Snak

Zielinski: "Conforme con refuerzos"

CÓRDOBA -- El entrenador de Belgrano de Córdoba, Ricardo Zielinski, afirmó este martes que está "conforme" con el armado de su equipo de cara al Torneo Inicial 2013 y la Copa Sudamericana, mediante el mantenimiento de la base del equipo y la incorporación de cuatro refuerzos.

"Estoy conforme cómo se va a armando el equipo porque se van acoplando los refuerzos, con la ventaja que no se desarmó la base del plantel", señaló Zielinski en diálogo con Télam.

El entrenador indicó que a través "de las posibilidades económicas" de Belgrano sumó refuerzos que consideró "necesarios" para mantener "una idea de juego" que pregona desde la temporada 2010-2011 cuando el equipo competía en el torneo Nacional B.

Para encarar el próximo año competitivo, Belgrano incorporó a los volantes Sebastián Carrera (ex Atlético de Rafaela) y Facundo Affranchino (ex San Martín de San Juan), al delantero Carlos Bueno (ex Universidad de Chile) y al arquero Sebastián Blazquez (ex Independiente Rivadavia de Mendoza).

"Con Carrera y Affranchino le damos juego al equipo y consideramos que tenemos el cupo cubierto para afrontar la Sudamericana y el torneo Inicial. Solo buscaríamos un refuerzo en ataque si se concreta la transferencia de (Lucas) Melano", agregó.

El ex DT de Chacarita Juniors señaló que Melano es pretendido por River Plate y otros equipos: "su salida nos afectaría porque es un jugador importante y habría que buscar un buen reemplazante".

Zielinski también destacó la tarea de los directivos de Belgrano de Córdoba: "el club está ordenando, porque no gasta más de lo que puede, como debiera ser en el fútbol argentino, pero son pocos los que tienen esta línea de administración".

Por otra parte, el delantero César Carranza tiene acordada su incorporación a Ferro Carril Oeste, que milita en la B Nacional.

Belgrano de Córdoba superó hoy 1-0 a Quilmes, con gol de Sergio Rodríguez, en la localidad de Ezeiza, en partido amistoso como parte de la pretemporada con vistas al comienzo del torneo Inicial 2013 y la Copa Sudamericana.

Transfer Roundup: All the Primera Division clubs

Still some weeks away from the start of the Torneo Inicial we take a look at all the deals in and out and perhaps who might be on the way for each and every Primera Division club….

ALL BOYS

Manager: Julio Cesar Falcioni

IN: Marcelo Bustamante (Banfield), Alejandro Gagliardi and Carlos Casteglione (Rosario Central), Exequiel Benavidez and Cristian Alvarez (Boca Juniors), Nicolas Cabrera (Gimnasia LP), Mauro Matos (returned from loan - San Luis), Enry Rui (returned from loan – Chacarita Jrs), Agustin Torassa (returned from loan – Tigre)

OUT: Ivan Borghello and Maxi Coronel (Gimnasia LP), Elvio Friedrich (Tallares), Francisco Martinez (Atletico Rafaela), Santiago Montoya Muñoz (Vasco de Gama), Brian Sarmiento (Ponte Preta), Christian Varela (Comunicaciones)

RUMOURS: Nicolas Colazo (Boca) and Roberto Battion (Independiente) are reportedly close to signing; there is interest in Maximiliano Pellegrino (Colon), Victor Cuesta (Arsenal) and Jonathan Zacaria (Almirante Brown); the club are closing on Ernesto Farias (Independiente); Falcioni also keen on Gabriel Lopez (Atlanta) and Javier Campora (Racing) meanwhile Hernan Grana and Carlos Soto are expected to sign new deals with the club.


