Snak

Vélez: descansarán Allione y Canteros

BUENOS AIRES -- La seguidilla de partidos que tendrá Vélez en los próximos días obligan a José Oscar Flores a balancear los minutos de sus jugadores y alternar para darles descanso y no sobrecargarlos.

Por eso, pensando en el partido a jugarse en la tarde del martes ante Quilmes, el entrenador no concentrará a Héctor Canteros y Agustín Allione a quienes les dará descanso para que se recuperen de algunas dolencias arrastradas desde el partido del fin de semana ante Argentinos. En sus lugares, ingresarían Ariel Cabral y Héctor Canteros, respectivamente.

En definitiva, los once para recibir a Quilmes serían: Sebastián Sosa; Fabián Cubero, Sebastián Domínguez, Facundo Cardozo, Emiliano Papa; Jorge Correa, Leandro Desábato, Lucas Romero, Ariel Cabral; Mauro Zárate, Lucas Pratto.

Además, completarán la nómina de concentrados: Alan Aguerre, Matías Pérez Acuña, Juan Sabia, Leonardo Rolón, Yamil Asad y Roberto Nanni.

Vélez recibirá a Quilmes desde las 17:10 hs. del martes, con el arbitraje de Mauro Gianinni. El conjunto de Liniers buscará recuperarse tras las dos derrotas consecutivas ante Racing y Argentinos Juniors.

Flamengo are 2014 Campeonato Carioca Champions: Daily

Flamengo lift 33rd state crown after late strike against Vasco yesterday at the iconic Maracanã Stadium.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Flamengo won the 2014 Campeonato Carioca with a controversial late offside goal yesterday afternoon at the expense of Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã. The last-gasp strike gave Flamengo a 1-1 draw in the state championship final, and with a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week, was enough to lift the Carioca crown.

The success was the Rubro-Negro‘s 33rd triumph in the Campeonato Carioca. Their last title came in 2011, again against Vasco. Márcio Araújo stabbed home from a corner after it appeared Vasco had done enough to lift their first state crown since 2003. Douglas had converted a penalty to give them a slender advantage.

However, Flamengo‘s late winner was shrouded in controversy. Replays showed that when Wallace connected with the corner Nixon, on as a late substitute, was in a clear offside position.

As he went for the same rebound – Wallace’s header having cannoned off the crossbar – he was blatantly interfering with play at the time of the crucial Flamengo leveler, which eventually decided the state title.

Many felt the correct decision would have been for the linesman to raise his flag and disallow the goal. However, it was allowed to stand, much to the chagrin of the Vasco players, and Flamengo were declared champions.

The result gave Fla some light relief after their early elimination from the Copa Libertadores. Now, they will look to reenter the continental competition via the Campeonato Brasileiro, which kicks off this coming weekend.

Vasco, meanwhile, continue their barren run in the state championship. Coming so close to the Carioca crown was the same bittersweet pill that saw them relegated to the national second division last year.



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Soccer roundup: Colo Colo wins 30th campeonato to end drought

An emotional Héctor Tapia celebrates guiding his team to its first league title since 2009 after beating Santiago Wanderers 1-0.

Colo Colo, the country’s most successful football club, returned to the summit of Chilean soccer Sunday, overcoming both nerves and a determined Santiago Wanderers side to become league champions for the 30th time and ending the club’s four year wait for the title in the process.

Héctor Tapia guided the club to end its second-longest period without a league title after taking the reins last season — the longest stretch was between 1972 and 1979 — but the manager was quick to deflect the praise onto his players.

“It’s very emotional for me. It was a really difficult campaign, but I’m happy,” he said. “The players deserve it, the success is down to them. They made all of this possible and I take my hat off to them for how they worked to bring this joy to the people.”

That joy was too much for some — according to a press release from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, following the match with Santiago Wanderers almost 400 Transantiago buses were vandalized by rejoicing fans, while seven others were hijacked and one SuBus vehicle was even stolen. The subsequent lack of buses in circulation directly affected 11 districts, including Estación Central, La Florida and Renca.

