Snak

Santiago Silva: "Estoy expectante"

Mientras el plantel de Lanús atraviesa las horas previas a la final de Copa Sudamericana que disputará ante Ponte Preta, Santiago Silva habló en ESPN Radio en Rivadavia y confesó que imagina "un partido con un rival cerrado" y con los argentinos "buscando espacios para convertir".

"No estoy nervioso. Estoy expectante, pensando en que todo salga bien. Tenemos que mantenernos tranquilos y manejar los nervios", manifestó Silva quien a su vez dejó en claro que "la idea de Lanús es buscar el gol en el área rival".

"Estamos buscando algo histórico en Lanús. Sabemos que la gente va a estar, porque quiere formar parte de estas instancias", aseguró el delantero que llegó supo ser campeón, en Argentina, con Banfield, Vélez y Boca y que ahora buscará una consagración con Lanús.

Además, Silva afirmó que "no busca ningún tipo de revancha" y que "entrará a la cancha más tranquilo que nunca. "Desde el primer día que llegué al club dije que quería ganar un título y ojalá se dé", agregó.

Finalmente, se refirió al partido que Lanús disputará el próximo domingo, con serias posibilidades de mantenerse con chances de pelear el Torneo Inicial. "Peleamos por dos cosas importantes, pero vamos a ver que decide el técnico para el domingo. Hay que ver como quedamos después de la final", concluyó.

Santiago Silva llegó a Lanús en el último mercado de pases, luego de su paso por Boca. En el conjunto del Sur del Gran Buenos Aires tiene nueve goles en dieciocho partidos disputados. Lanús es el decimocuarto club de la carrera de Silva, ya que antes pasó por: River Plate, Defensor Sporting, Nacional y Central Español (Uruguay), Newells, Gimnasia, Vélez, Banfield y Boca (Argentina), Corinthians (Brasil), Energie Cottbus (Alemania), Beira Mar (Portugal) y Fiorentina (Italia).

Desde los primeros días de enero River estará bajo observación

BUENOS AIRES -- Justo un día antes de que Ramón Díaz cumpliera un año al frente del equipo, River terminó su participación en Torneo Inicial cerrando un semestre para el olvido, plagado de frustraciones. Está claro, los números y el nivel de sus actuaciones así lo avalan, que el entrenador nunca encontró el rumbo, no consiguió darle identidad a un plantel que, a priori, había despertado mucha ilusión en la gente porque se configuró a pedido y gusto del riojano.

Sin embargo, falló en lo individual y en lo colectivo. Que Ramón haya igualado la peor campaña desde que dirige en River, con el bonus track de ser el equipo menos goleador de la historia del Millo, son algunas impensadas (y no deseadas) medallas que el técnico se cuelga y que grafican lo que terminó siendo un pésimo semestre. Todo esto le llegó después de un subcampeonato, el cual, también es cierto, sorprendió tanto como la campaña de estos días. Ni para tanto ni para tan poco estaba River. No se puede soslayar, obviamente, que los jugadores tienen una parte importante de responsabilidad.

En definitiva ellos son los que salen a la cancha y los que deberían mostrar una cierta irreverencia táctica cuando las cosas no salen. Pero no la exhibieron. Algunos, por lo bajo, le adjudican a las permanentes rotaciones del entrenador gran parte de este momento. En 25 presentaciones a lo largo del semestre, Ramón paró 24 formaciones distintas. El no sentirse respaldados fue una de las cuestiones que los futbolistas encuentran como disparador de los bajos rendimientos. Seguramente esta idea hay que tomarla con pinzas, porque de alguna manera la vierten para mitigar errores propios, pero no deja de ser verídico que la falta de continuidad conspira contra la excelencia.

En este contexto River (a quien le volvieron a marcar de pelota parada) no le pudo ganar a Quilmes, como le pasó en otras tantas presentaciones. Recuerden este dato: Colón fue, por lejos, el peor equipo de la temporada, sin embargo venció al Millo en el Monumental. Y así son muchísimos los ejemplos de un equipo que no fue respetado (desde lo futbolístico, por supuesto) por nadie. Si bien ya no se gana con la camiseta, lejos estuvo el equipo de Ramón de imponerse gracias a las individualidades o al peso de jugar siempre con un notable apoyo desde las tribunas.

