Snak

Vela´s return to El Tri? ´Never say never´

Fans of El Tri would love to welcome back to the Mexican National Team striker Carlos Vela, now playing with Real Sociedad in Spain´s La Liga. In an interview with Spanish daily AS published this past weekend, Vela hinted that this might happen sooner than later. Specifically, he indicated that he would be willing to return to the National Team, if the circumstances were right. He also denied reports of any friction with Mexican National Team coach Jose Manuel ´Chepo´ de la Torre.

However, Vela’s quote of "Never say never," in the lengthy Q & A may not give much hope that he is focused on returning quickly to Mexico’s National Team. It’s a vague answer that indicates little urgency.

Part of the reason for this language could be because with CONCACAF´s forgiving qualification for the World Cup, very few believe Mexico would ever miss out on the event, with or without Vela. So the pressure for Vela to return and "save" the Mexican national team doesn’t really exist. At least, not yet.

Chile...

Soccer roundup: Universidad de Chile wins heated ‘superclásico’

Universidad de Chile 3-2 Colo Colo

Sunday saw Universidad de Chile host Colo Colo for the 173rd “superclásico.” The home-side went into the Santiago derby knowing that no less than a win would see it stay in contention for the title.

Colo Colo, already having secured mid-table mediocrity, was playing more for prestige in a season where it was badly needed. Having won only one point from its last three games, Colo Colo head coach Hugo González — in his inaugural season leading the first team — could have done with a “superclásico” win to assuage the anxieties that must certainly be growing among both the fans and the club’s directors.

That there was still something for both teams to play for was proven on the pitch in a hotly contested game that saw 13 cards brandished by referee Julio Bascuñán González. If the 27 fouls recorded by González are any indication of the pressure surrounding this game, both on and off the pitch, then it is fair to say that Colo Colo succumbed to the intensity of the occasion. “Los Albos” collapsed disastrously mid-way into the second half with a mixture of rash challenges that saw both Carlos Muñoz and Luis Mena leave the field in disgrace. Colo Colo’s meltdown ultimately left it exposed and stretched at the back, allowing Universidad de Chile to secure its 48th Superclásico win.

However it was Colo Colo that initially took the lead in the eighth minute, thanks to a good team goal that saw players breaking quickly down the left-flank, allowing Mauro Olivi to chip in a clever lofted pass for Muñoz to head home from close range.

Universidad de Chile looked to have the better run of play in the first half, though, coming close to finding an equalizer with a mixture of early crosses and well-worked set plays. One of those set plays allowed Charles Aránguiz to find Juan Ignacio Duma, who converted with a glancing header in the 27th minute.

Colo Colo was able to break again minutes before halftime, with a goal that was almost identical to its first. A clearance from “Los Albos” own half found Olivi again, who cut it back to José Pedro Fuenzalida for Colo Colo’s second.

Universidad de Chile had to wait for the second half to respond. In the 51st minute Cesar Cortés was able to find Duma with a low cross from the edge of Colo Colo’s penalty area. Duma seemed to scuff the shot but Eduardo Lobos was caught off guard, and the ball rolled between the veteran goalkeeper’s legs.

With the game tied at 2-2 mid-way into the second half, the players’ nerves were obviously being tested and it was Luis Mena who would suffer the consequences in the 70th minute. The stalwart Colo Colo defender caught Ramón Fernández with a late sliding tackle that gave the referee no option but to reach for the red card.

With Mena off the pitch, Colo Colo was left exposed at the back as Universidad de Chile poured forward in attack, looking for the winner. In the 83rd minute “La U” striker, Isaac Díaz found himself free in the box after slipping through Colo’s defence with some slick footwork. Lobos was able to redeem himself for his earlier blunder with a good save that saw him deny Díaz from point-blank range.

Colo Colo’s defiance would be short lived however. Aránguiz, easily been the game’s standout player, was able to find an unmarked Gustavo Lorenzetti with a simple pass that showed just how badly exposed Mena’s departure had left Colo Colo. Lorenzetti found himself alone in the box and was able to slot the ball home, past a marooned Lobos for Universidad de Chile’s third and winning goal.

