Marat Safin goes Brazilian, joins Zico at Maracana in Rio

Russian tennis player Marat Safin apparently harbors a desire to become a soccer pro and change his nationality to Brazilian. At least that is how it might appear judging by these photos supplied by our friends at InsideOut Sports Entertainment. The former U.S. Open champ recently joined former Brazilian great Zico for a kick-around at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

“It is an honor for me to meet Zico at the Maracana Stadium,” said Safin. “I would have liked to be at the stadium when it could host 200,000 people. Now it is only half, but it still big. It is very nice that the event did it for us and we had a lot of fun playing with him.”

If you think the Maracana will feature in a future episode of our Soccer Meccas series...you're absolutely right. Stay tuned.

Ranking the world's soccer meccas: No. 4, Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay

For ranking methodology and other information about the series, see the original post. To read the about the No. 5-rated stadium, the Hampden Park in Glasgow, click here. To see all "soccer mecca" entries click here.

No. 4 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay
Open since: 1930
Capacity: 100,000
Tenant: Uruguay national team
World Cup hosts: 1930

After our three stadium sojourn in Europe for spots 5 through 7 it's back to South America with No. 4. The Estadio Centenario was of course the host of the original World Cup in 1930. Unlike every other rendition of the tournament, in 1930 all games from group stage to final were played in Montevideo, with a majority at this one ground. It's therefore probably safe to say the Centenario hosted more World Cup matches (10) than any other stadium in the world--with the possible exception of the San Siro, the No. 10 soccer mecca in the world.

As host of the first World Cup final (and semifinal), the Centenario's status as a true "soccer mecca" is beyond reproach. But its ethereal qualities transcend this one event, important though it is to the modern history of the game.

A few words, then, about the ground itself. Not from us, because we've never been anywhere near there and anyway don't know the next thing about architecture or things of that nature. But a Princeton University-educated architect, Shona Black, wrote about the stadium for a Uruguay travel Web site. We took the liberty to reprint them here, because they give you a far better picture than we (or really anybody) could provide:

Work on the Estadio Centenario, so named to celebrate the nation’s centenary, was begun in central Montevideo’s Parque de los Aliados (also known as Parque Batlle) in 1929. Designed as a monumental football temple, Estadio Centenario is an early example of the classic concrete bowl-shaped stadium with up to a 100,000 capacity, a template replicated from Rio’s Maracana to Turin’s Stadio delle Alpi and from China to Africa in the spread of the global game.

Art Deco detailing and striking modernist touches, however, set Estadio Centenario apart from some of the more brutalist styles typical of the genre. Designed by architect Juan Scasso, the stadium’s most distinctive feature is a tower thrusting 100 metres into the sky from the Tribuna Olimpica stand. The Torre de los Homenajes rises in tribute to the independent nation, echoing the nine stripes of the Uruguayan flag in its nine moulded windows.

The stands are named to reflect the early Uruguayan team’s glories: America for their Copa America (South American championship) successes in 1923 and 1926, and the Olimpica, Colombes and Amsterdam marking their Olympic victories.

In a move perhaps not entirely a-typical for Latin America, different work sections were contracted out to various construction companies, according to FIFA.com's page on the Centenario. Three shifts were organized so construction could continue 24 hours a day.

Still, the ground would not be finished in time for the start of the tourney. The first World Cup match in history would take place July 13, 1930 in front of just 1,000 spectators at the Estadio Pocitos across town. By the time the home side took the field, July 18 versus Peru, the Centenario was at least ready for 70,000 spectators.

Why did FIFA choose Uruguay to host what would become the most popular sporting event on the planet? Two reasons: 1. It won the gold medal at the 1928 Olympics, which to that point had been recognized as the de-facto world championships and 2. The year 1930 was the 100 year anniversary of its independence. (Actually Uruguay won the 1924 Olympic tournament as well, which will give you an idea of how dominant they were at the time). Still, if the sport's governing body had any idea how popular (and lucrative) the quadrennial tournament would become they likely would have kept the maiden edition in Europe.

As it was, the choice of Uruguay did not sit well with European teams, who initially refused to enter the tournament. FIFA managed to force four of them--Belgium, France, Yugoslavia and Romania--to embark on the three-week journey and participate.

The 1930 World Cup was the U.S.' best finish ever--fourth. There has been some talk that the team was reinforced with British nationals, but this has now been largely discredited. Of the six supposed English and Scottish players on the USMNT, "in fact four of those players had moved to the States as teenagers and only one had played professionally in Britain (George Moorehouse), and that was two games at the 3rd division seven years earlier," according to the American Soccer History Archives.

To this day the stadium remains the home base and of the Uruguayan national team, los Charruas. The team boasts an impressive record at the Centenario; Brazil have recorded just two official victories there in 20 attempts and even mighty England have a negative record at Uruguay's national stadium--surely the only ground in the world with this distinction because as we all know England invented the sport and win every game they play, anywhere.

Uruguay has hosted the Copa America, the South American championships seven times, four since the construction of El Centenario. In all four they went undefeated at the ground.

Not all memories are good, however. It was here in 2004 that the Charrua were humiliated 3-0 by Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier, an event its then-coach Juan Ramon Carrasco called "a stain on the history of Uruguayan football." The game cost him his job and Uruguay would not qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Still, it is hard to understate Uruguay's impact on association football in the sport's (relatively) early days. The smallest country to ever win a World Cup very much put South American soccer on the map by triumphing in the Olympic Games of 1924 and 1928 and doing it in a way that dazzled. They were very much the original "Brazilians" as we know them, doing things with the ball hitherto thought impossible. Without Uruguay in the 1920s, who knows if Brazil of the postwar era would have even happened. One more reason to give its national ground the respect it deserves.

As much as Uruguay did for the sport, soccer arguably did even more for the nation's identity. At the time of the first World Cup, "Uruguay, a country of not even three million people, whose creation was the bizarre outcome of great power politics, had hitherto made no impact on the wider world," Daniel Goldblatt wrote in The ball is round: A global history of soccer. "It is difficult to underestimate the degree to which national identity and pride became tied to the fate of the national team" after the 1930 World Cup.

This legacy would be cemented 20 years later as we shall see in a future edition of the "soccer meccas" series.

Ranking the world's soccer meccas: No. 8, El Monumental, Buenos Aires

For ranking methodology and other information about the series, see the original post. To read the about the No. 9-rated stadium, the Bombonera in Buenos Aires click here. To see all "soccer mecca" entries click here.

8. Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti (El Monumental), Buenos Aires
Open since: 1938 (renovated 1978)
Capacity: 66,000
Tenant(s): River Plate, Argentine national team
World Cup hosts: 1978
Closest U.S. stadium comparison: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.

If the Bombonera is Argentina's version of Fenway Park--an odd-shaped, quirky, loud grounds in a residential neighborhood--then El Monumental is Yankee Stadium: big, grandiose, corporate, of "the establishment." Some of that of course stems from the identity of the stadium's main tenent; River Plate is very much the "establishment" club of Argentina (one of the club's nicknames is los millionarios, or the millionaires), and of the posh Nunez neighborhood where El Monumental was built. Just like the Yankees...if Yankee Stadium weren't in the Bronx, that is.

The Monumental is the national grounds of Argentina, where its storied albicelestes play (nearly all) their home games. Imagine if Wembley Stadium also hosted, say, Chelsea, or the Stade de France held Paris Saint Germain games, and you get a a bit of the idea.

Wait, so if the Bombonera was already featured, what is the Monumental doing here? Are there really two stadiums from one city in the list of top 10 soccer meccas? Yes there are. However, both are relatively far back in the rankings (at eight and nine there are seven stadia still ahead of them). Each is distinct and famous in its own right (and for different reasons at that). It would have been an injustice to leave out one or the other. So there you have it.

El Monumental was Argentina's first industrial, steel and concrete soccer stadium and consists of two tiers in the shape of a horse shoe. During its early years it contained a school and medical practice.

The Monumental edges the Bombonera in the standings for one simple reason: it hosted a World Cup. Not only that, but it was the scene of both the 1978 final and third-placed games (won by Argentina and Brazil, respectively).

That World Cup tournament is historically significant, but sadly for all the wrong reasons. It was a propaganda coup for the military junta that ruled Argentina at the time (indeed 1978 may have very well been the peak of its power--no coincidence there). In this respect, many have compared it to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. An LA Times article from last year deals with this theme at greater length.

In the three decades since the tournament, other nefarious allegations have surfaced. Did the Colombian mafia bribe the Peruvian national team to throw its second round game with the host nation, as this Daily Mail piece points out? Were the Argentine players doped for the final? (A urine sample that was supposed to have been taken from an Argentine player showed the individual in question to be pregnant, a strong indication that the samples were at least tampered with, if not doctored outright).

As for the Monumental, it hosted Argentina's first round games but not the infamous win over Peru (or the violent scoreless draw against Brazil; those matches were held in Rosario). It did host a preview of the 1982 final, between Italy and West Germany (the game ended scoreless) as well as Italy's first round upset of the hosts (a 1-nil game where a certain Paolo Rossi assisted on the winning goal) that kept Argentina from playing its second round games at El Monumental. It was also where Argentina narrowly defeated France (with a young Michel Platini) in its opener.

And of course the final, an overtime thriller the hosts won through a brace by their hero Mario Kempes, was held here. That match, undoubtedly the most famous in the stadium's history, and probably one of the most exciting World Cup finals of all time, was not without controversy either. The home side didn't like the Israeli referee assigned to the match so it lobbied (successfully) for an Italian one. Argentine players delayed the kickoff protesting a cast on the arm of a Dutch player. Once it finally started, the home side (through Kempes, natch) took a first half lead before Holland's Dick Nanninga equalized eight minutes from time. The Netherlands apparently had Argentina on the ropes at this point and were robbed of a clear penalty moments after the equalizer by the Italian referee. In stoppage time they came an inch or two from winning their only World Cup when Robbie Rensinbrink fired a shot off the post from point blank range. The Oranje have not come close since. The Argentines scored twice in overtime to clinch the victory.

Did the most famous Argentine player of all time ever play at El Monumental? Not in that World Cup he didn't. The then-17-year old Diego Armando Maradona was left off of Cesar Luis Menotti's squad. But there were many other appearances, including several for the Argentine national team. He scored several goals as well, both for the albicelestes and for club side Boca Juniors. His first appearance at the Monumental may have been as early as 1973 when his Argentinos Juniors' Cebollitas youth club beat River's juniors 5-4 in a city final, according to the Leandro Zannoni book Vivir en los medios: Maradona off the record (page 21). It appears Maradona played his last match as a professional at the Monumental, in a 1997 SuperClasico won by Boca Juniors to whom he had returned in 1995. Maradona also coached his first game for the Argentina national team here, a 4-0 victory over Venezuela this March.

Other than the '78 tournament, the stadium may unfortunately be best known for the Puerta 12 tragedy of June 23, 1968 (a decade and two days before the Holland-Argentina final). 71 fans were killed in a crush at the Monumental's Gate 12. There are various explanations of what happened in what was one of the worst incidents with soccer fans in the history of the sport (and the worst on Argentine territory, ever).

Of course there are happier memories as well. Many from the annual SuperClasico between Boca Juniors and River Plate. In October, 1972 the home side went up two-nil, was scored on four straight times, rallied to win 5-4 in the highest-scoring SuperClasico of all time. Another famous River comeback was in 1997, when the home side was down three goals but managed to eke out a 3-3 draw. Boca Juniors had their moments as well, the biggest (by score at least, not necessarily magnitude) in a 5-1 blowout victory in March 1982. More recently, in 2004 Boca won the return leg of a Copa Libertadores semifinal on penalties after the two sides traded goals in the final minutes (Carlos Tevez supplied one of the goals for Boca Juniors).

In 1986, River won their first Copa Libertadores final, winning the return leg at the Monumental over America of Colombia by 1-0 (they won the first leg 2-1). This event was repeated, with identical protagonists, in the 1996 version of the final, though this time River lost the first leg at Cali before coming through in the return at the Monumental.

The Argentine national team has played several historic matches here (beyond 1978 of course) and a few they'd rather forget. The biggest of the latter may be a 5-0 loss to Colombia in a 1993 World Cup qualifier, a scoreline made even more incredible by the fact that Argentina had a 33-game unbeaten run coming into the game. (Was this what caused Pele to famously predict Colombia would win the World Cup in 1994? Who knows). The albiceleste were forced to play a qualifier with Australia as a result.

Another bitter memory (from an Argentine point of view) came in the semifinals of the 1987 Copa America games, where Uruguay upset the hosts 1-0. Uruguay went on to win the tournament over Chile (also at the Monumental). Argentina didn't even win the game for third place, succumbing to Colombia.

