Snak

Liga del Futbol Profesional Boliviano Wrap: The Strongest held, Universitario move top

The Strongest have been held to a 3-3 draw by Bolivar, allowing Universitario to move top of the Liga del Futbol Profesional Boliviano (LFPB).

Universitario scored a goal in each half to overcome Nacional Potosi 2-0 and edge ahead of The Strongest on goal difference at the top of the LFPB table.

In the Clasico Paceno in La Paz, The Strongest led on three occasions but were unable to stay ahead of Bolivar with William Ferreira dragging the men in sky blue level twice in the second half.

The Strongest hit the front in the opening minute at Estadio Hernando Siles when Pablo Escobar burst into the box to get on the end of a right-wing cross and poke the ball into the net.

A powerful free-kick from Rudy Cardozo saw Bolivar draw level in the 15th minute on Friday but The Strongest led at half-time through Boris Alfaro´s fine finish just after the half-hour mark.

Ferreira equalised three minutes after half-time with a close-range header before Alfaro tapped home Escobar´s cross in the 72nd minute to see The Strongest take the lead for the third time in the Bolivian capital.

But Bolivar had the last laugh with Ricardo Pedriel doing brilliantly to bring down a long ball in the 82nd minute, before beating two opponents and then slipping a pass through to Ferreira, who finished from the edge of the penalty area.

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Universitario took advantage of that result on Sunday with Alan Loras and Martin Palavicini scoring either side of half-time, handing Nacional Potosi their second straight loss, and taking the lead in the Bolivian top tier of football.

http://www.youtube.com/w…zHqRDkc24rM

With three wins and a draw, Universitario remain unbeaten in the Clausura campaign and lead The Strongest by three goals worth of goal difference and they have a game in hand on the La Paz giants.

Universitario (10 points, plus five, four games) sit top, followed by The Strongest (10 points, plus two, five games) and Sport Boys (nine points, plus four, four games).

Sport Boys moved within a point of the leaders with a 3-1 win away to Blooming on Monday thanks to a first-half brace from Anderson Gonzaga.

http://www.youtube.com/w…Mmc2FlxSals

In other results, Real Potosi drew 1-1 with Guabira, San Jose defeated Aurora 2-1 to claim their first win of the season, while Oriente Petrolero scored twice after the 88th minute to draw 2-2 with Wilstermann.

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Colombia Primera A Wrap: Millonarios stun Atletico Nacional

Millonarios have ended Atletico Nacional´s perfect start to the Colombia Primera A season as Santa Fe capitalised to go top of the league.

Atletico Nacional had won their opening three games of the campaign but were brought back down to earth on Sunday with a 3-1 loss at Millonarios, while Santa Fe triumphed 2-0 away to Medellin to maintain their perfect record and claim a three-point lead in the standings.

Santa Fe have 12 points after their four wins, while Nacional have dropped to second on nine.

In Bogota, Millonarios opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Dayro Moreno got free through the middle of Nacional´s defence and, although the 28-year-old was close to being offside, the flag stayed down and he slotted the ball home with the outside of his right foot.

It was 2-0 inside 30 minutes with Omar Vasquez adding the home side´s second, ghosting in at the back post to finish from inside the six-yard box.

A curling free-kick into the top corner from Edwin Cardona saw the visitors pull a goal back on the hour-mark.

But Millonarios put their foot back on Nacional´s throat with a third goal in the 65th minute through Roman Torres.

Both sides ended the game with 10 players, with Nacional´s Alexis Henriquez sent off in the 73rd minute and Vasquez being shown a straight red three minutes later.

http://www.youtube.com/w…PzgcbgZpNU8


With Boyaca Chico also losing on Sunday - they went down 1-0 at Deportes Tolima - Santa Fe ended the fourth round on top with Sergio Herrera and Luis Seijas scoring in the first half in their side´s win over Medellin.

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Junior and Once Caldas moved to within a point of Nacional and Boyaca Chico, while La Equidad moved up to seven points.

Junior drew 0-0 away to Fortaleza on Monday, while Once Caldas triumphed 1-0 on the road at Deportivo Cali and La Equidad defeated Envigado 3-1.


