Snak

La U y la UC, en un derbi trascendental

SANTIAGO DE CHILE -- La Universidad Católica y la Universidad de Chile disputarán este fin de semana un partido trascendental para sus opciones en la penúltima jornada del torneo chileno.

El clásico universitario servirá para aclarar las cosas en la zona alta de la clasificación, donde cinco equipos tienen la posibilidad de ganar el campeonato a falta de dos partidos para el final.

El choque será una prueba de fuego para la Católica, colíder del torneo con 32 puntos, los mismos que la Unión Española, aunque con una menor diferencia de goles.

Más necesitados están en la U, cuarto clasificado con 30 puntos, ya que si cae en el estadio de la Universidad Católica se despedirá de la lucha por el título.

Ambos conjuntos se enfrentaron hace diez días en la final de la Copa Chile, con una ajustada victoria por 2-1 para la U, que sufrió para superar a un rival que jugó buena parte del choque con un jugador menos.

Este triunfo dio aire el entrenador de la U, el argentino Darío Franco, que hasta entonces había sido muy cuestionado por el bajón en el nivel de juego del equipo y por el mal ambiente que supuestamente existe entre los jugadores y el técnico.

La Unión Española, líder provisional del torneo, visitará la cancha del Palestino, que no sufre por mantener la categoría ni tampoco tiene opciones de luchar por logros más importantes.

Otro equipo que se mantiene al acecho es el O´Higgins, tercero con 31 puntos, que visitará al Deportes Iquique con la obligación de sumar los tres puntos y esperar el tropiezo de alguno de los dos líderes para superarlos.

Dentro del grupo de los que luchan por el campeonato, el que lo tiene más difícil es el Cobreloa, quinto con 28 puntos, ya que necesita que fallen todos sus rivales.

Sin embargo, con la calculadora en la mano la gesta aún es posible, por lo que este sábado jugarán contra el Unión La Calera con la esperanza de llegar a la última jornada con alguna posibilidad.

El Colo Colo, inmerso en una crisis de juego y resultados, jugará en su estadio contra el Cobresal, colista del campeonato.

= PROGRAMA DE LA 15ª FECHA:

Universidad Católica-Universidad de Chile, Antofagasta-San Marcos, Unión La Calera-Cobreloa, Colo Colo-Cobresal, Audax Italiano-Everton, Palestino-Unión Española, Rangers-Ñublense y Unión La Calera-Huachipato.

El Salvador´s Juventud Independiente steps up

SAN SALVADOR - If Club Deportivo Juventud Independiente took its time in writing its place in the history of Salvadoran football, it now seems as if it might have been worth the wait for supporters of the humble club from the municipality of San Juan Opico, La Libertad.

Firmly entrenched in the El Salvador post-season for the first time in its 70-year history, the club is also on the verge of a first-ever final, after topping CD FAS, 2-1, last Sunday in the first leg of the semifinals.

"The team was founded in 1943, and was always one of the more humble teams in the city, a municipality of 110 thousand people," the club´s Vice President, Casto Flores, explained to CONCACAF.com. "With the passing of time, we´ve gradually risen up from the fifth division, and gotten to where we are today."

That path has been a labored one. The team made it to the top division of Salvadoran football for the first time in 2008, but was relegated after just one season. In 2010, Juventud made its way back to the honor division, and three years later has advanced past the regular season for the first time, after topping neighbor and rival Santa Tecla in an exciting playoff for the fourth and final spot in the Liguilla of the 2013 Clausura.

"The results that we´re now achieving, getting to the semifinal, are part of the ongoing work that´s been done in the institution," says Flores. "We´ve been working continuously with the whole team, from the youth categories on up. We have eight levels of play from youth sides on through the reserve side and to the full team. For that reason the team has gotten results despite being a club of limited economic means."

The last result achieved - and perhaps the most important to date for the club - was that victory over CD FAS in the home leg of the semifinals, played last weekend. The 2-1 win means that with just a tie in the return leg in Santa Ana on Saturday, Juventud Independiente would be through to the Grand Final of Salvadoran football.