ARGENTINOS JUNIORS

Manager: Ricardo Caruso Lombardi

IN: Jose Palomino and Matias Mirabaje (San Lorenzo), Bruno Barreto (Douglas Haig), Enrique Triverio (Juventud Antoniana), Leonardo Sanchez (Instituto), Raul Becerra (Nueva Chicago)

OUT: Alejandro Capurro (Huracan), Daniel Franco (Los Andes), Matias Martinez (Lanus), Leandro Caruso (released), Juan Luis Anangono (released), Marcos Figueroa (released), Fabio Vazquez (released), Sebastian Navarro (released), Pablo Hernandez

RUMOURS: Interested in Javier Toledo (Rosario Central), Luis Aguiar and Matias Escobar (Tigre), Cristian Maidana (Atlante de Mexico), Jorge De Olivera (Racing), Osvaldo Miranda (Ferro); Hernan Veloso is still being viewed by Caruso as he trials with the club


ATLETICO RAFAELA

Manager: Jorge Burruchaga

IN: Carlos Rodales Ramirez (Liverpool de Uruguay), Diego Ferreira (Tigre), Francisco Martinez (All Boys), Martin Zbrun (Instituto), Nicolas Capellino (Ferro)

OUT: Guillermo Sara (Real Betis), Oscar Carniello and Dario Gandin (Colon), Fabricio Fontanini (San Lorenzo), Sebastian Carrera (Belgrano), German Rodriguez Rojas (Patronato), Ivan Juarez and Cristian Vella (Sportivo Belgrano), Cristian Machin and Eduardo Dominguez (returned to Huracan)

RUMOURS: Interested in Leandro Chichizola (River Plate); Diego Vera and Esteban Conde will stay with the club

ARSENAL DE SARANDI

Manager: Gustavo Alfaro

IN: Mariano Echeverria (Tigre), Milton Caraglio (Pescara), Cristian Milla (Defensa y Justicia), Alejandro Limia and Fausto Montero (Union), Jonathan Gomez (Banfield)

OUT: Lisandro Lopez (Benfica), Dario Benedetto (Xolos de Tijuana), Jorge Ortiz (Lanus), Mariano Gonzalez (Estudiantes), Pablo Luguercio (Barcelona de Ecuador), Lucas Kruspzky (San Martin), Emiliano Olivero (Douglas Haig), Diego Torres (Crucero del Norte), Carlos Carbonero (River Plate – pending), Danilo Gerlo and Gonzalo Espinoza (released)

RUMOURS: Interested in Leandro Benitez (Estudiantes) and Nicolas Olmedo (Godoy Cruz); Victor Cuesta has been at preseason training but will not stay and so Huracan, Rafaela, Tigre and All Boys are all on alert.

BELGRANO

Manager: Ricardo Zielinski

IN: Facundo Affranchino (River Plate), Sebastian Carrera (Atletico Rafaela), Sergio Rodriguez (Tigre), Carlos Bueno (Universidad Catolica)

OUT: Victor Aquino (returned to Newell’s), Juan Martin (returned to Instituto), Martin Zapata (Independiente on loan), Cesar Rigamonti (Sportivo Belgrano de San Francisco on loan)

RUMOURS: Pier Barrios has returned from his loan at Gimnasia de Jujuy but his future is still unknown; interest in a goalkeeper and a striker remains.


BOCA JUNIORS

Manager: Carlos Bianchi

IN: Claudio Riaño (San Martin), Emmanuel Gigliotti (Colon), Franco Cangele, Emanuel Insua (returned from Godoy Cruz), Jesus Mendez (Rosario Central), Joel Acosta (Almirante Brown), Sergio Araujo (returned from Barcelona B)

OUT: Leandro Somoza and Lautaro Acosta (Lanus), Lucas Viatri (Jaguares de Chiapas), Clemente Rodriguez (Sao Paulo), Gaona Lugo (Cerro Porteñ0), Juan Imbert (Aldosivi), Emiliano Albin (Peñarol), Leonardo Baima and Brian Flores (Aldosivi), Esteban Orfano (Douglas Haig), Jonathan Mazzola (Sportivo Belgrano), Cristian Alvarez (All Boys), Oscar Ustari and Franco Sosa (leaving but unconfirmed destinations), Walter Erviti and Santiago Silva (released)

RUMOURS: Daniel Diaz (Atletico Madrid) is close to signing; Very keen on Fernando Gago (Valencia); with Ustari’s departure a goalkeeper is needed so there are offers for Adrian Gabbarini (Independiente), Emanuel Tripodi (Quilmes) and Jorge De Olivera (Racing); also interested in bringing back Matias Silvestre (Inter Milan).


