Homestretch in Argentina and Brazil [R]

DJT · December 5, 2004

Argentina</u>

2 matches to go:

Newell's Old Boys [Rosario]       33

Estudiantes       [La Plata]      30

Vélez Sarsfield   [Buenos Aires]  30

River Plate       [Buenos Aires]  29

Rosario Central   [Rosario]       27[/code]
Sunday:



Newell's vs. Gimnasia [La Plata]

Estudiantes vs. Vélez

River vs. Rosario — FSWC at 5 PM EST (2h50m tape delay)



Unfortunate that FSWC has the third match over the more significant first two. Sucks the excitement out of it. 





[u][b]Brazil[/b]</u>



3 matches to go:
[code]Atlético Paranaense [Curitiba]   82

Santos              [Santos]     80

São Paulo           [São Paulo]  78

São Caetano         [São Paulo]  77

Sunday:

Atlético Paranaense vs. São Caetano — FSWC at 7 PM EST (7h tape delay)

Santos vs. Grêmio [Porto Alegre]

Vitória [salvador] vs. São Paulo

At least FSWC has the right match here.

beachesl · December 5, 2004

PREVIEW-Soccer-Passions run high in dramatic Brazilian finale

By Brian Homewood

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Brazilians are suddennly discovering the advantages of a conventional league system as the national championship reaches a dramatic finale at both ends of the table.

With three rounds to play, three teams are still fighting for the title while nine clubs, including some of the country's most famous, are struggling to avoid the four relegation places.

Passions are running high with supporters turning against their own teams and coaches falling like ninepins. The 43 rounds of matches so far have claimed 40 coaching victims.

Brazil had never used the league system until last year because of the generally-held idea that it was boring. Clubs and television networks insisted supporters would not accept the idea of a competition that did not have a final.

Last year's experiment with the 'new' system deepened that feeling as Cruzeiro ran away with the title and only two teams were relegated.

This year, with four teams going down, it is the battle to avoid the drop that is proving the real novelty.

Brazil's top clubs have rarely had to face relegation before. If a big team went down in the past, the rules would often be simply re-written to keep them in the top flight.

Supporters of the bigger clubs appear to be struggling to accept the new reality.

Flamengo players lashed out a group of angry fans who jostled and insulted them at Rio de Janeiro airport last month as they returned from a 6-1 defeat by fellow strugglers Atletico Mineiro.

Since then, Brazil's most popular team has been training outside Rio.

EXTRA SECURITY

Atletico Mineiro have also beefed up security, with police escorts for their team bus, following a similarly unfriendly reception at Belo Horizonte airport last Sunday.

The relegation drama involves all the teams from 15th place down -- Parana and Vasco da Gama (51 points), Botafogo (50), Criciuma, Flamengo, Paysandu (49), Vitoria (48), Atletico Mineiro (46) and Guarani (43).

Former South American champions Gremio (39) have already been condemned to the drop following a dismal campaign that has seen three coaching changes in seven months.

Atletico Mineiro face Paysandu in a crunch match on Saturday with Procopio Cardoso making his debut as their fourth coach of the championship.

He replaces Mario Sergio, fired after last week's 2-1 loss to Figueirense.

It is all very different from Procopio's first stint in charge back in 1980 when he led his side into the final, against Flamengo.

"This next game is much more important than that final," he said. "It's the most important game in Atletico's history because if we lose, we're going to leave football's elite."

Criciuma and Parana clash in another key encounter while Flamengo, who moved out of the relegation zone last week, host Coritiba, their neighbours Botafogo visit Juventude and Vitoria are at home to Sao Paulo.

The battle for the title is equally unpredictable.

Leaders Atletico Paranaense missed a chance to open up a four-point gap when they threw away a 3-0 lead and were held 3-3 at Gremio last Sunday. They stayed two points ahead of Santos, who drew 1-1 with Paysandu.

Those results allowed Sao Paulo to stay in the hunt as their 2-1 win over Internacional brought them within four points of the leaders.

The top two are at home this weekend. Paranaense, who won the championship in 2001, face fourth-placed Sao Caetano and Santos, champions in 2002, play Gremio.

Updated on Friday, Dec 3, 2004 7:22 am EST

amacpher · December 5, 2004

Just watching the pre-game show now -- amazing scenes in Rosario. One hour before kick-off and the place is jammed, everybody going nuts already.