"As time has gone by, we´ve maintained the same style of play, and we´re not thinking of changing at this point," said Flores. "From what we´ve seen if in this match we can maintain the development we´ve been achieving, I think we´ve got a great chance to go through.

"FAS is a big team in this country, but we know that Independiente has a chance to go through. For us, it would be a double success to get to the final, since we´re not the favorite. We know that because of the time factor and the system of play it would be an even more important success, the possibility of winning a championship despite being a new team in Liga Mayor."

For the team from the outskirts of San Salvador, progressing to the Estadio Cuscatlan for the Grand Final would be the culmination of years of hard work throughout the institution. But no matter the result on Saturday, through its most recent campaign, Juventud Independiente has undoubtedly secured its place among the emerging teams of the region.

Rodriguez rejoins Alajuelense

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica - Costa Rica´s Alajuelense announced Thursday that midfielder Ariel Rodriguez will return to the club for the 2013 Torneo Invierno after spending nearly three years with Perez Zeledon.

Rodriguez made his first division debut in the 2008 Torneo Invierno with Alajuelense, earning a second-place finish that season. He joined Santos de Guapiles in 2009, before moving on to Perez Zeledon in 2010.

The 27-year-old has been called up regularly to the national team, appearing in all five matches as Costa Rica captured the 2013 UNCAF Copa Centroamerican title. He has also played in all three of the Ticos´ encounters in the Hexagonal round of World Cup Qualifying for Brazil 2014.

By virtue of winning the 2012 Torneo Invierno, Alajuelense will be playing in the CONCACAF Champions League for the fourth time during the 2013/14 edition of the competition. The Manudos finished fifth in the 2013 Torneo Verano, just a single point behind Perez Zeledon.

Liga MX: Monterrey in familiar territory

MONTERREY, Mexico - Monterrey finds itself in a familiar position heading into the second leg of its Liga MX semifinal series against Club America on Saturday. The two sides drew 2-2 in the opening match on Wednesday.

Just a few short weeks ago in the CONCACAF Champions League final, the Rayados were knotted with Santos following a 0-0 first leg draw. Victor Manuel Vucetich´s team went on to lift the trophy with a 4-2 second-leg triumph, despite falling behind by two goals after 50 minutes.

The difference on this occasion, however, is that Monterrey will not be at the friendly confines of the Estadio Tecnologico. Its task is made larger by having to go on the road to Mexico City and trying to get a result at the Esatdio Azteca, where the Aguilas are unbeaten in nine of 10 2013 Clausura league/playoff games (the only loss came at the hands of Monterrey rival Tigres, 2-0, on May 4).

Vucetich knows that his players have the ability to overcome adversity. They´ve done it before and he is certain that they can dip into those reserves of experience to do it again.

"These are the events we have lived and, with these events, the team has overcome some hardship," said the 57-year-old. "it is a team that has the mentality and has proven that through the years.

"Everyone knows that a goal is a minimum difference, we have the elements and men to improve on that aspect, and overcome a rival."

The Rayados chief reiterated what he stated after first leg: a win is the result that will be necessary to progress to the final.

"I think we need to have that certainty, that trust," he commented. "We know that the difference is minimal and, in that sense, the objective is to win, anything less, we go.

"I think we should search for the goal no doubt, we must have this slogan. We are convinced and that is what we have to do."

In their only Liga MX, Clausura meeting, Club America defeated Monterrey 2-1 on January 5 at the Azteca. Walter Ayovi gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute, but the five-time CONCACAF champion equalized six minutes before the break through Jesus Molina. Rubens Samueza struck for the winner in the last minute of regulation.

The team that emerges from the pairing advances to the Mexican final and secures a place in next season´s Champions League.

There is no doubt that Monterrey would relish the chance to compete for an unprecedented fourth-consecutive CONCACAF title. Club America, though, will have other ideas and an equal desire to return to the regional stage.