COLON

Manager: Ruben Dario Forestello

IN: Lucas Landa (San Martin), Jacobo Mansilla (Quilmes), German Montoya and Mariano Bittolo (Velez), Oscar Carniello and Dario Gandin (Atletico Rafaela)

OUT: Emmanuel Gigliotti (Boca Juniors), Diego Pozo (Huracan), Emir Faccioli (Defensa y Justicia), Ricardo Gomez (Patronato), Maximiliano Pellegrino, Santiago Fosgt, Jorge Achucarro, Hernan Bernardello, Mauricio Romero, Tomas Costa, Lucas Acosta and Adrian Bastia (all released – next destination uncertain)

RUMOURS: Interested in Juan Manuel Cobo (Arsenal)


ESTUDIANTES DE LA PLATA

Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino

IN: Ernesto Goñi (Quilmes), Jorge Luna (San Martin), Mauro Fernandez (returned from loan – Peñarol), Mariano Gonzalez (returned from loan – Arsenal), Juan Sebastian Veron (back from retirement)

OUT: Matias Sarulyte (Olimpo de Bahia Blanca), Sergio Modon (Aldosivi), Rodrigo Braña, Leandro Benitez, Maximiliano Nuñez, Alessio Innocenti, Kevin Rendon, Michael Hoyos, Mauricio Carrasco and Marcos Gelabert (all released)

RUMOURS: Look to have missed out on targets Fabian Vargas and Humberto Osorio; the club are negotiating with released Boca pair, Santiago Silva and Walter Erviti; striker Duvan Zapata strongly linked with move to West Ham United


GIMNASIA LP

Manager: Pedro Troglio

IN: Gaston Diaz (Velez), Ivan Borghello and Maxi Coronel (All Boys), Juan Pablo Rodriguez (Pumas de Mexico)

OUT: Cristian Piarrou, Leandro Sapetti, Gonzalo Soto, Nahuel Fernandez Silva and Emiliano Mendez (all to Villa San Carlos), Jonathan Chaves (Cobreloa de Chile), Nicolas Cabrera (All Boys), Matias Quiroga (Gimnasia de Jujuy), Gonzalo Choy Gonzalez (released)

RUMOURS: Club look to renew the deal of striker Franco Neill; interest in Santiago Silva; trialing defender, Leandro Corulo


GODOY CRUZ

Manager: Martin Palermo

IN: Jorge Carranza (Ferro), David Achucarro (Douglas Haig), Santiago Gallucci (River), Jonathan Ramis (Aldosivi), Claudio Aquino (Defensa y Justicia), Emanuel Aguilera and Jesús Vera (returned from Defensa y Justicia), Federico Pintos (returned from Defensor Sporting)

OUT: Emanuel Insua (returned to Boca), Washington Camacho and Sergio Sanchez (Defensa y Justicia), Rodrigo Salinas (Union), Luis Daher (Brown de Adrogue), David Ramirez (returned to Velez), Nelson Ibañez (released), Lionel Rios and Eduardo Ledesma (free to join Lanus), Ciro Ruis (Argentinos Juniors)

RUMOURS: Defender, Nicolas Sanchez looks to renew his contract; Interested in Paraguayan defender, Bruno Valdez (Sol de America), Joaquin Boghossian (Brugge), Pol Fernandez (Boca)


LANUS

Manager: Guillermo B. Schelotto

IN: Leandro Somoza and Lautaro Acosta (Boca Juniors), Matias Martinez (Racing), Jorge Ortiz (Arsenal), Eduardo Ledesma (returned from Godoy Cruz), Lucas Mancinelli and Matias Valdez (returned from Atlanta), Rodrigo Erramuspe (returned from Huracan)

OUT: Guido Pizarro (Monterrey), Mario Regueiro (Racing), Leandro Diaz (Huracan), Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Nantes), Juan Jaime (Douglas Haig)

RUMOURS: Interested in Santiago Silva (Boca), Jose Sand (Racing), Facundo Parra (Atalanta) and Denis Straqualursi (released from San Lorenzo).


