Hasta El Gol Siempre

Another four months, another championship. That Boca could finish top of the overall season table without actually getting more points than anyone else in either half of that season says something for the short championships – what would leagues up here in Europe look like if we adopted a similar system? It’s an interesting thought.

Still, there are some highs and lows to discuss even in such a compressed format, so here we go…

Overachievers:

It has to be San Lorenzo. That Estudiantes maintained a credible defence of their Apertura title was one thing. For San Lorenzo, who were pitiful and finished 11th in the previous campaign, to win the thing was something else. But enough was written about that last week.

Arsenal de Sarandí, who qualified for the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history, also deserve massive congratulations.

Disappointments:

The violence wasn’t on the same level as during the Apertura. But it was still present. San Lorenzo began the campaign with a stadium ban, as did River – who also ended it in exile, having played more matches at Vélez’s José Amalfitani than at their own Monumental. Boca’s players visited some of their jailed barra brava with gifts, and a River fan fell to his death from the back of a stand at Vélez during his side’s match with Godoy Cruz a couple of weeks ago. It wasn’t related to an act of violence, but it’s symptomatic of the wider problem, and of a lax approach to security.

On the pitch, with honourable mentions for the two Avellaneda clubs – especially Racing who were utterly pitiful for much of the campaign – River take first place for this one. Even taking into account the reputation of River’s fans for being the hardest to please in the country, this Clausura was just pitiful.

They spent big in January and were impressive in the Summer Tournament, seeming nailed-on favourites to claim the title back with, on paper, the strongest squad in the country by a distance. But football’s not played on paper, and when the real action started Mauro Rosales, Marco Ruben et. al. failed to live up to expectations. Almost inevitably, Ariel Ortega’s demons got the better of him as the club continued to place too much faith in him. And more surprisingly, Fernando Belluschi, one of the best players of the Apertura, failed to show up in almost every match. Only Paulo Ferrari really did himself any favours in this campaign. And as for the manager…

Double act of the campaign:

Two men really won it for San Lorenzo. Legendary former River manager Ramón Díaz returned to Argentina and took El Ciclón to a remarkable turnaround. He arguably couldn’t have done it without Gastón Fernández, bought from River on the last day of the transfer window. Why River let him go, so soon after bringing him back from Mexico and with his undoubted class, is a mystery, but it’s a decision they’ve paid for. Ezequiel Lavezzi and Néstor Silvera were both key men, but without Díaz and Fernández, there surely wouldn’t have been a trophy going to Boedo.

What a lot of goals!

2.5 goals a game isn’t a bad average but the highlights, if it’s lots going in at both ends you like, had to be Lanús’s back-to-back 3-2 wins (at home to Newell’s and away to Central); San Lorenzo’s 4-3 triumph over Independiente; Belgrano’s 3-3 away to Racing, followed two weeks later by a 4-3 defeat at Arsenal (when you can score six in two games and still only take one point, you know you’re going down…); Argentinos’ 3-3 draw with Boca; and Estudiantes extraordinary 4-4 with Newell’s. That’s seven matches, 44 goals. Enjoy them.

Goal of the Clausura:

There were halfway line strikes from Martín Palermo and Leonel Núñez, but they don’t make the cut. In second, this one a couple of weeks ago, from incoming Liverpool player Sebastián Leto against Belgrano…

And the winner… well first let’s see something Diego Maradona did in a World Cup semi-final back in 1986.

Now, watch Ariel Escudero equalising for Vélez against River, just last weekend.

Think that’s it for the season? Think again. There’s a Copa Libertadores final second leg and the whole of the Copa América still to come - and guess where you can follow it all?

For last week’s editorial, click here.