Snak

Costa Rica aims for result in El Salvador

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- Just days from a game that could well prove decisive for its chances of advancing to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying, Costa Rica is in the midst of preparing for one of its biggest qualifying challenges in recent memory.

The Ticos travel to the Estadio Cuscatlan for a Group B showdown against host El Salvador, a fifth match-day game from which the six-time Central American champion must get at least a point to maintain any hope of advancing to CONCACAF´s final round.

Costa Rica has been a part of every hexagonal since 1997, when CONCACAF first moved to the six-team final round format ahead of the 1998 World Cup in France.

This year, however, the Ticos find themselves in a complicated situation after a pair of losses to Mexico last month followed an opening round in which El Salvador snatched a valuable away point in San Jose. Now, Costa Rica must do the same to stay alive.

"It´s going to be complicated, we all know that," said defender Michael Umaña. "It´s a game where we play for everything.And we´re playing for next year, to give it everything to get to a World Cup. It´s the only goal we have. We have to win there."

It won´t be the first time that Costa Rica has faced down a Central American rival for a spot in the final round of qualifying. In 2000, after a tie on points and goal difference for second place in their semifinal group with Guatemala, the Ticos went on to win a neutral site playoff match.

Costa Rica went on to finish first in the hexagonal on its way to qualifying for Japan/Korea 2002. This time around, the Ticos are hoping things will turn out the same way.

They´ll need only a result in San Salvador to take a firm first step down that path.

"I think we have some great games waiting for us as a team," said Umaña. "We know two very important games are coming up, first in El Salvador. We´ll be preparing ourselves the best way possible to get the result."

Mexico has already won the group with twelve points, while El Salvador has five, one ahead of Costa Rica.Guyana brings up the rear with just one point and maintains a minimal chance to advance.

A victory by El Salvador on Friday would guarantee it the second spot and make its trip to Mexico for the final day of group play a more relaxed affair. A draw in San Salvador would leave possibilities open for both Central American teams to progress at the last hurdle.

Injuries force qualifying adjustments

Closing on the last World Cup qualifiers of the CONCACAF semifinal round, fitness evaluations are giving teams a clearer idea of who will be available -- and more importantly who won´t.

Ankle sprains will sideline Roger Espinoza and Noel Valladares for Honduras; similarly Costa Rica´s Gabriel Badilla is out with an ankle injury; and the United States will be without Landon Donovan and Brek Shea.

Two rounds of World Cup qualifying Friday and again on Tuesday will determine the six-team CONCACAF final round - or hexagonal - field. Only Mexico has secured its place, having won all four games.

But Mexico, too, will be without key players. Starting goalkeeper Memo Ochoa will miss the games - Friday against Guyana and Tuesday against El Salvador -- because of meetings with French officials over his immigration status while playing for Ajaccio.

El Tri also will miss Monterrey defender Hiram Mier because of injury to his left thigh suffered in Sunday´s 3-2 loss to Pumas. He´s been replaced by Morelia´s Joel Huiqui.

The Americans were the latest to announce injury dropouts, saying late Tuesday afternoon that Donovan and Shea were out.

Donovan hurt his left knee in the LA Galaxy´s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday, while Shea, sidelined since suffering an abdominal strain September 29, also is not fit. U.S. manager Juergen Klinsmann expressed relief Monday when announcing his roster that Donovan was heading to Miami, but a Tuesday exam by U.S. team staff ruled him out.

"Landon was very optimistic over the weekend when his knee was feeling much better, but now he needs time to recover," Klinsmann said in a release by the U.S. Soccer Federation. "We knew Brek was a question mark coming in, and now we have a clear picture of where he stands."

The Americans play Antigua & Barbuda on Friday before returning to face Guatemala in Kansas City, Kansas, on Tuesday.

Espinoza sprained his right ankle in Sporting Kansas City´s 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew on Sunday, and has been told he will be out of commission for two-to-four weeks.

Valladares reportedly injured his ankle while fixing his house and will be out 12-16 days. That has necessitated the call Olimpia goalkeeper Donis Escober for Honduras, which plays at Panama on Friday before returning home to host Canada.

Costa Rica also will be depleted without Saprissa defender Gabriel Badilla, who apparently has aggravated an ankle injury and has been replaced with Pablo Salazar of Herediano, getting his first recall to the Ticos in seven years.

Det fulde kampprogram iCopa centroamericana 2013.



Honduras draws El Salvador, Panama

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Three-time and defending champion Honduras was joined with El Salvador and Panama for the first round of the Copa Centroamericana, while Tuesday´s draw placed host Costa Rica with Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize.

The ceremony at the Nova Cinema Repretel also set the schedule for the 12th edition of the biennial championship, with Guatemala facing Nicaragua, Honduras playing El Salvador, and Costa Rica taking on Belize on the opening day January 18.

Group matches also will be played January 20 and January 22nd with the semifinals and fifth-place match set for January 25, and the third-place match and championship two days later.

