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Fabrice Reuperné, midtbanespilleren der med sine 37 år er aktuel for AC Milans Primaverahold, hugger til i det tredje overtidsminut og sikrer Martinique en åbningssejr over Canada...

Fed start med nederlag til Canada og Mexico.

CONCACAF Gold Cup Wrap: Mexico, Canada stunned

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Panama have stunned nine-time CONCACAF Gold Cup champions Mexico 2-1 on the opening day of the continental football tournament.

In a day of surprise results, Panama striker Gabriel Torres scored twice to lead his nation past Mexico, while tiny Caribbean island Martinique upset Canada 1-0.

Panama had never beaten Mexico heading into Sunday´s game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, USA, but got off to a great start against the reigning champions when Torres gave them the lead in the ninth minute.

Mexico´s Raul Jimenez brought down Alberto Quintero in the box and Torres converted from the spot.

In first-half stoppage time, Mexico drew level with Marco Fabian heading Israel Jimenez´s cross into the net but Torres put Panama in front three minutes after the break, scoring the decisive goal when he flicked the ball home at the near post from Quintero´s cross.

Mexico´s best chance of an equaliser came from a corner with six minutes remaining but Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo made an impressive stop down low to deny Fabian´s strong header.

The victory took Panama to the top of the standings in Group A with Martinique claiming second position.

Martinique is not even a member of FIFA but the French overseas region showed plenty of attacking intent against Canada, who are ranked 64th in the world and seventh in CONCACAF.

In the opening match of Sunday´s double-header at the Rose Bowl, Martinique took 27 shots to Canada´s eight but the tiny Caribbean island had to wait until the third minute of second-half stoppage time to break down the Canada defence.

Canada cleared the ball from their penalty area and it fell to substitute Fabrice Reuperne, who unleashed a volley from 25 metres, which rocketed into the top corner of the net.

Reuperne´s goal secured Martinique´s second ever win at the Gold Cup.

The Caribbean island with a population of just over 400,000 also defeated Trinidad and Tobago in 2002 when they reached the quarter-finals

Gold Cup glance…Martinique

PASADENA, CA -- Martinique is a small island located in the Caribbean Sea about 280 miles northeast of the coast of South America. It is between the islands of St. Lucia and Dominica with a total area of 435 miles, four times smaller than Rhode Island. Tourism powers its economic structure thanks to its nice beaches and tropical weather. Its official language is French and it uses the Euro for currency.

Due to the fact that Martinique is an overseas department of France, it is not part of FIFA and it is not eligible to qualify for the World Cup. Its players are considered to be French citizens and are eligible to play for France’s national team.

Though for many, playing for France is considered somewhat of a long-shot, donning the jersey of Martinique is very much a source of pride. This fact makes Martinique’s returns to the Gold Cup after a 10-year absence a sweet one. It has the honor of opening the tournament against Canada on Sunday at the Rose Bowl.

Martinique hasn’t played in the Gold Cup since failing to make it out of the first stage in 2003 with loses to the United States and El Salvador. It reached the quarterfinals in 2002 where it lost in penalty kicks to Canada after playing to a 1-1 draw. Martinique advanced after beating Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 and losing to Costa Rica 2-0 in the first round. Its first Gold Cup appearance came in 1993.

Martinique comes into the tournament as an underdog, but that doesn’t mean it lacks experience at the international level. It is always a contender for the biennial Caribbean Cup title and also participates in the Coupe de l´Outre-Mer, a tournament featuring other French overseas departments and territories. CONCACAF’s French Guyana and Guadeloupe are some of the other teams eligible to play in the competition. Martinique won the title in 2010 and reached the final in 2012, before falling to Reunion, a small island South East of Africa.

Les Matinino’s Gold Cup roster consists mostly of players from its domestic league and those who play in lower division sides in France and Spain.

There is no shortage of firepower, however, with forwards Kevin Parsemain (Riviere-Pilote), Frederic Piquioone (Portland Timbers/USA) and Steeve Gustan (Club Franciscain) leading the way.

Mexico’s Jimenez looks forward to Gold Cup, future

PASADENA, CA -- Raul Jimenez envisioned it.

The Club America striker could see himself living the image that repeatedly played out in his head. He would become a star footballer on one of the world’s better known clubs.

The 22-year-old from Hidalgo, Mexico, has said he is an avid Real Madrid fan. He has daydreamed about playing in La Liga with such a club. In a way, Reyna is living that dream. Some might say he is living it on a smaller scale, but he is getting the opportunity within Mexico’s top-flight league.

“I have the vision of some day playing in Real Madrid,” said Jimenez, who in 56 matches with Club America has scored 15 times since he moved up the ranks in the youth system in 2010. “I’ve always root for that team. If I get the chance, if there was one, it would be difficult. I would first have to go to another team but I’d take advantage of the situation if given a chance.”

