Snak

Saturday: San Lorenzo go top and Lanus fight back to stay in contention

Primera action proved to be thoroughly entertaining as both San Lorenzo and Lanus were made to work hard in order to stay in the title race.

San Lorenzo raced into a two-goal lead in the Nuevo Gasometro against Belgrano only to see Cesar Pereyra’s double see the visitors level. However, El Ciclon rallied and goals from the superb, Ignacio Piatti and Mauro Cetto ensured victory and put them top of the table, at least until Newell’s face Tigre on Monday.

Lanus needed a win to stay in contention and when they went two down in Floresta to All Boys, it looked unlikely, but a brace from Santiago Silva and another from Lauturo Acosta completed the comeback .

All Boys Manager, Julio César Falcioni resigned in the aftermath as his side slipped into the relegation mire, level with Godoy Cruz after their 2-1 win over Estudiantes. Leandro Grimi’s fierce long-range effort, 5 minutes from time gave Martin Palermo’s side a crucial victory.

Finally, Quilmes hosted Mostaza Merlo’s, Racing ending a 1-1 draw.


ALL BOYS 2 – 3 LANUS

http://www.youtube.com/w…CsNKFdoOlz8

GODOY CRUZ 2 – 1 ESTUDIANTES

http://www.youtube.com/w…cplbvjpaZpk

QUILMES 1 – 1 RACING

http://www.youtube.com/w…cplbvjpaZpk

SAN LORENZO 4 – 2 BELGRANO

http://www.youtube.com/w…1H8btuqeAjs

Costa Rica Primera Division Wrap: Herediano continue fine form

Herediano maintained top spot in the Costa Rica Primera Division with a 4-1 thrashing of Limon on Sunday.

Marvin Solano´s men were buoyed by a brace from Victor Nunez, which sandwiched a Jose Sanchez goal after Esteban Ramirez´s opener.

Jose Ulate scored from the penalty spot late on for a consolation goal for the visitors at the Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero.

Limon fell to 11th on the table after Uruguay climbed above them with a 2-1 road win over Puntarenas.

Alajuelense continued to heap the pressure on Herediano, as they earned a 2-0 win at home to UCR to remain within a point of the league leaders - although have played a game extra.

Regardless, both sides - along with Deportivo Saprissa - are bound for the finals series, as they are secure in the top four.

Saprissa were held 1-1 by cellar-dwellers Belen Siglo XXI after Heiner Mora scored late for the struggling outfit.

But fourth-placed Cartagines are no chance of overtaking Saprissa in third, despite chalking up consecutive 2-1 wins over Perez Zeledon - the latest coming at Cartagines´ home ground.

Erick Scott haunted Perez Zeledon twice in the space of three days, scoring all four goals against them.

Elsewhere, Santos de Guapiles made it three wins in their past four with a 4-0 rout of Carmelita, who lost their first match in six

Venezuela Primera Division Wrap: Caracas, Mineros de Guayana win

Caracas and Mineros de Guayana took the joint lead in the race for the Copa Libertadores spot in the Venezuela Primera Division.

League leaders on goal difference alone, Caracas moved atop the standings with a 1-0 road win over strugglers Yaracuyanos combined with Carabobo´s loss at Deportivo Tachira.

It was very nearly an embarrassing slip up for Eduardo Sarago´s men, as it took them until the 77th minute to break through the defence of the bottom club when Luis Gonzalez scored.

Yaracuyanos have just four points from 14 matches, shipping 29 goals in the process, but could not quite hold on as they slipped to their sixth consecutive loss in all competitions.

Mineros de Guayana had a 2-1 victory on the road at Atletico El Vigia, with Ricardo Blanco and Luis Vallenilla the goalscorers for the winners.

Carabobo lost top spot after slumping to a 3-1 loss at Tachira, with Jose Meza putting a first-half double past the former league leaders.

They sit third on 27 points, two behind the leaders, while each of Zamora (fourth) and Deportivo Anzoategui (fifth) climbed to 27 with results.

Zamora beat Llaneros de Guanare 3-1, while Anzoategui earned a 1-1 draw at home to Trujillanos.

Tachira´s win took them sixth on 25 points, while Atletico Venezuela dropped to seventh one point back after a 3-1 loss at home to Estudiantes de Merida.

Elsewhere, Deportivo Petare and Zulia drew 1-1, while Deportivo La Guaira had just their second success of the season with a 2-0 road win at Tucanes and Deportivo Lara´s hosting of Aragua ended 0-0.

Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Cerro Porteno held

Cerro Porteno failed to sew up the Paraguay Division Profesional title on Sunday after being held to a 0-0 draw by Deportivo Carapegua.

