Snak

Mostaza Merlo: "Vivo preocupado"

BUENOS AIRES -- El técnico de Racing Club, Reinaldo Merlo, afirmó que "vive preocupado" luego de que su equipo sumara su tercera derrota consecutiva, a manos de Arsenal por 3-1, en Sarandí, cuando se llevan jugadas cuatro fechas en el torneo Final de fútbol.

"Vivo preocupado. Cuando perdés te preocupa todo, el resultado y el juego. Pero esto es largo", sostuvo un Merlo reticente a responder las preguntas de los periodistas.

"Tuvimos desatenciones con la pelota parada, algo que ya habíamos hablado, y lo pagamos caro", agregó visiblemente molesto ante cada consulta.

"En el segundo tiempo creamos algunas situaciones, pero no las concretamos. Este partido fue muy distinto a los de San Lorenzo (0-1) y Tigre (0-1). No se pueden comparar por más que perdimos los tres", opinó.

Y Merlo, por último, dijo: "Basta de preguntas muchachos. Hablé porque los respeto, pero ya fue suficiente", concluyó.

Alfaro: "Ahora estoy más tranquilo"

BUENOS AIRES -- El entrenador de Arsenal de Sarandí, Gustavo Alfaro, admitió que está "más tranquilo" tras los últimos dos triunfos que consiguió en el torneo Final de fútbol y destacó a su plantel "pese a que no es rico desde lo númerico ni desde los nombres".

"Por suerte ganamos el otro día en Bahía Blanca (a Olimpo 2-0) y hoy lo ratificamos sobre Racing (3-1). Por eso estoy más tranquilo", explicó Alfaro.
"Veníamos de perder la final de la Supercopa Argentina frente a Vélez (1-0), también por la Libertadores con Santos Laguna en México (1-0) y los dos primeros partidos del torneo con Estudiantes (1-0) y Vélez (3-1). Estaba preocupado", agregó.

"Nosotros no tenemos un plantel rico desde lo númerico ni desde los nombres, pero si parejo desde lo futbolístico. Y eso me

permite trabajar y rotar tranquilo", continuó.

Alfaro, por último, admitió que con el calendario "tan ajustado no hay tiempo para nada", pero se mostró "muy confiado en poder luchar en los dos frentes", tanto en el torneo Final como en la Copa Libertadores", sentenció.

Furch: "Este triunfo vale mucho"

BUENOS AIRES -- El delantero de Arsenal de Sarandí Julio Furch sostuvo que tiene "mucho valor" el triunfo sobre Racing Club por 3 a 1, por la cuarta fecha del torneo Final de fútbol, porque en el inicio del certamen "las cosas no les salieron bien".

"Este triunfo vale mucho porque habíamos arrancado el año con el pie izquierdo. Perdimos la Supercopa Argentina (con Vélez), también en el debut en la Copa Libertadores (contra Santos Laguna de México por el grupo 8) y a la vez en las dos primeras fechas del torneo", detalló Furch, autor del tercer gol de su equipo.

"Esta victoria hace que valga más lo que logramos el otro día en Bahía Blanca (2 a 0 sobre Olimpo). Vamos mejorando y tomando confianza", agregó el goleador.

Furch destacó que el equipo "poco a poco está volviendo a ser el de antes. Mostramos firmeza atrás y somos contudentes adelante", consideró.

Por su parte, el volante Ramiro Carrera, otros de los goleadores de la noche en Sarandí (marcó el 2 a 1), opinó que Arsenal jugó "un gran primer tiempo".

"Sacamos una buena diferencia en los primeros 45 minutos y después manejamos el desarrollo del partido. Estamos preparados para dar pelea en los dos frentes", concluyó Carrera.

Mauro Camoranesi habló tras la derrota de Racing frente a Arsenal

BUENOS AIRES -- El volante de Racing Club Mauro Camoranesi se mostró "muy triste" por haber sumado la tercera derrota consecutiva en el torneo Final de fútbol, pero avisó que su equipo está "vivo", tras la caída frente a Arsenal por 3-1, en Sarandí, por la cuarta fecha.

"Nos está costando ir en desventaja. Estamos tristes por este momento, pero estamos vivos y vamos a salir adelante", afirmó Camoranesi.

"No es fácil estar dos veces en desventaja y encima en pocos minutos. Tenemos que trabajar en eso", agregó.