Sólo las anchas espaldas de Díaz han logrado sobrellevar hasta su culminación una campaña tan floja. Cualquier otro en su cargo no hubiese terminado el campeonato sentado en el banco. Y hasta por momentos el propio Ramón tuvo dudas sobre si iba a poder revertir tan pálido presente. Pero se quedó a pelearla, sin éxito. Ahora vendrán tiempos de sentarse a conversar con las nuevas autoridades, de pensar en refuerzos (que deberán ser, inexorablemente, de jerarquía), de confeccionar la lista de quienes no seguirán, de aquellos que serán vendidos, en síntesis, un panorama oscuro. Que tiene en el horizonte tres Superclásicos de verano. Contra un no menos devaluado Boca. ¿Si estos partidos podrían incidir en la continuidad del entrenador?
En el pasado ese tipo de compromisos motivaron a Ramón a dar un paso al costado. Desde los primeros días de enero River estará bajo observación. El técnico no tendrá tiempo para relajarse. Así está el equipo hoy, plagado de interrogantes, con un técnico escrutado con una mirada muy fina y con jugadores que no salvan las carencias tácticas y técnicas.

Sebastián Torrico: "El título sería un premio al esfuerzo y la constancia"

BUENOS AIRES -- El arquero de San Lorenzo Sebastián Torrico afirmó que la posible consagración del equipo de Boedo como campeón del torneo Inicial sería "un premio al esfuerzo y la constancia" que mostraron durante toda la competencia.

"Sería un premio al esfuerzo y a la constancia. Tuvimos altibajos pero nunca nos rendimos", sostuvo Torrico.

El ex arquero de Godoy Cruz de Mendoza agregó que "nadie" les "regaló nada" y que quieren "darle una alegría a la gente y al club que está volviendo al lugar donde está acostumbrado a estar".

San Lorenzo llegará al encuentro del próximo domingo siendo líder del torneo, con 32 puntos; en tanto que Vélez, al igual que Lanús y Newell´s Old Boys, arrancará el juego con 30 unidades.

Si se queda con el triunfo en Liniers el "Ciclón" se consagrará campeón, en tanto que si empata deberá esperar que no haya un ganador en Rosario, ya que de lo contrario debería jugar una final con el equipo que gane en el estadio Marcelo Bielsa.

"Los jugadores pensamos en eso, en hacer un buen partido y festejarlo. Los dos estamos en una situación parecida. Va a ganar el que tenga que ganar y festejará como se lo merece", puntualizó.

Luego Torrico se refirió a su situación personal, ya que llegó a San Lorenzo tras la conflictiva salida de Pablo Migliore, como suplente de Cristian Alvarez, y sin embargo terminó ganándose el puesto de titular y el reconocimiento de la hinchada.

"Me tocó llegar en un momento complicado, cuando fue lo de Migliore. Tuve que pelear el puesto como siempre lo hice y, por suerte, salieron las cosas bien", concluyó.

Ariel Cabral se recupera y será titular

BUENOS AIRES -- Luego de dos días de descanso, el plantel de Vélez inició su semana de preparación para el partido del próximo domingo ante San Lorenzo y en el entrenamiento matutino, desarrollado en la Villa Olímpica, la gran novedad pasó por las mejoras que mostró Ariel Cabral.

El volante, que padecía un fuerte golpe en uno de sus tobillos, hizo trabajos de recuperación y ejercicios en el gimnasio para ponerse a punto físicamente y comenzar a entrenar a la par del grupo en los próximos días. La idea de Ricardo Gareca es que Cabral sea titular en el sector izquierdo del mediocampo.

Por otro lado, el resto de los jugadores trabajaron con un circuito de trabajos de definición y marca haciendo hincapié en lo físico.

En cuanto a las modificaciones, es un hecho que por el suspendido Mauro Zárate ingresará Ramiro Cáseres, quien en el actual campeonato supo convertirle tres goles a Rosario Central, en el triunfo que Vélez consiguió en la fecha 16. Mientras tanto, todavía Gareca no despejó la duda sobre si regresará Lucas Romero o se mantendrá como volante Leandro Desábato.

En definitiva, con la incógnita sin definir en el mediocampo, los once para jugar ante San Lorenzo serían: Sebastián Sosa; Fabián Cubero, Fernando Tobio, Sebastián Domínguez, Emiliano Papa; Agustín Allione, Lucas Romero o Leandro Desábato, Ariel Cabral, Federico Insúa; Ramiro Cáseres y Lucas Pratto.

