Latin American Roundup

Gremio wins Libertadores opener with last-minute goal

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (Reuters) -- Former champions Gremio struck in the last minute to hand debutants UNAM a 3-2 defeat in the opening match of this year's Libertadores Cup on Tuesday.

Gremio captain Roger, who was in the team which won the Libertadores in 1995, fired home a rebound for the Brazilian team after the visiting Mexican side failed to clear a free kick taken by Rodrigo Fabri.

UNAM, coached by former Real Madrid and Mexico striker Hugo Sanchez and nicknamed the Pumas, had taken a surprise lead in the 23rd minute of the Group 5 match when Joaquin Beltran headed in at the near post.

But the Pumas paid heavily for giving away too many free kicks around their area, two of which led to Gremio goals in a three-minute spell.

Striker Luis Mario tapped in from close range in the 30th minute after Pumas failed to clear a free kick on the left and, almost immediately, Beltran deflected an Anderson Lima free kick into his own goal.

Pumas equalized in the 76th minute when Brazilian Leandro Augusto scored direct from a free kick only to captiulate in the last minute of normal time to yet another set piece.

Brazil drops World Cup goalkeeper Marcos

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Brazil dropped World Cup goalkeeper Marcos on Tuesday from their squad for next week's friendly international away to China.

Marcos, who let in four goals for Palmeiras in a domestic game on Sunday, was replaced by uncapped Julio Cesar of Flamengo. Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira named three locally based players to join the 19 "foreigners" chosen the week before.

The other players picked on Tuesday were Cruzeiro defender Luisao and Atletico Paranaense midfielder Kleberson, who played in the World Cup last year.

Marcos has enjoyed mixed fortunes since returning home from Brazil's victorious World Cup campaign.

His team were relegated to the second division of the Brazilian championship at the end of last year and crashed to a dismal 4-2 home defeat against unfashionable Barbarense in the Paulista championship on Sunday.

Marcos was caught off his line when the fourth goal was chipped over his head.

Last month, Marcos was involved in negotiations with English premier league leaders Arsenal but no deal was finalised.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers - Dida (AC Milan), Julio Cesar (Flamengo)

Defenders - Cafu (AS Roma), Belletti (Villareal, Spain), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid, Spain), Junior (Parma, Italy), Edmilson (Olympique Lyon, France), Roque Junior (AC Milan), Juan (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Luisao (Cruzeiro)

Midfielders - Emerson (AS Roma, Italy), Gilberto Silva (Arsenal, England), Ze Roberto (Bayern Munich, Germany), Flavio Conceicao (Real Madrid, Spain), Juninho Pernambucano (Olympique Lyon), Kleberson (Atletico Paranaense)

Forwards - Adriano (Parma, Italy), Amoroso (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Denilson (Betis, Spain), Rivaldo (AC Milan), Ronaldinho (Paris St Germain, France), Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Spain)

Defense worries Mexico coach Lavolpe

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe has admitted that he is uneasy about his team's defense as they prepared for their first game under his command.

"We're better from the midfield forward than we are from the midfield back, that's where we have to work a bit more," he told reporters on Monday.

Lavolpe, an Argentine who was reserve goalkeeper in his country's victorious 1978 World Cup squad, makes his Mexico coaching debut against Argentina in Los Angeles on Tuesday, their first game since they were knocked out of last year's World Cup in the second round by the United States.

Lavolpe called up midfielder Omar Bravo as a last-minute replacement for Jesus Arellano, who was injured in a Mexican championship match at the weekend.

The coach has already lost the experience of midfielder Ramon Morales and striker Jared Borgetti through injury.

Argentina, who beat Honduras 3-1 away on Friday, are fielding an experimental team of home-based players for the game.

 

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