However, nothing could mar a day of intense celebration for the manager and his players. It was a particularly special day for Tapia, initially an interim manager following the departure of Gustavo Benítez in October 2013, who has greatly exceeded the expectations that usually accompany the role.

The young manager spoke throughout the season of his team’s maturity, which benefited from a strong spine of experienced players who pulled the team through several tests of character and resolve.

The side conceded just 15 goals in the league, the second fewest of any side after O’Higgins, on the way to clinching the title — 36-year-old goalkeeper Justo Villar was an assured presence between the posts and enjoyed the protection of a defense expertly marshalled by 29-year-old Julio Barroso. The centerback joined after winning the league with O’Higgins last season, bringing with him the knowledge of exactly what it takes to win the campeonato.

Colo Colo also enjoyed a lethal edge up front, outscoring every other team in the league with 38 goals, also struck fear into defenses across the country — 33-year-old Esteban Paredes was the clinical target man, currently the league’s joint top scorer with 11 goals.

Linking defense and attack was midfielder Jaime Valdés, having joined from Parma after more than 10 seasons playing in Italy. He invariably provided a reliable outlet for his defense and a constant threat around the edge of the opposition area.

The team’s wealth of experience helped to create a consistency of performance unmatched by its rivals — in particular a run of seven straight wins from the end of January, broken March 9 by a 0-0 draw with Cobreloa, opened up an uncloseable gap between Tapia’s men and the chasing pack.

A 30th domestic league title for Colo Colo means the club has almost twice as many league titles as its biggest rival and the country’s second biggest club, Universidad de Chile, which has won 16. Furthermore, it puts Colo Colo among the most successful club sides on the continent — Paraguayan side Olimpia currently leads the elite with 39 titles to its name.

For the rest of the Primera División’s 17 sides, the remaining two rounds will be all about avoiding relegation, qualifying for international competitions and salvaging pride.

Universidad Católica 2-0 Antofagasta

Second-placed Universidad Católica enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 victory Saturday over Antofagasta with goals from Jose Luis Muñoz and Álvaro Ramos. Though the Santiago-based team will be disappointed to come close-but-not-close-enough for the second season running, its victory gave it the consolation prize of a Copa Sudamericana berth this year.

Huachipato 5-2 Universidad de Chile

Huachipato came from 2-0 down against Universidad de Chile, beating Cristián Romero’s men 5-2 and leapfrogging them in the league. The result poured further misery onto the misfiring “La U” side, which crashed out of the Copa Libertadores last week and now sits ninth in the domestic league.

O’Higgins 0-0 Unión La Calera

Last year’s champion O’Higgins couldn’t find a way past goalkeeper Juan Ojeda, playing out a 0-0 stalemate Saturday with Unión La Calera.

Ñublense 0-2 Palestino

Fourth-placed Palestino saw off Ñublense with a 2-0 win, with defender Rodrigo Riquelme and midfielder Esteban Carvajal finding the net for the away side.

Deportes Iquique 0-1 Rangers

Deportes Iquique suffered its third straight loss, conceding late at home to Rangers. Rangers remain bottom of the table but is now level on points with Santiago Wanderers and Audax Italiano in a cluttered race to avoid relegation.

Unión Española 2-1 Universidad Concepcion

Striker Gustavo Canales showed his composure from the penalty spot for Unión Española, converting twice to secure three points for his side against Universidad Concepción. Española is in sixth with 22 points, while Concepción is one place below with 21 points.

Everton 2-0 Cobreloa

Everton enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 Saturday against Cobreloa thanks to goals from striker Emiliano Romero and midfielder Fernando Saavedra, climbing to 14th in the table and removing it, for now at least, from the relegation zone.

Audax Italiano 1-3 Cobresal

Trouble continued for Audax Italiano, with a 3-1 lose at home to Cobresal which sent it to the relegation zone. Italiano is now one of three teams on 15 points at the bottom of the ladder. Cobresal sits in 12th with 18 points.