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In other results, Uniautonoma drew 1-1 with Itagui, Patriotas Boyaca trumped Atletico Huila 3-1 and Alianza Petrolera claimed a 1-1 draw versus Deportivo Pasto.

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Argentina Primera Division Wrap: Racing go top

Racing have claimed top spot after the opening round of Argentina´s Primera Division Torneo Final, trumping Colon 3-0.

While Racing edged to the top of the table on goal difference, Torneo Inicial champions San Lorenzo started the new campaign with a 2-0 loss away to Olimpo, while Copa Sudamericana champions Lanus needed a sublime second-half finish from Ismael Blanco to draw 2-2 at Belgrano.

Racing got their season off to a flying start with a stunning opening goal of the season from Valentin Viola.

The 22-year-old striker unleashed a bicycle kick to send Diego Villar´s cross past Colon goalkeeper German Montoya in the 38th minute on Saturday and Racing led 2-0 at half-time after Gabriel Hauche burst away in stoppage time to finish from a tight angle.

Racing capped off their three-goal victory in the 90th minute when Hauche cut the ball back to Luciano Vietto for a simple tap-in.

The Buenos Aires-based club lead the Primera Division with a goal difference of plus three ahead of Olimpo (plus two).

Argentinos Juniors, Estudiantes, River Plate and Rosario Central (all plus one) are also on three points, just behind Racing and Olimpo.

Olimpo triumphed on Friday thanks to second-half goals from Ezequiel Miralles and Ivan Furios as San Lorenzo began their Torneo Final campaign poorly.

Argentinos Juniors defeated Godoy Cruz 2-1, while Estudiantes, River Plate and Rosario Central all won 1-0 over Arsenal, Gimnasia La Plata and Quilmes respectively.

In the final game of the round on Monday, Lanus led early but had to come from behind in the second half to earn a point at Belgrano´s Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.

Jorge Ortiz gave the visitors the lead in the 10th minute before an own goal from Paolo Goltz saw Belgrano equalise just after the half-hour mark.

The hosts hit the front in the 40th minute thanks to a penalty from Luciano Lollo but Lanus eventually claimed a draw when Blanco ran onto Victor Ayala´s pass with 14 minutes remaining, before delicately chipping the ball over Juan Olave to make the score 2-2.

In other results, Velez Sarsfield were held to a 0-0 draw by Tigre, Atletico Rafaela came from behind to draw 1-1 with All Boys and last season´s Torneo Final champions Newell´s Old Boys played out a scoreless stalemate with Boca Juniors.

Mål

http://www.youtube.com/w…aU48FEyRZ2I

Arsenal, con dudas para el debut por Copa

BUENOS AIRES -- El plantel de Arsenal, instalado en México desde el domingo, realizó el reconocimiento del estadio del Santos Laguna, equipo al que enfrentará este martes, a las 20.15, en su debut por la Copa Libertadores.

El equipo dirigido por Gustavo Alfaro no contará con la presencia de Diego Braghieri, quien se quedó en Buenos Aires por una distensión en el aductor derecho. Su lugar sería ocupado por Diego Casais, quien formará así la dupla central junto a Mariano Echeverría.

Tras la derrota ante Estudiantes por la fecha inicial del torneo local, el entrenador podría determinar el ingreso de Franco Zuculini en lugar de Matías Zaldivia. Además, Jonathan Gómez se retiró lesionado en aquel encuentro, aunque se calcula que llegará sin inconvenientes. De lo contrario, será reemplazado por Martín Rolle.

Con estos interrogantes, los once de Arsenal para el debut copero serían: Christian Campestrini; Hugo Nervo, Echeverría, Casais, Damián Pérez; Ramiro Carrera, Ivan Marcone, Zuculini o Zaldivia, Gómez o Rolle; Julio Furch y Emilio Zelaya.

Por su parte, el mediocampista Matías Sánchez (ex Estudiantes de La Plata y Racing), recientemente incorporado, también permanece en Buenos Aires terminando su puesta a punto. De la misma forma que Leandro González Pirez (ex River), quien acordó su vinculación a préstamo por seis meses, procedente del Racing Genk del fútbol de Bélgica.