Defeat was met with ignominy for Colo Colo in the final minutes when Muñoz caught Universidad de Chile captain, José “Pepe” Rojas, with a high elbow. Replays appeared to show that Muñoz’s elbow was intentional.

Universidad de Chile’s win sees them climb into fourth place, leaving them within three points of top-spot. The team will also compete for the Copa Chile final on Wednesday against Universidad Católica.

Colo Colo’s season, meanwhile, seems to be all but over.

Unión Española 2-0 Santiago Wanderers

Unión Española went into week 14’s fixtures battling some pressure of its own. Before the weekend, “Los Hispanos” had only won one of their last five games in a disastrous run that has also seen them lose their last three.

Santiago Wanderers looked to capitalize on their opponents’ anxieties with a mixture of power and aggression that saw them take the best of the first-half’s chances. Matías Donoso came close early on for the Wanderers with a beautifully taken shot that saw him rattle Diego Sánchez’s left-post. The striker, who started the game in fine form, came close again a few minutes later with a low shot that forced a great save from the keeper.

For all Donoso’s effort though — which also saw him force another strong save from Sánchez with a rasping shot from outside the area, early in the second half — Unión Española always looked comfortable, its attacks linking up well with the kind of calm passing that saw Oscar Lopez release Patricio Rubio, breaking the deadlock with his seventh league goal in the 76th minute.

Rubio’s goal settled Unión Española, who went on to put the game beyond doubt a few minutes from time when Gustavo Canales rifled the ball into the roof of the net after “Los Hispanos” broke forward in another clinical counterattack.

The win sees Unión Española stay in first place on goal differences with only three more games left to play. If the team can maintain the kind of composure that saw it overcome a Wanderers side that was perhaps unlucky to at least make the score sheet, it could easily lay claim to the title come June.

O’Higgins 1-1 Cobreloa

“La Celeste” dominated its home game against Cobreloa, creating the only chances of note in the first half with an attacking lineup that saw it utilize skill and pace with precision passing to unlock Cobreloa’s defense time and time again.

O’Higgins best chance came in the second half, though, when Rodrigo Rojas opened up some space for himself in Cobreloa’s penalty area with a clever dummy that left him one-on-one with the keeper. The Paraguayan’s shot, however, failed to match his footwork and Sebastián Contreras was able to make a comfortable save.

Perhaps it was O’Higgins’ total dominance that allowed complacency to slip in when Pablo González broke the deadlock for Cobreloa in the 60th minute. The Cobreloa number seven found himself through on goal after some calamitous defending from O’Higgins that left three of its players sliding in desperately to make a clearance that never came. There’s no accounting for the vicious bounce that González’s shot took though, leaving the O’Higgins keeper off balance as the ball ricocheted over his head.

If all signs towards the end of the game showed fate aligning against O’Higgins then the home side is to be congratulated at least for its tenacity. “La Celeste” continued to pour forward in numbers and in the 81st minute Gonzalo Barriga equalized after he followed up a well-timed run that saw him beat the offside trap, with a clever curled shot that out-witted the Cobreloa defense.

By the final whistle O’Higgins was left to rue its luck. For all its dominance, the team was left with just one point. Cobreloa, on the other hand, can count itself fortunate to get anything from this game. It registered a solitary shot on target in the whole of the 90 minutes.

The draw continues O’Higgins’ stale run of form. The team has now drawn its last three home games and has squandered its chance to lead the table, despite still being in contention. Its capitulation makes for a tight end to the season. O’Higgins will hope the quality of its play will make up for their bad luck in future.

Universidad Católica 2-0 Everton

The league’s other team in contention for the title — Universidad Católica — was up against one of the league’s worst teams, according to the form table. Going into this game, Everton had lost four of its last six games. The disparity in quality was certainly visible at Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo on Sunday.