In Argentina they would break a tie with a playoff to determine the champions. Anybody know how they do it in Brasil??

Anyway, here is the relegation battle which includes last year's champions. Not a good year for Rio clubs.

Club ........ Games .Pts

14. Parana 44 54

15. Cruzeiro 43 53

16. Vasco 44 51

17. Botafogo 43 50

18. Paysandu 44 50

19. Flamengo 43 49

20. Criciuma 44 49

-------------------------------------------------------

21. Vitoria 43 48

22. At.Mineiro 44 47

23. Guarani 44 46

24. Gremio 43 39

beachesl · December 6, 2004

The latest, now just 2 matches to go.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Brazilian championship results/standings

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Results of Brazilian

championship soccer matches played at the weekend:

Atletico Paranaense 5 Sao Caetano 2

Santos 5 Gremio 1

Vitoria 1 Sao Paulo 4

Juventude 1 Botafogo 0

Internacional 2 Cruzeiro 0

Flamengo 0 Coritiba 0

Criciuma 1 Parana 2

Fluminense 1 Ponte Preta 0

Guarani 2 Figueirense 1

Atletico Mineiro 0 Paysandu 0

Goias 0 Palmeiras 0

Corinthians 3 Vasco da Gama 1

Standings

P W D L F A Pts

1. Atletico Paranaense 44 25 10 9 92 54 85

2. Santos 44 25 8 11 98 57 83

3. Sao Paulo 44 24 9 11 77 40 81

4. Sao Caetano 44 23 8 13 65 43 77

5. Palmeiras 44 21 12 11 68 44 75

6. Juventude 44 20 10 14 59 63 70

7. Goias 44 20 9 15 79 67 69

8. Corinthians 44 18 14 12 47 51 68

9. Fluminense 44 17 12 15 63 67 63

10. Internacional 44 18 7 19 62 57 61

11. Ponte Preta 44 18 7 19 40 70 61

12. Figueirense 44 16 12 16 54 54 60

13. Coritiba 44 14 16 14 49 45 58

14. Parana 44 15 9 20 51 70 54

15. Cruzeiro 44 15 8 21 63 75 53

16. Vasco da Gama 44 13 12 19 62 66 51

17. Flamengo 44 12 14 18 44 50 50

18. Paysandu 44 12 14 18 50 73 50

19. Botafogo 44 11 17 16 60 68 50

20. Criciuma 44 13 10 21 56 72 49

21. Vitoria 44 13 9 22 67 81 48

22. Atletico Mineiro 44 10 17 17 56 66 47

23. Guarani 44 10 16 18 39 51 46

24. Gremio 44 9 12 23 60 77 39 - relegated

Note: if teams are level on points, positions are decided by

the number of games won

amacpher · December 7, 2004

Geez, that Athletico PR club is a joy to watch! I can't wait to see them in the Copa Libertadores.

I wonder if FOX will show the big match between Independiente and NOB this Sunday or the virtually meaningless Boca - Almagro match!? So far this season FOX has shown every Boca and River home game and nothing else.

December 7, 2004

Newell's needs just a point on the last day to take it.

What is folks opinion about the Apertura-Clausura system. On the one hand you don't really have one champion for a full season, but it does let teams on a roll occasionally get in there for a title, when over a whole season they could not keep it up to take the trophy.

argh1 · December 8, 2004

quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S.
What is folks opinion about the Apertura-Clausura system.

Being a bit of a Brit snob , I don't understand it . 2 seasons within the same season?

If you could take the time to explain this system I'd appreciate it.

Is this system used outside of Latin America ?

amacpher · December 8, 2004

quote:Originally posted by argh1

Being a bit of a Brit snob , I don't understand it . 2 seasons within the same season?

If you could take the time to explain this system I'd appreciate it.

Is this system used outside of Latin America ?

Well, 2 season within the same year would be a better description. Brit snobs shouldn't have any trouble understanding this as they have 2 cups within the same year.

Personally I think its a good system for small countries that have two (or 3) giant teams and a bunch of barely-professional clubs playing in the same league. The SPL could probably be more exciting with this system. (Not gonna happen, i know)

beachesl · December 11, 2004

Extra security for high risk match at Vasco da Gama

By Brian Homewood

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 10 (Reuters) - The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has requested extra security for championship leaders Atletico Paranaense's visit to relegation-threatened Vasco da Gama on Sunday.