Arsenal disputó 4 partidos ante equipos mexicanos, todos por la Copa Sudamericana 2007. El conjunto de Sarandí ganó 2, empató 1 y perdió otro, con 7 goles a favor y 5 en contra.

Verón se entrenó en Estudiantes

BUENOS AIRES -- El capitán y referente de Estudiantes de La Plata, Juan Sebastián Verón, está en condiciones de reaparecer este sábado ante All Boys, en partido de la segunda fecha del Torneo Final 2014 de Primera división.

El experimentado mediocampista ya cumplió la fecha de suspensión que arrastraba por la expulsión que recibió ante Tigre (0-2), por la última fecha del Inicial 2013.

Y además, la Brujita Verón ya está mucho mejor de una molestia en su tobillo, lesión que lo tuvo a maltraer durante la pasada campaña.

Verón y el zaguero uruguayo Matías Aguirregaray (quien se recupera de una lesión ligamentaria) fueron los únicos componentes del plantel "pincha" que trabajaron durante el fin de semana, en donde el DT Mauricio Pellegrino le dio licencia al resto del plantel, tras la victoria del viernes con Arsenal (1-0).

Para el compromiso del sábado a las 17 en Floresta, ante un rival al que no le pudo ganar como visitante en su regreso a la Primera División desde 2010, Estudiantes contaría con el retorno de su principal figura.

El técnico Pellegrino quedó muy conforme con el rendimiento exhibido el viernes pasado ante los de Sarandí, razón por la cual la inclusión de la Bruja se daría en lugar de Román Martínez, en la zona central de la cancha.

Jonatan Silva, autor del tanto del triunfo ante Arsenal, consideró: "Hicimos un buen partido y pudimos llevar adelante todo lo que nos pidió el entrenador. Vencimos a un rival muy duro y nuestra obligación es seguir por este camino".

"Me fui muy contento por haber marcado y el gol me estimula a seguir buscando con mayor decisión. El grupo está muy bien y los grandes nos transmiten tranquilidad, así que nosotros (los más chicos) debemos escuchar y aprender", agregó el juvenil lateral de 19 años.

El martes, la actividad estará desdoblada. Desde las 9.30 los que fueron titulares más Verón se entrenarán en el Country y por la tarde el resto de los profesionales más un grupo de juveniles jugarán desde las 17 el partido de Reserva suspendido el viernes último contra Arsenal.

En ese sentido, el grupo de futbolistas con que podrá contar Hermes Desio, actual técnico de la Reserva, estará conformado por Agustín Silva y Nahuel Losada como arqueros; Lucas Diarte, Germán Re, Ernesto Goñi, Matías Presentado y Mauricio Rosales como defensores; Israel Damonte, Patricio Rodríguez, Jorge Luna, Mariano González, Julián Marchinbi, Franco Piergiácomi, Juan Perotti y Gabriel Seijas como mediocampistas; y Juan Manuel Olivera, Alvaro Klusener y Leandro Sandoval como atacantes.

La idea consistía en que sumara minutos Verón, pero está imposibilitado por la fecha de suspensión que debía purgar.

Flamengo announce 2014 Copa Libertadores squad

Flamengo have submitted their 30 man squad for this year´s Copa Libertadores, which gets underway on Tuesday evening. The Rio de Janeiro club open their Group 7 campaign in Mexico against Leon on Thursday.

The Rubro-Negro have decided to include new signing Erazo plus forward Paulinho, who is on loan to the club from Piracicaba.

There is not however, a place in Flamengo´s squad for Chilean 33 year-old centre back Marco Gonzalez, who misses out on a second Copa Libertadores altogehter.

Striker Hernane, who has started 2014 with a stream of goals, will sperhead the club´s bid for a second continental triumph.

