Snak

Rafael Moura hopes for Damião Brazil return

Internacional forward Rafael Moura hopes that teammate Leandro Damião earns a quick recall to the Brazil squad, with his gametime limited by the striker´s presence at the moment.

Moura played his first game of the season against São Luiz on the weekend, scoring his first goal. He has been forced to watch from the sidelines, though, as Damião and Uruguayan Diego Forlan have taken the starting berths.

While maintaining that he will remain patient for his opportunity, the former Fluminense man admitted that he hoped Damião would earn a Brazil recall in order to open up a space in the first-team.

"Whatever the situation it is not nice to be a reserve, regardless of who is the starter," he told reporters.

"I always say that I support Damião a lot—he is a colleague, a friend and we are very united as a team.

"We know that if Damião maintains this form he will be called to the Seleção and I will have more opportunities.

"I have a long contract and sometime or other I will have a run in the team as a guaranteed starter. I was signed for this."

Jobson questioned by police over domestic incident

According to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, Botafogo striker Jobson was taken into police questioning after an incident involving his wife.

Jobson, currently on loan at São Caetano, was taken to hospital ahead of his visit from the police for treatment to a wound on his right arm.

The striker reportedly injured himself as he punched a door with his wife having locked herself on the other side.

Both the player and his spouse have been released by São Caetano police, with his wife assuring police that she would not return to the family home in the coming days.

Jobson has a history of off the field issues including serving a suspension in early-2012 after testing positive for cocaine.

With his erratic behaviour and lack of professionalism causing his Botafogo career to stall, the talented centre-forward as been loaned to Sao Caetano in an attempt to revive his ailing career.

CONCACHAMPIONS

http://www.youtube.com/w…VO4_hHaTgDs

Monterrey seals 3rd trip to CCL semis

MONTERREY, Mexico - Monterrey became the first team to book its ticket into the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, playing Guatemala´s Xelaju to a 1-1 draw Tuesday at the Estadio Tecnologico.

The two-time defending champion, which won the series 4-2 on aggregate, advances to the semifinals for a third consecutive campaign and will face either the LA Galaxy or Herediano in the next round.

Xelaju struck for the game´s first goal in the 44th minute as Fredy Taylor rose unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box and headed Sergio Morales´ free kick into the net to pull the visitors within 3-2 on aggregate.

Monterrey equalized in spectacular fashion on a long distance free kick from second-half substitute Walter Ayovi that goalkeeper Fernando Patterson could only watch curl in the back of his net in the 63rd minute.

Monterrey took the opening leg 3-1 last week at Estadio Mario Camposeco with Hiram Mier, Aldo De Nigris and Jesus Corona scoring for the Mexican powerhouse. Julio Estacuy scored for Xelaju.

The host had the first scoring chance of the second leg as Guillermo Madrigal accepted Darvin Chavez´s cross inside the box, turned and put his 14-meter shot on frame. But Patterson dived to his left to save the low shot in the fifth minute.

Monterrey dominated possession in the opening 20 minutes, stinging a bevy of passes together with little resistance from the visitors.

Xelaju finally threatened in the Monterrey defensive third in the 27th minute, when Allan Aleman flicked a cross by Sergio Morales just over the bar from 12 meters.

Aleman was again a threat in the 38th minute with a 22-meter free kick that goalkeeper Juan De Dios Ibarra parried over the bar with his right hand for a corner kick.

Three minutes later, Monterrey had its best opportunity of the first half, but Leobardo Lopez headed Humberto Suazo´s free kick off the post from just outside the six-yard box.

Monterrey emerged from the halftime break as aggressors and Cesar De La Pena nearly equalized in the 51st, when he pounced on deflected ball at the top of the box. His first time shot, though, bounced wide of the net.

Eight minutes later, the hosts had another chance on a quality buildup as Jose Basanta´s cross found Suazo at the top of the 18-yard box. The Chilean took a touch onto his left foot, but fired wide of the target.

In the 62nd minute, Bastanta curled a shot from the edge of the box just wide of the net. However, Ayovi wouldn´t miss a minute later, putting a perfectly placed free kick over Xelau´s wall. The Ecuadorian´s goal ensured the Rayados safe passage into the semifinals yet again.



Seattle stuns Tigres, earns semifinal berth

http://www.youtube.com/w…8ALK2JgAieA

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Sounders overcame a two-goal aggregate deficit by striking for three goals within a 22-minute span in the second half to reach the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals on Tuesday night.

DeAndre Yedlin, Djimi Traore and Eddie Johnson scored goals to lift the Sounders to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Tigres in the second leg of the quarterfinal series at CenturyLink Field to win the series, 3-2 on aggregate.

Seattle became the first U.S. team to book a spot in the final four, with the fates of the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo to be determined in their quarterfinal series on Wednesday night.

The Sounders will play the winner of the Santos Laguna-Houston pairing.

The complexion of the match started to change just before halftime. Tigres, enjoying a 1-0 lead in the game and a 2-0 aggregate advantage at the time, lost two key players.