Vélez tiene 30 puntos en el Torneo Inicial, producto de ocho triunfos, seis empates y cuatro derrotas. El conjunto de Liniers ganó cinco de sus últimos siete partidos, sumando 17 de los 21 puntos en disputa. Así, fue como, tras un irregular comienzo de campeonato, pudo mejorar su posición y llegar con serias chances de consagrarse a la última jornada.

Mor er ikke vred, mor er skuffet.

Rousseff se dice "chocada" con la violencia en el fútbol brasileño

BRASILIA -- La presidenta brasileña, Dilma Rousseff, se manifestó "chocada" con una brutal pelea de hinchas durante un partido entre el Atlético Paranaense y el Vasco da Gama y afirmó que "el país del fútbol no puede convivir con esa violencia".

Los incidentes se registraron en el estadio Arena de Joinville en un partido de la última jornada de la liga nacional y decisivo para ambos equipos, pues el Paranaense necesitaba ganar para clasificarse a la Copa Libertadores y el Vasco da Gama también, pero para huir del descenso a la Segunda División.

En la gresca, que se desarrolló en las tribunas y obligó a interrumpir el partido durante una hora, participaron decenas de hinchas de varios equipos y cuatro personas resultaron heridas, tres de ellas de gravedad y que hoy permanecían hospitalizadas.

A través de su cuenta en la red social Twitter, Rousseff indicó que hoy conversó sobre el asunto con el ministro de Deportes, Aldo Rebelo, y que está convencida de que "es necesaria la presencia de la policía en los estadios y la prisión en flagrante en casos de violencia".

También propuso "la creación de una comisaría del hincha, para que escenas como las de este domingo sean cohibidas", pues "esa violencia va contra todo lo que creemos que es el fútbol, un deporte de pasión, pero también de tolerancia".

La condena de Rousseff se unió a la manifestada por el propio ministro Rebelo, quien mediante una nota oficial exigió hoy que los responsables por los incidentes sean "identificados y castigados".

La policía confirmó hoy que tres personas que participaron en la pelea han sido detenidas y serán acusadas de "intento de homicidio" y "asociación ilícita".

El partido se reanudó después de una hora interrumpido y acabó con una sonora goleada del Atlético Paranaense por 5-1, que condenó al Vasco da Gama a la Segunda División y le valió al equipo de Paraná su clasificación para la Libertadores de 2014.

Berti aguarda la evolución de Figueroa

BUENOS AIRES -- En la semana de preparación para el partido que Newell´s disputará ante Lanús, por la última fecha del Torneo Inicial, Alfredo Berti seguirá de cerca el progreso de Víctor Figueroa, quien se recupera de una distención en el soleo de la pierna izquierda.

Durante la práctica matutina del lunes, el surgido en las divisiones inferiores de Chacarita entrenó a la par del grupo y todo indica que ante Lanús se produciría su regreso, tras un mes de ausencia.

Por otro lado, a pesar de que todavía no se realizó un ensayo de fútbol formal, la intención de Alfredo Berti es modificar el esquema táctico y poner en cancha un esquema con dos mediocampistas de contención y tres que sean nexo entre los volantes y el único delantero, David Trezeguet.

En definitiva, en caso de llegar en condiciones Figueroa, los once de Newell´s serían: Nahuel Guzmán; Marcos Cáceres, Víctor López, Gabriel Heinze, Milton Casco; Diego Mateo, Hernán Villalba; Víctor Figueroa, Lucas Bernardi, Maxi Rodríguez; David Trezeguet.

Newell´s tiene 30 puntos en el Torneo Inicial, producto de ocho triunfos, seis empates y cuatro derrotas. Sin embargo, el gran déficit del conjunto rosarino se vio en las últimas siete fechas, ya que desde que perdió el clásico ante Rosario Central, apenas sumó cuatro de los 21 puntos en disputa.

A history of violence

The final round of fixtures in this year´s Brasileirao Serie A on Sunday promised great excitement, with almost half of the division´s 20 teams either chasing a qualifying spot for next year´s Copa Libertadores or battling against relegation.

Atletico-PR vs. Vasco da Gama, played at the Arena Joinville in the southern state of Santa Catarina, was especially loaded with tension, with the home team seeking a top-four finish and visitors Vasco in terrible trouble at the bottom.