26 players called into U.S. WCQ camp; no Donovan

U.S. National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Thursday called in 26 players to begin training camp in Cleveland prior to the team’s three World Cup qualifiers in June, which including international matches against Germany and Belgium later prior to the CONCACAF encounters.

As expected, LA Galaxy midfielder-forward Landon Donovan was not selected to training camp, but many U.S. regular were picked, including goalkeeper Tim Howard, midfielder Michael Bradley and strikers Clint Dempsey, Herculez Gomez and former Jozy Altidore.

The team will begin gathering in Cleveland on May 29, with players arriving at various times as they complete club commitments. The U.S. faces Belgium on May 29 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, followed by the Centennial Celebration Match against Germany at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on June 2.

The Americans will resume World Cup qualifying with their third road match in four games at Jamaica in Kingston on June 7. Four days later, the U.S. returns stateside to host Panama on June 11 at CenturyLink Field in the USA’s first qualifier in Seattle since 1976. The team concludes the three-match set at sold-out Rio Tinto Stadium when it welcomes Honduras on June 18 to start the second half of the final round.

“We are very excited about the group we have put together,” Klinsmann said in a statement. “The players understand more how we’re working, what we’re looking for, the way we want to play and the way we want to challenge big nations eye-to-eye. As we go into this stretch of two friendly games against Belgium and Germany and three big World Cup Qualifiers, we want to see more consistent performances. There is a huge opportunity to pick up a lot of points and put ourselves in a good position to qualify for Brazil.”

The U.S. training camp roster:

GOALKEEPERS (6) :Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (8) : DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg)

MIDFIELDERS (10) : Michael Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Bursaspor), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (Stoke City), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5) : Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)

Corinthians midfielder Paulinho linked to Shakhtar - report

Corinthians highly rated midfielder Paulinho may join Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, according to reports in Brazilian press.

Paulinho has been linked to European football since he won the Brazilian national league in 2011, and could have moved earlier this year, but he preferred to stay at Corinthians for Copa Libertadores.

Chelsea have expressed interest in the past but according to respected journalist Juca Kfouri, he will join either Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk after the São Paulo state league final.

The Italian club is considered the best choice from a sporting point of view, despite their recent decline. Indeed, they will not play any European competition next season.

Shakhtar´s offer is more interesting from an economic point of view, but players based in Ukraine are rarely called up for Brazil´s national team.

Corinthians´ director Duílio Monteiro Alves says he will only leave if the buyout fee is paid.

He told Lancenet: "The buyout fee is 20 million Euros. Corinthians don´t set a price, we don´t want to sell him."

Guardado giver virkelig alle de penge, som vi ikke gav for ham, igen for tiden. Aztekeren var min MoM for 3. kamp i streg.

Kan ikke vente til at se Mexico stige over VM-stregen, og forsvare Gold Cup, i de næste to måneder. Det har han fortjent.

Dét skal fejres i aften med Millonetas mod Verdens 3. bedste klub på Estadio Ezteca.

ja og javier aquino har vist kasset for villarreal...også..

det ser ud til at Union Española ligner chilenske mestre efter at have slået palestino..i en clasico de colonias...bolivar kan også blive bolivianske mestre i aften/nat

Skulle lige til at ind og skrive det med Javier "Submarino" Aquino.
- 2.halvleg lige startet i Girona-topkampen, som faktisk kan sende den gule ubåd direkte op på den anden sikre oprykningsplads - ville være fantastisk med to ekstra af regionens hold i Primera.

Vi tager det hele i aften: Chile, Bolivia... Cuba.


EDIT
Girona har så lige udlignet, stik imod spil og chancer. Godt jinx.

Duvan " La Boa" Zapata har lige bragt Estudiantes foran....Duvan er nsturligvis både colombianer og angriber....

Panama´s nye angrebs håb....Cecilio Waterman har bragt Fenix foran ...godt med lidt konkurrence til "El Super raton" Perez og "Diente de oro" Tejada forud for Vm kampene mod Mexico og USA-