno and post in the ninth minute that gave Avai 1-0 lead.

Leo Gago ripped the twines from 35 yards out in the 31^stminute to make 2-0 Avai. The ball did a little dipsy do right over the dumb founded Bruno. Bruno looked silly. My grandmother could have stopped that shot. My grandmother is dead. 

Avai put the final nail in Flamengo’s coffin. Fabiano Capixaba had a great drive into the box. Flamengo’s “D” couldn’t stop him. Capixaba ripped the winner in the 77^thminute to make 3-0 Avai.

Finally, the mercy killing  ended. Flamengo had their heads handed to them by Avai 3-0. Flamengo should be shot or better yet hung at dusk for playing like a bunch of “School Girls.”

I can’t think of anything positive about this loss. Bruno was horrible in goal. He gave up three easy goals. Bruno has given up seven easy goals in Flamengo’s last three matches. Adriano has not scored in three straight matches. 

I have a great idea. Let’s fire the entire team.

Firing Cuca was a good idea but this clown Andrade is worse.

Flamengo has lost three straight matches.

With this loss, Flamengo drops to 14^th in the table.

Goias defeated Santos 2-1.

Fluminense and Gremio Barueri tied at zero-zero.

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With all the marbles on the line against Wigan Manchester United needed to win this baby. It was do or die time for the mighty Red Devils. This is what I call nut-cutting time.

Manchester United had been knocking on the door on all match long. Attack after attack was repelled by Wigan. Finally, Valencia flew up the right flank. Valencia fired a great pass into the box. Rooney nailed the header home to give the Red Devils the 1-0 lead after fifty-six minutes.

Wigan almost scored a goal on the other end but Manchester United keeper Ben Foster stopped a sure goal. Man U raced down the other end of the pitch. Dimitar Berbatov settled ball with his chest and left foot in front of the Wigan net. Berbatov knocked home the winner in the 58^th minute to make 2-0 for Manchester United.

Rooney received a great pass from Berbatov. Rooney juked twice and ripped the winner to make 3-0 Red Devils after sixty-five minutes.

Michael Owen received a great pass from Nani. Owen broke free in the box and kissed the ball between the right post and the keeper to make 4-0 Man U after eight five minutes.

Nani ‘s laser free kick from the top of the box found top shelf right to give Manchester United their fifth goal of the match. It is all over but the shouting. Man U picked up a baldy needed 5-0 win over Wigan.

Arsenal goal barrage continued. The Gunners blasted Portsmouth 4-1. Abou Diaby had two goals for the Gunners. Both of them were close range blasts. Ramsey and Gallas each scored for Arsenal as well. This was a great offensive display but Arsenal’s lack of firepower from the strikers will be their downfall. You have to trust me on this.

Manchester City just got by Wolverhampton 1-0. So far, the high priced talent is not paying dividends. With all this firepower where are the plethora of goals?

Sunderland got by Blackburn 2-1. Kenwyne Jones scored twice for Sunderland. 

Hull City beat Bolton 1-0. Kamel Ghilas shot found the back of the net in the 61^st minute to lift Hull City to the win. American Jozy Altidore great feed set up the goal for Hull City.

Birmingham and Stoke City ended up deadlocked zero-zero.

Now to the Brasileiro Campeonato.  

Palmeiras and Internacional were locked in battle Saturday night. Palmeiras is first place with 37 points. Internacional is in fourth place with 33 points. Internacional has two matches in hand.  Both teams need three points.

Palmeiras and Internacional raced up and down the pitch. Both teams had several good scoring opportunities however neither Palmeiras nor Internacional found the back of the net.

Sousa found a seam into the box. Internacional defender Danilo Silva pulled Sousa down. Obina knocked home the PK in the 40^th minute to give Palmeiras a 1-0 lead.

This is a huge goal for Palmeiras.

Sousa had a great drive into the box. He fired the shot but it ricocheted off of the Internacional defender. Ortigoza knocked home the easy rebound for a 2-0 Palmeiras lead after forty-six minutes.

Internacional scored in the 86^th minute. Giuliano fought his way through three Palmeiras defenders. He fired a great shot that beat the keeper Marcos low right to make 2-1 Palmeiras.

Palmeiras picked a 2-1 win. This is a huge three points for Palmeiras.

This will insure Palmeiras will keep the top spot in the table at least for another week.

Santo Andre defeated Coritiba 1-0.  Nunes found the back of the net in the 38^th minute for the only goal of the match.

Sport doubled up Vitoria 2-0. Andrade and Fabiano scored for Sport.

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Manchester United has huge match coming up against Wigan later today. The Red Devils are hurting. Super defender Rio Ferdinand is out for at least a month with a bruised thigh. This could really hurt Man U’s defense. Rio is rock the “D” is built.

Defender Johnny Evans has a badly injured ankle. He needs surgery on this baby badly. If and when Evans goes under the knife this will leave a huge hole in the “D” as well too.

I am not saying this is a must win situation for Manchester United but if they don’t beat Wigan the Red Devils will be in a world of hurt. Losing two out of your first three matches is not a good sign. Wigan, Birmingham, and Burnley are not the elite teams of the EPL.

I think Manchester United will score a boatload of goals.

Arsenal has started the season a house on fire. They have kicked major butt in their two matches so far this season. Although one was a Champions League qualifier against Celtic, the Gunners look really good. They are loaded for bear. Arsenal takes on Portsmouth. I will be watching this one very closely. I still think the Gunners need a striker. Ninety five percent of their goals have come from either defenders or midfielders. This is not good.  

The Reds lost their first match of the season to Tottenham but rebounded with a convincing win over Stoke City. Liverpool can’t afford to have another let up against Aston Villa on Monday. A tie or a loss with cripple Liverpool’s chances of winning the EPL.

I know it’s early but these matches are taking on extreme importance especially with all the surprises that have occurred so far.

Tottenham is in first place. The Hotspurs are playing very well. Tottenham takes on West Ham. If the Hotspurs win this baby I guarantee you, this season will get wilder and crazier.  So far, Liverpool and Manchester United have bitten the dust.

The money team Manchester City has a big date with Wolverhampton. Manchester City spent Boo coo dollars in securing some high priced talent now it is time for this talent to pay some dividends.  I still want too see how Manchester City performs against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea. If Man City can win some of these money matches I will be a believer. If not Manchester City is just a pretender.

This weekend is hug for the EPL. They way some of these will play will decide who might win the title.

This is just educated guess coupled with lots of experience.

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