Will Face Newbies Once Caldas in South American Final
I have recently taken a strong liking to international soccer competition. It began actually when I lived in Germany in the summer of 2002, and was immersed in a true World Cup hysteria.
But my liking intensified living in Argentina in the summer of 2003. Although Argentina wasn't even on the map after the first stage of the 2002 World Cup due to poor results, it is home to some of the fiercest soccer players in the world.
Buenos Aires, the capital, is home to 20 professional soccer teams--and that's only the top division (akin to the Major League in baseball)--there are 4 minor league divisions as well. Most division games are played on Sundays, and basically every Sunday afternoon the Porteños (as residents of Buenos Aires are called) all make way to the dozens of stadiums spread throughout the city neighborhoods to watch their beloved teams. |  | | Roberto "Pato" Abbondanzieri makes a game-winning penalty kick save to send Boca Juniors to Libertadores Cup Finals. |
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The two best teams in Buenos Aires are Boca Juniors and River Plate. Boca is known as the "People's Team" and is the team of the infamous "hand of God" Diego Maradona. River is known as "the Millionaires."
Tonight was the last semi-final game in the most important soccer tournament in South America, the Copa Libertadores (Liberators Cup). Each matchup in the tournament is a two-game series, each team hosting a home game. In the mini-series each goal counts because it is the running total of goals that decides the series. A tie goes to penalty kicks.
That's exactly what happened tonight. It was the second game in the famous Boca - River matchup, called "El Superclassico" in Spanish. Boca had won its home game 1-0, and now it was River's turn to use it's 70,000 thunderous fans to cheer them to victory.
River came out strong in the first half, but Boca defended well. River gave its best effort for an early goal, but Boca remained calm and patient, waiting for River to lose its steam. The first half came to an goalless end, and so far, it looked good for Boca (Remember: River essentially starts the game down 0 - 1. They must score two goals more than Boca to advance.)
In the second half, however, River showed that they weren't nearly out of steam after an intense first half. The defense of Boca held firm though with a superb performance by their goalkeeper Abbondanzieri, whose nickname is "Pato" (Duck). The tides turned, however, when native-Colombian midfielder Fabián Vargas committed a foul and received a questionable yellow card, his second, forcing him to leave the game. (In soccer, a yellow card is a "caution," but two yellows equals a red card, which gets you thrown out of the current game, causing your team to be outnumbered, plus you are suspended from playing in the next game.)
The 11 to 10 man advantage seemed to give River the edge they needed, and in the 50th minute forward Lucho González scored a perfect goal that bounced in off the far post. This brought the series total to 1-1.
River Plate continued pounding on Boca, who although a man down, seemed to lack a midfield, but they defended solidly with Pato blocking every shot that managed to get through the defense. Occasionally, however, Boca would make a valiant effort at attacking with only two forwards, but the one-man disadvantage clearly hurt them.
This would change in the 83rd minute when an argument broke out between Boca player Guillermo Schelotto and members of River Plate's coaching staff. River player Sambueza got into the argument and was thrown out of the game with a red card. In the same minute, River defender Ricardo Rojas had to be taken out for an injury. Their side had already made the maximum number of three substitutions, and thus, suddenly Boca was the team with a man advantage. |  | | Boca and River players fight fiercely to control the ball in the air. |
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Boca quickly capitalized on this advantage, and in the 88th minute, 20-year old forward Carlos Tevez put one through after a cross from 19-year old left-forward Franco Cangele. Tevez celebrated by taking off his jersey and racing across the field doing a chicken dance (The River fans are known by Boca fans as the "gallinas," which means "chickens", or more accurately "hens.") For this he was given a surprising red card, and was forced to continue his celebrating from the bench.
The final nine minutes were played nine on nine, but Boca seemed to have the series in their hands with a 2-1 overall lead. River Plate reminded Boca, however, that it's not over until the final second has run out, and in the 94th minute defender Cristian Natushi came out of nowhere to pound one home off a header from Fernando Cavenaghi.
Thus, a trip to the final of the Copa Libertadores was to be decided by penalty kicks. The first four shots from each side successfully duped Lux in River's net and Pato at Boca's. The fifth shot, however, by River forward Maxi Lopez was blocked low and right by Pato, while Boca's Javier Villarreal beat Lux, giving Boca Juniors the last edge they needed over River Plate to advance to the Final.
Next Wednesday, June 23, Boca Juniors will face Colombia's Once Caldas, who beat out Brazil's São Paulo for their first ever Libertadores final appearance (In fact, this year has been their first year to make it out of the first round.) Boca, who has won three of the last four Cups will be the favorites to win their six all-time title, but they will have to play their first game without three star players, Cascini (suspended for two games in last week's River - Boca brawl), Vargas, and Tevez. Thus, Once Caldas has a chance at making history, and the final should provide plenty of South American-style excitement.
Photos courtesy of AP and www.bocajuniors.com.ar.