NEWELL’S OLD BOYS

Manager: Alfredo Jesus Berti

IN: Victor Aquino (returned from Belgrano)

OUT: Lorenzo Faravelli (Union Española)

RUMOURS: Horacio Orzan and Santiago Vergini are expected to renew their deals shortly; the club are still hoping to retain Gabriel Heinze and Ignacio Scocco; Interested in bringing back Damián Manso (Deportivo Cuenca) and Hernán Bernardello (Colon)


OLIMPO

Manager: Walter Perazzo

IN: Fernando Meza (San Lorenzo), Martin Perez Guedes (Racing), Paulo Rosales (Bahia), Matias Sarulyte (Estudiantes), Cristian Trombetta, Ezequiel Cerutti (Sarmiento), Leonardo Ferreyra (Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy), Adrian Martinez

OUT: Juan Ignacio Sanchez Sotelo and Marcelo Vega (Tallares de Cordoba), Gustavo Bou (Liga de Quito), Matias Villavicencio (Moron), Marcos Riquelme (Fenix), Emanuel Martinez (Los Andes), Matias Lopez and Ezequiel Viola (Juventud Antoniana), Pablo Miranda (Brown Adrogue)

RUMOURS: Interested in Maximiliano Núñez (Estudiantes de La Plata) and Colombian, Jose Valencia


QUILMES

Manager: Nelson Vivas

IN: Luciano Abecasis (River), Alejandro Cabral (Rivadavia de Lincoln)

OUT: Martin Cauteruccio and Fernado Elizari (San Lorenzo), Ernesto Goñi (Estudiantes de La Plata), Cristian Insaurralde (Sp. Belgrano San Francisco), German Manderino (Huracan), Jacobo Mansilla (Colon), Pablo Mattos (Union), Cristian Menendez (Independiente), Ismael Quilez (Racing)

RUMOURS: Hoping to retain Emanuel Trípodi, Wilfredo Olivera, Gustavo Oberman; interested in Rodrigo Braña and Leandro Benítez (Estudiantes de La Plata) and Nicolás Colazo (Boca)


RACING CLUB

Manager: Luis Zubeldia

IN: Gabriel Hauche (returned from Chievo Verona), Nelson Ibañez (Godoy Cruz), Ismael Quilez (Racing)

OUT: Matias Martinez (Lanus), Martin Perez Guedes (Olimpo), Jorge De Olivera, Braian Lluy and Maria Bolatti (released), Jose Sand (free to join Tigre)

RUMOURS: Mario Regueiro (Lanus) and Bruno Urribarri (Colón) should be signing immenently; Valentín Viola is reportedly close but there is still some negotiating with Sporting Lisbon; Young midfielder, Luis Fariña could be set to move to Benfica; Racing are waiting on Banfield youngster, Nicolas Tagliafico; Fabian Vargas has reportedly rejected the chance to sign for Racing amid security fears from Independiente


RIVER PLATE

Manager: Ramon Angel Diaz

IN: Osmar Ferreyra (Independiente)

OUT: Rodrigo Mora and Ezequiel Cirigliano (Chievo Verona), Luciano Abecasis (Quilmes), Esteban Espindola Lopez (Instituto), Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (Racing Genk), Juan Cazeres (Banfield)

RUMOURS: David Trezeguet, who will not be in River’s squad is negotiating with Rosario Central; Cristian Ledesma is expected to sign a new deal; Jonathan Fabbro (Cerro Porteño) is close to signing; River are still negotiating with Carlos Carbonero (Arsenal), Iván Pillud (Racing), Lucas Orban (Tigre), Juan Manuel Iturbe (Porto); Cruz Azul have rejected an offer from River for striker, Teo Gutierrez but talks are on-going