More pleasant albiceleste memories are the 1946 South American championship. Argentina played several times at the Monumental, winning all games including the final against Brazil in another famous encounter marked by fighting on the pitch with police. In the 1959 iteration of the tourney, Argentina beat Brazil (with a 19-year old Pele) again in the final--again at the Monumental.

Speaking of Pele, he did quite well at the Monumental. In the aforementioned 1959 tourney, he scored an astonishing eight times in six games. Amazingly, those appear to have been the only times Pele ever played in Argentina as a member of the selecao (not sure about his appearances with his club side. Somebody else can research that).

Now is where all the Boca fans can cry about the injustice of putting the Monumental ahead of their beloved Bombonera. Have at it, Xeneizes!

Photo taken from 100x100millonario.blogspot.com

Ranking the world's soccer meccas: No. 9, Estadio Alberto J. Armando (La Bombonera), Buenos Aires

For ranking methodology and other information about the series, see the original post. To read the about the No. 10-rated stadium, the San Siro in Milan, go here. To see all "soccer mecca" entries click here or on the "topics covered here" link below right.

9. Estadio Alberto J. Armando (La Bombonera), Buenos Aires
Open since: 1940 (renovated 1995-96)
Capacity: 57,395
Tenant(s): Boca Juniors
World Cup hosts: Never
Closest U.S. stadium comparison: Fenway Park, Boston.

Okay, so how can a place make this list if it never even hosted a single World Cup match? Because it's the Bombonera, that's why. The Estadio Alberto J. Armando (it's official name since 2000) is preceded by its quasi-mystical reputation. It is said to be the most intimidating place to play, anywhere. The curious shape that gives the grounds its name (a "flat" stand on one side of the pitch and three steep stands around the rest resembles a candy box, or bombonera in Spanish) only adds to its mystique and contributes to the raucous acoustics. The place quite literally sways back and forth when its crazed fans are in full frenzy. Attending a match at the Bombonera, preferably for a Boca Juniors vs. River Plate superclasico, is arguably a requirement for anybody wishing to call themselves a true fan of the beautiful game.

If this makes the stadium sound like a veritable temple to the sport, that's because it is. So why then isn't it higher up in these rankings? Indeed, why isn't it No. 1? Simple. For all its (numerous) charms, the Bombonera has hosted few matches of historical significance. Perhaps because one of the times it did, in 1969, the home side (in this case the Argentine national team) managed just a 2-2 draw with Peru in a vital World Cup qualifier that kept the albiceleste out of the 1970 World Cup. It was not used in the 1978 World Cup. Unfortunately, this dearth of historic activity keeps the grounds from becoming the mecca of the sport.

Which is not to say La Bombonera hasn't hosted some important, if not groundbreaking events in world soccer. It was here that a certain Diego Armando Maradona received his first cap for the Argentine national team, entering as a second-half substitute in a 1977 friendly against Hungary. (Maradona did not play his first professional game here, as is often assumed because of his affiliation with Boca Juniors, a club he did not actually join until 1981, when he was 21 years old. Previously he played with Argentinos Juniors). Juan Riquelme got his full international debut at La Bombonera in a 1997 World Cup qualifier against Colombia (which ended in a 1-1 draw). In 1968, Manchester United played here (and lost, to Estudiantes) in the first leg of the Intercontinental Cup. In 1977, Boca Juniors hosted Borussia Moenchengladbach of Germany (after Liverpool passed on the invite) in the same tournament. England played a friendly here in 1977 (and drew, 1-1. Hard to believe there were once "friendly" matches between England and Argentina).

Then there are the Superclasico matches, between River Plate and Boca Juniors, about which an entire book can be (and probably has been) written. The U.K.'s Observer famously listed attending one of these matches as the very first of 50 "sporting events you must do before you die." About 220 such matches have been played, not including friendlies. Many of these have been held at La Bombonera, including several epic encounters: In 1962, Boca beat River 1-0 to move into first place (they captured the title in the next round). In 1974, Carlos Garcia Cambon scored four goals in his Boca Juniors debut as the home side won 5-2 (Gambon remains the only player of either team to have scored four times in the Superclasico). In 1996, Claudio Caniggia scored three as Boca defeated River 4-1. In 2000, Boca won the return leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinal by 3-0 to advance to the semis 4-2 on aggregate. They would eventually win the tournament. Of course, River had their share of triumphs at La Bombonera as well, perhaps most famously in 1977 when they scored a last minute winner on their way to the Metropolitano championship.

Photo taken from stadiumguide.com.

Barcelona enter Thiago Neves sweepstakes

If you've been following this blog or Latin American soccer you should be very familiar with the name Thiago Neves. The Fluminense midfielder notched a hat trick in the finale of the Copa Libertadores--ultimately in a losing cause, as his club lost to Ecuador's LDU Quito.

"Thiago is a 23 year old Brazilian attacking midfielder who was capped a few times by Brazil's Under 23 national team but somehow was never signed by a European club. That may be about to change."--Soccer Source, July 2, 2008

Change it will, as FC Barcelona--apparently frustrated with their inability to sign Zenit St. Petersburg's Andrei Arshavin--have made Thiago a target. The Catalan club are reportedly lining up a bid worth €10 million, according to Goal.com.

But they're not the only ones. AS Roma is also after Thiago's signature and you can expect others to join the bandwagon after the Beijing Olympic, where he will be the feature attraction of Brazil's squad.

Meanwhile, in South America...

...Ecuador's LDU Quito won the Copa Libertadores by virtue of a penalty kick shoot-out in Wednesday night's second leg of the finale. The Copa Libertadores, for the uninitiated, is almost certainly the second biggest club competition on the planet. Unfortunately, it doesn't get much coverage outside of South/Latin America. None of it was broadcast in English in the U.S. and I don't think European TV covered it at all (somewhat understanding considering the games are played in the middle of the night there). With all the attention the just-completed Euro championships received stateside (free TV coverage for the first time since, well, ever) you'd figure this might be about to change. I wouldn't hold my breath on that one but that's just me.

A shame, because there was some serious drama. And goals. Lots of them. Ten in two matches, to be exact. North American audiences surely would have appreciated this, along with the rough play and "emotion" U.S. sportscasters love to speak about. Because, you know, American sports are so much more masculine than soccer. But the play itself was admittedly not as refined as what we had seen at the Euros, which is to be expected seeing as that was basically an all-star tournament and nearly all of the best South American players ply their trade in Europe.