Fixtures for opening Copa Libertadores week

The Brazilian sides involved in the 2014 Copa Libertadores begin their respective campaigns this week as the tournament enters the Group Stages and these are the following times for this first week´s games (GMT):

Tues 11/2- Botafogo v San Lorenzo (Argentina) 2200

Wed 12/2- Zamora (Venezuela) v Atletico Mineiro 0015

Thur 13/2- Leon (Mexico) v Flamengo 0000

Real Garcilaso (Peru) v Cruzeiro 0000

Atletico PR v The Strongest (Bolivia) 2200

Fri 14/2- Nacional (Paraguay) v Gremio 0015

Report: Parma target Grêmio midfielder Ramiro

Parma will make a move for Grêmio midfielder Ramiro in the summer, according to reports.

A Bola claims that Ducali had scouts watch the 20 year-old in the Brasileirão last season and were sufficiently impressed to recommend making a bid.

Should Parma move for Ramiro, they will likely face competition from a host of other Serie A sides. Lazio, Roma and Torino were linked with the youngster last month, with reports also suggest league leaders Juventus are monitoring developments.

The Bridgestone Libertadores has a full slate of games this week

Santos Laguna will look for the win against Arsenal in their return to the Libertadores

After a ten year absence from the Copa Libertadores, Santos Laguna of Mexico will look to take advantage of home field advantage on Tuesday against Arsenal de Sarandi of Argentina in the first match of the group phase to be held in the new Estadio Corona stadium in Torreón (north) starting at 6:15 local time (00h15 GMT). The match corresponds to Group 8.

The match will be refereed by Colombian Adrian Velez, being assisted by his compatriots Wilson Berrio and Alexander Guzman.

Probable starting lineups:

Santos Laguna: Oswaldo Sánchez, José Javier Abella, Néstor Araujo, Rafael Figueroa, Jonathan Lacerda, Néstor Calderón, Juan Pablo Rodríguez, Marc Crosas, Ribaís Rodríguez, Carlos Darwin Quintero and Oribe Peralta. COACH: Pedro Caixinha.

Arsenal: Cristian Campestrini, Martín Nervo, Mariano Echeverría, Eduardo Casais, Damián Pérez, Franco Zuculini, Iván Marcone, Ramiro Carrera, Matías Zaldivia, Emilio Zelaya and Julio Furch. COACH: Gustavo Alfaro.

Zamora looks to surprise reigning champion Atlético Mineiro

Venezuela´s Zamora, leader of their local tournament, will try to surprise Brazil´s Atlético Minero and Ronaldinho in a Group 4 matchup.

The match will be played on Tuesday at the La Carolina Barinas stadium starting at 7:45 pm (00h15 GMT). Calling the game will be Vigliano Mauro, Diego Bonfa and Ernesto Uziga (Argentina).

Posible starting lineups:

Zamora: Yáñez Angulo - Layneker Zafra, Johnattan España, Felipe García, Luis Ovalle - Luis Vargas, Arles Flores, Jhon Murillo, Pedro Ramírez- Ricardo Clarke and Juan Falcón. COACH: Noel Sanvicente.

Atlético Mineiro: Víctor - Marcos Rocha, Nicolás Otamendi, Leonardo Silva, Rever - Pierre, Josue, Ronaldhino, Diego Tardelli - Jô and Fernandinho. COACH: Paulo Autuori.


Botafogo welcomes Pope Francis´s team San Lorenzo

Brazilian club Botafogo, again in the Copa Libertadores for the first time since 1996, welcomes on Tuesday at 8:00 pm at the legendary Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro club San Lorenzo, the Argentine Apertura tournament champion and the favorite of Pope Francis.

Botafogo seek another win after the 4-0 win over Deportivo Quito last week, which allowed them to advance to the group stage.

Possible starting lineups:

Botafogo: Jefferson - Edílson, Bolívar, Dória, Julio Cesar - Gabriel, Marcelo Mattos, Jorge Wagner, Lodeiro - Wallyson and Ferreyra. COACH: Eduardo Húngaro.

San Lorenzo: Sebastián Torrico - Julio Buffarini, Pablo Alvarado, Santiago Gentiletti, Emmanuel Mas - Juan Mercier, Néstor Ortigoza, Leandro Romagnoli, Angel Correa, Ignacio Piatti - Nicolás Blandi. COACH: Edgardo Bauza.