Jimenez will now get a chance to try and be a standout player with the senior national team as he joins El Tri for the 2013 edition of the Gold Cup. Mexico opens Group A play Sunday against Panama at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Jimenez is already an Olympic gold medalist as he helped Mexico’s Under-23 team clinch the tournament championship in last summer’s London Games. He has the chance to become a recognized figure, not just in Mexico for his performance at the Olympics, but as a member of the senior team.

Jimenez is the only player on Mexico’s Gold Cup roster who was part of El Tri’s Confederations Cup squad. Since he does not play for a European team, it makes it easier for him to participate in this Gold Cup; and he might just use it as a possible audition.

That is if head coach Jose Manuel de la Torre decides to insert him into the starting lineup. Guadalajara’s Marco Fabian, Rafael Marquez Lugo and Javier Orozco have been used as strikers in pre-tournament friendlies. El Tri has not had favorable results, losing to Mexican club Queretaro 3-2 in its last preparation match.

“We want to win the Gold Cup,” de la Torre said in a news conference after losing to Queretaro. “We are taking it step-by-step. We are focused on this tournament. We will look at all our players and we will see which ones are in their best moment and make changes if needed.”

It could be time for a change and Jimenez can be part of it. After all, he is considered an up-and-coming talent.

Jimenez made his Olympic debut in a group stage match against South Korea, a scoreless draw, in which he came on as a substitute and nearly scored. He also played as a sub against Switzerland, Senegal, Japan and Brazil in the final.

We will have to wait and see if the Club America striker becomes a staple on de la Torre’s squad. In the meantime, Jimenez will continue to envision playing in Europe like his idols Hugo Sanchez and Raul Gonzalez, both former Real Madrid stars. And if he doesn’t reach his goal to play for his favorite European club, there is always the national team and the possibility of winning even more international championships.

“The moment when we become world champions can come,” Jimenez said about Mexico, whose Under-17 team won FIFA World Cups in 2005 and 2011. “It’s a process, the same way that Spain did it, we can also do it. We have a good nest of players. We are Under-17 and Under-23 champions. We can reach something special with this (Gold Cup) squad.”

Dramatic end, Chile is eliminated by Ghana at the end of extra time

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After completing ninety minutes of regulation time all knotted at two apiece, Chile took the lead 3-2 during extra time with a goal by Angelo Henriquez in the 98th minute. But the Ghanaians rallied in the final minutes, first with a goal by Seidu Salifu (112 ) and ultimately the decisive goal in the last minute.

Ghana opened the scoring with a goal in the 11th minute off the boot of Odjer Moses and Chile had then taken the lead thanks to Nicolas Castillo (23) and Henriquez (27). Assifuah´s first goal in the 72nd minute would take the game to extra time.

The extra time was especially cruel to the Chileans who at times were close to victory only to see it snatched away from them.

Ghana, meanwhile, reached their fifth semifinal and continues to dream of emulating the feat of the Ghana team that in 2009 became champion of this tournament in Egypt in the final beating the heavily favored Brazil team. It was their second consecutive big comeback after the round of 16 against Portugal (3-2).

- See more at: http://conmebol.com/en/c…F86TMn.dpuf

Felipe Avenatti, the giant that toppled Spain

Scarcely five minutes had elapsed since Avenatti entered the field in the 98th minute in substitution for Sebastian Cristoforo, but his impact was almost instantaneous.

When the game appeared to be heading to penalties Avenatti appeared from nowhere to use his height and head past Spanish goalkeeper Ruben Yanez, another substitute, who came in at the start of extra time. He replaced Daniel Sotres who broke his nose colliding with one of his posts.

"It was bedlam in the locker room. It was a great victory. The match was very even and I got into the game and got a goal soon after. It was spectacular," he told AFP after the match.

Avenatti was able to unclog the match that had become complicated and in which the usual scoring star, Nicolas Lopez, was tightly controlled by the Spanish defenders.

Avenatti caught by surprise the Spanish and their coach Julen Lopetegui who said he and his height (almost 2 meters) was Uruguay´s key to victory, in a game that he thought his boys deserved better.

"We did a lot of good things to have won the game. But they had a very good corner that their tall player took well. We marked as best we could," estimated the Spanish coach.

Avenatti had not played the last two games, but had been in the other two that the team had played in Bursa. He started in the debut defeat against Croatia (1-0) and then played the second half in a 2-0 win over New Zealand.

At 20 years of age he is one of the most experienced players. He made his debut in the Uruguayan league in February of 2012, defending the colors of River Plate in his country against Nacional.

Uruguay´s victory over the Spanish puts them in the semifinals for the first time in fourteen years. The last time they made it this far was in Nigeria in 1999. Their best showing in this tournament was Malasia in 1997 where they made it to the final only to fall to Argentina.