The match was practically over early in the first half with Hans Martinez scoring for Universidad Católica in the seventh minute, followed by his Argentine teammate Ismael Sosa who doubled the lead 15 minutes later.

“Los Cruzados” continued to attack, looking to add to their lead. Castillo came close to doing so with a beautifully taken half-volley that saw his shot curl just over the top left-hand corner of Gustavo Dalsasso’s goal. The first half came to a close with a well-taken Carlos Villanueva free-kick that also narrowly missed the target.

Everton started the better of the two teams in the second half, with a barrage of shots, the best of which saw Emiliano Romero rattle the crossbar with a stunning volley. Everton’s resurgence was short-lived, however, and Universidad de Católica began to take the initiative again.

Martínez came close to putting himself in contention for goal of the season with a spectacular bicycle-kick. It was not to be though, and the game finished with few histrionics despite Católica defender, Fernando Cordero, having to clear José Luis Muñoz’s shot off the line in the final few minutes.

Universidad de Católica’s win sees it stay in contention for the title, as it is still even on points with Española. Católica’s good run of recent results has also given it a momentum for Wednesday’s Copa Chile final clash with rivals Universidad de Chile.

Deportes Iquique 3-0 Cobresal

Down at the other end of the table, Iquique took on Cobresal in a relegation battle that could have ended both teams’ stay in the top flight. Cobresal went into the game knowing that anything but a win was unacceptable, whilst Iquique, who are only a point clear of Cobresal before the weekend’s fixtures, needed the three points to keep it within touching distance of the relegation play-off spot.

However, despite the fact that there was so much at stake in this game, it turned into an extremely one-sided affair with Cobresal self-imploding in the same hapless style that its fans have become accustomed to this season. Manuel Villalobos scored with a simple goal for Iquique in the first minute. From there Cobresal’s game, and its season, was effectively over.

“Los Mineros” did come close with a free-kick that clattered the crossbar shortly after Iquique’s first goal, though this did nothing to sort out the disarray that has come to blight Cobresal’s back line this season. It was Nicolás Ortiz, the Iquique defender, who capitalized on Cobresal’s lack of organization in the 38th minute, scoring from a simple set-play with a free header.

Ortiz, however, was sent off later in the game for a bizarre booking. It seemed as though he’d caught Eduardo Farías in the face with his left-hand, but replays later showed that the defender had done nothing of the sort and the Cobresal captain had simply feigned injury. Farías’ play-acting earned Ortiz a second yellow, though Cobresal did little to exploit the defender’s absence and Villalobos scored a simple tap in to seal the game.

Cobresal’s future is now entirely out of its hands. Even if it were to win all of its last games, other results would still have to go its way for it to stand even the slightest of chances in staying in the top flight. Iquique’s future also looks bleak, but its win has put it within three points of leapfrogging San Marcos, who it plays next week.

Palestino 2-2 San Marcos de Arica

Palestino were held to a 2-2 draw by San Marcos, who are still battling to avoid relegation. Sergio López opened the scoring for Palestino in the sixth minute after Jason Silva stormed down the left flank. He was able to put in a well-placed cross for López, who converted through the middle.

Palestino doubled its lead early in the second half when Diego Cháves scored with a simple tap-in after some defensive blundering from the San Marcos centre backs.

It didn’t take long for San Marcos to respond though as Renato Ramos scored two minutes later with a header from a deep cross knocked in from the left flank by Francisco Piña. It was Piña and Ramos who combined again in the 85th minute, as Piña once again made his way down the left, executing another inch-perfect cross for Ramos.

San Marco’s comeback will give the team a much needed boost before its make-or-break clash with Iquique next week, while Palestino will be wondering how it let a two-goal home lead slip in a relegation fight.

Deportes Antofagasta 1-0 Audax Italiano

Antofagasta took a big step towards safety with a crucial win over Audax Italiano. It scored in the 12th minute of a largely uneventful match where Antofagasta dominated for long periods.

