Argentina and Independiente have both lost 1-0 to Ecuadorian sides in the last couple of days, but the attitudes to those defeats are very different. Argentina Under 20s’ loss to their Ecuadorian counterparts on Monday night in the first match of the final group stage of the Sudamericano Sub 20 throws a serious spanner in the works of their bid to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Football Tournament, though qualification for the Youth World Cup is still well within their grasp. Independiente, last night, lost 1-0 away to Deportivo Quito but, thanks to their 2-0 first leg victory last week, qualify for the Copa Libertadores group stage, where they’ll play Deportivo’s city rivals Liga de Quito, Uruguayan giants Peñarol, and Mendozan competition debutants Godoy Cruz. You can see the goals from both defeats right here.
Sudamericano Sub 20 Peru 2011, final stage, Monday 31st January 2011: Argentina 0 – 1 Ecuador
Copa Libertadores 2011 qualifying round second leg, Tuesday 1st February 2011: Deportivo Quito 1 – 0 Independiente
You can follow the ins and outs during the build up to the 2011 Torneo Clausura, as well Argentina’s performances in the Sudamericano Sub 20, the country’s vast foreign legion and the latest news from the selección during the 2010-2011 season direct from Buenos Aires with HEGS on Twitter. If you’ve not signed up yet you can do so here. You can also join the official HEGS Facebook group, to keep up to date with the latest posts on the blog and discuss things with other fans. You’ll find it here. Also remember to bookmark Hand Of Pod, our home to a brand new Argentine football podcast (or subscribe to it on iTunes here)
Hasta El Gol Siempre 
I just saw the Independiente match on a download.
I don’t know much about Ecuadorean football, but I wonder is it just a succession of players attempting shots from ridiculous distances and see if the ball flying through the thin air can beat the diving keeper. Kind of like a Primark 1986 World Cup.
If you do this for a full ninety minutes, you’re bound to get one goal. Maybe even two. But to get three without reply is clearly beyond the capabilities of an otherwise extremely limited side.
Damn. Gotta watch six more of these games now and hope los amargos will lose.