The CBF said it had contacted the police and fire brigade about the match which is considered high risk.

"The CBF...asked that measures be taken to guarantee the safety of the fans and all the people involved in the game, inside and outside Sao Januario," a statement on its website said.

Paranaense are two points ahead of Santos with two games to play and could wrap up their second title in three years if they win and Santos fail to beat Sao Caetano.

Vasco, 16th and only three points away from the relegation zone, have not won in their last six outings.

Their Sao Januario stadium, surrounded by shanty towns, has been the scene of a number of incidents.

The most serious was during the final of the Brazilian championship in 2000 when more than 70 fans were hurt after a fence collapsed.

The club wanted the game to continue but the Rio de Janeiro state government intervened and ordered the match to be abandoned.

Last year, Vasco were given a three-match home ban after a group of supporters invaded the coach of opponents Coritiba and attacked the players.

In 1997, a South American Supercup match against Argentina's River Plate was abandoned in the second half as fans pelted a linesman with stones and firecrackers.

Paranaense were involved in an incident three years ago when police banned them from taking the field in a row over the kickoff time.

beachesl · December 11, 2004

Controversy surrounds Argentine finale

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Independiente have denied reports that their own supporters are putting pressure on them not to win Sunday's Argentine championship match against leaders Newell's Old Boys, who need a point to clinch the title.

Police have beefed up security at Independiente training sessions after reports that their supporters considered Newell's to be a "friendly" club, who they wanted to win the title.

Interim coach Pedro Monzon promised that the Red Devils, who are 16th in the Apertura championship after a dismal campaign, would try to win the game.

"Anyone who knows Pedro Monzon knows that I never go backwards, always forwards," he told Independiente's official website.

"Independiente always plays to win, and prepares to win, because it's a big and important institution at national and international level. I can't believe there's a supporter who does not want us to win."

Goalkeeper Carlos Navarro Montoya said he did not know anything about demands which were allegedly made by three leaders of the club's organised supporters club.

He told the Clarin newspaper: "Every time a championship is decided, there's too much of this talk. I'm only interested in enjoying my football."

Newell's are three points clear of Velez Sarsfield, who are at home to Arsenal in their last game.

If Velez win and Newell's lose, a playoff match will take place as goal difference is not used to settle the title.

Up to 20,000 Newell's fans are expected to make the 400-km trip from Rosario as the club attempt to win the title for the first time since 1992, when they won the Clausura championship.

Media reports said there was chaos on Thursday as fans queued outside Newell's stadium to buy tickets.

Newell's coach Americo Gallego, a midfielder in Argentina's 1978 World Cup-winning team, is attempting to win the championship with his third different club, having previously led River Plate and Independiente to the title.

beachesl · December 11, 2004

Brazil - Campeonato Brasileiro

December 11 (more matches tomorrow)

FT Gremio 0 - 1 Atletico Mineiro

FT Paysandu 4 - 2 Guarani

FT Palmeiras 3 - 2 Criciuma

FT Parana 0 - 1 Fluminense

amacpher · December 12, 2004

Hmmm... after Sao Caetano's 24-point penalty, Corinthians (and Carlos Tevez) now appear to have a chance to qualify for Copa Libertadores afterall. They're 2 points back of 5th place.

DJT · December 12, 2004

4 hours of this stuff is kicking-off on FSWC:

Independiente vs. Newell's Old Boys at 5:00 PM EST

- Newell's will clinch with a draw or a Vélez Sarsfield failure to win versus Arsenal; a Newell's loss coupled with a Vélez win will produce a playoff between the two

followed by

Vasco da Gama vs. Atlético Paranaense at 7:00 PM EST

- Atlético will clinch with a win coupled with a Santos failure to win at São Caetano (any other combination of results and we wait till next week)

beachesl · December 13, 2004

Soccer-Newell's break the routine in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Newell's Old Boys, masterminded by wily coach Americo Gallego and the return of Ariel Ortega after a 19-month soccer exile, brought a welcome change in routine by winning Argentina's Apertura championship.

Many commentators complained of a mediocre championship, pointing out that Newell's total of 36 points from 19 games was the lowest since the system of two leagues a year -- Apertura and Clausura -- was introduced in 1991.