One thing that stood out for me was solid goalkeeping by both sides. Usually, this is the one area where South American teams fall short of true world class. But not tonight. Both of these guys, Jose Franciso Cevallos for Quito and Fernando Henrique for Fluminense, played really well even (especially) in the penalty shootout. In fact, Cevallos saved three (3) out of four penalties. When was the last time you saw a European keeper do that? The defending, on the other hand, left a lot to be desired. Think only several notches higher than MLS defending. OK, I'm exaggerating a bit. MLS defending is far worse than that.

Quito took a 4-2 lead from the first leg into the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Yes, that Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. It's still standing, though they no longer let a quarter million spectators through the gates the way they used to.

Quito struck first, after only a few minutes, temporarily silencing the partisan crowd. It didn't last though because Fluminense quickly created some chances for themselves and the crowd got back into it. Then Thiago Neves Augusto scored the equalizer for the home side. Moments later, he scored again. Thiago is a 23 year old Brazilian attacking midfielder who was capped a few times by Brazil's Under 23 national team but somehow was never signed by a European club. That may be about to change.

Then one of Fluminense's players was pulled down in the Quito penalty area but the ref's whistle stayed silent. It didn't matter because Fluminense suddenly had the upper hand, probably for the first time in the entire series.

And yet, Quito proved to be extremely dangerous on counters. The frenetic pace slowed a bit into half time, only to resume with force after the break. Fluminense kept the hammer down but Quito was able to match them. The play was rough and the ref briefly appeared to be losing control of the match. He was letting a lot go.

But not everything. A freekick was called on the edge of the Quito penalty area. Thiago stepped up and coolly chipped it over the wall and into the back of the Quito net. Left footed. Why is this guy not in Europe? Fluminense 3, Quito 1. We were level. No away goal rule. This ain't UEFA.

Neither team managed a break through after that, though both came close, hitting the posts once each. Extra time failed to produce a goal as well though Fluminense dodged a bullet in the closing minutes. One of their defenders literally rugby tackled a Quito player who had a clear run on goal. The ref didn't hesitate and showed him a red card. Fluminense were lucky. If the foul had taken place a few feet closer to their end line, the fouled player would have been in the penalty area and the transgression would have earned a penalty kick. Instead, the freekick went nowhere.

Fluminense's players, by the way, have some pretty cool names: Washington, Somalia, Roger, Romeu, Cicero and my personal favorite, Dodo. What the hell was that guy thinking? Where do they come up with this stuff, anyway? If a U.S. player ever makes it in Brazil his name should be Dude. Maybe put one of those weird accents on the "e" or something to spice things up.

Photo taken from Perucampeon.com without permission.

Friday Footie Link List (Better Late Than Never)

The absolute coolest thing I saw in the soccer blogosphere this week was at Pitchinvasion.net. The geniuses who run that site got one of (if not the) best bloggers on Argentine soccer, Hasta el Gol Siempre (whom I have also interviewed on this site) to collaborate with Bill's Sports Maps on a primer on Argentinian football. The result speaks for itself and I'm being dead serious when I say no words--least of all mine--can do it justice. Check it out.

Another week another massive scoop by Ives, this time getting us the exclusive on the New York Red Bulls signing Oscar Echeverry. It looks like the Colombian striker will essentially provide depth up front and act as a potential insurance policy if and when Jozy Altidore leaves the club (which will hopefully not be for a crappy team like Reading). Red Bulls Head Coach Juan Carlos Osorio told Ives as much. This is all well and good, and it's high time the Red Bulls made some acquisitions this off season, but I thought Osorio's primary concern was with the team's defense?

Center Holds It is holding an informal poll on the worst player in Major League Soccer. They don't just mean worst skills-wise, but a combination of "salary and production versus expectations." We had this very discussion here focused on the Red Bulls Least Valuable Player of 2007. The winner I think should also be a front-runner to win CHI's poll, no? He gets my vote at least.

Trotters Top Atleti, Lanus Lift Argies Copa Lib Spirits

Senegalese forward El Hadji Diouf scored minutes after Atletico Madrid substitute Sergio Aguero was red-carded for spitting to send Bolton Wanderers to a 1-0 home victory in the first leg of their UEFA Cup match-up. It was probably the biggest surprise on the day, though arguments could also be made for Bayern's 2-2 tie at Aberdeen, which comes a day after I basically called all SPL teams crap. (While we're at it, Atletico was in my ranking of the world's top 25 soccer clubs last week, so I either don't know what I'm talking about or these games were one-offs. Or both).

In the Copa Libertadores, Lanus got a a pair of second half goals to gain three points from their group stage opener against Danubio. I saw most of this game and felt the Argentine side deserved the victory (even though the third goal looked offside. The Argie commentators even appeared to admit as much, though I couldn't understand them very well. This isn't a slight on the Argentine accent; I can't understand the other Spanish accents much better). Lanus hit the post shortly before half-time and minutes before the goal had the Danubio keeper rob them with a brilliant save from point blank range. In fact, watching this game it's easy to see why Lanus were the Apertura champs last year; solid defensively, good pace and technique in midfield; they pass very well, do an excellent job moving the ball around and generally seem in sync. The finishing could have been better tonight, but from what I saw they were clearly the better team on the field. The Montevideo club did score a lovely free kick goal though. I recommend scouring YouTube for it (I have and couldn't find it but it might be up by now). After losses by San Lorenzo, Estudiantes and River Plate, Lanus' victory was the first for an Argentine side in this year's tournament. In the day's other game, Cienciano del Cusco topped Nacional Montevideo.

Nothing else terribly interesting to report from the UEFA Cup but figure Hamburg SV, Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina to be through after booking away victories today (admittedly against clubs they should not be having any problems with). Joining them is Everton, the only team from yesterday to win on the road. So Everton will in all likelihood live to play at least another round in Europe. They may even be the best team in the field, who knows?

Cry For Me Argentina! Copa Lib Groups Kick Off With Upsets

And they're off. The 2008 Copa Libertadores group stage got underway today, with Argentine sides San Lorenzo and Estudiantes both losing road games to Caracas and Ecuador's Deportivo Cuenca, respectively. It was not the first time the Venezuelan side upset a favored team from Argentina; los rojos eliminated River Plate from the 2007 version of the "Champions League of Latin America."

