At the national team level, the Asociación de Fútbol Argentino is tearing itself apart as the search begins to replace Jorge Sampaoli. At the top flight domestic level, we're just three and a half weeks away from the start of the new season and there's still been no confirmation of the 2018–19 Superliga season fixtures (or... Continue Reading →
Alfredo Di Stéfano’s forgotten story: an amateur neighbourhood club & the greatest ringer of all time
Tuesday night in the Copa Argentina saw two sides with proud achievements in Argentine football come together, as Primera División Quilmes beat Primera C side Ferrocarril Midland 3-1 to advance. Quilmes were the first criollo team (that is, a side made up of locals) to win the Argentine championship, back in 1912, after it had been dominated... Continue Reading →
Copa Argentina 2011-2012: the competition so far
It's been relatively unheralded here on HEGS so far, but Hand Of Pod listeners will be aware that there's a new competition in Argentine football this season which is well underway. The Copa Argentina is the AFA's first attempt at a regular knockout competition since the 1970 edition - the second - was abandoned at... Continue Reading →
Apertura 2011: Rafaela down Vélez, Verón leaves to an ovation as Estudiantes beat All Boys and more (video)
Friday's and Saturday's matches in the 2011 Torneo Apertura have seen no shortage of goals, and as expected, one postponed match - San Lorenzo v Tigre will now be played on Monday at 20:30, for the reasons outlined in this post on Friday evening. Rafaela beat Vélez 2-0, and San Martín beat fellow promotees Unión... Continue Reading →
Apertura 2011: Tigre get a huge win, Racing lose at last and more (video)
The 2011 Torneo Apertura matches on Friday and Saturday have seen a number of eye-opening results. First, on Friday, Tigre beat Atlético Rafaela 3-0 at home and, astonishingly given where they were at the start of the season, climbed out of the automatic relegation places for the first time. The result also ensured Boca Juniors... Continue Reading →
Torneo Apertura 2011: round 15 scores and goal videos (and River Plate’s goals)
I've had a fun-packed weekend (okay, there was a bit of a hangover involved as well) and the fifteenth round of the Torneo Apertura only ended on Monday night. These two facts have combined to result in my not getting this post online before now, but it's packed with goal videos. The weekend saw the... Continue Reading →
Nacional B: River return home to a loss
River Plate slipped up on Sunday, losing 2-0 to Atlético Tucumán on their return to the Estadio Monumental after a five match ban from playing there. Luis Rodríguez and César Montiglio scored the goals, one in each half. Having dominated most of the first hour, defensive slip-ups cost River dear, though they stay joint top... Continue Reading →
Apertura 2011: Boca edge closer to the title, Lanús win their clásico, and more (video)
This is a later than usual summary, but it is timed nicely to coincide with the launch of the Guardian’s new Sports Network, of which HEGS is proud to be a part. Boca Juniors edged closer to the title with a 0-0 draw away to Vélez Sarsfield - a match I was at. Elsewhere over the... Continue Reading →
Argentinos tonk Vélez, River lose their first match in the B, Newell’s & Olimpo draw (video)
Saturday saw Argentinos Juniors claim a comfortable win over Vélez Sarsfield by three goals to one in La Paternal; it was only Argentinos' second win of the season, and almost certainly puts the final nail in the coffin of Vélez's title defence, which in recent weeks had looked rejuvinated. Newell's Old Boys later drew 2-2... Continue Reading →
Apertura: Independiente smile again; Unión and All Boys draw in relegation battle (video)
Saturday's matches in the Primera División saw mixed fortunes for Avellaneda's two clubs. Independiente got a win to lift some of the gloom following the midweek Copa Sudamericana exit, and later on Racing drew 0-0 with San Martín de San Juan to drop points in their effort to stay in touch with Boca Juniors (who... Continue Reading →