But 17 minutes into the first half, the drama took a darker turn when fierce fighting broke out between Atletico and Vasco fans. The battle raged across the terraces for several minutes, with supporters kicking, punching and wielding improvised weapons. One particularly unpleasant scene saw the head of a prone fan being repeatedly stamped against the concrete.

After an age, the police arrived and used tear gas and rubber bullets to control the fighting; when the dust had settled, ambulances and a helicopter took four injured fans to hospital. Although rumours circulated during the game that one fan had died and the others were in a coma, one of the four has since been released and the other three have now regained consciousness. Remarkably, after a long delay the game was restarted. Vasco lost 5-1 and were relegated.

The violence was allowed to spiral sickeningly out of control at least in part because of a local law in the state of Santa Catarina that makes crowd control at "private events," including football matches, the responsibility of private security firms (and therefore ultimately the home club) and not the police.

The safety arrangements on Sunday were woefully inadequate, with only a cordon separating the two groups of fans and the police outside rather than inside the stadium, and with the "private security forces" at best unprepared and at worst nowhere to be seen.

Such violence is worryingly common in Brazil. According to the Brazilian magazine Lance!, there have been 30 football-related deaths this year, and a total of 234 since 1988. The real total may be even higher because many such fatalities occur far from stadiums, the result of long-running feuds between torcidas organizadas (officially fan clubs, but often simply hooligan gangs).

This year began with the tragic death of Kevin Espada, a 14-year-old fan of Bolivian side San Jose killed by a naval flare launched by a group of visiting Corinthians supporters at a Copa Libertadores tie. Afterward, 12 members of the Corinthians´ organizada Gavioes da Fiel suspected of the crime were held by Bolivian police for five months before being released due to a lack of evidence.

Then there was a highly visible brawl during the Vasco vs. Corinthians match at Brasilia´s spanking new World Cup venue, the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha, in August, with scrapping fans scattering families in their wake. And just a couple of weeks ago, new champions Cruzeiro´s official celebratory street party was canceled as rival factions of supporters of the Belo Horizonte side battled outside the Mineirao, another World Cup venue.

Although such fighting does not usually end in murder, the same cannot be said for the ongoing gang wars between organizadas, which can last for months or even years. A Fortaleza supporter was shot and killed on his way to the Serie C game with Luverdense in September, while seven ABC fans were shot, two fatally, after their team played ASA in Natal last month. From May 2011 to May 2012, no fewer than 11 fans were killed in a purported gang war between Goias and Vila Nova in the midwestern city of Goiania.

The reasons for such violence are many and complex. The most obvious is that a football crowd is a reflection of the society from whence it comes, and there can be no denying that violence leaves a dark stain on life in Brazil, where there were nearly 50,000 murders in 2012.

The majority of such deaths occur in the most overlooked parts of the country -- the deprived favelas and periferias (the outer suburbs of major cities), as well as the smaller towns and villages of the country´s interior, particularly in the north and northeast of the country, where the police presence is often minimal.

Most of those involved in Brazil´s football disorder come from such areas, where career and educational activities are often limited or nonexistent, and where violence, whether involving drugs gangs, organizadas or simple street crime, is an appallingly common part of life.

"Sometimes there will be a murder in the middle of the week, when there isn´t even a game on," Eduardo Barbosa, the president of Vila Nova FC, said about the deaths in Goiania last year. "Sometimes they´ll kill someone in a Goias shirt and say it was a Vila fan that did it, or the other way around. Often it has got nothing to do with football and is connected with drug gangs."

In eight years of watching football in Brazil, I have spent time in the company of torcida organizada gangs, particularly that of Santa Cruz in Recife, the Inferno Coral. Many of the people I met were lively, engaging company, at least until the talk turned to rival clubs or factions.

It is not easy to know what to say when the man you are sharing a beer with explains, with obvious pride, that the long, jagged knife scar across his abdomen is a souvenir from a fight at a Sport (Santa´s Recife rivals) vs. Goias game. (The organizadas are governed by a system of alliances, meaning that Inferno Coral were duty bound to accompany their allies from Goias to the game -- and in the fighting.)

