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Copa Sudamericana - fra chilensk perspektiv.

All four Chilean teams in Copa Sudamericana advance to next round

For only the second time ever, all Chilean clubs are through to the competition’s second phase, in a week that included Católica history-making and a 5-0 thumping.

Universidad de Chile 5-0 Real Potosí

“La U” fans entered the Estadio Nacional on Tuesday evening running on nerves. Having seen their side lose 3-1 in the first leg to Potosí — a Bolivian club making only its second appearance in the competition — they knew only a dominant performance would take the former champion through.

What followed was a swashbuckling exhibition of vintage Universidad de Chile soccer.

Young striker Isaac Díaz got the demolition underway on the half-hour mark, nodding in a Ramón Fernández corner amid a Potosí backline that seemed rooted to the ground. Díaz was involved in the second ten minutes later, drawing a penalty from the Potosí keeper Eder Jordán that “La U” midfielder Charles Aránguiz duly converted.

At the half-time whistle, the aggregate score was 3-3, and “La U” was only ahead on an away goal. Despite this narrow margin, Potosí could not muster a rally and would capitulate further.

The goal of the match came ten minutes into the second half. Gustavo Lorenzetti of the old guard and midfield disciple Rubén Farfán started toying with the ball, orchestrating a sublime series of nine passes before teeing up Aránguiz twenty five yards from goal. The midfielder belted in a low drive that swerved away from Jordán’s outstretched arms.

A sarcastic cheer rang around the stadium minutes later, when Nicolás Bubas drew a save from Johnny Herrera. It would be Potosí’s sole shot over 90 minutes.

“La U” spared no mercy on such obliging opponents, and scored twice in the game’s final two minutes. Potosí defender Miguel Hurtado received a red card for essentially rugby tackling Díaz in the box, and the striker capped off a fine performance by scoring the spot kick.

Having run the game in midfield, Lorenzetti deservedly joined in the goalscoring fun, and rammed an emphatic strike into the roof of the net from inside the box in the 90th minute.

“La U” will face Ecuadorian side Independiente José Terán — making its debut in the competition — in the second phase.

Cerro Porteño 0-1 Universidad Católica

Porteño went into this match with homefield advantage and an away goal, having relied on the shot-stopping brilliance of Roberto Fernández to eek out a draw in the first leg. In a tale of two goalkeepers, the Paraguayan’s opposite number Cristopher Toselli put in a magisterial performance to keep Porteño at bay Wednesday night.

Toselli plucked headers from the air, smothered one-on-ones and flung himself at hard drives for a full hour before the game’s only goal. With a floating cross, Nicolás Castillo found the head of Ismael Sosa at the far post, and the striker buried the ball before wheeling away in disbelief and delight.

This is Católica’s first ever away win in the Copa Sudamericana. In the second phase in late August, the team will meet Emelec, an Ecuadorian outfit experienced in international club football.

Colo Colo 2-0 El Tanque Sisley

Having lost the first match in Montevideo, Copa Sudamericana debutant El Tanque Sisley must be credited for starting this game with all guns blazing Wednesday night. The Uruguayans went close through Cristian Palacios in the first minute, and kept the pressure on until the quarter-hour mark and the game’s first goal.

Appalling defence of a Gonzalo Fierro corner allowed midfielder Fabián Benítez to trot straight down the goalmouth and slot in the opener.

Minutes later, Fierro nabbed his second assist. The winger showed great pace to beat his defender and whip in a cross from the byline, that was met with a powerful header from striker Javier Toledo.

Later this month, Colo Colo will face Colombia’s Deportivo Pasto, a team making its second appearance in the Copa Sudamericana.

Peñarol 0-2 Cobreloa

Despite failing to score at home and having three men sent off over both legs, Cobreloa will advance to the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana after an entertaining win in Montevideo.

The visitor took the lead in the 11th minute, when midfielder Hugo Droguett netted an incredible long range strike while both under pressure and falling away from the ball.

Striker Gastón Lezcano — who had come close several times in the first leg — finally came good in the 20th minute, scoring from close range.

The game took a turn on the half-hour mark, when Cobreloa keeper Sebastián Contreras was sent off for taking down striker Carlos Nuñez outside the box.

After the break, Nuñez and Cobreloa defender Diego Silva both received their marching orders for an off-the-ball altercation. One man up, Peñarol poured forward in search of goals, though was thwarted time and again by goalkeeper Luciano Palos who came off the bench primed for the challenge.

Though certainly pegged back, Cobreloa remained dangerous on the break. If the team maintains this positive, attacking brand of football — and resolves disciplinary issues — second phase fixtures against Colombian team La Equidad should entertain in late August.

All second phase first leg matches will see Chilean sides play away between Aug. 20-22, before hosting opposition the following week.

Barrios leaves China for Spartak Moscow

Spartak Moscow have agreed a deal to sign Paraguayan striker Lucas Barrios from Guangzhou Evergrande for a fee of €7million.