ROSARIO CENTRAL
Manager: Miguel Angel Russo

IN: Matías Ballini (Atlético Tucumán), Alejandro Donatti (Tigre)

OUT: Jorge Broun (Antofagosta), Carlos Casteglione (All Boys), Jesus Mendez (Boca), Nestor Bareiro (Olimpia), Brian Meza (Tiro Federal), Javier Toledo (Colo Colo), Javier Yacuzzi (Defensa y Justicia)

RUMOURS: Negotiating with David Trezeguet (River); interested in Gabriel Hauche (Racing), Franco Jara (San Lorenzo), Fabián Vargas (Independiente) and Omar Pérez and Carlos Valdéz (Independiente de Santa Fe)


SAN LORENZO
Manager: Juan Antonio Pizzi

IN: Valentín Perales (Cipoletti), Fernando Elizari and Martín Cauteruccio (Quilmes), Cristian Alvarez (Espanyol), Santiago Magallán (Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata), Emmanuel Más (San Martín), Fabricio Fontanini (Atl. de Rafaela), Néstor Ortigoza (returned from Emirates), Santiago Gentiletti and Ignacio Piatti (agreed to renewed contract)

OUT: Pablo Migliore (Dinamo Zagreb), Fernando Meza and Matias Ibañez (Olimpo), Alejandro Alemandi and Gonzalo Bozzoni (Atlanta), Jose Luis Palomino and Matias Mirabaje (Argentinos Juniors), Damian Martinez and Fabricio Pedrozo (Aldosivi), Emiliano Tellechea and Abel Masuero (Instituto), Franco Jara and Denis Stracqualursi (free to leave)

RUMOURS: Efforts to sign Juan Ignacio Cavallaro (Unión de Santa Fe); also interested in Giancarlo Carmona (Universitario de Peru)

tigre

TIGRE
Manager: Diego Cagna

IN: Lucas Wilchez (Zaragoza), Juan Alvacete (Independiente de Mendoza), Leonel Altobelli (returned from Almirante Brown), Cristian Bordacahar (returned from Brown Adrogué)

OUT: Alejandro Donatti (Rosario Central), Ruben Botta (Inter Milan), Federico Santander (Racing), Martin Galmarini (Atlante), Mariano Echeverria (Arsenal), Diego Ferreira (At. Rafaela), Agustin Torassa (All Boys)

RUMOURS: José Sand has agreed his deal verbally; closing in on Facundo Sánchez (Defensa y Justicia) and Gelabert (Estudiantes); interested in Emmanuel Tripodi (Quilmes), Leandro Gioda (Douglas Haig), Sergio Escudero (Coritiba de Brasil), Denis Stracqualursi (San Lorenzo), Renzo Vera and Maximiliano Núñez (Estudiantes)


VELEZ SARSFIELD
Manager: Ricardo Gareca

IN: Mauro Zárate (Lazio), Héctor Canteros (returned from Villarreal), Leandro Velázquez (returned from San Martín), David Ramírez (returned from Godoy Cruz)

OUT: Facundo Ferreyra (Shakhtar Donetsk), Gino Peruzzi (Sunderland), Franco Razzotti (Independiente), Mariano Bittolo (Colon), Gaston Diaz (Gimnasia), Leandro Fioravanti (Defensa y Justicia), Federico Freire (Catania), German Montoya (Colon), Emanuel Olivera (Almirante Brown), Juan Ignacio Sills (Universidad de Chile)

RUMOURS: Interested in bringing back Fernando Gago (Valencia), Maximiliano Moralez (Atalanta); also interested in Matías Aguirregaray (Peñarol) and Nicolás Bertolo (Cruz Azul); Jonathan Copete could leave for Llaneros of Colombia and David Ramirez to Millonarios

Tager du også denne her FAS?

For en gang skyld spiller de "tidligt" og i lidt bedre vejr end sidst Costa Rica gæstede USA.

Amerikanerne bedst de første par minutter, men siden har det været Costa Rica mest på bolden uden det dog har ført til de store chancer.