It was Eric Pino who broke the deadlock after Alejandro Sánchez failed to hold onto Ronald González’s shot from outside the area. Pino was in the right place at the right time to capitalize on the goalkeeper’s mistake, scoring from inside the six-yard box.

Antofagasta’s win leaves both teams five points clear of the relegation play-off spot.

Huachipato 1-0 Unión La Calera

Reigning league champions Huachipato also moved away from the relegation zone this week with a good win over Unión La Calera.

Huachipato found itself a man down after Gabriel Sandoval was sent off for a nasty stamp on Joao Ortiz in the 27th minute. The loss of Sandoval put Huachipato under pressure for the remainder of the game. Unión La Calera went on to have nine shots on target to Huachipato’s four.

It was Felipe Reynero who secured the crucial three points for Huachipato when, in the 85th minute, the 25-year-old striker found himself with time and space in the box after beating Hugo Bascuñán, who went to the ground too early. Reynero slotted the ball past an on-rushing Arnaldo Giménez with calm and poise.

Huachipato’s win puts it in fourteenth, level on points with fellow relegation candidates Antofagasta and Audax Italiano.

Rangers de Talca 0-0 Ñublense

It was left up to Rangers and Ñublense to play out the week’s bore-draw. Both teams look to be safe and out of contention for any honors, but it was Rangers who had the better of the chances in the game’s opening phase.

Emanuel Crocce came close for Ñublense before the end of the first half, forcing a spectacular save from Nicolás Peric to keep the match tied. In fact it was Peric, in the end, who guaranteed the draw. The 34-year-old goalkeeper pulled off a series of reaction saves that denied Ñublense on a number of occasions in the second-half.

It doesn’t look like the draw will hurt either team though and the match was certainly played by two teams already thinking of their off-season.

Paraguay

Apertura 2013: Week 12 Wrap

There was a total goal-fest this week with 22 strikes coming at an average of 3.6 goals per game! The thriller was in Sajonia last night, Olimpia went 3-1 up only to be pegged back by a perserverant Luque – it needed Arnaldo Castorino’s acrobatics late on to decide the game in El Decano’s favour. Both Cerro Porteño and Nacional won comfortably, the former with their biggest win of the year (4-0 vs Sol) and the latter turning on the style late on to move 11 points clear (0-3 vs Carapeguá).

Guaraní sprang a surprise in Tuyucuá by beating Libertad, the Guma’s first league defeat at home in 19 matches. It keeps the critics off Diego Alonso’s back and the aurinegro still in with a good chance of Libertadores qualification albeit at this early stage.

General Díaz still can’t win and the draw with Capiatá keeps the two promoted teams neck-and-neck. Rubio Ñu finally won a game thanks to Hugo Lusardi’s winner, the 5 ft 5 in midfielder is making a huge impact and now has three goals in three games.

http://www.youtube.com/w…Sm3TDz5L9oQ

WEEK 12 RESULTS: Cerro Porteño 4-0 Sol de América; Cerro de Franco 1-2 Rubio Ñu; Deportivo Capiatá 1-1 General Díaz; Libertad 1-2 Guaraní; Olimpia 4-3 Sportivo Luqueño; Carapeguá 0-3 Nacional

Migliore update...

Pablo Migliore escribió una carta

BUENOS AIRES -- El arquero Pablo Migliore admitió que "la vida es dura" en el Penal de Ezeiza, donde se encuentra detenido por presunto encubrimiento del barrabrava de Boca Maximiliano Mazzaro, prófugo de la Justicia y acusado de asesinar a Ernesto Cirino a finales de 2011.

Lo hizo a través de una carta de puño y letra que escribió el 3 de mayo a la 1 de la madrugada en "un momento de lluvia", en la que reconoció también sentirse "solo" y "con bronca, angustia y dolor".

Migliore, quien cambió de abogados (ahora son Gonzalo Oliver Tezanos y Angel Moyano), espera ser indagado por tercera vez este miércoles por el juez de instrucción Manuel de Campos, tras dos excarcelaciones negadas y una consencuente prisión preventiva dictada sobre su persona.