Ronald Vargas and Rafeal Castellin scored for the hosts, one of two Venezuelan teams in the group stage (Union Atletico Maracaibo is the other. A third, Mineros de Guayana, was eliminated in qualifying). San Lorenzo had two players sent off with direct red cards. I didn't see the match and can't pretend to know anything about Caracas' players (only one of them even has a Wikipedia page). Six San Lorenzo players, on the other hand, have played in Europe: Diego Placente (Leverkusen and Celta de Vigo), Aureliano Torres (Real Murcia), Bernardo Romeo (Hamburg SV, Mallorca and Osasuna), Andres D'Alessandro (Wolfsburg, Portsmouth and Zaragoza), Sebastian Mendez (Celta de Vigo) and Daniel Bilos (St. Etienne).

Estudiantes are not as experienced, but in Juan Sebastian Veron have arguably the second-best player in all of South America (Riquelme would be #1, I would think). And Los Pincharratas did dominate the early stages of the game but were unable to capitalize on any of their chances. Mauricio Ferradas (ironically an Argentine national) punished them on the stroke of half time. Both teams had chances for goals in the second half but the 1-0 score was final.

Caracas face Bolivian side Real Potosi next (Feb. 26). San Lorenzo host Brazil's Cruzeiro (who open tomorrow as heavy favorites against Potosi) for their next game, Feb 21. In Group 2, Estudiantes play their countrymen Lanus Feb. 26 (Lanus open Thursday against Uruguay's Danubio). Cuenca host the Uruguayans Feb. 21 in their next match. The other action this week is in Group 4, where Peru's Cienciano (doesn't that mean one hundred something?) host Uruguay's Nacional and in Group 5 (the Group of Death) where River travel to Universidad San Martin. Oh wait, I liked! There's one more, in Group 6, where Colombia's Cucuta host Brazil's Santos.

Photo taken from mediotiempo.com without permission.

Lanus, Arsenal Join Libertadores Fray

Copa Sudamericana champs Arsenal de Sarandi and Argentine Apertura winners Lanus both advanced to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores earlier today at the expense of Venezuela's A.C. Mineiros and Ecuadorian side Olmedo, respectively. The Libertadores is widely considered (not just by me) the second-best club competition in the world after the UEFA Champions League.

Lanus' qualification was in doubt for long periods of today's match as el Granate had a 1-0 deficit from the first leg that it did not erase until nearly an hour into the game. Matias Lionel Fritzler (as the name suggests, he has German as well as Argentine nationality) scored via a header in the 58th minute. Santiago Biglieri doubled the lead 20 minutes later and the Argentine champs added a third to settle matters on 84 minutes. In the Libertadores group stage, Lanus will face fellow Argentine side Estudiantes, Danubio of Uruguay and Cuenca from Ecuador.

The Argentine Arse had an easier time of it, with a 2-0 lead from the first leg providing some cushion going into tonight. They ended up losing 2-1, but that was enough to see them through to the group stage, where they will join Paraguay's Libertad, Liga Deportivo Universitario de Quito and Fluminense.

Two of five qualifiers have thus been decided. Still outstanding are Cruzeiro vs. Cerro Porteno of Paraguay (the Brazilians have a 3-1 lead from the first leg, with the second to be played tomorrow), Atlas vs. La Paz, Peru's Cienciano vs. Montevideo Wanderers and Boyaca Chico vs. Audax Italiano.

Photo taken from blogfutbolero.com without permission.

D.C. United Poised To Take On The Continent

There is still a good month left before the MLS season kicks off, but D.C. United are fast emerging as the big winner in the winter transfer market. MLS' best regular season team the past two years has upgraded several key positions, while adding international experience and Latin flair--the key ingredients, perhaps, to challenging for the newly-hatched CONCACAF Champions League.

It's true that D.C. has also lost some players (and is due to lose one more, Christian Gomez, before the season kicks off) but these departures are nowhere near as significant as losses suffered by the defending champion Houston Dynamo or runners-up New England Revolution, to name two of D.C.'s chief competitors for the Supporters Shield this year. And let's look at who the black-and-red have brought on in their place:

• Argentine midfielder Marcelo Gallardo, who joins from Paris Saint Germain, has one of the most impressive resumes of any player ever signed by the team: 44 caps (and two world cups) for the albiceleste, Argentine league titles and a Copa Libertadores trophy with River Plate and a French league title with Monaco.
• Colombian defender Gonzalo Martinez will more than fill the shoes of the Houston-bound Bobby Boswell. Martinez has been capped 36 times and was part of Colombia's 2001 Copa America-winning squad.
  
• Gonzalo Peralta, another Argentine and another Gonzalo, will further shore up the defense.
• Franco Niell, yet another Argentine, joins on loan from Argentinos Juniors. Goal.com describes Niell as a "highly-rated striker", whom I can see wreaking havoc with MLS defenders, who--let's face it--are not very good.
• Peruvian goalkeeper Jose Carvallo has played both Copa Sudamericana and Libertadores and been capped for various junior national teams (and once by Peru's senior nats). Carvallo is only 21 and has a Green Card so he won't even count as an international player. I think he'll fill Troy Perkins' shoes just fine, but if not...
• Zach Wells, who was acquired in the Boswell trade, has proven he can be a good, even very good goalkeeper in MLS.
  

While many D.C. fans are understandably upset about losing Gomez, we should remember that they won't get nothing in return; Gomez will demand value, maybe even substantial value, in a trade.

Blogger Q n' A: Hasta El Gol Siempre

With the Argentine Clausura league championship and the Copa Libertadores getting ready to kick off, I sought out the preeminent expert on Argentina to share his thoughts. Both tournaments represent what is in my opinion the best club soccer outside of Europe's big three leagues, but most people outside Latin America (myself included) are pretty ignorant on both topics. Sam's task then, was to educate and enlighten us. I can happily say he met both objectives--and then some. After reading this, be sure to check out Sam's website, Hasta El Gol Siempre, where you can follow the Clausura and Copa Lib in great detail.

Soccer Source: First of all, does Lanus have any chance at defending their Apertura title?

Sam: It'll be difficult, but they've got as good a chance as any. It's normal for Argentine sides to suffer a dip in form after winning the title - especially sides other than River Plate and Boca Juniors, because it's that much harder for the 'smaller' clubs to hang onto their key players. Estudiantes, after winning the 2006 Apertura, challenged admirably in last year's Clausura, but San Lorenzo (who won that Clausura) didn't fare so well in the recent campaign.