Camoranesi, por último, destacó el muy buen juego del rival. "No debemos quitarles méritos a Arsenal. Es un equipo que tiene ideas claras", finalizó.

Copa Libertadores Preview: Universidad de Chile eye key win

Universidad de Chile could move three points clear at the top of Group 5 in the Copa Libertadores when they travel to Cruzeiro on Tuesday.

Cruzeiro lost their opening Copa Libertadores match 2-1 to Peru´s Real Garcilaso and have yet to start the Brazil Serie A season, while Universidad are already eight rounds into their Chile Primera Division campaign.

Universidad have only lost once this year but head coach Cristian Romero will want his team to tighten up defensively ahead of their trip to Brazil, after watching them come from behind to draw 3-3 at Audax Italiano on Friday.

Having taken the lead in the third minute of their league encounter in Santiago de Chile, Universidad conceded three times before the hour-mark.

But goals to Patricio Rubio, who has scored in Universidad´s past two matches, and Francisco Castro ensured Romero´s men claimed a point and extended their unbeaten run to three games.

Rubio´s goal against Audax Italiano was a fine piece of centre forward work, as he found a pocket of space on the edge of the area, turned his marker to receive the ball facing the goal and burst forward, before chipping the opposition goalkeeper from a tight angle.

If Universidad defeat Cruzeiro on Tuesday, they will move to six points after a 1-0 win over Defensor Sporting of Uruguay on the opening matchday.

Defensor and Garcilaso both have three points after the former defeated the latter 4-1 last week.

While the Brazil Serie A has not resumed this season, Cruzeiro have played since their loss to Garcilaso in the Minas Gerais state championship, drawing 0-0 with reigning Copa Libertadores champions Atletico Mineiro before wins over Guarani MG and Boa.

In Group 7, Emelec will also have a lot to play for as they travel to Brazil on Wednesday with a win at the Maracana against Flamengo set to take the Ecuadorian club to the top of the standings.

Emelec (three points) sit second in Group 7, one point behind Mexico´s Leon (four), who drew 1-1 with Bolivar (one) last week.

Flamengo (zero) lost 2-1 at Leon on matchday one, while Emelec defeated Bolivar 2-1.

The Ecuadorian champions won their local derby against Barcelona 2-1 on Saturday and have not lost in 19 competitive fixtures, while Flamengo have won three in a row in the Rio de Janeiro state championship since their loss in Mexico.

Four other Brazilian clubs will also be in action this week with Group 1 leaders Atletico Paranaense to travel to Velez Sarsfield of Argentina, Gremio will host Colombia´s Atletico Nacional in Group 6, Group 2´s top team Botafogo will head to Chile to play Union Espanola and Mineiro also face Colombian opposition in Group 4 in the shape of Santa Fe.

Argentina´s San Lorenzo and Newell´s Old Boys will complete the week´s Copa Libertadores action on Thursday with games against Independiente del Valle of Ecuador and Uruguay´s Nacional, while in other matches, Arsenal take on Deportivo Anzoategui on Tuesday and Cerro Porteno will host Lanus on Wednesday.

Ecuador Primera A Wrap: LDU Loja, Emelec win again

Emelec won 2-1 away to Barcelona on Saturday to keep the pressure on leaders LDU Loja in the Ecuador Primera A.

Loja maintained their unbeaten start to the Primera A season with a 1-0 win away to Deportivo Cuenca on Friday with Jonny Uchuari scoring the only goal of the game.

http://www.youtube.com/w…O3LrM2hGLMY

That win took Loja to 14 points at the top of the Ecuadorian league standings, while Emelec moved up to 13 with a game in hand after their victory in the Clasico del Astillero - or the Shipyard Derby - on Saturday.

Barcelona hosted their bitter local rivals at the Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo in Guayaquil with both sides scoring in the first half.

Osbaldo Lastra opened the scoring for Emelec in the 34th minute with a header from a corner but Cristian Penilla ensured Barcelona were level at half-time, taking advantage of an error in the visitors´ defence to score.

Emelec took the honours over their Guayaquil rivals thanks to Lastra´s 69th-minute goal, when the defensive midfielder knocked the ball home from Fernando Gaibor´s free-kick.


http://www.youtube.com/w…OaEmnoxoWy8

In Cuenca, Loja claimed their fourth win of the season with Uchuari scoring in the 74th minute, converting from the edge of the box past the home side´s onrushing goalkeeper after Fabricio Guevara´s initial shot was partially blocked.