The 28-year-old´s switch will be completed upon agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

Barrios moved to China in May 2012 after winning the Bundesliga, but struggled to hold down a regular place with the run-away Chinese Super League leaders, despite a decent return of 13 goals in 32 appearances.

The striker had claimed in an interview with German magazine Kicker earlier this year that he had not been paid on time by Guangzhou and that he was looking to cancel his contract in order to return to Germany.

The Chinese club riled at the claims, which were investigated by FIFA.

An official verdict is unlikely to be reached, however, with Guangzhou announcing their intention to "withdraw its charges once the transfer procedure is done" in a statement confirming their acceptance of Spartak´s offer.

With Barrios´ future uncertain in China, he had been linked heavily with a move to Werder Bremen, but he has instead switched to the Russian capital.

Spartak were in the market for forward reinforcements after Nigerian striker Emmanuel Emenike´s move to Fenerbahce.

Barrios has scored six times in 21 international appearances, having made his name with a hugely prolific spell in Chile with Colo-Colo before moving to Signal Iduna Park in 2009.

Panama goal ace Torres signs with Colorado

COMMERCE CITY, Colorado – The Colorado Rapids announced Thursday that it acquired Panama international Gabriel Torres, one of the standouts at the recently completed CONCACAF Gold Cup.

After netting five goals in Panama’s campaign to a runner-up finish at the biennial confederation competition, Torres shared the Golden Boot award with Landon Donovan and Chris Wondolowski, both of the champion United States. The 24-year-old scored both goals in a 2-1 group-stage triumph over Mexico, the Panamanians first-ever win over the CONCACAF power.

Panama fell 1-0 to the U.S. in the Gold Cup final on July 28 at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

“Torres is dynamic and can score goals, and will give us a boost as we enter the final ten games of the regular season,” said Rapids head coach Oscar Pareja. “We had been looking at him since before the Gold Cup, but that tournament showed everybody what he is capable of. It’s great for the club that Torres is able to join us, and I am eager to see him on the field with the boys.”

Torres began his professional career with Panamanian club Chepo, and has played for San Francisco F.C. - also in Panama - as well as La Equidad, América de Cali, and Atlético Huila in Colombia. Most recently, he starred for Zamora FC of Venezuela’s first division during the 2012-13 season, where he led the team to its first championship, scoring 21 goals.

“I’m happy to join the Colorado Rapids, and I will give my all to this club,” Torres said. “Coach [Pareja] has had confidence in me from the beginning. He told me about the team and the project, and that got my attention. It’s why I’m here, looking to do the right things. I’ll give my best to this organization and look to score many goals to help us win games.”

LIGA POSTOBON CLAUSURA: FRIDAY 9TH AUG 2013

WEEK 3 – Friday 9th August 2013

A fantastic strike from Danilo Moreno Asprilla deep into stoppage time gave the unfavoured Patriotas all three points in Cúcuta as five goals were exchanged back and forth on early Saturday morning.

CÚCUTA DEPORTIVO 2-3 PATRIOTAS BOYACÁ

In monsoon-like conditions the boys from Boyacá clinched their first win inside the Estadio General Santander after the past 22 attempts, but they left it late.

The visitors drew first blood when Uruguayan striker Maximiliano Brito, recently signed from Argentine club Olimpia, finished easily from close range.

They were only in-front until the 22th minute, a free-kick was whipped in and a melee ensued with Jaime Córdoba bundling home the goal.

On the stroke of half-time, Rodrigo Soria put the hosts 2-1 up finishing a wonderful through ball from Jeison Quiñones.

The teams went in for the team talk, and Julio Avelino Comesaña’s worked a treat as Patriotas flew out of the block and grabbed an equaliser within a minute of the restart. Another Uruguayan new signing, Jose Luis Tancredi, who has just arrived from Millonarios, blasting past José Hubert Escobar to level the scores up.

Midway through the second period, referee Wilson Lamoroux halted the play for around five minutes due to the heavy rain, and even though the rain did not stop, he continued the play. This was just after he dismissed Cucuta’s Rodrigo Soria for his second bookable offence on 65 minutes.

The game went on deep into the night and Danilo Moreno Asprilla scored a left-foot power drive towards goal from the left-wing giving Escobar no chance and Patriotas all three points.

HIGHLIGHTS

http://www.youtube.com/w…0AhH6v19uFs

fogo er godt nok ikke i sit es.

slut, 1-1 mellem fogo og Goias

Cavani blasts Liverpool in Suarez saga

Edinson Cavani has criticised Liverpool over their handling of the Luis Suarez transfer saga.

Suarez is at the centre of one of the close-season´s biggest transfer battles, with the player seeking an exit and Arsenal having had two bids rejected, while Liverpool continue to stand firm that he will not be sold.