But Argentine football badly needed the trophy to go somewhere other than River Plate or Boca Juniors, who have shared four of the last five titles.

Gallego, a midfielder in Argentina's 1978 World Cup-winning team, has the distinction of winning four Argentina titles with three different clubs -- two with River Plate and one each with Independiente and Newell's.

The 50-year-old took over at the Rosario-based club after two matches of the Clausura, the first of the two leagues played in the calendar year in Argentina, as he replaced journeyman coach Hector Veira.

By the time the Apertura began in August he had built a side combining youngsters raised at the club with more experienced players such as Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar, 34-year-old midfielder Ruben Capria and seasoned defender Julian Maidana.

Gallego said Villar had made a crucial difference.

"If you have a goalkeeper who wins you seven or eight points, then you're going to win the championship," he said. "And we had one."

ORTEGA COMEBACK

But the most surprising signing was 30-year-old Ortega, who had not played since he walked out on Turkish club Fenerbahce in February last year.

Ortega was given a worldwide ban and ordered to pay $11 million compensation.

His career appeared to be at an end until Newell's came on the scene and soccer's world governing body FIFA brokered a deal under which Fenerbahce agreed to release him for three million euros ($3.99 million).

Ortega is still far from the player who tormented opponents with his trickery -- and playacting -- in the past but his mere presence appeared to give the team and their fans a huge boost.

He was given a rapturous reception in Rosario and Newell's games were regularly 30,000 sellouts.

"Next year, I'll be better," said Ortega. "I missed pre-season training but next year I'm determined to be at my best."

Gallego's future is a mystery, with speculation that he could leave the club. His ambition is to coach Argentina, currently in the charge of Jose Pekerman.

"I'd like to go abroad and come back with more experience so that I could have a chance with the national team," he said.

beachesl · December 13, 2004

In Brazil, with one match to go.....

----------------------------------------------------

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Results of Brazilian

championship soccer matches played at the weekend:

Sao Caetano 0 Santos 3

Vasco da Gama 1 Atletico Paranaense 0

Sao Paulo 1 Flamengo 1

Botafogo 1 Corinthians 2

Figueirense 1 Juventude 0

Coritiba 1 Goias 0

Cruzeiro 4 Vitoria 0

Ponte Preta 1 Internacional 2

Paysandu 4 Guarani 2

Gremio 0 Atletico Mineiro 1

Palmeiras 3 Criciuma 2

Parana 0 Fluminense 1

P W D L F A Pts

1. Santos 45 26 8 11 101 57 86

2. Atletico Paranaense 45 25 10 10 92 55 85

3. Sao Paulo 45 24 10 11 78 41 82

4. Palmeiras 45 22 12 11 71 46 78

5. Corinthians 45 19 14 12 49 52 71

6. Juventude 45 20 10 15 59 64 70

7. Goias 45 20 9 16 79 68 69

8. Fluminense 45 18 12 15 64 67 66

9. Internacional 45 19 7 19 64 58 64

10. Figueirense 45 17 12 16 55 54 63

11. Ponte Preta 45 18 7 20 41 72 61

12. Coritiba 45 15 16 14 50 45 61

13. Cruzeiro 45 16 8 21 67 75 56

14. Parana 45 15 9 21 51 71 54

15. Vasco da Gama 45 14 12 19 63 66 54

16. Sao Caetano 45 23 8 14 65 46 53

17. Paysandu 45 13 14 18 54 75 53

18. Flamengo 45 12 15 18 45 51 51

19. Botafogo 45 11 17 17 61 70 50

20. Atletico Mineiro 45 11 17 17 57 66 50

21. Criciuma 45 13 10 22 58 75 49

22. Vitoria 45 13 9 23 67 85 48

23. Guarani 45 10 16 19 41 55 46 - relegated

24. Gremio 45 9 12 24 60 78 39 - relegated

Note: Sao Caetano had 24 points deducted after defender

Serginho collapsed during a match and later died.

If teams are level on points, positions are decided by the

number of games won.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paranaense lose Brazil lead in unsavoury circumstances

By Brian Homewood

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Atletico Paranaense were knocked off the top of the Brazilian championship with one match to go when they lost 1-0 to Vasco da Gama in unsavoury circumstances on Sunday.