– Clausura Upcoming Fixtures -

April 17, 7 p.m.: Santiago Wanderers vs. Cobresal
April 19, 11:30 a.m.: Palestino vs. Deportes Iquique
April 19, 11:30 a.m.: Rangers vs. Audax Italiano
April 19, 2 p.m.: Universidad Concepción vs. Universidad de Chile
April 19, 4 p.m.: Unión Española vs. O’Higgins
April 19, 7 p.m.: Unión La Calera vs. Huachipato
April 20, 2:30 p.m.: Colo Colo vs. Universidad Católica
April 20, 3 p.m.: Cobreloa vs. Antofagasta
April 20, 5:30 p.m.: Everton vs. Ñublense

Waterhouse, Harbour View, secure playoff spots in NPL

Waterhouse, Harbour View, secure playoff spots while Montego Bay United and Arnett Gardens close in.

With four rounds remaining in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL), the top four playoff spots are all but sewn up by Waterhouse, Harbour View, Montego Bay United and Arnett Gardens while August Town kept their slim survival hopes alive .

Leaders Waterhouse secured their playoff spot and in the process inflicted a cruel blow to the hopes of Tivoli Gardens with a come from behind came from behind 3-1 win at Drewsland.

Former National striker Navion Boyd gave the visiting Tivoli Gardens a 37th minute lead converting from the penalty spot but Waterhouse struck three unanswered second half goals through Damarley Samuels (55th), Kenroy Howell (74th), Jevaunie Benjamin (89th).

The Anthony Patrick-coached Waterhouse remained in top spot on 53 points while Tivoli Gardens stayed in fifth spot on 36 points, nine adrift of the playoff spot and with only four games remaining, they need a miracle to snatch that spot from Arnett Gardens. Tivoli Gardens have Portmore United, Humble Lion, Cavalier and Rivoli United left to play and must win them all and pray that Arnett Gardens lose their remaining matches.

At Juici Patties Park in Clarendon, a beautiful Nicholas Beckett free kick in the 73rd minute gave Harbour View a 1-0 win over Sporting Central Academy in a game marred by poor officiating.

The decisive moment came when Sporting Goalkeeper Allien Whittaker controlled a ball on his chest just outside the box but referee Raymond Bogle thought he used his hand and gave Harbour View a free kick from which Beckett scored.

It was a result that moved Harbour View into a clear second on 51 points and sealed their semi-final spot. But it was a cruel blow for Sporting which slipped a spot to eighth on 34 points and in a real dog fight to survive relegation. They are just two points above the relegation zone and that can be changed when Boys Town (33) and Portmore United (32) meet on Monday.

Meanwhile Arnett Gardens all but tied up a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over Cavalier and consolidated fourth spot with 45 points and more importantly, they are nine points ahead of the chasing pack with only four games remaining. With matches against Montego Bay, Sporting, August Town and Boys’ Town, Arnett look a safe bet for the playoffs.

Renae Lloyd slotted home from a corner kick in the 37th minute before Marcelino Blackburn scored a scorcher from 30m to seal the victory. Cavalier which ended with 10 men after Liscon James was red carded in the 60th minute for apparently striking a player.

But Cavalier rallied a scored courtesy of Girvan Brown in the 74th minute and put the host under pressure searching for the equalizer that would kept their slim semi-final hopes alive. They remained on 36 points in sixth spot.

Rivoli United was the biggest movers today with a 1-0 win over Montego Bay United and jumped four places from 1th to seventh on 35 points and out of the relegation zone. Davian Garrison netted the winner in the 12th minute. It was a massive win for Rivoli United who has been in the relegation for too long. The Spanish Town-based outfit are three points above the relegation zone but are far from safe. Montego Bay stayed third on 48 points and need only a draw to officially clinch one of four playoffs spot from four games.

Meanwhile August Town continued their dominance over Humble Lion winning 2-0 and kept their very slim chances of survival alive. Tyrone Davis and Lennox Creary scored in the 13th and 87th minutes respectively for a crucial away win and moved to 27 points. Interesting enough, August Town have only won five matches this season and three of those victories are against Humble Lion. August Town need to win their remaining four matches and finish with maximum 39 points in they hope to avoid relegation.

The Clarendon team have now dropped a spot to 10th on 33 points and in grave danger of relegation, sitting just a point above the wretched drop zone in which just four points separate sixth from 11th placed teams.