0-0 i pausen

Costa Rica på overliggeren og kontraen scorer Brek Shea for amerikanerne :( 7 min igen

Dramatic, stoppage-time goal boosts Cuba into quarterfinals

http://www.youtube.com/w…8pdyY9xSMRs

EAST HARTFORD, Connecticut – Ariel Martinez struck for a hat-trick and Jeniel Marquez Molina scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to lift Cuba to a 4-0 victory over 10-man Belize in both team’s final Group C game in the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Rentschler Field on Tuesday evening.

Needing to score four goals to surpass Martinique as the second ranked third-place team, Cuba did so in the final moments of the match -- three minutes into added time -- clinching its second quarterfinals berth. Liban Perez headed a cross from the right wing to Marquez Molina, who gently guided a right-footed shot into the net.

As a result, the Lions of the Caribbean will meet Panama on Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

“It was like winning the World Cup,” Martinez said. “It was a great achievement for us and made me very happy. It was a great game for us. We put in as much effort as we needed to. It was a tremendous result.”

Cuba took a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute. Martinez made a diagonal run along the 18-yard box before hammering a shot from 22 meters inside the far post.

The 27-year-old forward added his second in the 63rd minute, finishing a long run with a blast from eight meters to give Cuba a 2-0 lead.

Three minutes after Ian Gaynair was sent off for his second bookable offense, Martinez netted his third in the 84th minute, taking a pass from Alberto Gomez and slotting it past Belizean goalkeeper Woodrow West.

Cuba pressured Belize from the outset, but West was up to the task. In the 14th minute, he saved Jaine Valencia’s shot from 30 meters, while Molina flicked Valencia’s free kick off the crossbar one minute later.

Belize had a pair of opportunities midway through the first half. Deon McCaulay rolled a shot from 19 meters into Cuban goalkeeper Odelin Molina in the 16th minute and Michael Salazar’s effort shortly afterwards went wide.

West continued to play well for the Central American side, denying Martinez on multiple occasions before and after the break.

But Cuba solved the 27-year-old netminder late -- two minutes into stoppage time -- and thanks to Martinez and Marquez Molina will continue its Gold Cup run into the knockout stage.

NOTES: The win was Cuba’s second in 19 all-time Gold Cup games…Cuba set a new team mark for most goals in a Gold Cup game, previous high was two…Cuba had scored a total of four goals in its previous seven Gold Cup games...Cuba’s only previous Gold Cup quarterfinals appearance came in 2003, when it lost 5-0 to the United States.

1/4-finalerne:

Panama - Cuba
Mexico - Trinidad 6 Tobago

Honduras - Costa Rica
USA - El Salvador


Brek Shea nets winner for U.S.


http://www.youtube.com/w…nPhXPfgbffE

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Brek Shea didn´t expect to get off the bench Tuesday night. When he did, he grabbed the role of hero for the United States.

Shea, who struggled in an earlier Gold Cup appearance, scored his first international goal off a feed from Landon Donovan in the 82nd minute, giving the United States a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica and the top spot in its group.

Three days ago, Brek Shea delivered perhaps his worst-ever performance for the U.S. men´s national team. Against Costa Rica, it took just seven minutes for him to find redemption, writes Jeff Carlisle, who hands out his player grades. Blog

Seconds after Sean Johnson made a brilliant save off a corner kick, Joe Corona cleared the ball, setting up the winning sequence. The veteran Donovan, trying to work his way back into a starring role on the national team after a self-imposed hiatus, took the ball on the right side. He quickly spotted Shea, who came on just five minutes earlier, streaking down the middle.

Donovan´s pass hit Shea in stride, and the Stoke City player sent a left-footed shot from 15 yards off goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton for the winner, the Americans´ eighth straight victory, a team record.

"It´s good," Shea said, downplaying his massive contribution after struggling earlier in the tournament. "First U.S. goal, only goal of the game, it wins the group. Really good.

