Latin American Roundup

Santos promises Boca tough time in Libertadores final

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -- Brazilian champions Santos, trailing 2-0 against Boca Juniors after the first leg of the South American Libertadores Cup final, are still confident of lifting the trophy when the teams meet again on Wednesday.

"We're going to suffocate their team," said fullback Leo. "We're not going to let anyone breathe.

"We're going to make Boca cry, you can be certain of that."

Striker Marcelo Delgado scored twice to give Argentina's Boca a two-goal lead last Wednesday.

Brazilian commentators are skeptical as to whether Santos, who won the competition in 1962 and 1963 during Pele's heyday, are capable of overhauling Boca, who have won their last three away matches in the competition.

Boca, who lost to Santos in the 1963 final but have won the competition four times since, also defended a two-goal first leg lead in their semifinal against Colombia's America and won the second match 4-0 in Cali.

Santos teenager Robinho, who has struggled to find the form which led to comparisons with Pele last year, refused to join the pessimists.

"We have to set the game alight from the start," he said. "A quick goal is fundamental."

The match, which pits Santos's exciting young team against the side coached by wily Libertadores Cup campaigner Carlos Bianchi, is the most eagerly awaited of the year in Latin America.

Sold out

The 73,103 tickets for the match at the Morumbi stadium sold out by Sunday evening, infuriating hundreds of Santos fans who queued in vain through the early hours of Monday morning.

Bianchi has already won the Libertadores three times, two of his victories coming in the same Morumbi stadium.

In 1994, he led modest Velez Sarsfield to a penalty shootout win against defending champions Sao Paulo.

Six years later, he was again at the helm as Boca, Argentina's most popular club, overcame Palmeiras in another penalty shootout.

He won his third Libertadores the following year when Boca beat Mexico's Cruz Azul in yet another shootout.

Boca arrived in Sao Paulo amid tight security on Tuesday night and quickly headed for the same hotel where they stayed three years ago and where Velez also stayed in 1994.

Boca striker Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who has scored six goals in the competition, will miss the game through injury. Santos are without right-back Reginaldo Araujo, sent off in the first leg.

Teams:

Boca Juniors: 1-Roberto Abbondancieri; 4-Hugo Ibarra, 2-Rolando Schiavi, 6-Nicolas Burdisso, 3-Clemente Rodriguez; 5-Sebastian Battaglia, 8-Diego Cagna, 22-Raul Cascini, 20-Javier Villareal; 11-Carlos Tevez, 16-Marcelo Delgado

Santos: 1-Fabio Costa; 11-Elano, 2-Andre Luis, 6-Alex, 3-Leo; 5-Paulo Almeida, 8-Renato, 10-Diego, 21-Fabiano; 7-Robinho, 9-Ricardo Oliveira

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

Libertadores Cup could be enlarged

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -- The Libertadores Cup, South America's equivalent of the Champions League, could be enlarged next year to guarantee Mexican clubs a place in the tournament proper.

South American Football Confederation (CSF) president Nicolas Leoz said on Tuesday the CSF was studying the idea.

Mexican clubs have been competing since 1998 via a qualifying competition. The tournament currently has 32 teams divided into eight groups of four.

The Mexican clubs first have to take part in a mini-league along with two clubs from Venezuela, considered the weakest of the CSF's member nations.

Venezuela would also be guaranteed places in the competition proper under the new set-up, Leoz added.

Leoz said that the suggestion followed a request from the television network which broadcasts the competition. In return, Leoz said the CSF wanted more money for the participating clubs from television rights.

"This depends on negotiations which we are holding with television," he said.

"We are taking care of the interests of the South American clubs and, if we're going to accept the entry of Mexican teams, there will have to be economic reward for us."

Leoz added that from next year, the CSF would carry out strict inspections in stadiums used as venues for matches in the closing stages of the tournament.

The announcement followed controversy this year after Brazilian club Santos were allowed to use their Vila Belmiro stadium for a semi-final tie amid reports that it did not meet the minimum capacity requirement of 30,000.

The stadium's capacity was given as 20,100 during the closing stages of the Brazilian championship last year.

Santos meet Argentina's Boca Juniors in the second leg of this year's final on Wednesday. Boca won the first leg 2-0.

Judge denies request to release Ronaldo's agents

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- A federal judge on Tuesday rejected an appeal to release two representatives of the soccer star Ronaldo pending their trial in connection with the alleged extortion of US$33 million deposited in Swiss bank accounts.

Reinaldo Pitta and Alexandre Martins were arrested on June 2 on suspicion of money laundering and accounting fraud in a case involving eight Brazilian federal and state tax inspectors.

Lawyers asked Judge Paulo Espirito Santo to allow the pair to remain free pending trial or be placed under house arrest, claiming they were unwell and that they faced a risk to their lives in prison.

The judge said the two were receiving adequate care in prison.