En ese contexto, escribió: "Me decido a escribir esta carta desde el complejo penitenciario número 1, módulo 1 pabellón G. Aprovecho este momento de lluvia en el que me encuentro solo y pensando en todas las cosas que añoro y extraño. Sólo Dios sabe cuánto las extraño".

"Después de 32 días sin ver a mi mujer y a mis hijos y privado de mi libertad en esta cárcel, mis sensaciones son de angustia, bronca y dolor. Por momento, todo eso lo convierto en fuerzas para pelear por mi familia, mi libertad, y mi verdad", agregó el guardametas, que fue detenido en pleno estadio de San Lorenzo el 31 de marzo pasado, luego del partido ante Newell´s.

El párrafo siguiente está dedicado a la gente que lo apoyó: "Querida gente, a ustedes que siempre me apoyaron va dirigida esta carta con el objetivo de hacerles saber que los extraño mucho, que acá la vida es dura, y te enseña a valorar a las personas que realmente están a tu lado...".

Y concluyó con un "gracias por estar siempre a mi lado!!! Les mando un abrazo grande y muchas bendiciones. Los quiero mucho", para firmar como "Pablo Migliore (22)".

Por último, en la línea final, dejó en claro un deseo: "Sueño con volver a vestir la camiseta de San Lorenzo".

2 Kampe lukker 12 runde i Argentina.

Bundholdet Estudiantes henter et point hos All Boys efter 0-0og det på trods af at man sluter med 10 efter udnings af midtbanemanden Marcos Gelabert med 20 minutter igen.

Arsenals Dario Benedetto scorer 2 gange pindenfor de første 15 minutter da El Arse Slår Newell´s Old Boys med 2-0. - Nyt førerhold er nu Lanus.

http://www.youtube.com/w…UTLOqkODn7A

enkelt kamp i Peru som lukker 14 spillerunde 1-1 mllem UTC og Cienciano i Cajamarca.

http://www.youtube.com/w…5VRJs6UHvRY

Vangioni lamentó no liquidarlo

BUENOS AIRES -- El volante de River Plate Leonel Vangioni expresó este lunes que si su equipo hubiese hecho un gol más durante el primer tiempo, la historia del súper clásico ante Boca Juniors "hubiese sido otra".

"El primer tiempo fue muy intenso y entretenido. En el segundo bajó mucho el partido", señaló Vangioni.

El volante, como casi el resto del equipo dirigido por Ramón Díaz, jugó un buen primer tiempo pero no tuvo un buen rendimiento en el complemento.

"Si River metía un gol más en el primer tiempo (terminó 1-1), la historia hubiese sido otra. Después (refiriéndose a la segunda etapa) el partido se hizo muy trabado", agregó, en declaraciones realizadas a Radio 9.

Por último, el volante indicó que "desde que arrancó el torneo pensamos en pelear el campeonato y todavía hay chances. Pero no podemos dejar más puntos en el camino".

Gutiérrez, Perea and Pavone make Mexican club Cruz Azul more of an attacking threat

Colombian´s Teófilo Gutiérrez and Amaranto Perea together with Argentinian Mariano Pavone, help to make Cruz Azul more powerful in attack during the regular season of the 2013 Mexican Clausura. A good example is when they combined to score 5 goals in their thumping of Monterrey (5-1).

Cruz Azul came into the seventeenth week of Mexican football with 30 goals scored and after thrashing Monterrey pushed that total up to 35, five ahead of their immediate pursuers, Tigres and América.

Against Monterrey, Cruz Azul was presented with the need to win to improve their league position ahead of the quarter-finals. They came out of the starting blocks flying starting with a spectacular goal by "Teo" Gutiérrez.

Thus, "Teogol" finished his first regular season in Mexican football with four goals.

Perea got the second goal of the game. This was the Colombian defenseman´s third goal of his career. The funny thing is that all three have come with Cruz Azul in this tournament.

