Copa Libertadores: Boca Juniors 0, Chivas 0 on June 14


Boca and River test each other in a much-anticipated rematch of the upset in Guadalajara, but the result is an embarrassment not just for Boca but for soccer.

The first leg in Mexico was a stunning upset, with the powerhouse Boca of Buenos Aires going down 4-0 before a cool Chivas side. Boca must come out and score goals to have a chance of making the semi-finals in this competition, which they have frequently won.
Chivas look nervous to start, perhaps cowed by the history and atmosphere of La Bombonera, Boca's stadium. Boca look dangerous and determined, controlling the ball for much of the initial 15 minutes. Boca are moving the ball around the Chivas area well, Delgado getting off a good shot in the 18th minute. The Argentine team uses man-marking to keep Palencia's role minimal. Barros Schelotto shoots from about 6 yards out on the left in the 21st, but Corona tips it wide.
Tempers flare early, and in the 23rd Palermo says something to Garcia, who was on the ground, and Garcia takes a half-hearted swipe at Palermo, who goes down dramatically as if shot. Give that man as Oscar!
In the 26th, Corona saves again with his fingertips off a Palermo header. In the 27th, it's Palermo again from 10 yards, hitting the underside of the crossbar with a header. The ball bounces wide.
In the 31st, Chivas finally show signs of life, but unmarked Bravo misses a volley. Schiavi is marking Palencia so tightly he has little room to play and almost no chance to get free. El Bofo Bautista is not doing the ball-winning and defensive work he showed in the first leg.
Boca attack over and over, but can't get through the tight Chivas defense. It ends 0-0 at the half, but Boca must still imagine they have a good chance to win it.
In the second half, Delgado slips around the defense with a self-pass in the 48th, and tries to chip it in, but hits the top-netting, just high. Boca is lacking that final touch, and as the minutes tick away, their chances of scoring four goals just to get to penalty kicks is seemin less likely. Chivas have less control of the ball, but seem more creative and dangerous when they do have it. A tremendous break-away for Chivas in the 63rd, but Abbondanzieri saves down low. A minute later, Bautista gets on a long ball and the Argentine goalie gets out quickly to deflect. As the pace rises, it's Cornoa's turn to come up big with a point-blank save.
Around the 72nd minute, the game takes a terrible turn. Again, Palermo - the classiest Boca player - is denied at close range. Bautista goes down on the play, and subsequently taunts Palermo, holding up four fingers to show the number of goals Boca needs. This is clearly unsportsmanlike, but Palermo totally loses it. He screams at Bofo, and follows him around, at one point head-butting him. Bautista keeps his cool, and Palermo receives a red card. Players from both teams are now in each other's faces. There are photos of the Boca coach spitting on Bautista as el Bofo was escorted from the field, also expelled. Then, some fans storm onto the pitch and all hell breaks loose.
Play is suspended, but after a few minutes, the ref inidcates the game can continue. Before the ball can be kicked by Corona for a goal kick, debris rains down on him. That's it, game over. Chivas win deservedly. Their hard-fought draw away is as worthy an accomplishment as the win at home, but the glory has been stolen, first by a player who is as talented as he is immature, and then by fans who cannot let the game be decided on the field.
The post-game accounts are blistering. "Scandalous" and "very embarrassing," says Reuters (in Spanish.) Boca's coach, Jorge Benitez, resigns within 24 hours. This is an ugly incident that brings disrespect to a game that is already held in ill-repute in some of the world.

Posted: Thu - June 16, 2005 at 10:13 PM          

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