Leading the Clausura table by seven points heading into their clash at Carapegua´s Estadio Teniente Coronel Antonio, Cerro Porteno knew a win would not only seal top spot and the title, but also a Copa Libertadores berth for next season.

However, Francisco Arce´s men failed to trouble the scorers, although they still hold an eight-point buffer on closest rivals Deportivo Capiata with three games to play.

Capiata kept their chances of finishing first alive, with a 1-0 home win over Nacional Asuncion on Saturday.

Julio Irrazabal scored the winner for Capiata, who must win all three of their matches in the run-in to stand any chance of stealing top spot off Cerro Porteno.

Helping their cause is one of those fixtures is between the top two teams, meaning a Cerro Porteno slip up against third-placed Libertad combined with a Capiata victory over fourth side Guarani next week would set up a tantalising penultimate clash of the season.

Guarani moved within two points of Libertad with a 2-0 win on the road over them on Sunday, with Ramon Ocampo and Fernando Fernandez scoring the goals.

General Diaz are winless in seven - on the back of their 15-match unbeaten streak - after a 3-0 loss away to Cerro Porteno PF, leaving them sixth on the table.

Cerro Porteno PF still remain bottom of the league on 16 points, but have Olimpia (19), Carapegua (18) and Sol de America (17) in their sights.

In other results, Rubio Nu had a 1-0 road win over Sportivo Luqueno, while Olimpia were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Sol de America.

Liga de Futbol Profesional Boliviano Wrap: Bolivar top despite draw

Bolivar´s hold on top spot in the LFPB loosened a little at the weekend after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Real Potosi.

Real Potosi led Miguel Portugal´s men at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, only for the pacesetters to earn a point early in the second half as Jaime Arrascaita equalised.

http://www.youtube.com/w…jtOIKfmTEWA

Bolivar hold top spot by one point, with San Jose looming in second after their 4-0 win over Wilstermann.

http://www.youtube.com/w…jtOIKfmTEWA

San Jose sent Wilstermann down to fourth after Marcelo Gomes struck a hat-trick to help his side bounce back from their last-start loss to The Strongest.

Wilstermann drop out of the top three - important, given they are the spots that guarantee continental competition next term.

Top spot in Bolivia earns a Copa Libertadores berth, while the second and third sides enter the Copa Sudamericana.

Blooming failed to climb above Real Potosi, as they remained in 11th after The Strongest held them to a 1-1 stalemate.

http://www.youtube.com/w…jtOIKfmTEWA

Oriente Petrolero won for the third time in their past four, with a 2-1 success on the road at cellar-dwellers Aurora.

http://www.youtube.com/w…jtOIKfmTEWA

Guabira earned a point away at Club Universitario in a 1-1 result, to take them into eighth above Sport Boys - who lost 2-1 at Nacional Potosi.

http://www.youtube.com/w…jtOIKfmTEWA

http://www.youtube.com/w…jtOIKfmTEWA

Uruguay Primera Division Wrap: Alonso stars for Nacional

Nacional regained second spot in the Uruguay Primera Division after they snapped a losing streak at Cerro Largo, while River Plate drew.

Ivan Alonso scored a hat-trick for Rodolfo Arruabarrena´s men, in what was a spiteful clash at Cerro´s Estadio Municipal Arquitecto Antonio Eleuterio Ubilla.

Alonso opened his account for the match on the half-hour mark and doubled it 11 minutes later as the visitors to Melo led 2-0 at the break.

Enzo Borges got the home side on the board five minutes after the restart, but any hope of a comeback was swiftly ruled out seven minutes later when Alonso wrapped up his hat-trick to move to nine goals for the season - taking him second in the golden boot race.

Cerro Largo then went haywire as Guillermo Moretti and Alejandro Acosta were both dismissed in the final 26 minutes, while Nacional also lost a man - Juan Diaz - after he received two cautions.

Substitute Alexander Medina added Nacional´s fourth goal in the dying stages, as they moved to 24 points - two behind league leaders Danubio, and one ahead of third-placed River Plate.

River Plate coughed up a two-goal lead late at home to Sud America, as they were kept to a 2-2 draw.

Sud America continued their unbeaten run in stunning fashion, going undefeated in four games after Angel Luna and Adrian Argacha both struck in the final three minutes to deny the hosts in Montevideo.

Earlier, Michael Santos and Alexander Rosso scored three minutes apart to fire River Plate to a comfortable lead just prior to the half-hour mark.

But they would not be able to make it consecutive victories, as they fell three points behind Danubio.

The league leaders dealt with a struggling Racing 2-0 at the Parque Osvaldo Roberto in the nation´s capital, as Jonatan Alvez and Liber Quinones scored second-half goals.