Olmedo and Independiente del Valle both remain in contention after wins over Universidad Catolica and Manta, respectively.

In Quito, Olmedo snatched all three points against Catolica, thanks to Marco Mosquera´s 92nd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory.

http://www.youtube.com/w…YDnozhCcN9Y

Olmedo hit the front in the seventh minute through Romario Caicedo but Catolica looked set to claim a draw when Henry Patta struck with seven minutes remaining, until Mosquera´s stoppage-time goal clinched victory for the visitors.

The win took Olmedo to 11 points, ahead of Independiente on goal difference after the latter defeated Manta 1-0 on Saturday.

http://www.youtube.com/w…kqhkzRMR3Ao

In other results, Deportivo Quito drew 1-1 with local rivals LDU Quito and El Nacional won 1-0 away to Mushuc Runa.

http://www.youtube.com/w…HqArRgksAtA

Vigtigt at Victoria fik en uafgjort mod Real Sociedad i går - med en sejr i nat rykker RoRo og co. op på førstepladsen.

In Quito, Olmedo snatched all three points against Catolica, thanks to Marco Mosquera´s 92nd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory.

http://www.youtube.com/w…YDnozhCcN-9Y

det er godt nok en tarvelig målmand ved det første mål.

Will Pinilla, Valdivia seize their final chance with Chile?

Posted by Tim Vickery

As he prepares for the March 5 friendlies -- the last FIFA date friendlies before the World Cup squads are picked -- a coach will be pondering a question that might appear like a mathematical puzzle; is it better to play with a false nine or a genuine nine? Or, in football terms, field a penalty area, target man centre-forward or a floater roaming along and behind the attacking line?

It is a quandary that seems to be concentrating the mind of Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli. His sides will vary their defensive setup -- switching between a back three or four, according to the opponents and the circumstances of the game -- but the little Argentine usually likes to play with a front three, using the full width of the pitch to stretch the rival defence.

But he can go about this in different ways. One recipe is to push his quick and skilful strikers Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas out to the flanks and use a target man in the middle.

But whom? The traditional choice, Humberto Suazo, has been struck down by injury. Young Angelo Henriquez, on loan at Zaragoza from Manchester United, has been tried out but might not yet be ready. And so when Chile face Germany on March 5, there could well be an opportunity for Mauricio Pinilla, one of football´s errant souls, to stake a claim.

Now 30, "Pini-gol" was a child prodigy. He was playing for the national team, and looking thoroughly at home at the level, when he was still a teenager. Tall and strong, subtle and technical, he seemed destined for greatness.

But the celebrity trappings proved too difficult to avoid. Football ceased to be the priority of a young man who was found more easily in the gossip pages than the sports section. A world tour took him to clubs in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Scotland, back to Chile, on to Brazil and then to Cyprus, making little impression on any of these foreign fields.

Maturity came late, but when he finally realised that his footballing talent had a sell-by date, Pinilla was a changed man. For the past five years, he has been a consistently dangerous centre-forward in Italian football, first with Grosseto in the second division, then with Palermo and now with Cagliari.

The World Cup has been a significant motivating effect. This year will almost certainly be Pinilla´s only chance to play in the competition, and so being named in the squad to face Germany is undoubtedly an important moment in his career.

He is likely to face competition from Esteban Paredes, a veteran of the last World Cup, who recently moved back to Chilean football in a bid to catch the coach´s eye. But the biggest threat to Pinilla´s hopes could come from someone who is not even a centre-forward.

Jorge Valdivia is an attacking midfielder who plays his football with an impish sense of destructive pleasure. He is capable of the sublime -- the gleeful, cackling push through the legs of an opponent, the unpredictable slip pass that takes out the entire opposing defence.

But Valdivia can also cut a desperately frustrating figure. His fitness and focus can leave much to be desired, which almost certainly explains why his stints in Europe (Spain and Switzerland) were short and unproductive. He has played much of his recent football for Palmeiras in Brazil, where he is now in his second spell. Some consider him an idol -- others an expensive luxury -- and his international career has been littered with incidents of indiscipline.

But Valdivia, like Pinilla, is now 30. The World Cup is his big moment to make a mark, and coach Sampaoli is a huge admirer of Valdivia´s ability to create something out of nothing.