Santos won 3-0 at Sao Caetano to go one point clear of Paranaense and send the title contest to the bitter end next Sunday.

Pele's former club need only to beat Vasco at home to clinch the title for the second time in three years.

Paranaense, who could have wrapped up the title if they had won and Santos drawn or lost, faced a hostile environment at Vasco's notorious Sao Januario stadium.

Witnesses said their team bus was stoned as they arrived, the players complained that they were not allowed to warm-up on the pitch and hundreds of fans claimed they were not allowed in despite holding tickets.

Vasco, needing a win to make sure of first division survival, grabbed the points when defender Henrique headed home a free kick taken by Serb midfielder Dejan Petkovic in the second half.

"They (Paranaense) were prepared to celebrate, they brought champagne and dried cod but we kept working quietly and the result is there to see," sobbed Henrique in an emotional touchline interview.

GUARANI RELEGATED

Santos were already three goals to the good when Vasco scored.

Elano volleyed them in front before halftime, then a Ricardinho penalty and Basilio volley put the game beyond the reach of Sao Caetano, who last week had 24 points deducted after defender Serginho collapsed during a match in October and died in hospital.

Sao Paulo's title hopes ended when they were held 1-1 at home by relegation-threatened Flamengo.

At the bottom, Guarani joined Gremio in the second division when they lost 4-2 at Paysandu.

Two more relegation places are still to be filled.

Criciuma, with 49 points from 45 games, dropped to 21st in the 24-team table when they lost 3-2 to an injury time goal at Palmeiras.

Vitoria sank to 22nd with 48 points after a 4-0 defeat at Cruzeiro where they had Vinicius sent off for elbowing and Marcelo Heleno for a late tackle in the second half.

Flamengo, 18th with 51 points, Botafogo and Atletico Mineiro, who have 50, are also in danger.

Botafogo fans fought with police on the terraces and outside the ground after their team lost 2-1 at home to Corinthians.

Wendel scored the winner after catching goalkeeper Jefferson out of his goal.

Fabio Baiano had put Corinthians ahead in the first half before Alex Alves equalised when he headed home a cross from 40-year-old former Paris St Germain midfielder Valdo after halftime.

Atletico Mineiro eased their problems by winning 1-0 at Gremio.

Canuck Oranje · December 19, 2004

As if Santos needed any more motivation. The Santos game is the big TV game here in Sao Paulo. Apparently, Robinho is expected to play after a long layoff.

Robinho’s mother freed after 40-day kidnap saga

SANTOS: Kidnappers freed on Friday the mother of Santos forward Robinho, one of Brazil’s most talented young players, 40 days after seizing her at gunpoint while she was attending a barbecue.

Marina de Souza, 43, was discovered when she knocked on the door of a house in the working-class district of Perus on the outskirts of Sao Paulo after being released from captivity nearby, the residents told Brazilian television.

Robinho and his mother later appeared on the balcony of her Santos apartment to applause from onlookers and a chorus of car horns.

“There’s nothing better than seeing your mother happy and laughing,” the 20-year-old striker said. “I can have a happy Christmas with my family whether or not we win the title.

“I’ve had trouble sleeping. You have lunch but you don’t know if your mother’s having lunch, when you have dinner, you don’t know if she’s having dinner.”

Detective Alberto Corazza said Robinho’s father Gilson Souza had made all contacts with the kidnappers.

“(The kidnappers) are certainly experienced, otherwise they wouldn’t have managed to keep her captive for so long,” he said.

“The investigation is just beginning because we kept at a distance at the family’s request.

“I still haven’t spoken to Robinho’s father, so I can’t guarantee that a ransom was paid. But, judging from the way she was released, it’s probable that it was.”

Robinho has not played since the kidnapping in the Santos district of Praia Grande on Nov 6, although he has been training.

Meanwhile, his agent Wagner Ribeiro has suspended negotiations over a possible move abroad. Robinho’s trickery has made him a hot property and Real Madrid are reported to be among the European clubs chasing him.

His mother’s release came two days before Santos, the Brazilian championship leaders, play their decisive last match of the league season against Vasco da Gama.

Santos lead Atletico Paranaense by one point and need to beat Vasco today to win the title for the second time in three years.

“God has been generous because he has brought Dona Marina home,” said Santos president Marcelo Teixeira. – Reuters

Canuck Oranje · December 19, 2004