Captain Arturo Rivas suffered an injury and was replaced by Jorge Espericueta.

Midfielder Manuel Viniegra saw red in the 45th minute for kicking the ball away following a foul and received a second booking as a result. That forced the Mexican club to play the remainder of the match a man down. Tigres paid dearly for it in the second half.

Seattle pulled one back in the 53rd minute to tie the match at 1-1 and close the aggregate gap to 2-1 as Yedlin scored his first professional goal, blasting home a 25-yard shot into the right corner of the net past goalkeeper Jorge Diaz de Leon.

The host equalized as Traore launched a 28-yard blast for his first Champions League goal in the 60th minute.

Johnson capped the scoring with a brilliant effort in the 75th minute. Barely a step from the end line on the left side, the U.S. international fired home a left-footed shot from a difficult angle into the far post for the series winner.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Alan Pulido had an opportunity to give Tigres the series win, with his shot barely missing the left post.

Tigres coach Ricardo Ferretti made a major tactical decision prior to the match, bringing essentially a B team to Seattle. The Mexican club used only two starters from last week´s 1-0 first-leg win in the Starting XI -- midfielder Alberto Acosta and forward Elias Hernandez. Tigres brought only 16 players when it could have had as many as 18 players at its disposal.

UANL came very close to taking a 1-0 advantage in the 17th minute. Pulido, the opening leg´s goal-scoring hero, managed to stay onside and fired a shot on which goalkeeper Michael Gspurning made a finger-tip save.

As it turned out, the two Tigres starters from last week combined for the first goal in the 23rd minute. Former U.S. international left back Jonathan Bornstein sent a pass down the left side to Acosta, who beat Yedlin and found an unmarked Hernandez in the penalty area. Hernandez, who had shaken off his man, defender Leo Gonzalez, beat Gspurning from three yards to boost the visitors into a 1-0 lead.

Had it not been for a spectacular save by Gspurning on Manuel Viniegra´s bullet of a shot, Tigres would have doubled the lead in the 30th minute.

Johnson was involved in several Seattle scoring opportunities in the first half. Sammy Ochoa snapped a header off a Johnson right-wing cross wide left of the net in the 16th minute. Johnson had two golden scoring opportunities barely a minute apart. His 12-yard shot sailed wide left in the 36th minute and his shot from the left flank missed the far post a minute later.

Costa Ricas VM trup

Ticos recall Ruiz, Saborio, Campbell, Miller for WCQ

Costa Rica has called in the A team for its two upcoming World Cup qualifiers, plus leeft back Roy Miller, who wore the goat horns for the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

Among the leading players the Ticos recalled for its qualifying matches against the United States and Jamaica were defender Bryan Oviedo, midfielders Cristian Bolanos and Bryan Ruiz and forwards Alvaro Saborio, Joel Campbell and Jairo Arrieta.

With the Red Bulls trying get out of Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. with a point, Miller made two questionable decisions that resulted in the game-winning penalty kick.

Miller was called for a handball in the penalty area in the 90th minute and San Jose was awarded a penalty. Chris Wondolowski’s attempt was saved by goalkeeper Luis Robles, but referee Ricardo Salazar ruled that Miller had encroached. Wondolowski slammed home the retaken kick two minutes into stoppage time as the Earthquakes recorded a 2-1 win.

The Central Americans visit the U.S. in Commerce City, Colo. on March 22 before they host Jamaica in San Jose, Costa Rica four days later.

The Costa Rica roster:

GOALKEEPERS: Keylor Navas (Levante, Spain), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense).

DEFENDERS: Juan Diego Madrigal (Santos), Christian Gamboa (Rosenborg, Norway), Michael Umana (Saprissa), Johnny Acosta (Dorados, Mexico), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Valerenga, Norway), Roy Miller (New York Red Bulls, U.S.), Bryan Oviedo (Everton, England), Christopher Meneses (Alajuelense).

MIDFIELDERS: Celso Borges (AIK, Sweden), Osvaldo Rodríguez (Santos), Cristian Bolanos (Copenhagan, Denmark), Ariel Rodríguez, Keylor Soto (Perez Zeledon), Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), Michael Barrantes (Aalesund, Norway), Bryan Ruiz (Fulham, England), Mauricio Castillo (Cartagines), Diego Calvo (Alajuelense).

FORWARDS: Alvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake, U.S.), Joel Campbell (Betis, Spain), Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew, U.S).

Hvornår kom Bolanos tilbage?

Den kære Memín Pabón er faldet godt til i det spanske:

"En España se juega más al fútbol que en Italia".

http://www.superdeporte.…190883.html

Kayokay...godt spørgsmål - virker ikke umiddelbart til at de har brug for ha...rent kvalitativt....


FF17 - Pabon siger jo bare det vi alle ved Spansk fobold er bedre en italiensk fobold - og begge er bedre end Engelsk fodbold..(GAAAAAAAAAAAAB)...

iøvrigt...