Lanús, however, have kept hold of both manager Ramón Cabrero, who's like a father-figure for many of the squad, and their most important player, playmaker Diego Valeri. Valeri has been linked with a move to Italian champions Internazionale, but insists he wants to play in the Copa Libertadores with Lanús (they qualified after an impressive campaign in the 2006-2007 season; their championship win ensures they'll be in next year's Copa) before moving to Europe at the end of the European season. With that kind of dedication, who knows what can happen? My own prediction is that they'll do well and continue to challenge, but won't have quite enough to claim a second title just yet.

Who were the biggest winners and losers on the transfer market?

It's still going on as we speak - it being only mid-January. It's easy to suggest Lanús have been big winners, purely for keeping hold of nearly all of their championship-winning squad, including Valeri and top scorer José Sand. So far the really big story on the face of it from outside Argentina has, of course, been Juan Román Riquelme's move from Villarreal back home to Boca Juniors. It's not every day a player who's perhaps the best in the world in his position, and still at the peak of his powers, moves away from Europe, and quite how Boca sorted out the finances is anyone's guess. That deal can work both ways, though - the pressure will be cranked right up on them to win at least one trophy in the next six months, if not both (Copa Libertadores and domestic league).

Thus far, the most 'polemical' move has been Leandro Lázzaro's switch from Tigre to Estudiantes de La Plata, on Wednesday 16th January. There are two big winners in this deal: Estudiantes, who've got one of the most impressive performers of the Apertura for only US$300,000, and Lázzaro himself, who will turn 34 in March and has got one last chance to compete for the Copa Libertadores before his legs start giving way. Tigre, however, probably fall into the 'biggest losers' category. Not only has Lázzaro's exit unsettled some at the club a little - there was a public spat with manager Diego Cagna on the day of the transfer - but the side, who were only promoted last August and managed a second-place finish in the Apertura (their previous best-ever having been sixth back in 1953), have lost perhaps their most important player. How Tigre and their brilliant fans react to this will be very interesting.

What can we expect from Boca and River? River are pretty much done, aren't they?

Don't bet on it. 2007 could most charitably be described as an 'interesting' year in the history of River Plate, and it certainly won't be one they'll want to remember for long, what with the trophy drought continuing (unless one counts the pre-season Torneo de Verano, which no-one does), the various stadium bans, the murder of a prominent barra brava and the allegations of corruption aimed at the board of directors. At the end of it, though, the fans got one thing they wanted - Daniel Passarella quit as manager. In his place comes Diego Simeone, who will if nothing else put the fear of God into his new charges. He's got the players he asked for in the transfer market so far, with the exception of Andrés D'Alessandro (Rodrigo Archubi has just come in in his place), and if River can be a little less unlucky with injuries this term, something could happen. If nothing else, they can't get a lot worse than they were in the Apertura, when despite demolishing all visitors to the Monumental in the first half of the season, they only managed one win away from home and finished way down in 14th. The end of the Clausura will mark four years since their last major trophy, but there's cautious optimism that it could be the end of the drought.

As for Boca, you can expect them to challenge in the league and, of course, the Copa Libertadores, which they'll start as hot favourites to defend, having won it thanks to Señor Riquelme (and a bit of fog at La Bombonera in the semi-final second leg) last year. If they do manage to claim another Libertadores title, they'll draw level with Independiente on seven wins, and thus be the joint most successful side in the competition's history. There's one note of caution here, though: many fans are unconvinced by new manager Carlos Ischia, brought in after Miguel Angel Russo (reluctantly and after being pushed by the board) fulfilled his promise to step down after failing to win the Club World Championship in Japan in December. None of the fans' choices got the job, and Ischia is seen as very much the choice of new club president Pedro Pompilio. The problem here is that Pompilio's presidency may be disputed after former president (now mayor of Buenos Aires) Mauricio Macri handed it over to him without a members' vote. Ischia needs to do well, not only for himself, but also for his boss.

Arsenal shocked people by winning the Copa Sudamericana. What Argentine sides can mirror their success in the Libertadores? Or will people be more on their toes against the "lesser" Argentine teams after Arsenal's triumph?

In all honesty, a Riquelme-driven Boca are going to be favourites for the Libertadores. Should Arsenal win their qualifier they'll go into Group 8, alongside Brazilian giants Fluminense, back in the tournament after a little while away, and Libertad of Paraguay, who have knocked out River in each of the last two editions of the tournament and seem to get just a bit better every year. Qualifying from that group is going to be a very tall order for a side who rode their luck slightly on their way to the Sudamericana final, and who some feel were the beneficiaries of some dodgy refereeing in the first leg of that final.

Group 2 looks like being the most fertile for Argentina, assuming Lanús win their qualifier against Ecuadorian side Olmedo. Estudiantes are already in that group, and with Lanús's championship win giving them some momentum, both Argentine sides will be expected to finish ahead of Ecuadorian champs Deportivo Cuenca. Uruguay's Danubio will pose a tougher challenge, but Argentina will expect two sides in the second round from this group.

Whether any of these 'smaller' sides can go all the way is another matter. I suspect Lanús are going to surprise a few more people on a wider audience in this competition, but the luck of the draw in the knockout rounds will really come into play - the Libertadores, far more so than the UEFA Champions League, is a competition where anyone can slip up if they're not on their guard, as Colombian minnows Cúcuta showed last year on an insanely entertaining run to the semi-final that might even have seen them dump Boca out, had main striker Blas Pérez not had to miss the semi-final second leg having been called up by Panama for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Cúcuta had already thrashed the other eventual finalists, Brazilian side Gremio, twice in the group stages, and will themselves be part of the competition again this year. Their display last season, if nothing else, should ensure that the big sides are on their guard against all the 'smaller' sides, whether those be Argentine or from elsewhere.

The preliminary Libertadores groups have been drawn. Which Argentine club(s) is/are most at risk of being eliminated in the first round?

River and Boca both have groups that should be easily negotiable, although after River's spectacular failure in last year's group stage, and their aforementioned appalling display during the Apertura, they'll be under pressure. Boca will qualify, simple as that, and as already stated, I'd expect both Estudiantes and (assuming they make it to the competition proper) Lanús to go through from Group 2. San Lorenzo may well find the altitude of their visit to Real Potosí of Bolivia tricky, as may the other sides in their group, and if Caracas can repeat their feat of last season, when they became the first ever Venezuelan club to beat an Argentine side in Argentina (River, of course), and qualified for the knockout stages to boot, Ramón Díaz's boys might find it tricky. Arsenal, if they qualify, will have the toughest group of the Argentine sides, relative to their abilities, but I think we'll see at least four Argentine representatives in the last 16.