On Monday, ninth placed team Boys Town on 33 points travel to 11th placed Portmore United with 32 points in a massive encounter at the Ferdie Neita Park starting at 8:30 pm. Whichever team wins will take a massive step from relegation.

Mauro Camoranesi dijo que Racing es "San Saja" y se diferenció de Merlo

BUENOS AIRES -- El experimentado mediocampista Mauro Camoranesi deslizó una crítica al rendimiento de Racing al considerar que el equipo es "San Saja", en referencia a la preponderancia de la figura del arquero, y tomó distancia de la idea del entrenador, Reinaldo Merlo, porque tiene una "mentalidad" diferente a la suya para el armado del equipo.

"Racing es San Saja. Es nuestro goleador y figura", afirmó el tandilense nacionalizado italiano para comenzar a cuestionar el sistema que utiliza Mostaza, a su entender demasiado defensivo.

El volante, sin mucha continuidad con Merlo, precisó: "No quiero ir más allá de lo que yo conozco, pero es una característica de nuestro entrenador. Así se paran sus equipos, no hay nada raro".

"Por lo que yo sé del pasado, siempre fue así. La pretensión es defenderse en los últimos 30 metros; pero yo tengo otra mentalidad", remarcó en una entrevista con Radio América.

Para dejar bien en claro su postura, añadió que "Racing es un equipo difícil de analizar, incluso para el que está adentro".

"Todas las semanas mostramos una cara diferente a la que quisiéramos ver. Tenemos un montón de virtudes, pero se muestran a las claras nuestras falencias", dijo quien fue campeón del mundo en Alemania 2006.

Sobre los pocos minutos con los que cuenta dijo únicamente que "habría que preguntarle al entrenador" cuál es la causa, y ratificó que este Torneo Final será el último de su extensa campaña como profesional. "(El retiro) No llega como uno quiere, pero me voy a retirar igual. No tengo ganas ni fuerzas como para cambiar de club y empezar otra vez de cero sólo por seis meses. Prefiero dejar y empezar otra etapa", completó el futbolista de 37 años.

El plantel de Racing regresó hoy a los entrenamientos tras el empate del sábado ante Olimpo como local, con miras al encuentro del jueves frente a Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, por la decimocuarta fecha del torneo Final.

Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Libertad maintain unbeaten run

Division Profesional leaders Libertad preserved their unbeaten status with a narrow 1-0 win over Nacional Asuncion on Monday.

Gustavo Gomez´s 72nd-minute strike was all that separated the two teams at the Estadio Dr Nicolas Leoz.

The result ensured Libertad´s six-point gap at the summit, after nine games without defeat to open the season.

Pedro Sarabia´s men were forced to share the spoils last week, ending a five-game winning streak.

But after a scoreless first half, Libertad were back on the winners´ list thanks to Gomez´s effort 18 minutes from time.

The 20-year-old Paraguayan striker was on hand to head home the match-winner, his third goal of the season, and condemn third-placed Asuncion to just their second loss.

Libertad are six points clear of Guarani, who came from behind to beat lowly 3 de Febrero 2-1 on Sunday.

Cesar Llamas had given the visitors an eighth-minute lead before Juan Aguilar and Jorge Benitez guided Guarani to victory at Estadio Rogelio Lorenzo Livieres.

3 de Febrero are now bottom of the table following 12 de Octubre´s shock 2-1 win at Sportivo Luqueno.

Sportivo were leading up until the 75th-minute mark before two penalties from Tomas Guzman in the space of eight minutes handed the visitors their first win of the campaign.

In other results over the weekend, Rubio Nu overturned a two-goal deficit to earn a 3-3 draw at home to Cerro Porteno.

Ricardo Ortiz´s 75th-minute goal cancelled out Oscar Gamarra´s earlier effort as Deportivo Capiata played out a 1-1 draw with General Diaz.

Meanwhile, nine-man Sol de America defied the odds to earn a 1-1 draw at Olimpia.