I asked the same man why he felt the need to smash buses, to run onto football pitches, to fight with other young men he did not even know. Bright and articulate, he talked about the effects of growing up surrounded by poverty and violence. He told me that he was often involved in skirmishes with both neighbourhood gangs and the police when he was a teenager, and once he discovered Inferno Coral, fighting with rival groups was a logical step.

He described his lack of opportunities without complaint, saying that university and a decent job never seemed like an option. "If it had been," he said, "maybe I would have had something else to focus on."

Such an upbringing is neither an excuse nor a defence, but if a solution to the problem of football and wider violence in Brazil is ever to be found, it is surely important to understand why many of the country´s young, underprivileged supporters so readily turn to thuggery.

Brazilian society cannot be expected to transform itself overnight. But what is equally certain is that clubs and the Brazilian football authorities can do an awful lot more in the struggle against violence. It is clearly time that the clubs, which often subsidise the organizadas with free tickets and travel to away games, break their ties with gangs that continue to embrace violence, as Palmeiras did in March after players were threatened by members of the club´s Mancha Verde organizada following a defeat in Argentina.

A less ambiguous moral stance on the part of directors would also help. After the Kevin Espada tragedy, Corinthians seemed more concerned with avoiding a Libertadores ban than condemning those responsible for the boy´s death.

The Brazilian authorities, including the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation), an organisation that seems to alternate between ineffectiveness and outright negligence under the deadening hand of president Jose Maria Marin, together with the country´s justice system, could focus more on identifying the individuals responsible for criminal acts and charging them accordingly.

While it is encouraging that three Vasco fans involved in the melee at the Arena Joinville are to be charged with attempted murder, the policy of the STJD (Brazil´s sporting court) of banning clubs from playing in their own stadiums every time there is a violent incident has proved to be singularly ineffective.

Similarly a more intelligent, less confrontational approach to policing is required. The sight of gangs of organizada members kneeling on the ground, hands behind their heads, looking for all the world like a prison chain gang as the police surround them with weapons drawn in a pregame warning ritual, is all too common. Such actions can only contribute to the atmosphere of resentment and aggression that pervades the air outside grounds.


The glitz and glamour of the World Cup is a far cry from the gritty reality of life in Brazil´s domestic football leagues.

Stadium infrastructure, particularly in the lower divisions, is often terribly outdated, a reminder of the badlands of British football stadiums in the 1980s. The sight of women and children being hauled over the fence to safety at the recent ABC vs. Palmeiras game in Natal, for which the crowd allegedly exceeded stadium capacity, was a chilling visual echo of disasters past.

It is ironic that Sunday´s violence came just a few days after the lavish expense of the FIFA World Cup draw. While images of Brazil´s natural wonders and gleaming new stadiums blazed across the video screens in Bahia, the impression left upon anyone familiar with the dark underbelly of Brazilian football is that the relationship between the World Cup and the domestic game is an almost perfect reflection of wider society, with the Mundial representing the luxurious beachfront apartment buildings and gated communities of the country´s wealthier citizens, and the Brazilian club game the shabby and often unsafe streets of the periferias and favelas.

This is why the rash of hyperbolic "World Cup to Implode in Orgy of Violence" and other such colourful potential headlines that are sure to follow Sunday´s tragic events in Joinville will miss the point. The protective shield that will be thrown around next summer´s event by FIFA and the Brazilian authorities, coupled with expensive ticket prices, mean that the torcidas organizadas will most probably remain the barbarians at the World Cup gates. Nor will teenage gang members from the suburbs of Recife, Rio de Janeiro or any other big Brazilian city have much interest in scrapping with visiting Japanese or Iranian fans.

Instead it is the ordinary Brazilian fan who will suffer, as violence continues to cut a terrible swath across the domestic game.

Costa Rica Primera Division Wrap: Herediano, Alajuelense reach final


Herediano will face Alajuelense in the Costa Rica Primera Division final after advancing in contrasting fashion on Monday.

Having finished top of the standings in the first stage, Marvin Solano´s Herediano are favourites to claim the title and completed a 5-0 aggregate win over Cartagines in their semi-final.

Jose Cubero, Esteban Granados and Leandrinho were on the scoresheet in Herediano´s 3-0 win in the second leg at the Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero.

Cubero scrambled in the opener from a set-piece on 12 minutes to make life even more difficult for a Cartagines side already fighting an uphill battle.

Granados drilled in a 25-yard effort into the bottom corner just seven minutes later to double Herediano´s second-leg lead.