Five teams will qualify for next year´s CONCACAF Gold Cup, along with four Caribbean sides and automatic North American qualifiers Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Costa Rica has won the Copa Centroamericana six times, more than all the other nations combined.

Copa Centroamericana
In San Jose, Costa Rica
All times U.S. Eastern (local times in parentheses)

First Round
Group A
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Nicaragua
Belize

Group B
Honduras
El Salvador
Panama

Friday, January 18
Guatemala vs. Nicaragua, 5 p.m. (4 p.m.)
Honduras vs. El Salvador, 7 p.m. (6 p.m.)
Costa Rica vs. Belize, 9 p.m. (8 p.m.)

Sunday, January 20
Belize vs. Guatemala, 3 p.m. (2 p.m.)
El Salvador vs. Panama, 5 p.m. (4 p.m.)
Costa Rica vs. Nicaragua, 7 p.m. (6 p.m.)

Tuesday, January 22
Nicaragua vs. Belize, 5 p.m. (7 p.m.)
Honduras vs. El Salvador, 7 p.m. (6 p.m.)
Costa Rica vs. Belize, 9 p.m. (8 p.m.)

Friday, January 25
Fifth-Place Game
Group A third place vs. Group B third place, 4 p.m. (3 p.m.)
Semifinals
Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up, 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)
Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up, 9 p.m. (8 p.m.)

Sunday, January 27
Third-Place Game
Semifinal losers, 3:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m.)
Championship
Semifinal winners, 6 p.m. (5 p.m.)

Paraguay med mandefald før Colombia-kampen...



Barrios, Mencia y Dos Santos, bajas

ASUNCIÓN -- Lucas Barrios, Julio Dos Santos y Gustavo Mencia fueron descartados el miércoles de la lista de viajeros de la selección paraguaya de fútbol, que en la noche del miércoles partirá rumbo a Barranquilla para el encuentro del viernes contra Colombia.

El seleccionador de la Albirroja, el uruguayo Gerardo Pelusso, confirmó que Dos Santos, centrocampista ofensivo del Cerro Porteño, fue excluido de la nómina de 23 viajeros debido a la suspensión por una fecha que afronta, mientras el delantero Barrios se recupera de un golpe que sufrió en el último partido de su equipo, el Guangzhou Evergrande chino.

Sobre el caso de Mencia, defensa del Libertad asunceno que fue llamado a último momento para sumarse a los entrenamientos de los 25 convocados, el entrenador se limitó a decir que el jugador "se quedará a trabajar con los demás".

En cuanto al próximo rival, Pelusso expresó que "Colombia es una selección que ha ido en crecimiento en todo sentido, en rendimiento, en resultados y que ya tiene una formación base".

"La lógica indica que no van a haber muchos cambios (...). Colombia mucho misterio no tiene y la forma de juego tampoco porque ha encontrado un equipo, un rendimiento y no se van a apartar de eso ahora", insistió el entrenador en la rueda de prensa ofrecida en el Centro de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo, en Ypané, municipio cercano a Asunción donde la selección entrena desde el lunes último.

La selección colombiana marcha en la segunda casilla de la clasificación de las eliminatorias sudamericanas con trece puntos, a solo uno del líder Argentina, mientras Paraguay permanece anclada en la última posición con cuatro unidades.

El estratega también pidió no hablar de "la tabla de posiciones ni de la situación" por la que atraviesa el combinado guaraní.

"Estamos enfocados en estos dos partidos, que, además, son los últimos dos del 2012 y queremos terminarlos de la mejor manera", remarcó, también en alusión al choque previsto contra Perú, el 16 de octubre próximo en Asunción.

"Tengo que destacar la actitud de los futbolistas, porque ante una situación tan complicada como esta se pueden pensar muchas cosas. Los convocados han mostrado un gran interés, un deseo ferviente de estar", insistió.

Pelusso reiteró que, como tiene acostumbrado hacer, dará a conocer el onceno titular una hora antes del partido.

No obstante, en las últimas prácticas probó un equipo conformado por Justo Villar; Iván Piris, Paulo da Silva, Pedro Benítez y Miguel Samudio; Fidencio Oviedo, Víctor Cáceres, Cristian Riveros y Marcelo Estigarribia; José Ariel Núñez y Nelson Haedo.

= CONVOCADOS:

- ARQUEROS: Justo Villar (Estudiantes de La Plata-ARG), Antony Silva (Deportes Tolima-COL) y Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteño).

- DEFENSORES: Paulo Da Silva (Pachuca-MEX), Pablo Aguilar (Tijuana-MEX), Pedro Benítez (Cerro Porteño), Iván Piris (Roma-ITA), Salustiano Candia (Olimpia), Claudio Vargas (Sportivo Luqueño) y Miguel Samudio (Libertad).

