Boca, With Rout, Can Qualify On Their Own.
By: Mauro | April 22nd, 2008Club Atlético Boca Juniors vs. Unión Atlético Maracaibo (La Bombonera Alberto J. Armando, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Tape delay on Fox Sports Español @ 7:30pm PST.
Follow the match online and live, here with this Gamecast.
At exactly the same time as the crucial Colo Colo - Atlas match in Santiago, Boca host Maracaibo in Buenos Aires. The story here is that Boca need a nice rout to qualify for the next round. Period. But, life does not always play out like it does in one’s head.
Here are the few scenarios with which Boca could qualify; (bare with me) Boca must win and hope for Atlas to get a rare away win for them both to qualify, Atlas lose to Colo Colo, depending on the goals scored in that match, Boca would need to cover the goal difference of the Mexican side, Colo Colo and Atlas draw, Boca must win to catch Colo Colo and cover their 2 goal difference, or lastly, Boca could just win the match by a rout (5 or 6 goals) and they would qualify over either squad in the other match despite the outcome.
Now if this sounds familiar or you’re having a bit of deja-vu, than you and I are in the same boat. In last year’s edition, Boca were in the same situation. They had one match to play (against group minnows, Bolivar) and had to win by 6 or 7 goals and the match was to be played at La Bombonera.
And what happened, pray tell? Boca covered the difference in resounding fashion (7-0) and went on to win the whole she-bang. On only three opportunities have Boca failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Libertadores (in ‘71, ‘82 and ‘86) in other words it doesn’t happen often and it doesn’t seem likely to happen tonight either.
Bottom Line: Riquelme will be on the pitch, and luck abounds when Boca are in the confines of La Bombonera, in front of the blue and yellow faithful. Basically, Boca show up when they play at home. Maracaibo are already eliminated and are only playing this match to cover the stat and record books or possibly, to play spoiler, which could really be the biggest away win or draw of the tournament. As much as I’d enjoy that, I HIGHLY doubt it. My Pick: 6-0 to Boca. They’ll cover the difference and then some. Maracaibo might as well be cardboard cutouts on the pitch.
Check the CONMEBOL website for Group 3 standings and results.
Category: Tournament News
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[...] Don’t forget that in a few minutes, defending champs Boca face UA Maracaibo at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Fox Sports Español will not air this match live, it will be tape delay at 7:30 pm PST. Follow the match online and live, here with this Gamecast. If for one reason or another you feel like reading my preview of that match, here it is. [...]
Posted from
United States
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This is the second time that I read you.
And both times you associated Boca Juniors with the word “luck”.You suck big time.
You should talk about River not La Copa.
Poca clase para un blog como este.Posted from
United States -
Sorry to hear you don’t like my writing Albo. That’s unfortunate. You’re probably used to the pro-Boca websites (Olé) and TV channels (TyC) so you should probably stick to those for your information. Here, I am not simply reporting on what happens on the pitch, that’s what sites like ESPNdeportes.com or Olé are for, but to add a certain spin to it that would make it interesting to read.
Despite my affiliation with River Plate, I do my very best to call as I see it and overall I think I do a pretty good job. I also make a special effort when it comes to Boca Juniors. I grew up being taught to hate them but as an adult I have grown out of that hatred and have come to respect what they have accomplished in recent years and what respect they command in the transfer market and in international competition.
Still, it’s my obligation to call it as I see it. And if you don’t call what happened last night luck, I’m not sure how you can lie to yourself like that. There was no way Boca’s players, manager or club directors would’ve expected them to advance with that result. The result that got them through was the one in Santiago and that was thanks to Atlas. But the papers don’t write it that way. They just want to talk about how great Boca are and how they all believed in them. Whatever. Go on and read that BS written by the blue and yellow faithful.
If you want a real unbiased opinion about Boca you can come here and read it. I will reward them when they play well and I will slam them when they are crap. And they were not what I expected out of them last night. Bianchi wouldn’t have let them pass the ball around like they had a three hour match ahead of them.
Y aparte de tener clase, lo que tengo es un punto de vista imparcial. Como dije antes, si buscas un punto de vista Boquense, no vengas aca. Te lo cuento como es. Y punto. A River tambien le tiro palos cuando hay que tirar palos. Si no te gusta, te podes informar en otro lado.
Posted from
United States -
Mauro . . . you grew out of the hatred? Are you Argie? Cause that may be cause to take away your citizenship! =P
I kid . . . partially.
But as a Boca fan, I will be the first to admit - our 6-0-5 record is a bit deceiving. Those ties in particular were either plain ugly or emotionless.
(thank you DTV, DVR and TYC Deportes for existing)
Posted from
United States -
Dave,
I am Argentine. I have lived here all my life but followed footy since I can remember.I agree, Boca are not playing well, and like I said in my review of last night’s match, they won that match because Boca has more money to spend on better quality players and it’s because of those individual performances that they won. The team is still not playing clearly. Not like the old days when Basile was at the helm.
Posted from
United States -
Mauro - I was born here too. Same story.
I am waiting (eagerly) to see Boca play more team and less individual footie.
Posted from
United States
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