In the past three rounds of World Cup qualification, even though he was less than fully fit, Valdivia operated in the false-nine role, with Sanchez and Vargas pushed wide ahead of him. Chile scored eight times in those matches, winning two and drawing away to Colombia after going three goals up but then having a man sent off.

At the time, Sampaoli commented that Valdivia would have to work on his fitness to make an impact on the World Cup. The Germany game, then, is a test for him as well. Can he shine against such physically imposing opponents? Because there will be no space for passengers in World Cup group games against Holland and Spain, the two finalists from four years ago.

There is all to play for, then, as the wild child No. 9 and the enfant terrible playmaker seek to channel their talent and use it in the service of Sampaoli´s exciting Chile side.

Calling on Europe, 8 added to El Tri roster

With the latest lineup of El Tri players released, Miguel Herrera´s prefered team is emerging. While still heavy on Club America players (five), it´s not the TriAmerica of previous editions. Against Nigeria in the upcoming friendly on March 5 (8:30PM ET on ESPNEWS, WatchESPN) at the Georgia Dome, fans will finally be able to see how Herrera incorporates the European-based Mexican players into his system.

Certain domestic players have clearly emerged as his favorites, though.

There´s no denying that Herrera holds veteran Rafael Marquez in great esteem, for example. The coach has avowed that the defender will go to Brazil as captain of Mexico´s World Cup squad.

Everyone one else is fighting for spots, however. Alan Pulido´s hat trick in Mexico´s last friendly, for example, seems to have pushed Raul Jimenez out of the picture, despite his bicycle-kick miracle versus Panama in World Cup qualifying.

Meanwhile, Marco Fabian’s latest run of form with Cruz Azul, while impressive to many doesn’t appear to have convinced Herrera to call him.

In some ways, it’s surprising that so many Club America players were called in, given that the club isn’t dominating Liga MX as it once did. But Herrera sticks with those he knows, so Miguel Layun, Paul Aguilar, Moises Munoz, Juan Carlos Medina and Francisco Javier Rodriguez are all on board.

Then again, Herrera is also counting on four Leon players, even though that club is struggling even worse than Las Aguilas. Besides Marquez, Jose Juan Vasquez, Luis Montes and Carlos ´Gullit´ Pena have been called on to form a key part of the squad.

What´s interesting is that despite their heroics for the national team, Alan Pulido and Oribe Peralta have struggled somewhat in domestic action lately. Pulido´s club, Tigres, is dead last in Liga MX and Peralta´s scoring touch has deserted him with Santos Laguna. Yet they´ve managed to score with El Tri, so perhaps they are the perfect partners to help pull Javier Hernandez out of his international scoring drought. Giovani Dos Santos, while listed as a forward, will probably play more as a withdrawn forward or attacking midfielder.

Aside from Carlos Vela, the number of European players called in indicates that this match, for all intents and purposes, is their tryout for Herrera. If the participants do not disappoint, this roster could closely resemble the eventual World Cup list of players.

Players who have the most to prove include Andres Guardado, who is in a bit of a career slump. Diego Reyes is also looking for redemption after making crucial mistakes in Mexico´s last match. Guillermo Ochoa will also need to have top-level performances in both practices and match play in order to convince Herrera to consider him seriously as the team´s top goalkeeper. Ochoa shines as a shotstopper, while Herrera´s team play requires someone who can also distribute the ball well.

Besides Pulido´s goalfest, young players who have impressed Herrera in recent matches include defender Miguel Ponce and midfielder Isaac Brizuela. Both Toluca players have shown initiative and creative ability in matches to help spark Mexico´s attacks.

Mexico´s squad has performed well, if not brilliantly, in previous matches with Herrera in charge. His perfect coaching record of consecutive victories bears this out. With players eager to prove their worth to lock down a World Cup spot, there is every reason to think Mexico will perform well again. If not, a reshuffle of players could be the result.

From Liga MX: Jesus Corona, Moises Munoz, Paul Aguilar, Enrique Perez, Juan Carlos Valenzuela, Rafael Marquez, Francisco Javier Rodriguez, Miguel Ponce, Miguel Layun, Jose Juan Vázquez, Juan Carlos Medina, Isaac Brizuela, Luis Montes, Carlos Pena, Alan Pulido, Oribe Peralta

From Europe: Hector Moreno, Guillermo Ochoa, Javier Hernandez, Giovani Dos Santos, Javier Aquino, Hector Herrera, Diego Reyes, Andres Guardado