- MEDIOCAMPISTAS: Víctor Cáceres (Flamengo-BRA), Cristian Riveros (Kayserispor-TUR), Hernán Pérez (Villarreal-ESP), Víctor Ayala (Lanús-ARG), Marcelo Estigarribia (Sampdoria-ITA), Richard Ortiz (Olimpia), Jonathan Fabbro y Fidencio Oviedo (Cerro Porteño) y Silvio Torales (Nacional).

- DELANTEROS: Nelson Haedo (Valencia-ESP), Édgar Benítez (Toluca-MEX), Luis Caballero (Krylia Sovetov-RUS) y José Ariel Núñez (Libertad).

Uruguay

Nacional udnyttede rivalernes pointtab med en 2-1 sejr over bundholdet Danubio på mål af henholdsvis Adrian "Fuji" Luna og Alexander " El Cacique" Medina. Sejren betyder at klubben nu er alene i spidsen efter 6 runder.


http://www.youtube.com/w…ltXECHfnXD4

Nacional nærmeste forfølgere El Tanque Sisley og Defensor Sporting spillede 1-1. Diego Rolán bragte La Violeta foran mens Martin Galain udlignede til slutresultatet.

Det ydmyge og charmerende hold Fénix fortsætter med at imponerende denne gang med 2-0 over Progreso - og hentede dermed sæsonens 4. sejr.

Peñarol slog bundproppen Central Español med 3-0 målscorer for Manya var Juan "Pelote" Olivera (2) og Marcelo "Pantera" Zalayeta.

http://www.youtube.com/w…MqhZ6OA1x5A
Bella Vista stod for rundens negative overraskelse da man tabte 2-0 Juventud.

Cerro slog ude Racing med 2-1 på mål af Richard Pellejero og Guillermo de Los Santos, mens Liverpool hjemme slog Cerro Largo 1-0 matchvinder blev argentinske Lucas Tamareo, 20 minutter før tid.

http://www.youtube.com/w…Jit0DG_hy2k

Chile.

En 4-2 sejr ude over Antofagasta på 2 dobletes af matías "Maticrack" Rodriguez og Sebastián "El Zola Chileno" Ubillia sikrede La U 3 vigtige point, der bragte holdet a point med palestino og Rangers i toppen af tabellen.

Rangers fik nemlig kun 2-2 ude mod Colo Colo. José "Chapita" Fuenzalida og topscorer Carlos "Carlitos" Muñoz scorede for El Popular, mens Milton Caraglio og Mauricio Gómez scorede for Rangers.

2-2 blev også resultatet af kampen mellem Union Española og Santiago Wanderers. Patricio Rubio og Gonzalo " El Ingeniero" Barriga for Rojos de Santa Laura, Eduardo Lobos og Franz Schulz scorede for gæsterne

I Calama vandt Cobreloa 3-0 og Cobresal i El Clasico Minero og Huachipato slog Concepcion 2-0.

Universidad de Catolica vandt ude 3-1 over La Serena på mål af argentinske Sixto " El dragón de fuego" Peralta og Nicolas Castillo.

Palestino måtte endnu engang takke deres uruguayanske angrebses Diego " El Sazonador del gol" Chaves som med en doblete sænkede o´Higgins hjemme på Estadio Municipal de La Cisterna - det var arabernes 4 sejr i træk.

Shit, du er gået amok de sidste par dage, Deportivo. Det er skønt at se.

Desuden skal du have tak for at opdatere fra Costa Ricas lejr.

Jeg skal HELT sikkert se El Salvador - Costa Rica. Jeg kan dog se at kampen først bliver spillet kl 03:30 natten mellem fredag og lørdag. Det er alligevel halvsent. Jeg tror kampen kan ses på bet365, hvis man har sådan en konto. Det kunne man i hvert fald med de sidste kval-kampe.

@Dibben

Helt sikkert det er en must see kamp, det samme med Panama - Honduras og Guatemala - Jamaica , det er ihbertfald vind og forsvind for El Salvador og Guate.

Har på fornemmelsen at Atgentina - Uruguay også bliver en kamp der er værd at se.

Satser på at Samba har dækket Brasilien -Irak.

Peru

Real Garcilaso slogdet nærmeste konkurrenter til førstepladsen i Liguilla B César Vallejo med 1-0 på mål af paraguayanske Fabio "Pitú" Ramos. Sejren i Trujillo betyder at Cusco-holdet nu har 69 point, mens Los Poetas har 63.
http://www.youtube.com/w…-uGIKXHMorA


Allerede nedrykningsdømte COBRESOL spillede i hjemme 0-0 med Intigas Deportes.

Universitario de Deportes slog José Galvez med 3-0. Målscorer: Juan Carlos "Calín" La Rosa, Horacio "Calca" Calcatierra og stortalentet Andy "La Joya" Polo.

http://www.youtube.com/w…hqqJs1C7Axk


I Callao spillede Sport Boys og Leon de Huanuco 1-1, Hector "Kiko" Cruz kom på tavlen for La Academia Rosada mens brasilianske Calheira scorede for gæsterne.

http://www.youtube.com/w…EamJIFtdDC0