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Gimnasia LP: Díaz por Oreja es el único cambio para visitar a Racing

LA PLATA -- El ingreso de Gastón Díaz por el suspendido Facundo Oreja será el único cambio que hará el entrenador de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, Pedro Troglio, para visitar el jueves a Racing, por la decimocuarta fecha del Torneo Final.

Osvaldo Barsottini, Alvaro Fernández y Lucas Licht, quienes terminaron el encuentro ante Arsenal con distintas molestias físicas, llegarán en condiciones al encuentro que se jugará en el "Cilindro" de Avellaneda.

El equipo para enfrentar a la "Academia" formará con: Fernando Monetti; Díaz, Barsottini, Juan Carlos Blengio, Licht; Maximiliano Meza, Franco Mussis, Omar Pouso, Javier Mendoza; Alvaro Fernández y Luis Peralta.

"Esta semana y si las cosas salen bien veremos para qué estamos. Ahora hay que pensar en Racing y sumar de a tres para llegar a los 50 puntos", dijo Licht luego de la práctica en el predio de Estancia Chica.

Boca: Riquelme vuelve en lugar de Gago

BUENOS AIRES -- Con la ausencia de Fernando Gago por la lesión en su rodilla izquierda, el plantel de Boca regresó a los entrenamientos este lunes por la tarde en Casa Amarilla. De esta forma, la vuelta de Juan Román Riquelme para el clásico ante San Lorenzo será justamente en lugar del volante de la Selección.

Más temprano, los estudios médicos determinaron que Gago sufrió un esguince de segundo grado en el ligamento colateral medio de la rodilla izquierda. Asimismo, se indicó que realizará un tratamiento conservador, que incluye inmovilización con férula por dos semanas, y una posterior rehabilitación. El tiempo estimado de recuperación es de 60 días.

Por su parte, Riquelme participó de un ensayo de fútbol reducido con los que no jugaron ante Colon. El enganche regresará a la titularidad tras su ausencia en Santa Fé.

Por otro lado, Daniel "Cata" Díaz no participó de la práctica y se retiró para realizarse estudios debido a la inflamación que sufre en el tabique nasal incluso al caminar. Si no se recupera, el juvenil Juan Cruz Komar, de 19 años, será el reemplazante del suspendido Claudio Pérez.

A su vez, Cristian Erbes terminó con un golpe pero hizo el ejercicio regenerativo junto al resto de los titulares del domingo. Ante San Lorenzo o Tigre, como parte de la rotación que piensa Carlos Bianchi, podría ingresar Pablo Ledesma.

En cuanto al equipo, el Virrey podría reubicar a Nicolás Colazo como volante por izquierda. Esto se debe al bajo rendimiento de Juan Sánchez Miño y el despliegue físico que propondrá Julio Buffarini por ese sector.

Con estas dudas planteadas, el probable once para recibir a San Lorenzo el miércoles, a las 20.10, en La Bombonera, sería: Agustín Orión; Hernán Grana, Díaz o Komar, Juan Forlin, Federico Insúa; Erbes, Federico Bravo, Sánchez Miño o Colazo; Riquelme; Juan Manuel Martinez y Emanuel Gigliotti.

Boca se encuentra a 8 puntos de Estudiantes de La Plata, líder del Torneo Final. Si bien parece estar lejos, matemáticamente mantiene chances de pelear por el título ya que quedan 18 puntos por disputarse.

Independiente: Hinchas piden la renuncia de Cantero y la Comisión

BUENOS AIRES -- Un grupo de hinchas de Independiente pidió la renuncia del presidente del club, Javier Cantero, y de toda la comisión directiva en el hall del estadio Libertadores de América, en medio de un clima tenso luego del empate frente a Almirante Brown.

Con canciones e insultos, los hinchas culparon a Cantero y a sus pares de comisión directiva por el presente institucional y deportivo.

Mientras tanto, desde afuera del estadio, cerca de las vías del Ferrocarril Roca, volaron piedras, una de las cuales hirió a un hincha, quien con un corte en la cabeza debió ser asistido.

Previo al partido, en las inmediaciones del estadio hubo pasacalles que agradecían al opositor Noray Nakis y también otroas al jefe de la CGT Hugo Moyano y a su hijo Pablo, y culpaban a Cantero por la caída del acuerdo para adelantar las elecciones a cambio de dinero para pagar el salario de los jugadores y hacer frente a otros compromisos.