Colombian Primera A Wrap: Atletico Nacional, Santa Fe in Apertura final

Atletico Nacional have qualified for the Apertura final of the Colombian Primera A with a 2-1 win over Deportivo Pasto.
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Francisco Najera´s goal in the second minute of the second half decided the contest for Nacional, which secured a berth in the final of the first half the 2013 Primera A season against Santa Fe.

Nacional started the final round of the semi-final stage in third position in Group B but leapt into first with their victory over Pasto, while former leaders Deportes Tolima lost 1-0 to Itagui.


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It took Nacional just six minutes to open the scoring on Sunday with Fernando Uribe powering a scorching header into the net from Elkin Calle´s cross but Pasto equalised in stunning fashion in the 42nd minute when Humberto Marquinez thrashed a first-time shot into the top corner.

A win for Pasto would have sent them into the Apertura final but it was Nacional who struck next.

In the 47th minute, Juan David Valencia slid the ball through to Najera, who peeled off on the left-hand side of the penalty area and struck a low shot past Pasto´s Lucero Alvarez and into the bottom corner of the net.

Nacional survived a nervous finish to clinch victory with Pasto going closest to claiming a draw in the 51st minute when Marquinez was denied a brace for offside.

The victory took Nacional to 10 points and top of Group B, one point ahead of Itagui, while Tolima (eight points) and Pasto (seven) finished third and fourth respectively in the semi-final group.

Nacional will take on Santa Fe in the Apertura Final after the Group A winners completed the semi-final stage with a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Cali, while Millonarios defeated Once Caldas 3-2 in the other match.

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Peruvian Primera Division Wrap: Sporting miss sparkling chance

Sporting Cristal failed to leapfrog Real Garcilaso into top spot in the Primera Division after being held to a 1-1 draw by UTC Cajamarca.

Peruvian league-leaders Garcilaso were stunned 1-0 by lowly Pacifico but neither second-placed Universitario nor Cristal, who sit third on the Primera Division table, managed to take advantage of the loss.

Mauro Cantoro notched the crucial goal for Pacifico as the 12th-placed club held on against Garcilaso despite a 75th-minute red card to Arturo Perez as the league-leaders continued their inconsistent form.

Garcilaso have two wins, a draw and three defeats in their past six games.

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Both Cristal and Universitario took the lead in their respective home games but were reeled in by Cajamarca and Inti Gas respectively.

The weekend´s results leave Garcilaso on top of the Primera Divison with 40 points from 21 games, two less than most of the league due to matches being postponed for their Copa Libertadores commitments.

Universitario (39 points from 23 games) are next on the leaderboard, while Cristal (38 from 22) sit third with Alianza Lima (36 from 23) and Cesar Vallejo (34 from 23) also in contention.

In Saturday´s game at Cristal´s Estadio Alberto Gallardo, the home side took the lead in the 57th minute when Junior Ross collected Renzo Sheput´s chip over Cajamarca´s defence and expertly slotted his shot past Daniel Ferreyra.

But Cajamarca equalised just eight minutes later thanks to a terrible error from Cristal goalkeeper Diego Penny, who dropped Mauro Vila´s misdirected cross into his own net.

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Universitario were also held to a 1-1 draw over the weekend by Inti Gas despite opening the scoring just before half-time with a penalty from Miguel Ximenez.

Inti Gas secured a share of the points in the 59th minute when Fernando Oliveira also scored from the spot.

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In other results, Universidad San Martin defeated Cienciano 2-1, Cesar Vallejo drew 2-2 with Juan Aurich, Union Comercio won 1-0 over Melgar, Leon de Huanuco overcame Sport Huancayo 2-1 and Jose Galvez held Alianza Lima to a 2-2 draw.

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Wellington expected to leave São Paulo

São Paulo´s board admit that it will be hard to keep Wellington, as clubs from Europe express interest in signing him.

Inter Milan and Turkish club Galatasaray are both interested in signing the young defensive midfielder.

Lancenet reports that both clubs want to bring Wellington on a loan deal, but São Paulo also want to include an option to buy.

São Paulo´s vice-president João Paulo de Jesus Lopes admits the midfielder is likely to leave, he told Rádio Jovem Pan: "There is a good possibility he leaves, he came to us [to ask to leave]."

Wellington´s contract with São Paulo expires in 2015, negotiations to renew it have not worked out.

Santos promising forward Giva unaware of São Paulo interest

Santos´ promising forward Giva claims to be unaware of any interest from São Paulo to sign him.

The forward´s contract with Santos expires in December 2014 and it has been speculated that São Paulo are interested in him.

He came from the bench during the second half of the game against São Paulo, and scored one of the goals as Santos beat the Tricolor 2-0.

Giva talked with reporters after the game against São Paulo yesterday, he said: "I am not aware of anything, I am happy here and I hope to stay at the club until my contract is over next year."

Santos own only 20% of his economic rights, while third parties own the remaining 80%. Giva is believed to be one of the players whose first option has been given to Barcelona during the Neymar negotiations.