The striker is desperate to depart Anfield and claims that he was promised he could leave if the Premier League side failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

The stand-off has intensified over the weekend after Suarez was banished to train with the reserves and boss Brendan Rodgers demanded an apology before he will be allowed to link back up with the first team.

And now Cavani has waded into the row in support of his international team-mate.

"The Liverpool coach can talk about loyalty and disrespect, but maybe he needs to look up what it means," the Paris Saint-Germain striker was quoted as saying by The Daily Mirror.

"Luis had the chance last year to join a big club like Juventus, who went on to win the league in Italy.

"But, instead, he chose to stay and fight with Liverpool. Now, that’s what you call loyalty.

"I’ve known about his agreement with Liverpool and understood that he would be leaving, if they were not playing in the Champions League."

Newell´s, sin Cáceres ni Maxi

ROSARIO -- Tanto el lateral Marcos Cáceres como el volante ofensivo Maximiliano Rodríguez se perderán el debut de Newell`s en el torneo Inicial, previsto para el martes frente a Boca, pendiente de la primera fecha.

El paraguayo Cáceres quedará al margen del conjunto rojinegro, a causa de un edema en el bíceps femoral derecho, mientras que Maxi Rodríguez no estará pues fue convocado para el seleccionado argentino que jugará el miércoles un amistoso ante su par de Italia, en la ciudad de Roma.

La ausencia de Cáceres le abre la puerta a Cristian Kitu Díaz, quien se movería como lateral por el costado derecho, mientras que Martín Tonso iría por el ex Atlético de Madrid español y Liverpool inglés.

Una probable alineación de Newell`s, ahora dirigido por Alfredo Berti, para el estreno en el certamen sería con Nahuel Guzmán; Díaz, Guillermo Ortiz, Víctor López (continúa trabajando diferenciado por una molestia pero llegará en condiciones) y Milton Casco; Pablo Pérez (jugará por la aplicación del artículo 225 en lugar del peruano Rinaldo Cruzado), Diego Mateo, Lucas Bernardi; Víctor Figueroa, Víctor Aquino y Tonso.

Ischia o Bolillo, para suceder a Costas

QUITO -- El colombiano Hernán Darío Gómez y el argentino Carlos Ischia emergieron como candidatos para suceder en el banco del Barcelona a Gustavo Costas, quien ha renunciado a raíz de la sorprendente eliminación en casa de la Copa Sudamericana y del mal momento del equipo guayaquileño en la Liga ecuatoriana.

El argentino Costas, quien condujo al equipo ´torero´ a la obtención del título de la pasada temporada tras 14 años de sequía, anunció hoy su salida en una conferencia de prensa.

"Me dediqué las veinticuatro horas a trabajar sólo por Barcelona. Si me equivoqué en algo, mil disculpas", dijo Costas en su despedida.

"En mi corazón me llevo la estrella catorce y el 5-0 a Emelec (en la temporada pasada)", añadió.

A través de su página web los directivos de Barcelona anunciaron que están ya en la búsqueda del sucesor, que la prensa deportiva local valora entre Ischia y Gómez.

El argentino Ischia, extécnico del Boca Juniors, condujo al Deportivo Quito al título del 2011.

El colombiano Gómez dirigió la selección ecuatoriana.

De conquistar la temporada pasada, el Barcelona, no pudo impedir que su enconado rival en Guayaquil, el Emelec, conquistara el torneo pasado. Y tras siete jornadas de la actual competición empató tres partidos y perdió cuatro. Con este desempeño, es penúltimo.

La semana pasada el Barcelona perdió en casa por 0-2 el llamado ´clásico del Astillero´ con su más enconado rival, el Emelec. Y el jueves pasado sufrió en su misma la casa la eliminación de la Copa Sudamericana al caer por idéntico resultado con el Mineros venezolano.

Så ser det ud til at rogelio skriver med Benfica....

Funes Mori se fue al Benfica

BUENOS AIRES -- El delantero Rogelio Funes Mori se despidió este viernes de River Plate, ya que el lunes fichará para el Benfica de Portugal y encarrilará así la operación para que regrese al club de Núñez el uruguayo Rodrigo Mora.

Funes Mori estaba en conflicto contractual con River y, a la espera de alguna jugosa oferta, la dirigencia decidió que no formara parte del plantel que conduce Ramón Díaz.

Según trascendió, el pase del jugador fue comprado a River en dos millones de dólares por un grupo empresario, que luego lo ubicó en Benfica.

Además, de la operación está implicado Mora, quien pertenece al club portugués, pero al no ser tenido en cuenta, lo liberará para contratar a Funes Mori, jugador que llegará a Europa como una promesa del fútbol argentino.

El dinero que le entrará a River por Funes Mori será utilizado también para abonarle al Cruz Azul mexicano el 50 por ciento del pase del artillero colombiano Teófilo Gutiérrez, quien todavía no está habilitado para jugar con La Banda.