A fantastic team goal led to the sealer early in the second half, with Leandrinho completing the passing move with a fine long-range effort.

Herediano will be eyeing their 24th championship in the final against Alajuelense, who are looking to join Deportivo Saprissa as the most successful club in Costa Rica with 29.

Porfirio Lopez´s 25th-minute goal helped Alajuelense to a 1-0 win Deportivo Saprissa in their second leg at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.

Alajuelense advanced to the decider after the tie finished 1-1.

mål

http://www.youtube.com/w…uWrZkzBZ1HI

http://www.youtube.com/w…2LuVEXz-7qo

Argentina Primera Division Wrap: Belgrano finish with a win

Belgrano finished the Argentina Primera Division season on a high after a 1-0 win over All Boys saw them move into sixth.

Carlos Bueno´s 38th-minute goal gave Belgrano their third straight league victory and will see them end the Torneo Inicial in sixth spot.

With the top four, who are all vying for the title, having their matches pushed back to Sunday, Arsenal ensured they would finish fifth.

Mariano Echeverria cancelled out Lucas Albertengo´s opener as Arsenal rescued a point in a 1-1 draw at Atletico Rafaela.

Boca Juniors were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Gimnasia La Plata while Estudiantes were beaten 2-0 at home to Tigre.

Walter Acuna struck a 61st-minute winner to lead Rosario Central to a 2-1 win at Argentinos Juniors and Godoy Cruz suffered a surprise 2-0 loss at Racing Club.

David Vega scored a dramatic late goal as Olimpo edged lowly Colon 1-0, while Quilmes and River Plate played out a 1-1 draw.

Mål

http://www.youtube.com/w…N1vQkKefkQg

Soccer Roundup: heart-stopping last round ensures grand final title decider

Table toppers will meet in a grand final match after O’Higgins and Católica both win, Huachipato fires manager while Colo Colo displays faith in coach Tapia with full-time contract.

The Primera División final round played out over the weekend in such dramatic fashion it felt scripted. For neutrals, the topsy-turvy manner in which O’Higgins ensured a grand final title decider with Universidad Católica was thrilling — for fans it was surely torture.

Tied at the top of the table on 36 points apiece going into their respective matches on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., anything but an even points haul shared by both teams would have seen a champion crowned.

Nine times the goal tallies changed — twice the scoreline had Católica the league victor, once O’Higgins. In Talca, Mauricio Gómez put Rangers ahead via a penalty on 15 minutes, though his goal was cancelled out four minutes later by O’Higgins’ Julio Barroso. Just before the half, striker Pablo Calandria put the visitors ahead via a penalty, and with the score at 0-0 in La Calera the trophy edged its way closer to Rancagua. Eleven minutes after the break, however, Rodolfo González tied the game up for Rangers, and panic flickered through the away team. Contrasting a swashbuckling Católica side, O’Higgins earned tied top position this season on the back of an exemplary defensive record — such a tumultuous match was foreign territory for the players.

Incredibly, the 67th minute delivered a double blow to O’Higgins’ hopes — José Muñoz put Católica 1-0 up while Rangers made it 3-2 simultaneously. O’Higgins needed two goals in under half an hour to keep its title dream alive.

Midfielder Osmán Huerta’s bundled finish produced one on 78 minutes, though the traveling support’s chances diminished with each passing second, and tears pricked the eyes of many Rancagüinos as the game entered the desperate hinterland of injury time.

They need not have worried — as was the case so often this season, Calandria made the difference. The man simply does not accept defeat — in the dying stages he flung himself into every header and bust his lungs to reclaim the ball. His break came on 91 minutes — the Argentine galloped into the box toward a loose ball, fast enough that goalkeeper Nicolás Peric could not withdraw his mistimed challenge, clattering Calandria to the ground for a penalty. Peric was ejected, and with no more substitutes Rangers were forced to put an outfielder between the posts. It is a commonly held soccer superstition that the player who wins a spot-kick should never strike it, though in this case the penalty taker was never in doubt. Calandria strode up to the dead ball and fired it home, sending his fans into raptures, and his team into the finals.

Then, in an agonizing — close to needless — recoiling of tension, pulses fluttered around Estadio Fiscal one final time. News came through that an injury time goal had occurred in La Calera just seconds after the penalty. A collective gasp was replaced by rueful laughter — it wasn’t the equalizer that would have given O’Higgins its first major trophy, it was Católica’s own shining knight Ismael Sosa, scoring the team’s second and his ninth of the season, incidentally mirroring Calandria’s tally this semester.

