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Will Face Newbies Once Caldas in South American Final
Published on June 18, 2004 By Robert Guinness In Sports & Leisure
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.

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.

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.

Comments
on Jun 18, 2004
ah, one of the most famous rivalries in world sport... Boca vs Plate...

every season you can count on these two fighting it out to the end...

This was a great article!!! I always smile inside when I see someone recognises the glory of the world game!!! I hope I see more of you in my Euro 2004 thread, commenting on each game that you see!!!

BAM!!!
on Jun 18, 2004
Thanks for reading. Does anyone else here like soccer? It's the world's most popular sport, but what about among JoeUser readers?
on Jun 18, 2004
Yeah, Sally Jacobs loves it... she is like the smartest chick i have ever talked to regarding the matter... then again, I live in Australia where Aussie Rules holds sway

a radical commnets a fair bit... he is into it i am sure... and even though it is a peasants game, Sir Peter Maxwell has been known to make astute observations and comments...

JU isn't really a sport focused site... it's really political... hopefully a few oi us can really get into the sport... it might help lighten the mood

Dont worry, I always lurk the sport section... post about football, and it has my attention! Do you follow premier league?

BAM!!!
on Jun 18, 2004
Yeah, Sally Jacobs loves it... she is like the smartest chick i have ever talked to regarding the matter...


Haha, my knowledge isn't to bad for a chick Thank you mugs!

Great article Robert nice to find someone else who appreciate football! Though it isn't really a subject enjoyed by the majority of JU! You should check out Mugs Euro 2004 thread, we have a pretty good commentary going on, that's when Mugs isn't calling me weird of course, hehe
on Jun 18, 2004
I enjoyed your guy's thread, but I'm not big into the English Premier league. The closest thing I follow to English football is the Scottish Football league...I'm a big Celtic fan. Mainly, I like Italian, Argentine, and Scots-Irish football. ...haha, I guess all the obtusely physical leagues! I am following the Euro 2004 closely though. Italy is up 1-0 as I type...even without Totti! I love the young forward Cassano. Hopefully Trapattoni will drop Del Piero after seeing how brilliantly he has played,, and then when Totti comes back the Roma front line will be unstoppable with Buffon and Nesta in the backend!

-rob
on Jun 23, 2004
I definitely enjoy my soccer - whether it's watching or playing - but haven't been following it much lately. I do plan to make it to see a DC United game sometime this summer and see the much-hyped Freddy Adu in action. If I do, perhaps you can persuade me to write up a little piece on Freddy and the state of MLS and US National soccer as qualifying for Germany 2006 heats up. Don't know what I'll be doing that summer yet, but I'd sure be glad if it included watching some World Cup matches live in Deutschland!
on Jun 23, 2004
If I do, perhaps you can persuade me to write up a little piece on Freddy


I would like that...

I have heard much about this boy... It was only a matter of time that one of the many excellent athletes the USA produces chose Soccer over track , basketball or whatever... from what I have seen of this kid, he should be playing in Europe fairly soon!!! very skillful and quick...

BAM!!!
on Jun 25, 2004
I hope he stays in the US and builds up the MLS.