This is the article my brother wrote on this weekends fixtures for the paper he works for in BA:
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.theargentimes.com/culture/sport/a-weeks-a-long-time-in-futbol-fecha-
-------------------------------------------------------------
A Week’s a Long Time in Fútbol: Fecha 13
by: Daniel Edwards | 09 November 2009
section: Sport
Hello and welcome back to my weekly update of the soap opera that is the Argentine Primera Division. Read on for goals, gossip and an outpouring of grief related to Racing’s continuing struggles at the foot of the table.
When I tell people I get paid to watch football games here, theres usually one response: “Lucky Bastard”. And they’re right. It’s a cushy job, and there are a lot of great parts to it. El Superclasico was pretty good fun, and of course there was the unrestrained joy last week of celebrating Racing Club’s first, glorious victory of the season against Atletic Tucuman.
But there’s also a lot of annoying parts which remind me it is actually a job. I get touched up by police officers far more times than I’m happy with, and on average get one cigarette lighter confiscated every week. There was also the time I had to remove a rather stylish belt before entering a stadium- needless to say, upon my return it was no longer there. Plus I’m fairly certain if I continue to eat so many stadium hamburgers I’m eventually going to catch the plague.
Then there’s nights like Monday- CA Huracan vs Arsenal de Sarandi. I started the evening having to beg from my friends for ticket money as every ATM within a mile was out of order. Then I had to sit in the rain in a roofless, windswept hellhole of a stadium for almost three hours, freezing and soaking to the bone and generally cursing whoever it was that invented the game. The game was pretty average too, even with a dramatic last-minute equaliser. So yes, not quite as glamorous as it sounds but hey, it’s almost a living. Rant over, on to the highlights of fecha 13:
Back to Normality for Racing:
Starting at the bottom this week, and a terrible weekend for Racing Club. The Avellaneda outfit, after the optimism of last week’s victory and with new coach Claudio Vivas in tow, were comfortably defeated 3-1 by Godoy Cruz of Mendoza. Leonardo Sigali’s own goal had given La Academia a glimmer of hope after Godoy raced to a two goal advantage. However the result was made certain in stoppage time by Christian Chavez, seconds after a disallowed Racing goal and subsequent dismissal of Matías Martínez for dissent.
To compound Racing’s woes, relegation rivals Chacarita and Atletico Tucuman both registered victories. Chacarita performed superbly to dispatch Lanús 3-0 away from home, forward Facundo Parra the hero with two second half strikes. Tucuman meanwhile won 4-2 at home to last-placed Tigre, who are still searching for their first win of this season.
And They Keep on Winning:
It’s as you were at the top of the table as Newell’s Old Boys, Banfield and Estudiantes all recorded victories. Estudiantes remain two points adrift of the former two clubs after a routine 3-0 victory over Velez. Unfancied Banfield took all three points at San Lorenzo this Sunday, and despite the somewhat uninspired nature of play fans of El Taladro (the drill, because they drill through defences, geddit?) didn’t care one bit, and are dreaming of their first league title in the club’s history. They will be chased all the way however by Newell’s, who in front of their own (in my experience) frankly terrifying hinchada beat River Plate 2-1. Antonio Boghossian was once again Los Leprosos hero, scoring either side of Diego Buonanotte’s equaliser to add to last week’s match-winning performance.
Pointless Trivia of the Week:
I referred to Newell’s Old Boys above as Los Leprosos, in English the Lepers. Contrary to what you may think though it is completely unrelated to violent tackling leaving stray opposition body parts lying on the pitch This rather unusual nickname dates back to the 1920’s when the club and Rosario rivals Central were asked to play a benefit match for sufferers of Leprosy. Central refused, and from then on have been known as Las Canallas, or “The Swine”. Newell’s on the other hand graciously accepted, and so picked up the moniker of “The Lepers”. Knowledge is power people.
Full Results of Fecha 13:
Argentinos Jrs.
1
1
Rosario Ctral.
Independiente
1
0
G. y Esgrima L.P.
Lanús
0
3
Chacarita Jrs.
Godoy Cruz (Mza.)
3
1
Racing Club
N.O. Boys
2
1
River Plate
At. Tucumán
4
2
Tigre
San Lorenzo de A.
0
1
Banfield
Estudiantes L.P.
3
0
Vélez Sarsfield
Boca Jrs.
0
0
Colón
Huracán
1
1
Arsenal F.C.
Heroes of the Week:
Despite the stadium indeed being a roofless, windswept hellhole, this week my heroes have to be the staff at CA. Huracan. They were the rarest of entities in Argentine football: helpful, polite, and actually useful when giving you directions. This was even true of the police there, which made me very suspicious indeed. Best of all, during the interminable wait at the end of the game while the away fans file out, there was an indoor café with coffee, food and everything. Genius! Are you listening every other stadium in Argentina, this is the way forward!
Boludo of the Week:
Anyone who had a Creamfields ticket this week only to see the City Government’s bureaucracy have it postponed will probably push to see Mauricio Macri receive this award every week. But the Mayor of Buenos Aires and former President of Boca Juniors compounded his Boludez by sticking his nose in to events back at La Bombonera. Of technical director Carlos Bianchi Macri said “it is difficult to see what his role is at the club”, as well as criticising other dealings of Los Bosteros. It may be unclear what Bianchi’s role is Sr. Macri, but I for one know what role you have: none whatsoever. Stick to closing down Boliches and (allegedly of course) spying on people and stay out of the beautiful game!
---------------------------------------------------
http://www.theargentimes.com/culture/sport/a-weeks-a-long-time-in-futbol-fecha-12-/
week 12 (his first one), great last paragraph