Barcelona and CBF supremos face allegations of fraud

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell could face up to eight years in jail after Brazil prosecutors accused his company of illegally profiting from a Brazil vs Portugal match it organised in 2008.

The prosecutors claim to have serious reservations about the €3.5m that Rosell´s marketing company Ailanto received for their services in organising the friendly.

Brazilian publication Folha de São Paulo reported that nearly €400,000 was transferred into an account under the Barcelona supremo´s name.

They also claim that former CBF president Ricardo Teixeira benefitted from the game to the tune of €275,000.

Similar allegations have been levelled at Rosell in the past which have been dismissed but a Brazilian judge have sanctioned a trial as reports of false evidence emerge.

Rosell´s lawyer in Brazil, Antenor Madruga, told Associated Press that the charges were "ridiculous" and "rest on nothing".

"The charges that have been leveled are under two allegations,´´ Madruga said." One about whether his company had the capacity to promote matches, the other whether he presented false documents to prove he was able to promote matches.

"The police investigation did not come to any conclusion, but the prosecutor went ahead anyway. The charges are ridiculous, it is nothing. The legality of this case rests on nothing.´´

Mala racha de Boca en el Centenario

BUENOS AIRES -- Boca Juniors suma seis partidos sin lograr una victoria en el estadio Centenario de Montevideo, donde el próximo jueves se enfrentará al Nacional en un encuentro clave del grupo 1 de la Copa Libertadores.

El equipo boquense necesita un triunfo en el principal escenario del fútbol uruguayo debido a que otro resultado podría dejarle sin posibilidades de clasificación a la siguiente fase del torneo, tras la derrota que sufrió ante el mismo rival en La Bombonera por 0-1.

La última victoria de Boca Juniors en el Centenario se produjo en 1990, en los octavos de final de la Supercopa sudamericana, por 0-1 con un tanto de Blas Giunta.

En los seis partidos posteriores, los boquenses empataron tres y perdieron otros tres. Dos de los empates los consiguió el equipo argentino con Carlos Bianchi como entrenador, ante el Peñarol en La Libertadores de 2000 y el Nacional en la Mercosur del mismo año.

Boca Juniors disputó 66 partidos en el estadio construido para la disputa del Mundial de 1930, de los que ganó 22, empató 18 y perdió 26.

No obstante, las estadísticas favorecen a los boquenses en los encuentros disputados solamente en la Libertadores, ya que ganaron nueve, igualaron cinco y perdieron uno.

Nacional encabeza la clasificación del grupo 1 del torneo continental con 7 puntos, seguido por el Toluca mexicano con 4, el Boca Juniors con 3 y el Barcelona ecuatoriano con 2.

Santos set to offer Neymar new contract says father

Neymar has been offered a new contract to by Santos to extend his stay at the club beyond 2014, according to his agent and father.

Neymar Sr. says the club have moved to secure the forward´s future in light of interest this summer from some of Europe´s biggest clubs.

"Santos have now offered us a deal for him to renew his contract, but we will have to wait and talk to them," Neymar´s father and agent explained at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Brazil.

"It is very difficult to see him leaving before 2013 although we will have to think about what is best for him."

The Santos sensation has already been linked with moves to Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid but his club believe they have a chance of keeping him in Brazil.

Bayern Munich were recently ruled out as a possible destination after club legend Franz Beckenbauer believes they do not need the Seleção star.

Vélez: Gago volvió a entrenar

BUENOS AIRES -- El mediocampista de Vélez, Fernando Gago, se recuperó de un desgarro y este miércoles se entrenó junto al resto del plantel, aunque por precaución no jugaría el domingo ante Estudiantes de La Plata.

Gago, quien se había lesionado en el primero de los encuentros ante Peñarol, en Montevideo, el 26 de febrero, evolucionó de la lesión y participó de un ensayo de fútbol reducido en el predio que el club tiene en Parque Leloir.

La recuperación de Gago es una muy grata noticia para Gareca, quien el martes sumó una nueva y muy sensible baja, ya que Facundo Ferreyra, que regresaba luego de una lesión en el tobillo, abandonó el encuentro ante Peñarol en el primer tiempo producto de una fuerte molestia muscular en la pierna derecha.

Además, en la larga lista de lesionados, ya figuran Ariel Cabral, quien sufrió la fractura de la tibia durante la pretemporada, y Francisco Cerro y Lucas Pratto, con sendos desgarros.

Con miras al encuentro ante Estudiantes, Gareca pondrá lo mejor que tiene ya que la próxima semana no jugarán por la Copa Libertadores, por lo que el ingreso de Ezequiel Rescaldani por Ferreyra será el único cambio en relación con el equipo que le ganó 3-1 a Peñarol.

De esta manera, los elegidos para enfrentar al conjunto platense el domingo desde las 18.10 serán: Sebastián Sosa; Gino Peruzzi, Fabián Cubero, Sebastián Domínguez, Emiliano Papa; Iván Bella, Leandro Desábato, Lucas Romero, Federico Insúa; Rescaldani y Jonathan Copete.