El Tanque Sisley bounced back from their last-start home loss to Cerro with a 1-0 win on the road at Defensor Sporting.

Santiago Lamanna scored the winner for El Tanque Sisley, who kept a clean sheet against a Defensor side that put five goals past Nacional last time out.

Liverpool continued their unbeaten streak, making it seven games without defeat after fighting back twice to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Juventud de Las Piedras.

Facundo Barcelo converted from the spot both times for Liverpool - with the latter coming in the 84th minute to equalise for the second time.

Wanderers made it three straight victories with a 1-0 result over Rentistas - which took the winners to sixth on the table with 17 points.

Penarol picked up their second win in three outings with a 2-1 home success over Fenix, while Miramar Misiones broke their duck this season with a 2-1 road win over Cerro.

Miramar Misiones remain rooted to the foot of the table with seven points from 11 matches, with Juventud and Fenix (both eight) now in their sights.

mål

http://www.youtube.com/w…HGzXE83AY5M

Gareca: "Un triunfo importante"

ROSARIO -- El entrenador de Vélez Sarsfield, Ricardo Gareca, se mostró satisfecho por el triunfo obtenido en cancha de Rosario Central y afirmó que la victoria representa una importante inyección anímica.

"Nos llevamos un valioso triunfo de una cancha difícil ante un rival que hacía mucho no perdía de local. Central es un equipo aguerrido y cuando se pusieron tres a dos pensé que lo podían empatar porque nunca se dan por vencidos. Al final terminamos sufriendo, pero nos llevamos un triunfo importante", confió el Tigre.

Y añadió: "En líneas generales me voy conforme con la producción del equipo. No creo que nos hayamos distendido al final, creo que fue mérito del rival el haber descontado".

Luego se refirió a la labor de dos de sus dirigidos. "Lo de Ramiro (Cáseres) está siendo muy bueno. Le marcó dos goles a Newell´s y hoy tres a Central. Es un chico que reúne condiciones importantes y su futuro depende de él".

Y continuó: También me pone muy contento lo de Federico (Insúa) que volvió a ser titular y fue una de las figuras destacadas. Le quiero agradecer porque fue figura fundamental en estos años".

Finalmente, se esperanzó con finalizar de la mejor manera el 2013. "Necesitamos terminar lo mejor posible el año. No tenemos nada por lo que pelear y llevarnos una victoria de esta cancha nos da una inyección anímica importante", valoró.

LA PALABRA DEL GOLEADOR

El juvenil delantero de Vélez Sarsfield Ramiro Cáseres, el gran protagonista de la tarde en el Gigante de Arroyito, afirmó que ganaron un partido importante en el aspecto anímico después de quedarse sin objetivos inmediatos.

"Estoy contento por los tres goles, pero más que nada porque ganó el equipo, necesitábamos un triunfo así. Vélez está acostumbrado a pelear todos los torneos, pero este fue un año duro y por eso este triunfo en una cancha díficil ayuda", valoró el autor de los tres goles velezanos en la victoria por 3-2 ante Rosario Central, por la 16ª fecha de la competencia doméstica.

Y agregó: "Vamos a tratar de terminar el torneo de la mejor manera. Hoy ganamos un partido importante, pero quedan otros tres y queremos terminar lo más arriba posible".

Finalmente, con respecto al momento que vive, confió: "Mis compañeros me apoyan y eso te ayuda un montón. Cada vez que entra un chico a este plantel se encuentra con el repaldo de jugadores de gran nivel y eso facilita las cosas".

Ramón Díaz y Ledesma se mostraron preocupados tras la caída

BUENOS AIRES -- Cristian Ledesma, uno de los referentes del plantel de River Plate, admitió que el momento "es complicado", pero aseguró que saldrán "adelante".

"Estamos en un momento complicado, pero a mí no me cabe ninguna duda de que River va a salir adelante", sostuvo Ledesma, quien como uno de los capitanes del grupo puso la cara y atendió al periodismo, tras la caída por 3-1 ante Olimpo en el Monumental, por la decimosexta fecha del Torneo Inicial.

Ni bien se consumó el revés como local ante un adversario que de momento se halla en zona de descenso, el entrenador Ramón Díaz tuvo un escueto diálogo con Canal 7, en el que reconoció que "es justa la reprobación de la gente" y que "no se puede jugar así (de mal)", pero luego mandó a informar que suspendía la conferencia de prensa y que recién iba a hablar tras el entrenamiento del martes próximo.

Por lo tanto, el experimentado mediocampista Ledesma fue el único jugador de los Millonarios que este domingo afrontó el contacto con los medios. "Cuando estás en estos momentos se nos hace todo cuesta arriba. El equipo estaba bien, pero después de un gol se nos fue todo de las manos", aceptó el Lobo.

