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Latin American Roundup Angry Cardozo threatens to quit ParaguayPosted: Tuesday October 22, 2002 9:45 PMUpdated: Tuesday October 22, 2002 10:39 PM MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Jose Cardozo, who broke the Mexican championship's goalscoring record last Saturday, is threatening to turn his back on Paraguay's national team because of a row over his failure to play in last week's friendly in Spain. Paraguay threatened to protest to FIFA because they said the striker pulled out of the match telling them he was injured, but then played for his club side Toluca in a Mexican championship match hours later. "I will quit for ever if they protest," said Cardozo, who played for Paraguay in the last two World Cups. "Because if they protest, it will harm me and it will harm Toluca and that is something I cannot permit." Cardozo scored twice in Toluca's 6-0 win over UAG on Saturday to take his goal tally to 20, a record since Mexico began in the mid-1990s the current system under which two championships are played every year. The 31-year-old striker reached his total in only 14 games and still has five more to add to his tally. "I have never refused to play for Paraguay," he said. River Plate 'bitter and ashamed' after 5-0 lossBUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) -- River Plate coach Manuel Pellegrini said the Argentine champions were "bitter and ashamed" after crashing to a 5-0 defeat away to lowly Banfield in a 66-minute match at the weekend. But he said Sunday's fiasco would not affect River as they prepare to face arch-rivals Boca Juniors on Sunday in one of the world's great derby fixtures. "We have to get it into our heads that this was not a normal defeat," said the Chilean coach after River lost for only the second time in the tournament. "It was an abnormal match. "I want to recognise Banfield's great performance...but we are all bitter and suffering enormous shame." River were spared an even worse mauling when the match was abandoned because of rioting by their own fans, who opened a hole in the fence around the pitch and clashed with police who attempted to restore order. Referee Claudio Martin abandoned the match as police fired tear gas into the River fans. Two supporters were taken to hospital. Local media say the 5-0 scoreline, which has already been added into championship tables, will stand. Pellegrini said his team's thoughts were now on Sunday's showdown in which the losers can almost certainly wave goodbye to hopes of winning the title. River are second in the championship, five points behind leaders Independiente, while Boca are in third place, another three points behind River. All have six matches to play. "The game against Boca is a match apart," said Pellegrini. "This is the game of our lives, because of what it means as a match and what it means for the rest of the championship. "We have to go back to doing what we were in the previous four games, when we scored 14 goals. "We are going to fight for the title as long as the mathematicians allow." Pellegrini has only been at River for five months but media are already speculating that last Sunday's result, coupled with a home defeat by Boca, could be enough to topple him. River goalkeeper Angel David Comizzo could face disciplinary action after launching a furious public attack on referee Claudio Martin's decision to abandon Sunday's game. Argentine media said Martin had mentioned Comizzo in his match report and the 40-year-old veteran could be suspended.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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