Católica and O’Higgins will lock horns over 90 minutes on Tuesday, and a hair’s breadth divides the teams. O’Higgins handed Católica its only league home defeat of the season, while the Santiago side hit back in the Copa Chile quarter finals. The narrow margins that define this season’s most thrilling and unexpected rivalry were summed up by Católica manager Martín Lasarte when word from Talca reached him.

“We will be practising penalties.”

The grand final is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Estadio Nacional.

Colo Colo 2-0 Ñublense

Colo Colo will be under the stewardship of a new manager next season following the full-time appointment of interim coach Héctor Tapia. He indicated to press that there may be some changes afoot with club captain, Luis Mena, the first to possibly leave before next term begins.

Colo Colo and Ñublense clocked off the season all square with 24 points apiece after the home side bagged all three points on Sunday thanks to a penalty from midfielder Emiliano Vecchio and a Felipe Flores strike. However, the season ultimately ended in disappointment for both sets of fans as neither team managed to qualify for the Copa Libertadores playoffs.

Vecchio made the most of a soft challenge on 11 minutes before stepping up to take the penalty himself. No more than four minutes later striker Flores popped up unmarked in the penalty area to head in an accurate cross.

Ñublense
 did come close in the second half when substitute midfielder Tomás Lanzini rattled the upright with a fizzing free kick 25-yards out. Colo Colo, the most successful team in Chilean history, finish the season a disappointing eighth while minnows Ñublense
 wrap things up a single place above.

Unión Española 4-1 Cobresal

Three goals in eight second half minutes effectively put this encounter to bed as Unión Española prepared for their shot at Copa Libertadores glory in style. Sunday’s result also confines Cobresal to ninth place and a fruitless season.

Traveling defender Felipe Salinas was adjudged to have brought down striker Francesco Castro with a shirt pull in the 11th minute, resulting in a penalty driven in by Uruguayan midfielder Diego Scotti. A defensive horror show then gifted Cobresal an equalizer as goalkeeper Diego Sánchez and defender Jorge Ampuero dilly-dallied the ball to one another before Cobresal stole possession and punished Española with the softest of goals scored by midfielder Mariano Torres.

Before the second half onslaught Española had time to save a penalty after a handball — Sánchez making up for his earlier error with a fine save. Last season’s man of the moment Sebastián Jaime then hit his seventh of the season on 67 minutes with a low strike before midfielder Lorenzo Faravelli jinked his way through the defence and scored three minutes later.

Española saved the best for last as Castro placed a technically flawless volley beyond the keeper from 25-yards out — igniting wild celebration from the home support who will be hoping their team fares well against the best of South American opposition during the Copa Libertadores. The team had already qualified for the continent’s premier international club competition after winning the Transition Tournament earlier this year, though a third placed finish will hearten fans who saw their side open this season with the worst title defending record in top flight history.

Cobreloa 2-2 Universidad de Chile

A hard fought draw between mid-table Cobreloa and Universidad de Chile
 ensured the latter nailed down a playoff spot after cementing fourth place.

Given that Española already holds down a playoff place, second place will now play sixth placed Iquique — not fifth placed Palestino who will play fourth placed Universidad de Chile instead — to decide which team will join the league winners and Española to complete Chile’s three Copa Libertadores berths.

Each of Sunday’s four goals came in the last half hour of the match, the first arriving on 62 minutes when Cobreloa midfielder Cristian Gaitán reared his head completely unmarked to thump in a pinpoint cross. Universidad de Chile midfielder Igor Lichnovsky replied with the first of his brace six minutes later when he headed in a corner.

It wasn’t long before the Chilean grabbed his second on 72 minutes when the home defense failed to clear another corner. However, striker Ignacio Herrera scored a brilliant equalizer eight minutes from time when he deftly brought down a lofted through ball and drilled it past the helpless Johnny Herrera in goal.

Cobreloa ends the season in tenth after three losses from the side’s final four games.

Universidad de Concepción 1-1 Iquique

A 1-1 draw against Universidad de Concepción was enough to guarantee Iquique a Copa Libertadores playoff place against the loser of Tuesday’s league decider between O’Higgins and Universidad Católica.