What can you tell us about Superclasico games? Have you ever been to one? They're basically impossible to get tickets to, right?

I've not had the good fortune to have attended a super, sadly. Only two have taken place actually during my visits to the country, both last January in the pre-season Torneo de Verano (Summer Tournament) and Copa Revancha ('Revenge Cup'), and neither of those were in Buenos Aires. Tickets are gettable at a price - and we're talking expensive prices by the standards of European football matches, never mind the average Argentine wage. There were tickets on TuRemate, the Argentine answer to eBay, for the Apertura superclásico in the Monumental, which eventually sold for figures into the thousands - of American dollars. Bear in mind that the average Argentine wage is in the region of perhaps US$6,000 per year, and you start to get some idea of the power this fixture holds over the popular imagination.

Broadly speaking, about one-third of Argentines support River Plate, and about another third support Boca Juniors. The exact figures make Boca the more popular by around 1%. The two sides are the most successful in Argentine league history (River have the most league titles, with 32, whilst Boca are ten behind on 22), and of course Boca also have those six Copas Libertadores, as well as enough other international honours to make them the second most successful club on the planet in terms of international trophies (AC Milan are one ahead - December's Club World Championship final was a decider in more ways than one, at least for now). The super dominates so much that many fans claim not to care whether their side win the league title, just as long as they win the derby - and unlike in other countries where such a statement gets bandied about from time to time, Argentines actually seem to mean it.

It's been called 'a championship within a championship', and at the moment Boca have won marginally more than River down the fixture's history - 65 wins to 61 out of 180 meetings - but River, despite that four-year trophy drought, haven't lost a super in any of the sides' last six meetings, and in each of the last two meetings in their own Monumental have not just beaten Boca, but played them off the pitch. It's mark of the game's importance that should one of the new managers get one of the titles the fans of each club so badly want, they might still be under pressure if they don't perform in La Bombonera on the first weekend in May...

Copa Libertadores 2008: The (Nearly Complete) Draw

The draw for this year's rendition of the Copa Libertadores (the "Champions League of the Americas," for lack of a better comparison) was made earlier today. Not the entire thing, mind you, because not all participants are known yet. This is thanks to different countries having different ways of determining the qualifiers. Why they would draw out not only the qualifying games but the tournament's group stage without having a complete list of either does not make all that much sense to me, but what do I know?

Anyway, here are the qualifiers:
1) Olmedo (Ecuador) vs. Lanús (Argentina)
2) Cruzeiro (Brazil) vs. Cerro Porteño (Paraguay)
3) Arsenal de Sarandí (Argentina) vs. Mineros de Guyana (Venezuela)
4) 3rd Mexican qualifier vs. 3rd Bolivian qualifier
5) Cienciano (Peru) vs. Montevideo Wanderers (Uruguay)
6) 3rd Colombian qualifier vs. Audax Italiano (Chile)

Group 1
San Lorenzo de Almagro (Argentina)
Real Potosí (Bolivia)
Caracas (Venezuela)
Qualifier 2 (Cruzeiro or Cerro Porteño)

Group 2
Estudiantes de La Plata (Argentina)
Danubio (Uruguay)
Deportivo Cuenca (Ecuador)
Qualifier 1 (Olmedo or Lanús)

Group 3
Boca Juniors (Argentina)
Colo Colo (Chile)
Maracaibo (Venezuela)
Qualifier 4 (3rd qualifier from either Mexico or Colombia)

Group 4
Flamengo (Brazil)
Nacional (Uruguay)
Coronel Bolognesi (Peru)
Qualifier 5 (Cienciano or Montevideo Wanderers)

Group 5
River Plate (Argentina)
2nd Chilean qualifier
San Martín (Peru)
2nd Mexican qualifier

Group 6
Santos (Brazil)
San José (Bolivia)
2nd Colombian qualifier
Chivas de Guadalajara (Mexico)

Group 7
Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Sportivo Luqueño (Paraguay)
Atlético Nacional (Colombia)
Qualifier 6 (3rd Colombian qualifier or Audax Italiano)

Group 8
Fluminense (Brazil)
Libertad (Paraguay)
Liga de Quito (Ecuador)
Qualifier 3 (Arsenal or Mineros de Guyana)

I'm assuming the top two teams advance in every group? The qualifiers begin Jan. 30. I can't really pretend to know about every team here because I really just started following the South American leagues this year and even then I'm mostly limited to Mexico and Argentina. But it looks like River Plate's group may shape up as one of the easier ones--depending on who they get from Mexico. By the same token, Boca's group could be very tough if they draw a Mexican club. Either way, it should be exciting.

Bayern Bag Brazilian Back Breno

Eighteen year-old Sao Paulo defender Breno is reportedly in Germany wrapping up details on a four-year contract with Bundesliga table-toppers Bayern Munich. So says Germany's kicker.de Web site. Breno Vinicius Rodrigues Borges (the lad's real name) has been tipped as Brazil's next great back by goal.com among others (Soccer Source listed him as "a player you'll be hearing about soon" in our Copa Sudamericana primer). World Soccer has him as one of the top 50 teens in the world, but that list didn't include Jozy Altidore which means it's basically worthless. Breno had previously been linked to Real Madrid, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Juventus, among others, but last month Bayern swooped in as the favorites. Thanks to Breno, the Sao Paulo defense was nearly impenetrable this season, at one point stringing together 998 minutes without being scored on. He can play both center and right back.

Apparently Breno isn't the only Bundesliga-bound Brazilian. Zé Roberto, not to be confused with the guy who previously had stints at Leverkusen and Bayern, is due to sign with Schalke 04 from Botofogo (I think that's his current club). The 27 year-old was reportedly at Gelsenkirchen for the club's champions league game with Rosenborg yesterday. So says transfermarkt.de via dpa (some kind of German wire service).