Universitario, three years out of the Libertadores, debuts against Vélez

Peruvian champion, Universitario de Deportes, absent for three years from the Libertadores, debuts against Argentina´s Vélez Sarsfield in Lima on Tuesday in the first leg of corresponding to Group 1.

The match will start at 9:30 pm local time (02h30 GMT Wednesday) at the Monumental stadium in Lima.

The match referee will be Ecuadorian Roddy Zambrano, who will be assisted by his compatriots Carlos Herrera and Luis Vera.

Probable starting lineups:

Universitario: José Carvallo; Fernando Alloco, Dalton Moreira, Diego Chávez; Dalton Moreira; Sebatián Luna; Antonio Gonzales, Rainer Torres, Carlos Olascuaga; Cris Martínez, Raúl Ruidíaz. COACH: Angel Comizzo.

Vélez: Sebastián Sosa; Emiliano Papa, Fernando Tobio, Sebastián Domínguez; Agustín Allione, Alejandro Cabral, Fabián Cubero, Héctor Canteros, Lucas Daniel Romero; Lucas Pratto, Mauro Zárate. COACH: José Oscar Flores.



Santa Fe and Nacional of Paraguay go at it in Colombia

Colombia´s Independiente Santa Fe looks on Tuesday in Bogota to assert themselves against Nacional of Paraguay in their first game of Group 4.

Santa Fe, who left Morelia of Mexico on the road in the first phase, arrives for the match on a good streak. The match will be played at the El Campin Stadium starting at 9:30 pm local time (02h30 GMT Wednesday).

The match will be called by Argentine referee Germán Delfino, accompanied by his countrymen Iván Núñez Gustavo Rossi.

Probable starting lineups:

Independiente Santa Fe: Camilo Vargas - Sergio Otálvaro, José Julián De la Cuesta, Francisco Meza, Luis Carlos Arias - Daniel Torres, Omar Pérez, Edison Méndez - Jefferson Cuero, Jhonatan Copete and Wilder Medina. COACH: Wilson Gutiérrez.

Nacional: Oscar Agüero - Raúl Piris, Marcos Miers, Fabián Balbuena, Ramón Coronel - Derlis Orue, Silvio Torales, Carlos Ruiz Peralta, Nicolás Martínez - Julio Santa Cruz and Fredy Bareiro. COACH: Gustavo Morinigo.

Campeonato Carioca’s 7th Round Ends: Daily

No win for Vasco or Botafogo as Fluminense stay in the top spot of the 2014 state football tournament.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The seventh round of the Campeonato Carioca drew to an end yesterday, with Vasco held to a 1-1 draw by Nova Iguaçu. The previous day, Fluminense beat Flamengo 3-0 while Botafogo slipped 1-0 to Friburguense.

Vasco’s draw meant they missed the chance to go top of the table. Having taken the lead through a fortuitous own goal, a 91st minute Nova Iguaçu equalizer left Vasco in third place.

The result was a fair one, as the Cruz-Maltino played poorly and created little in the searing heat. Nova Iguaçu are now only one point off the top four and a place in the knock-out stages of the state tournament.

Following the euphoria of their qualification for the Copa Libertadores group stages, Botafogo were brought back down to earth with defeat against Friburguense. Coach Hungaro fielded a reserve side prior to Tuesday’s continental clash with Argentine outfit San Lorenzo, but would still have expected better from his side.

The Glorioso took the game to their less distinguished opponents but failed to find a way through. Just 693 fans attended the game, a record low in the Campeonato Carioca, once again asking the question of the validity of the state tournament. With just five points so far, Botafogo are in danger of failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Their next state encounter is against Bonsucesso.

Campeonato Carioca Round 7 Results in Full:

Botafogo 0-1 Friburguense
Madureira 2-1 Cabofriense
Flamengo 0-3 Fluminense
Bonsucesso 1-1 Resende
Nova Iguaçu 1-1 Vasco
Bangu 0-2 Macaé
Audax 0-0 Volta Redonda
Boavista 4-1 Duque de Caxias


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