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Defensa y Justicia win Recopa Sudamericana in dramatic penalty shootout vs. Palmeiras

Roy Nemer
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54

Defensa y Justicia got the 2-1 win on penalties (4-3 on aggregate) vs. Palmeiras with a lot of drama involved in the second leg.

It was Defensa y Justicia, the winners of the Copa Sudamericana up against Palmeiras, the Copa Libertadores winners in the second leg of the Recopa Sudamericana. The first leg ended 2-1 in favor of the Brazilian club.

It was Hernan Crespo, currently managing Sao Paulo in Brazil, who coached Defensa to their first international championship a few months ago. Now the responsibility fell to one of the best coaches in the country, Sebastian Beccacece to lead them to a second one.

The final at the Estadio Norberto Tomaghello in Argentina proved to be a memorable one. A penalty within the 90 minutes, a red card, extra time and more penalties made for constant drama. The defending Copa Libertadores champions would take a 1-0 lead after a foul in the penalty area. Up stepped Raphael Veiga as his penalty went in and the Brazilians had the advantage.

However, just seven minutes later, a lovely through ball would find Pizzini inside the penalty area and it was Braian Romero who was at the end of the pull back to draw Defensa level but they still needed one more goal.

Adonis Frias would bring Matias Vina of Palmeiras down but the Uruguayan would kick Frias in the back as the referee would go to VAR and Palmeiras would be down to 10 men. In the 93rd minute, Benitez with an effort from outside of the penalty area which the goalkeeper would not be able to block and Defensa would get their goal. A 2-1 score in regular time would mean extra time.

Braian Romero would turn from hero to villain. The scorer of the first goal would get himself sent off and Palmeiras would be awarded a penalty kick after getting fouled by the goalkeeper. However, Unsain would make up for his error and save the spot kick. The match would remain at 2-1 and go to penalty kicks.

Both teams would score their first penalty and it was Luiz Adriano who would miss his as Miguel Merentiel would scorehis to give Justicia the 2-1 lead. The next two for each team would be converted with Weverton Pereira da Silva missing his as Defensa y Justicia would be crowned as the 2021 Recopa Sudamericana champions.

 

Five Argentine players remain in the Champions League

Roy Nemer
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18

Five Argentine players remain in the Champions League as we reach the semi finals.

One coach in Mauricio Pochettino and three players in Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Mauro Icardi make up more than half of the Argentine representatives left in the tournament. A 1-0 second leg win vs. holders Bayern Munich means that we are guaranteed new champions. They will face Sergio Aguero and Manchester City as Kun looks to make the final of the Champions League for the first time in his career.

Willy Caballero and Chelsea play record champions Real Madrid in the other semi final. Caballero will be on the bench for Chelsea as he is not their starting goalkeeper or even their back up.

We are guaranteed at least one Argentine in the Champions League final with PSG and Manchester City having at least one in each team. We could have a total of four in the final or zero.

Alejandro Papu Gomez scores winner for Sevilla in 4-3 victory vs. Celta

Roy Nemer
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98

Alejandro Papu Gomez scored the fourth goal for Sevilla in their 4-3 win vs. Celta.

Papu Gomez was the super sub for Lopetegui’s team with his match winner. It was a Marcos Acuña corner kick which lead to Sevilla scoring their first goal of the season. Lucas Ocampos would start alongside Acuña and both Argentine players would play the 90 minutes.

Gomez was substituted on in the 67th minute and would manage his second goal in the league. Lucas Ocampos with a flick pass into Gomez but the ball would reach the Celta defender as Gomez would steal the ball off him. A left footed shot from the edge of the penalty area by Papu would be the seventh goal of the match and prove to be the winner.

Leandro Paredes scores free kick, assists for PSG in 4-1 win vs. Strasbourg

Roy Nemer
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67

Leandro Paredes had a free kick goal and an assist for PSG in their 4-1 win vs. Strasbourg.

Paredes would provide the assist for the first goal of the match. A ball into Mbappe as the World Cup winner would go passed his defender and score from a difficult angle.

With fellow Argentine’s Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi not playing, Paredes was the only Argentine representative on the pitch for Pochettino. PSG were awarded a free kick and it was Paredes who took it as his right footed effort beat the goalkeeper to give PSG the 4-1 lead and the win.

Argentina U23 coach says Lautaro Martinez will be on Olympic player list

Roy Nemer
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30

Argentina U23 coach Fernando Batista stated that Lautaro Martinez will be on the preliminary list of 50 players for the 2020 Olympics.

Fernando Batista revealed that the Inter striker will make the initial list of 50 while also hinting at other names. Some of the other names being mentioned along with the Inter striker are those of Juan Foyth and Exequiel Palacios. Should Lautaro be selected for the Olympics, he will also likely be picked for the Copa America which will be played before the Olympics in Japan.

Speaking in an interview with TyC Sports, here’s what Batista had to say:

“Come the moment in June, we will see how every one is doing to be able to pick the players in the best way possible. It’s difficult, there are a bunch of guys that are at a fantastic level.

“In the list of 50 players, I will put Lautaro Martinez, he is a player within the age limit. Today, there are a few players that are with the senior national team like Juan Foyth, Exequiel Palacios or Lautaro and one can pick them.”

In addition to the three names mentioned, Fernando Batista spoke about Lisandro Martinez, the man from Ajax:

“He was supposed to be in the last trip but because of the pandemic, he couldn’t leave the Netherlands. Not him, not Marcos Senesi. He wasn’t able to go to the pre-Olympics but he’s within the nominees. I like him as a center back. I saw him on the wing and he did well but I like him as a center back, where he’s always played.

“He gives you the possibility of being a center back, a full back or in the middle. When you have 16 outfield players, those players are sometimes important. As a coach, you evaluate these things and in those positions, he does well.”

Regarding clubs possibly not releasing players:

“We live with that all the time. There are coaches that left, like Tata. But you don’t have to get angry, you have to be prepared for that. Sometimes it hurts you more when it comes from the local league. Sometimes you’re planning something and it angers you. What I do is always look forward.”

As we reported earlier, Argentina will be one of four seeded teams when the draw takes on April 21 in Zurich.

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