Subsequently Pavone appeared on the scene to score three goals. Thus, the "Tank" finished in third place in the individual scoring chart with 10 goals.

Second in the scoring chart, with 11 goals, is Chilean Héctor Mancilla, who scored Morelia´s first goal in their 2-1 win over Santos.

The second goal for Morelia came off the boot of Ecuadorian Joao Rojas, who with this goal extended his team´s unbeaten streak to 10 games since Argentine Sergio Bustos took over as coach.

Although he didn´t score, Ecuadorian Christian Benítez won ​​his third consecutive scoring title with 12 goals. Despite this individual achievement, América lost 2-0 to Tigres.

With the victory Tigres are now leaders of the tournament. They got their goals from Brazilian Danilinho and Argentine Lucas Lobos. Danilinho´s well-placed left-footed shot into the top left corner was the most colorful of the day.

Argentinian Matías Alustiza scored a brace in Pueblo´s 3-2 win against Querétaro which also served to relegate Querétaro. The last goal in the First Division for the "White Roosters" was scored by Colombian Wilberto Cosme, who came to Mexico for the tournament and was the top scorer of his squad with five goals.

Uruguayan Matías Britos scored the lone goal in León´s victory against Atlas which also saved them from finishing last in the tournament.

Although Jaguares of Chiapas failed to qualify for the finals, Colombian striker Luis Gabriel Rey finished among the top scorers with nine goals thanks to his goal in injury time to defeat Pachuca 2-1.

Spanish striker Luis Garcia, who has only started two games of the regular season with Pumas, came on against Atlante and scored the winning goal (2-1). This was his first goal of the tournament.

"Chucho" Benitez achieves three straight scoring titles

Ecuadorian Christian Benítez, striker for América, set a record by winning three consecutive individual scoring titles in Mexican tournaments after being crowned 2013 Clausura tournament top scorer with 12 goals.

"Chucho" Benitez added the scoring title to those achieved in the 2012 Clausura, with 11 goals, and in the 2012 Apertura, with 14. Unlike those conquests, this time the Ecuadorian is alone at the top where previously he was co-top scorer first with Uruguayan Iván Alonso who played for Toluca and then Chilean Esteban Paredes of Atlante.

He was also top goal scorer, his first, in the 2010 Apertura where he scored 14 goals. At that time he was playing for Santos, his first team in Mexico.

In this 2013 Clausura, Benítez played as a starter in 17 games of the regular season and scored in eight. He twice scored three goals, against Cruz Azul (week 9) and against Pachuca (week 16). He also scored a goal against Jaguares, Atlante, Querétaro, Morelia, León and Pumas.

Whenever Benítez scored, the "Eagles" of América have not lost, winning six and drawing two.

With these 12 goals scored this season, Benítez reached 98 in 10 tournaments in Mexican football, of which 51 were scored with club Santos and 47 have been with club América.

The last time a player had won three scoring titles in a row was back when the tournaments were a lot longer. Mexican Carlos Hermosillo won three with Cruz Azul in the 1993-94 campaign, 1994-95 and 1995-96.

In the short tournaments six players have been able to win two scoring titles in a row: Mexican Jared Borgetti (Winter-2000 and Summer-2001), Paraguayan José Cardozo (Apertura-2002 and Clausura-2003), Argentinian Vicente Matías Vuoso (Clausura-2005 and Apertura-2005), Uruguayan Sebastián Abreu (Apertura-2005 and Clausura-2006), Chilean Héctor Mancilla (Apertura-2008 and Clausura-2009) and Uruguayan Iván Alonso (Apertura-2011 and Clausura-2012).

Zlatan Boliviano

Paraguayan Pablo Escobar scored his 100th goal in Bolivia

The attacking midfielder´s goal was the "cherry" on the top of a season full of emotions as was the game. The Strongest defeated Blooming 4-3 as visitors in Santa Cruz.