Quinonez stars as Bolivar make Libertadores challenge

One of the most famous images of the final game of the 1950 World Cup, where Uruguay came from behind to beat hosts Brazil 2-1, is that of Danilo Alvim, the prince of the hosts’ midfield, overcome with the emotion of defeat and having to be helped away from the Maracana pitch.

Over a decade later, he was coach of the national team of Bolivia and led them to their greatest triumph: victory on home soil in the 1963 Copa America. But there were moments when he felt as distraught as that fateful afternoon in 1950, some of which involved the local goalkeepers.

There is a story of Danilo dragging aside his keeper at halftime for a chat. "Those shots that are right up in the top corner," he is supposed to have said, “don’t worry too much about letting them in; they’re very hard to save. And those that are right down in the bottom corner, same thing. But those shots that are going wide, please try not to turn them into your own goal.”

Goalkeeping has not proved a Bolivian specialty. When the national team played in the 1994 World Cup (the only one that it has actually qualified for; earlier participations were on an invitation basis), the last line of defence was provided by Carlos Trucco, a naturalised Argentine.

For the next few years, though, there is every chance that Bolivia’s keeper will be a local, born and bred. Romel Quinonez is just 21 and was fast tracked into the national team for the last two games of the 2014 World Cup qualification campaign.

It was a risky move by veteran Spanish coach Xabier Azkargorta, even if Bolivia had no chance of making it to Brazil, because Quinonez was not getting a regular game for his club at the time. Throwing him into the deep end could have worked out badly both for the team and the player. Instead, he dealt competently with the new challenge and this year has given further evidence of his promise.

For the first time since 1997, two Bolivian clubs have qualified for the knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores, a significant achievement. Back then, only one of the four teams in the group stage failed to make the cut.

Since 2000, though, it has been harder to qualify from the group stage, with half of the teams failing to get through. The Bolivians have suffered as a result. Since 2001, on just one occasion has a Bolivian club progressed -- until this year.

The Strongest -- usually, in continental terms, at least something of a misnomer -- made it through from a weak group as a result of taking advantage of the extreme altitude of La Paz (all but one of their 10 points came at home). Bolivar, also from La Paz, were more impressive, drawing away with Flamengo of Brazil and winning on the road against Leon of Mexico.

There has been much to admire about the team, which is now coached by the very Azkargorta who gave Quinonez his international debut. Bolivar stay compact, with a neat possession game and some interesting breaks down the flanks. But these results would not have been achieved without the performances of the goalkeeper.

Quinonez has been cutting a confident figure, stopping shots, coming out for crosses and commanding his area. The ball seems to look for him in the same way that was once the case with Rinat Dasaev, the great Soviet Union keeper of the 1980s. Plus, playing in front of such a keeper spreads self-belief through the defensive line.

On Wednesday, Quinonez & Co. have to return to the scene of their greatest triumph, only this time the stakes are higher.

There is no random draw to work out the confrontations in the knockout phase of the Libertadores. The systems works as follows: Two teams qualify from each of the eight groups. The group winner with the best statistical record meets the second-place team with the worst statistical record. The second-best winner meets the second-worst runner-up, and so on.

As chance and circumstance would have it, Bolivar were the group winner with the sixth-best record while Leon were the third best of the runners-up, and so, despite already having played each other in the group phase, they will meet once more.

Bolivar have the group winners’ advantage and will play the second, deciding leg at home. And so on Wednesday, the sides will meet in the centre of Mexico where, as recently as March 26, Bolivar held on for a famous 1-0 win.

There is no element of surprise in their favour this time, no possibility of Leon underestimating them. The Mexicans are buoyed by their 3-2 win over Flamengo last week in the Maracana, and the likes of Carlos "Gullit" Pena and Argentine marksman Mauro Boselli will be out to build up a big first-leg lead.

This, then, is a fascinating occasion on which to follow Quinonez. It is nothing less than the biggest test of what could turn out to be a very interesting career.