Y siguió con la autocrítica: "No fue bueno este semestre, no hemos podido pelear la Copa, no hemos podido pelear el campeonato".

En cuanto a los tres cotejos que les quedan por delante para terminar este Torneo Inicial, Ledesma remarcó que deben "tratar de sumar la mayor cantidad de puntos y cambiar esta imagen".

Respecto de la generalizada reprobación popular, el volante reconoció que "se entiende" porque no consiguieron "los objetivos" esperados.

RAMÓN: "NO SE PUEDE JUGAR ASÍ"

El entrenador Ramón Díaz consideró que la denostación de los hinchas de River Plate por el triunfo de Olimpo en el Monumental fue "justa" y suspendió la conferencia de prensa posterior.

"Es justa la reprobación de la gente; no se puede jugar así y menos en nuestro estadio", sentenció Díaz en diálogo con Canal 7, aepnas consumado el revés ante los bahienses, en el cotejo correspondiente a la decimosexta fecha del Torneo Inicial.

Sin embargo, el riojano agregó que "hay que analizar las cosas con tranquilidad" en la semana, como para bajarle los decibeles a la tensión y para evitar declaraciones precipitadas que pudieran agudizar la crisis.

FIFA World Cup Play-Off Preview: New Zealand v Mexico

If New Zealand thought their World Cup play-off nightmare was over, they should think again ahead of their second leg with Mexico.

The All Whites were trounced 5-1 at the Azteca Stadium on Wednesday, and hence need a 4-0 result or better in Wellington on Wednesday to book their ticket to Brazil next year.

And while Ricki Herbert´s men can plan an all-out attack against the Mexicans, the visitors to NZ have other ideas.

Mexico striker Oribe Peralta, who scored a double in the first leg, said he would not be adverse to drilling the advantage further to gain some momentum ahead of their likely finals berth.

"I know that the score is large for us but we have to try to increase the advantage in the second leg to get the ticket to Brazil 2014," Peralta said.

Naturally, NZ captain Tommy Smith has not conceded defeat just yet, and said the hosts need an early goal before they can start dreaming of completing the unlikely comeback.

"I think that´s the only way forward really, we have to get an early goal and put them on the back foot as soon as possible," he said.

"With the result in Mexico, we felt like we let the fans down a little bit, so we just have to go all guns blazing and do as well as we can."

Herbert kept attackers Shane Smeltz and Marco Rojas fresh for the second leg by resting them for the first clash, and they will need to be on song to give NZ any hope of scoring four times.

Leo Bertos and Chris Wood will both serve suspensions after picking up yellow cards in the first leg.

Ivan Vicelich will also miss due to suspension, although fellow defender Ian Hogg is again available after being banned for the first leg.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera picked an all-Liga MX squad for the first leg, and is keeping the same approach for their trip to New Zealand.

Sunday: Boca lose to Arsenal in title clash;River suffer again and Velez return to winning ways

Boca Juniors 3-2 defeat in Sarandi to fellow title hopefuls, Arsenal was a critical blow to Carlos Bianchi’s side as they could be 5 points behind Newell’s later tonight.

River Plate‘s woeful season continued as they were beaten by Olimpo in El Monumental. Gio Simeone gave them an early lead but the absence of keeper, Marcelo Barovero and defender, Eder Alvarez Balanta was felt sharply as Olimpo scored 3 times from set-pieces to wrap up the victory.

Velez Sarsfield produced one of their better displays of the season (for most the game) as Ramiro Caseres hit a hattrick to give them a 3-goal lead against Rosario Central. Two goals in the final 3 minutes set up a nervy finish for Velez but they were able to hold on.


ROSARIO CENTRAL 2 – 3 VELEZ SARSFIELD

http://www.youtube.com/w…FhDqxRzDm4M

RIVER PLATE 1 – 3 OLIMPO

http://www.youtube.com/w…zfX_LSGFzcU


ARSENAL 3 – 2 BOCA JUNIORS

A sloppy start to the game saw Arsenal race into a two-goal lead, firstly a Nicolas Aguirre free-kick and then a wonderfully executed, delicate lob from Milton Caraglio. Boca did improve after the break and got a goal back when Matias Caruzzo headed home, Juan Riquelme’s corner but the home side immediately countered and Ramiro Carrera reestablished the lead. Claudio Riaño did manage to pull it back to 3-2 but Boca were unable to salvage anything else. Arsenal leap-frog Boca with the win and sit 2 points behind San Lorenzo.

http://www.youtube.com/w…17forVsNTo8