"I still prepare the same way, but honestly, no," he added when asked whether he thought coach Jurgen Klinsmann would use him.

Klinsmann did call on Shea, showing faith in a player who has had his ups and downs in the national program.

"We have a lot of young players coming through the ranks," Klinsmann said. "All these players, we need to carefully build them and support them when things go wrong. Eventually, it will pay off."

The Americans will play El Salvador in the quarterfinals Sunday in Baltimore, while Costa Rica meets Honduras in the knockout round.

Shea´s goal broke a 785-minute string without being scored upon for Costa Rica. It followed Johnson, considered a fourth-stringer at best in the net for the United States, making a clutch stop on Carlos Johnson.

"Once I made the save, we just tried to get it out of there," Sean Johnson said. "Then I saw it cleared and we´re breaking the other way. It created an opportunity, and we finished it."

The match was played in slightly different conditions than the previous time the nations met. That was in a blizzard in Denver, with the United States edging Costa Rica 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier. On Tuesday night, there was plenty of moisture on the pitch just before kickoff, but it came from sprinklers trying to keep the turf in shape during a northeastern heat wave.

With both sides already having clinched moving on in the CONCACAF championship, not much happened offensively until late in the match in front of 25,432.

Early in the second half, Costa Rica captain Pemberton came out of his net, collided with a teammate outside the area and then had the ball hit him squarely in the hands. He was given only a yellow card, however, then immediately made saves on Jose Torres´ curling free kick and Donovan´s shot off a rebound.

That sequence opened up play for a while, but then it deteriorated into sloppiness and some roughness in midfield between teams with no love lost.


The winners from each quarterfinal site play each other July 24 in Dallas. The final is July 28 in Chicago.

U.S. captain DaMarcus Beasley took a nasty spill and was run over by Rodney Wallace early in the match. A woozy Beasley sat out three minutes before returning -- and almost immediately stripped the ball from Wallace.

His teammates struggled to link up, showing their lack of familiarity with each other, through the first 20 minutes. Klinsmann´s charge is to find the right combinations to get the Americans into the World Cup -- they lead CONCACAF qualifying through six games with 13 points, while Costa Rica is next with 11 -- and then to perform well in Brazil. He´s using the Gold Cup to test as many players as possible while giving most of the national team regulars who have done so well in qualifying a breather.

"It´s good giving them a taste of these kind of battles," Klinsmann said of using multiple lineups. "We´ll keep on building this and giving them opportunities whenever possible."

Neither goalkeeper was particularly threatened until U.S. defender Clarence Goodson got free on the left side of the box late in the first half. His left-footed drive was deflected out of bounds by the defense.

Costa Rica played a tightly packed defensive style for much of the match, but coach Jorge Luis Pinto felt his players handled themselves well.

"The only thing we lacked was getting the goal," Pinto said. "The United States got the goal, we didn´t."

U.S. notes: The other quarterfinals have Mexico versus Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba versus Panama on Saturday in Atlanta. ... Costa Rica had won eight straight internationals. ... The shutout was the first against the Ticos in 12 Gold Cup matches. ... The United States is 13-12-6 all-time against Costa Rica.

Cuba 4, Belize 0

http://www.youtube.com/w…8pdyY9xSMRs

Ariel Martinez ended Cuba´s long Gold Cup drought with three goals Tuesday, and Jeniel Molina´s last-second score lifted the Cubans into the quarterfinals with a rout of overmatched Belize.

It was Cuba´s first victory in 14 Gold Cup games, including 12 losses. The Cubans finished the opening round 1-2 after losses to the United States and Costa Rica, but the four-goal victory allowed them to advance over Martinique as one of the top third-place teams.

"For me, it was like winning the World Cup," Martinez said. "It is a great achievement for us and it made me very happy."

Belize (0-3), which finished with 10 men, was eliminated.

After Martinez completed his hat trick, the Cubans pressed for the fourth goal that would keep them in the tournament. They came close a handful of times, and then Molina put in a short right-footed shot and his teammates stormed off the bench into the corner of the pitch to mob him.