Martins, Ronaldo's agent, and Pitta were among the lead dealmakers for Ronaldo during last year's lengthy round of negotiations that moved the striker to Real Madrid from Italy's Internazionale for euro45 million (US$44 million).

A lawyer for Martins and Pitta denied accusations they helped transfer the money to Switzerland for the tax inspectors.

Authorities are investigating allegations that the inspectors extorted the money from companies with threats of audits and fines, then sent most of the money abroad.

The scandal broke in January after Swiss anti-money laundering authorities were alerted to the eight accounts by the Geneva-based Union Bancaire Privee, which had taken over the Discount Bank and Trust Co.

Two Gremio directors resign as crisis continues

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Two directors resigned from Brazilian club Gremio on Tuesday as the crisis deepened at the former South American champions.

The club's official Web site confirmed that Luiz Valandro, vice-president of football, and Onofre Meira, director of football, who had been under fire from disgruntled supporters, were leaving the Porto Alegre club, which is in freefall in the Brazilian championship.

Gremio, submerged in debts and with the team hit by a spate of injuries and suspensions, have slumped to 21st in the 24- team table with 15 points from as many games. On Saturday, they crashed to a humiliating 4-1 defeat against unfashionable Juventude.

Gremio, the club where former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made his name, last week sold striker Luiz Mario while full-back Gilberto, who made his debut for Brazil at the Confederations Cup, is reported to be unhappy at not being paid on time and negotiating a transfer to a club in Ukraine.

Media reports said he failed to turn up for training on Monday.

Meanwhile, midfielder Rodrigo Fabri, who is on loan from Real Madrid, is due to return to Spain this month.

Brazilian international defender Anderson Polga, free-kick specialist Anderson Lima, defender Claudiomiro and midfielder Tinga are all on the injured list while striker Christian is serving a 60-day ban for pushing a referee.

Uruguayan coach Dario Pereira, who took over last month after Tite resigned, may have to field a six youth team players in their next match against Flamengo at the weekend.

Gremio won the Libertadores Cup in 1983 and 1995 and the Brazilian championship in 1991 and 1996.

Pele's ex-teammate Pepe sacked as Guarani coach

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Pepe, who played alongside Pele at Santos in the 1960s, has become the latest victim of Brazil's so-called "Dance of the Coaches."

Pepe was fired by Guarani on Monday night to become the 14th coaching victim since the 24-team Brazilian championship began on March 29.

He had been in charge of the Campinas-based club for three months and one week.

Guarani, the club where players such as former Brazil international Careca, former Deportivo Coruna midfielder Djalminha and Borussia Dortmund striker Amoroso all began their careers, have lost four of their last five games and are 16th in the table.

"This wasn't the campaign the board of directors expected for a team which has top-level players, pays their wages on time and offers all the possible support," club director Neto Ferreira told reporters.

Pepe is the third first division coach to lose his job in the last eight days, following Joel Santana at Vitoria and Marinho Perez at Juventude.

Pepe's sacking came two days before Santos play the second leg of the Libertadores Cup final against Boca Juniors as they attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit to win the trophy for the first time since 1963, when Pepe was in the team.

Union Central face more bone-crunching bus trips

LA PAZ (Reuters) -- Cash-strapped Bolivian club Union Central will continue fielding their youth team in away matches as part of a drastic cost-cutting program, local media reported on Tuesday.

The club, based in Tarija in the south of the country, made the decision after the professionals said they would only travel by air and the youth team agreed to go by road.

Central saved an estimated $5,000 on air fares for Sunday's match away to Oriente Petrolero, when the squad endured a 2,000 kilometre round-trip to Santa Cruz by coach, the daily newspaper La Razon reported.

Although Central crashed to a 6-1 defeat, the club have decided to repeat the experience for their next away game at championship contenders Wilstermann in Cochabamba.

Long-distance bus journeys in Bolivia are often bone-crunching experiences over mountain roads, many of which are unpaved.

River Plate promises low-key title celebrations

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -- River Plate have promised low-key celebrations after winning the Argentine championship on Sunday.

"We've prepared a moderate and austere celebration for this opportunity," River Plate president Jose Maria Aguilar said in a radio interview. "For us, it's a healthy custom to win the championship."

River clinched the Clausura championship, their 31st domestic title since Argentine football turned professional, by beating Olimpo 2-0 as challengers Velez Sarsfield lost 1-0 at home to Estudiantes.

However, the possibility that arch-rivals Boca Juniors could enjoy even greater success if they win the South American Libertadores Cup this week has cast a shadow over the achievement.

Boca are away to Brazilian team Santos in the second leg of the final on Wednesday, having won 2-0 at home last week.

Aguilar added that River had managed to significantly reduce a debt that at one stage reached $7.1 million, helped by the sale of defender Martin Demichelis to German champions Bayern Munich.