The ´Bird´ Escobar, as he is nicknamed, was the recipient of an exquisite heel pass from strike partner, Colombian Harold Reina, to execute a shot from 30 yards to seal the victory for his team.

The midfielder, who also plays on the Bolivian national team, came to the country in 2004 to play for San José of Oruro.

His development as a player and goal-scorer caught the attention of The Strongest who signed him the next year. He played for The Strongest until 2006 when he signed with Cerro Porteño.

He returned to The Strongest for a second spell until 2008 when he moved to Brazil playing for several different teams.

In 2011 he once again returned to The Strongest taking the lead and scoring more goals to help his club to win three titles in a row.

Escobar is the leading scorer on his team with 9 goals, four behind leader, Bolivian Juan Fierro, with 15 goals to his credit.

El título casi es una utopía

BUENOS AIRES -- Pobre, muy pobre. Un equipo que tiene pretensiones de pelear por el campeonato no puede seguir dilapidando oportunidades.

Más allá de las excusas o de los merecimientos, lo cierto y concreto es que River no sumó de a tres en la Bombonera ante un oponente que está pasando por un muy mal momento.

El Millo tuvo todo para ganar, pero los recurrentes errores propios lo privaron de mantener y ampliar una diferencia que consiguió en un pasaje casi ideal, cuando el partido recién amanecía.

Pero esa anémica capacidad goleadora ya conocida, terminó siendo su peor rival. Porque le fue erosionando su autoestima al punto de que cada gol desperdiciado se transformó en un inmenso signo de interrogación que agigantó, con el correr de los minutos, sus dudas.

Y River necesitaba ganar. Tenía que hacerlo para poder llegar a las últimas fechas con esa aspiración seria y concreta de pelear por el título. Así lo había manifestado el propio Ramón Díaz en la previa.

La diferencia respecto de otras presentaciones es que en el Superclásico no sólo el equipo falló adentro, sino que también los errores llegaron desde afuera, de la conducción.

Primero, el técnico optó por colocar en cancha a un Leonardo Ponzio que, claramente, no estaba en condiciones de jugar. Después, a la hora de poner a Rodrigo Mora sacó al hombre más peligroso de ataque: Juan Iturbe, desmantelando así la ofensiva.

En un contexto de mediocridad general, el delantero, cuyo pase pertenece al Porto de Portugal, había sido protagonista en casi todas las acciones generadas por el Millo.

Pero claro, cuando se dilapida lo que se construye empiezan los temores, y en un partido tan importante todo eso va mutando a la forma de debilidad extrema. Es por eso que cedió el protagonismo y terminó cerrando el juego sin coraje no jerarquía.

A la hora de declarar, Ramón Díaz trató de escudarse en las limitaciones de Boca. Le apuntó a su oponente y giró el eje de observación. Pero acá el único culpable de no haber sumado de a tres fue River. Que no corrige lo que hace mal. Que sigue repitiendo fallas. Que continúa dejando puntos en el camino justamente por no instrumentar mecanismos adecuados para solucionar su mayor karma, que es la definición.

La tarde negra para el entrenador se cerró con los gestos que hizo cuando fue expulsado. Ante un coro que acompañaba su pasa diciendo "vos sos de la B", él se trató de despegar de ese doloroso acontecimiento que vivió el mundo Millonario respondiendo con un gesto que indicaba: "yo no me fui".

Más allá de la certeza que puede tener tal afirmación, porque realmente Ramón no estaba en River cuando descendió, alguien que se jacta de tener el corazón embanderado con los colores rojo y blanco, no debería torcer ese sentimiento sólo para los momentos felices. Entre otras cosas, porque además deja al descubierto lo hecho por otros colegas, futbolistas y se aparta de los que fue un tortuoso camino que debió recorrer el hincha.

Está claro que la tarde de River no fue positiva en ningún aspecto y no hay dudas de que, aunque ya sea tardío por los puntos que viene dejando cediendo, el cambio deberá ser instantáneo. Si no el sueño de lograr el título pasará a ser una mera utopía.