Cuba advanced one other time, in 2003.

"It was a great game for us," Cuba coach Walter Benitez said. "We put in as much effort as we needed to. It was a tremendous result."

By far the best player on the field, Martinez connected with left-footed drives in the 38th and 63rd minutes. He completed the hat trick with a short right-footed shot in the 84th, and Cuba threatened several times to get a fourth. Each time a Cuban failed to hit the mark, he either held his head in frustration or stomped the ground.

But deep into injury time, with nearly every Cuban player in Belize´s box, Liban Perez headed a pass that Molina converted.

In the first half, Martinez moved from right wing toward the middle just outside the penalty area, then unleashed a shot from 18 yards that beat diving goalkeeper Woodrow West to his right just inside the post.

Cuba had nearly every good chance in the first half but was frustrated by a lack of finishing touch until Martinez´s brilliant goal. Before beating West, Martinez had been stymied a half-dozen times by the Belize keeper, including twice in one minute.

Wood remained sharp for much of the second half but was no match for Martinez´s slaloming move through the defense for a 12-yard shot to make it 2-0.

Perez´s pass freed Martinez for his third score, and suddenly Cuba sensed a chance to advance. It waited until the dying moments to seize the opportunity and will play Panama on Saturday in Atlanta.

Belize´s first Gold Cup concluded with three losses by a combined 11-1 margin and a quick trip back to Central America. The Belizeans made news last week when two players, Wood and Ian Gaynair, said they were approached to fix a game against the United States but rejected the offer.

Belize finished short-handed when Gaynair drew his second yellow card in the 81st minute. Cuba struck twice after that.

mere mexicansk liga optakt...

Apertura 2013: For Atlas, it´s more of the same

"If Atlas doesn´t change, it is in danger of losing its way," commented Eugenio Ruiz Orozco, team President. He could not have been more blunt... or more accurate. Atlas once again is going through critical times because of its awful management and lack of financial resources.

New additions for the Apertura 2013? Please, if it isn´t necessary to pay back pay from the last tournament! There is no money, because the transfers of Antonio Briseno and Alfonso Gonzalez to Tigres did not go through; they had already been paid in advance for broadcasting and publicity rights. So what now?

After a good Clausura 2013, Tomas Boy decided to step aside. Atlas offered the team to at least five different coaches: Chucho Ramí­rez, Jose Guadalupe Cruz, Jose Luis Real, among others. The Argentine Omar Asad was the one finally selected.

Asad is 42 years old and had a successful career as a player with Velez Sarsfield, and as coach his main successes were achieved with Godoy Cruz, a team which he saved from relegation and qualified for the Copa Libertadores for the first time. He is new to Mexican soccer, he was once nearly appointed by Tecos but Pedro Caixinha didn´t know him either and he was eliminated at semifinal stage. But it isn´t rocket science either.

The defense is dependable. Goalkeeper Miguel Pinto and defenders Facundo Erpen and Leandro Cufré have played together for a good while and delivered solid results. Midfielder Rodrigo Millar was an excellent acquisition from the previous tournament. The Chilean played 17 games, 16 of them as a starter and scored three goals. His capacity as a play-maker and his energy were outstanding.

The principal absence will be Isaac Brizuela. "El Conejo" (The Rabbit) was on loan without option to purchase, and had to return to Toluca. Boy was able to get a lot out of the player who started 18 games in the tournament and scored two goals. By far the best tournament of his career.

Omar Bravo was able to change complaints and threats into applause and goal celebrations. He had his best season since he left for Deportivo La Coruña. At 33 years of age he contributed 7 goals. He has six months of his loan left, because after that he will have to return to Guadalajara.

In sporting terms, Atlas is coming off a good season, that can´t be disputed. They racked up 32 points and finished in 3rd place, only to be eliminated by Santos Laguna in the quarterfinals. They had not achieved more than 30 points in a regular tournament since the Apertura 2004. The fact is that Asad has a decent squad of players. The problem is the little management support available. It is not a joke, if this continues Atlas runs the serious risk of a collapse.