On the lush, shaded greenery of Estadio Municipal de Yumbel it was Universidad de Concepción who looked the most dangerous during the early stages of Sunday’s duel. This pressure was rewarded with a headed goal from Diego Ruíz — his fifth of the season.

It wasn’t until the second half that Iquique began to create some chances and after a missed penalty veteran striker Manuel Villalobos leapt high to head in a fantastic cross from red-headed midfielder Santiago Romero in the 71st minute. As a result Concepción ends the season occupying 12th spot.

Palestino 1-2 Audax Italiano

Despite losing Sunday’s encounter with Audax Italiano 2-1, this season’s overachiever Palestino cemented a Copa Libertadores playoff place — finishing up an impressive fifth place in the standings.

Palestino will now face-off against fourth placed Universidad de Chile for the third and final Copa Libertadores spot, as opposed to third placed Unión Española, who qualify by virtue of winning the Transition Tournament.

An incredible solo goal by Palestino striker Roberto Gutiérrez put the home side ahead just after halftime but midfielder Marco Medel curled a beautiful left-footed free kick into the top corner on 62 minutes to make it 1-1.

Medel then supplied the ammunition for the unlikeliest of sources, defender Nelsón Saavedra, to head home seven minutes from time — his first goal of the season. Italiano move up a place to 14th winning three of the team’s last five games.

Everton 2-3 Huachipato

Huachipato head coach Jorge Pellicer has confirmed that he is leaving the club through mutual consent. After winning 2012’s Clausura under Pellicer the team’s form took a nose dive and the dizzy heights of Huachipato’s success and consequent Copa Libertadores qualification could not be repeated this term.

“I never intended to leave the team,” Pellicer told press after defeating Everton. “This is neither resignation or dismissal, but a mutual departure.”

Former Chile Under-20 national team coach Mario Salas will take the reigns next term until after agreeing a deal with Huachipato’s board that will take him through June 2015. Salas will manage in the top flight for the first time.

Despite a rare win on Friday night, the Talcahuano based team ends the season rooted to the bottom of the table with a dismal 13 points from 17 games. Midfielder Gabriel Sandoval rose above Everton’s defence to head home the game’s first goal on 11 minutes from a corner. Striker David Llanos then made it 2-0 shortly after halftime when he headed another corner beyond the flailing arms of Everton keeper Gustavo Delsasso.

The home team was handed a lifeline in the 56th minute when Huachipato keeper Nery Veloso bumbled the ball into his own net after failing to hold a free kick. However, midfielder Martín Rodríguez registered his second goal of the campaign with a clever chip ten minutes later, effectively ending any hopes of an Everton comeback.

Everton did grab a consolation goal through Argentine striker Emiliano Romero on 72 minutes but it was not enough to end the season any higher than 15th place in the overall standings.

Huachipato has the chance to salvage something from the Apertura when the team hosts Católica
 in the first semi-final leg of Copa Chile, Jan. 7.

Santiago Wanderers 1-1 Antofagasta

Santiago Wanderers and Antofagasta — two teams resigned to mid-table mediocrity — ended the season in typical fashion by grinding out a 1-1 draw Sunday. Neither side created many clear-cut chances and when an opportunity did arise a clinical finish usually went lacking.

Wanderers’ striker Marco Sebastián Pol and Antofagasta forward Javier Elizondo — last season’s joint top scorer — both wasted gilt-edged opportunities to go one up in the first half. It wasn’t until ten minutes after halftime that Pol atoned for his earlier miss, scoring his seventh goal of the season with a fine header.

However, the away team replied in the 78th minute with arguably the best move of the match as midfielder Luis Cabrera ran on to a through pass and placed the ball beyond the onrushing goalkeeper. Wanderers finish up the season in 13th while Antofagasta must settle for 11th.

Apertura upcoming fixtures:

Grand final at Estadio Nacional, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.: Universidad Católica vs. O’Higgins

Copa Libertadores play offs:

Estadio Municipal de La Cisterna, Dec. 13, 4 p.m.: Palestino vs. Universidad de Chile

Estadio Nacional, Dec 16, 4 p.m.: Universidad de Chile
 vs. Palestino

Iquique will play the loser of the league grand final on Dec. 13 and Dec. 16. The final of the Copa Libertadores play offs will take place over two legs on Dec. 19 and 22.

Mål

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