Buenos Aires Superclasico Set For May 4 At Bombonera

If you were thinking of a spring time trip to Buenos Aires, you're going to want to book the weekend of May 4, which coincides with the 13th round of the Torneo Clausura and the superclásico between Boca Juniors and River Plate. The event in question was listed as one of the Guardian's 50 sporting events to attend before you die. And that's sports in general. For soccer fans, it's probably in the top 10--top five if the game is played at the Bombonera, which can realistically be viewed as one of the world's foremost soccer meccas. It's not for novices though. Passions run very high, there is occasional violence (though only once, in 1968, were there fatalities) and tickets are extremely tough to come by. SI.com sent a writer last year; here is his report.

Osorio Set To Take Over Red Bulls, But At What Price?

Chicago Fire's Colombian coach Juan Carlos Osorio is set to become the successor to Bruce Arena as head coach of the New York Red Bulls. So report Ives Galarcep and Steve Goff on their respective blogs. Individually, those guys are rarely wrong on anything. If they're both reporting the same thing I think it's pretty safe to lock it down. Expect an official announcement from the team shortly.

Osorio just joined Chicago in July and has two years remaining on his contract, which necessitates a compensation agreement between the two teams. This is where things get interesting, because I don't doubt that Osorio is a great choice as coach in his own right. But if the team has to give up multiple draft picks and/or a young starter (Dane Richards' name has been bandied about) it becomes a little more questionable--especially if Osorio ends up leaving the team after a year or two (not a longshot considering he's already one of the up-and-coming coaches and would put himself in a good position for European or Latin American jobs if he turns the New York franchise around).

Obviously Osorio is no stranger to the team or the area, having received his first managerial job (as assistant/conditioning manager) with the then-Metrostars in 2000. He then spent five years at Manchester City in a similar capacity before taking over Bogotá club Millonarios in 2006. Readers of this blog will of course be familiar with the Colombian team due to their run to the semifinals of this year's Copa Sudamericana (mainly with Osorio's players). Actually, his ties to the region go deeper than the two years as Metros assistant; he earned a Bachelor's from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn., in 1990.

Red Bulls fans can delve through Millos' roster looking for potential stars Osorio can summon to the Big Apple. This site's primer on the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinalists might be a good place to start. Seems the club has a plethora of young defenders, which just happens to be one area the Red Bulls could really use the help...

Cancun's Atlante Wins Mexican Championships

Atlante won the Mexican Apertura championships thanks to a 2-1 win tonight against UNAM Pumas in the final leg of the home-and-away final series. The Cancun side clinched the game in the 86th minute on a Golazo from Clemente Ovalle. The 25 year old defender struck the ball from about 20 meters, sending it off the underside of the bar. Seventeen minutes earlier, Pumas had tied the game up after Atlante had struck first in the 59th minute. The first leg at Mexico City's Estadio Olimpico ended scoreless.

I think this was Ovalle's third career goal, but undoubtedly the most significant. He didn't even play regularly until the final stretch of the Apertura season, entering as a substitute the final three games. His performance was enough to convince Atlante's coach, Jose Guadelupe Cruz, as Ovalle started every playoff game.

The championship is Atlante's first since 1993 and only its third overall. The team entered the Apertura playoffs as the third seed and vanquished Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals and Chivas in the semis. They were fortunate to not have to play either of the top two seeds (Santos Laguna and Toluca) both of whom were beaten by Pumas. But Atlante appeared to have answers for Pumas' attacking game that neither of the other teams could put together.

First Leg Of Mexican League Final Ends Scoreless

The first leg of the Apertura gran final between Mexico City's UNAM Pumas and Cancun's Atlante ended in a scoreless draw at Estadio Olimpico last night. The underdog home side dominated most of the run of play and had more--and better--chances but were unable to capitalize. Atlante's goalkeeper Federico Vilar was probably the man of the match, stepping in with several key saves, especially in the second half when Pumas seemed to be cutting off all of Atlante's escape routes. Other times, the host's forwards were unable to capitalize on their chances. The series now moves to Cancun where a winner will be decided Sunday night (7pm EST).

Arsenal De Sarandi Wins Copa Sudamericana

Argentina's Arsenal de Sarandi won the Copa Sudamericana, the Western hemisphere's second-biggest club championship, taking home the coveted trophy by virtue of the away-goal rule in its home-and-home series with Mexico City's Club America. It was the club's first-ever title in 50 years of existence. Arsenal took the first leg at the Estadio Azteca 3-2 and lost tonight's return leg 2-1. Arsenal's decisive goal came in the 84th minute on a pure force of will by Martin Andrizzi in the visitor's penalty area. The 31 year-old Argentine literally bulled his way past three America defenders before beating its goalkeeper, Guillermo Ochoa, with a shot to the far post.

In a passionate game played at the Racing Club Avellaneda, America led from the 18th minute but were lucky not to give up the tying goal as Arsenal hit the woodwork three times in the first half alone. Aguillas' 19 year-old forward Juan Carlos Silva scored on a brilliant volley to put his team up 2-0 in the 63rd minute. Had the game ended then, America would have been champions. But El Arse piled on the pressure and Andrizzi's goal was the well-earned consequence.

There were a few ugly scenes toward the end of the game, with Martin Castroman receiving a red card in the waning minutes. An Arsenal supporter ran onto the field and sprinted the length of the pitch, before turning around and going all the way back. Amazingly--at least for fans accustomed to the rigid atmosphere at U.S. sporting events--he was not apprehended.

Arsenal's triumph is a significant upset, as the tournament saw several bigger-named clubs go by the wayside. El Arse first had to dispense of compatriots San Lorenzo in the preliminary draw, before beating Brazil's Goias in the Round of 16. Next up was Chivas, followed by River Plate via a penalty shootout.

Lanus Capture Argentine League Title

Club Atletico Lanus won its first-ever Argentine league title after a 1-1 tie at Boca Juniors this afternoon on the Apertura's final match day for both teams. It turns out Lanus would have won even with a loss, as second-placed Tigre lost to Argentinos Juniors and the teams were three points apart going into today's games.

Lanus scored first on a first-half header by Gustavo Sand, a 27 year old veteran of the Argentine league (he's played for several teams, some of them twice). It was Sand's 15th goal in 15 Apertura appearances according to ESPNDeportes. Boca captain Martin Palermo equalized in the 67th minute after a nice one-two.

The champs are a pretty obscure team even in Argentina and their roster is made up of players that will only be familiar to Primera fans. As far as I can tell, only one of their players (Carlos Bossio, its goalkeeper and captain) has ever been capped by Argentina's senior side, though several have been capped on various junior national teams.