Aguilar also promised that River, who like most other clubs have had to cope with Argentina's severe economic problems, would continue to keep tight control on the purse strings.

"We're going to continue with the austerity imposed by the country's current situation and we will not be making any crazy signings," he said.

"We're not going after any big names, but we will continue getting by with the boys who appear from the junior divisions."

River boast one of the world's most successful youth programs, which has produced players such as Pablo Aimar and Javier Saviola.

Eight of the players who finished Sunday's game were raised at the club.

Bolivia

A fan ran onto the field and hit the referee amid chaos which followed the match between Real Potosi and The Strongest.

The Strongest, who won 5-3 to hand Real their first home defeat of the year and go level on points with first stage leaders Bolivar, had to wait ten minutes to leave the field as angry home supporters hurled objects onto the field.

Meanwhile, police gave the referee an escort after he was surrounded by protesting Real players. During the confusion a fan ran onto the field and punched the official.

Media reports said that Real players helped the fan escape as police attempted to arrest him.

Limberg Mendez scored twice while Nicolas Satori, Argentine Ruben Gigena and Brazilian Sandro Coelho shared the other goals for the Tigers, who led 4-1 after 40 minutes but had to survive a late fightback from Real.

Real, based in the historic silver mining town of Potosi, are considered almost invincible at home, where they play at 4,100 meters above sea level.

Bolivar needed a second-half goal from Percy Colque to scramble a 1-1 draw at San Jose after Marcelo Ceballos had given the home team the lead. Bolivar and The Strongest each have 36 points but the latter have a game in hand.

Argentine striker Claudio Biaggio hit four goals as Oriente Petrolero hammered Union Central 6-1. Central, who are based in Tarija, traveled by coach to the game in Santa Cruz -- an exhausting 24-hour journey over mainly unpaved roads.

Peru

Sporting Cristal, still unbeaten since coach Wilmer Valencia took over two months ago, won the first stage of the championship with a 1-0 win over Alianza Atletico.

Alberto Rodriguez headed the goal for the Brewers who had needed only a draw.

Atletico dominated parts of the match but lost their impetus after having Ismael Habrahamshon sent off in the second half.

"We deserved this title," said Sporting goalkeeper Erick Delgado.

Alianza Lima, the only team with a chance of catching Cristal, beat Melgar 2-0 in vain.

Universitario, the other of the Lima big three, finished a miserable campaign by losing 3-1 at Union Huaral. Universitario were missing three key players, all suspended after being sent off last week against Atletico Universidad.

Chile

Defending champions Colo Colo won 3-2 at Universidad de Concepcion to reach the final of the Apertura, the first of the two championships in the Chilean season.

Concepcion, needing to win to send the two-leg semifinal to golden goal extra time, went ahead after five minutes as Ricardo Viveros pounced on a poor clearance by Colo Colo's U.S. goalkeeper Johnny Walker.

Colo Colo hit back five minutes later when veteran striker Ivan Zamorano was fouled in the penalty area and Argentine Marcelo Espina scored from the spot.

Zamorano also set up Colo Colo's second goal for Braulio Leal in the 35th minute before Concepcion leveled the scores again through Marco Olea.

The drama continued after halftime as Espina missed a penalty but made amends by scoring the winner in the 85th minute.

Colo Colo will face Cobreloa in the final after the "Desert Foxes" beat Huachipato with a golden goal by Fernando Martel. Paraguayan Dario Veron gave Cobreloa a 1-0 win in 90 minutes to wipe out Huachipato's 2-1 win in the first leg.

Ecuador

El Nacional maintained their 100 percent record under Serbian coach Dragan Miranovic with a 3-1 win at Emelec as the second stage of the championship got under way.

David Quiroz, Cleber Chala and Juan Carlos Burbano scored for the army club, who have won three out of three games under Miranovic, while Carlos Quinonez replied for Emelec, who also missed a penalty through Otilino Tenorio.

First stage winners Barcelona were beaten 1-0 by Deportivo Quito. Rolando Jacome scored the winner while Barcelona, who had defender Ivan Hurtado sent off, were furious at having a goal disallowed in the 89th minute.

Uruguay

German Hornos, last year's leading scorer, hit a hat-trick as Fenix won 3-2 at Wanderers. Hornos took his tally to 15 in seventeen games and is joint topscorer this year alongside Villa Espanola's Nicolas Nicolay, who was also on target in his team's 1-1 draw with Nacional as the first stage came to a close.

Nacional had won the first stage with two matches to spare. They finished six points ahead of arch-rivals Penarol, who were also held 1-1 by unfashionable Miramar Misiones.

Paraguay

Guarani and Libertad kept their 100 percent records after three matches of the championship's second stage. Guarani beat Sol de America 2-1 while Libertad, who have already won the first stage, won a seven-goal thriller against Sport Colombia 4-3.

 

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Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.