I told a certain member here that Pinto was nothing special and they wanted me head off afer I said that. That goal he let in today pretty much says it all.
Vuelta: Cruzeiro(BRA)-Universidad de Chile(CHI) 1:0 Gol de Kléber. Ida: Defensor Sporting(URU)-Boca Juniors(ARG) 2:2 Goles de Palermo(BJ), Gaglianone(DS), Palacio(BJ) y Mora(DS). 4ºs de final: Gremio(BRA)-Caracas(VEN) (Boca Juniors(ARG))-(Estudiantes(ARG)) Nacional(URU)-Palmeiras(BRA) Sao Paulo(BRA)-Cruzeiro(BRA)
I saw a little of Defensor Sporting vs. Boca Juniors. Defensor is clearly not as talented; that one play where Defensor had a foul near the box and the guy just kicked it to a player who had a straight shot and volleyed it 25 feet upward was an example of how Defensor was botching chances it had. THey had an amazing chance right at the start of the 2nd half that they were unlucky not to capitalize on. Boca will probably advance as they scored 2 away goals, but I have to say I was not terribly impressed with Boca's play. They were better in the second half, but in the first, as the Uruguayans went for the tie, they pressed repeatedly and Boca made few forays into the Uruguayan team's side of the field. Cruzeiro beats Universidade de Chile 1-0 at home (where they have only wins this season in the Libertadores) and advances to face SPFC. I'm concerned - SPFC is out of rhythm, still plagued by injuries, whereas Cruzeiro is well-oiled and definitely stronger that it was last year - Kleber is dangerous up front. Estudantes da Prata does just enough - and the Paraguayans of Liberdade CHOKE again. Even if they were harmed last week by Carlos Eugenio Simon's awful refereeing.
Libertad(PAR)-Estudiantes(ARG) 0:0 4ºs de final: Gremio(BRA)-Caracas(VEN) (Boca Juniors(ARG))-Estudiantes(ARG) Nacional(URU)-Palmeiras(BRA) Sao Paulo(BRA)-Cruzeiro(BRA)
Grêmio-Caracas, that may steal the show, but looking towards Palmeiras-Nacional, bah i guess all of them're gonna be great.
Quien va con quien en las semis? Los 2 ganadores de las 1eras 2 parejas; luego, los 2 ganadores de las 2ndas 2 parejas?
Gremio(BRA)/Caracas(VEN)-Sao Paulo(BRA)/Cruzeiro(BRA) (Boca Juniors(ARG))/Estudiantes(ARG)-Nacional(URU)/Palmeiras(BRA) --------------------------- Me la juego por estas semis: Gremio(BRA)-Cruzeiro(BRA) Boca Juniors(ARG)-Palmeiras(BRA) Gremio, Cruzeiro y Palmeiras de Brasil serían "algo así como" Arsenal, Manchester United y Chelsea de Inglaterra. Y Boca Juniors de Argentina sería el "Barcelona de España".
I saw Defensor x Boca and had the same impression. Defensor got me mad as they were losing many chances in the first half, and Diego de Souza wasn't in his best day. Boca's second goal showed how weak is Defensor's defense. Boca didn't played well, despite of the 4 goals it was kinda a boring game. I thought Defensor would manage to make their 3 goal, but they don't have this great strikers... Libertad has the right to complain about Carlos Simon. he's a bad referee in years, but I don't know, it seems he has too many friends back in FIFA and CBF. It's funny that Minas Gerais' press call Cruzeiro the "Manchester United Mineiro" hahahahaha...it turns out a joke, as Cruzeiro always been a megalomaniac club, thinking they're bigger than they really are.
I think what he meant was a comparison of country representation. It appears as if we'll have 2 Argentines, 1 Uruguayan, 1 Venezuelan, and 4 Brazilians in the quarterfinals - as there were 3 Brits (Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United) in the Champions' League semifinals, along with one Spaniard (Barcelona).
we only haven't won all matches because the gods of football wanted La U to pass through fase de grupos. what a many chances we lost in 0x0 at Olímpico...
Yeah... but with Bosco, I'm worried. If we score at least one goal at Mineirao, we're good for Morumbi. If not...
My Copa Libertadores Blog entry for the week, including my take on the Mexican clubs decision to quit. A WEEK WITHOUT A MEXICAN: COPA LIBERTADORES ROUND OF SIXTEEN https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/blog.php?b=5298 Player of the week: Marcos (Palmeiras) Honorable mention: Kleber (Cruzeiro), Souza (Gremio) Goat of the week: The leadership of Sao Paulo, Nacional, and Conmebol Dishonorable mention: The leadership of Guadalajara, San Luis and FMF. Team of the week: Caracas Honorable mention: Cruzeiro Worst team of the week: Deportivo Cuenca Dishonorable mention: Libertad
Boca Juniores has nobody to blame but themselves. As even MarianitAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Closs and Fernando Niembro stated, Boca started the match accommodated, calm, tranquil - the Uruguayans held their own and when they had a chance, they scored. I will grant that Boca had much more possession, more shots on goal, and looked more threatening throughout when they neared Defensor Sporting's goal. Having said that, Defensor Sporting showed at La Bombonera what they'd shown in El Centenario: inferior ballhandling and poor passing. That Defensor wasted chance after chance to put the game away on the few chances they had in the 2nd half speaks volumes about how limited they were. Boca did what it could, but credit to the Uruguayans for playing a tactically very solid and intelligent game - and for winning probably the greatest win of their clubs' existence. Caracas vs Gremio Cruzeiro vs SPFC Palmeiras vs Nacional Defensor Sporting vs Estudantes da Prata 4 Brazilians, 1 Venezuelan, 2 Uruguayans, 1 Argentine.
Defensor Sporting and their fans have another reason to be proud. I just read that not even Penarol or Nacional ever won in La Bombonera in Libertadores matches. It's nice to see the "underdog" doing well - this team beat Flamengo in 2007 and it took penalty kicks for Gremio to oust them in that year's quarterfinals. Man... this is shaping up to be a VERY interesting Libertadores. The quarterfinals are going to be very fun to watch.