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| Tuesday, July 23, 2002 21:06 EST |
Brazilian club worried it won't get fair shot at title
[Reuters]
ASUNCION, Paraguay -- South American Libertadores
Cup finalists Olimpia and Sao Caetano are engaged in a war of
nerves before the first leg of the final on Wednesday.
Brazil's Sao Caetano, who has reached its first
Libertadores final only 13 years after being founded, has been
busy producing conspiracy theories as to why its Paraguayan
opponents may be favored to win.
But Olimpia, who is taking part in its sixth Libertadores
final and celebrate the club's centenary this month, has rubbished
the allegations.
Conspiracy theories are nothing new in the Libertadores Cup,
the South American equivalent of Europe's Champions League,
which in its 42-year existence has been often been marred by
violence, controversy and allegations of skulduggery.
Sao Caetano say it is on the alert after Olimpia's
controversial penalty shootout win over Gremio, another
Brazilian side, in the semifinals.
Olimpia won the shootout 5-4 after one of its penalties,
which had been saved, was ordered to be retaken because the
Gremio goalkeeper allegedly moved.
The shootout was then interrupted as angry Gremio directors
ran onto the pitch to protest while players skirmished.
Sao Caetano president Nairo Ferreira told Brazilian
newspapers this week: "Don't be surprised if Olimpia are
favored."
The Brazilians allege that the South American Football
Confederation (CSF), which is based in Paraguay and is headed by
Paraguay's Nicolas Leoz, is keen for Olimpia to celebrate its
centenary by winning the Libertadores.
They are also concerned because both first leg referee
Horacio Elizonde and Olimpia coach Nery Pumpido come from
Argentina, traditionally fierce rivals of Brazil.
But Sao Caetano's arguments have been angrily rejected in
Paraguay, where it is argued that Olimpia has reached the final
despite being on the wrong end of bad refereeing decisions,
especially in its semifinal.
Both teams are surprise finalists, having qualified while
the big clubs such as Boca Juniors and River Plate of Argentina,
Gremio and Flamengo of Brazil, America of Colombia and the
Mexican pair America and Morelia have fallen by the wayside.
Sao Caetano, known in Brazil as the Big Blue (Azulao), were
a second division club until only three years ago but has
reached the final of the last two Brazilian championships under
the inspired leadership of coach Jair Picerni.
Olimpia has taken part in 33 Libertadores competitions but
was given little hope of progressing beyond the first round
after a poor season last year.
The team's progress, which included a quarterfinal win over
defending champions Boca Juniors, has been a major success story
for both Pumpido, who was the goalkeeper in Argentina's 1986
World Cup-winning team, and striker Miguel Benitez.
Pumpido has turned Olimpia's fortunes around in only six
months in charge. Benitez is recovering from a serious knee
injury which kept him out of Paraguay's 2002 World Cup squad.
Pumpido has already announced that fiery midfielder Victor
Quintana, suspended after being sent off against Gremio, will be
replaced by Juan Carlos Franco.
Sao Caetano right-back Russo returns after missing the
semifinal, second leg away to Mexicans America through
suspension.
Probable teams:
Olimpia: 1-Ricardo Tavarelli; 2-Nestor Isasi, 3-Nelson
Zelaya, 5-Julio Cesar Cacares, 4-Henrique da Silva; 15-Juan
Carlos Franco, 6-Julio Cesar Enciso, 16-Sergio Orteman,
11-Gaston Cordoba; 9-Richart Baez, 10-Miguel Benitez.
Sao Caetano: 1-Silvio Luiz; 2-Russo, 3-Daniel, 4-Dininho,
6-Rubens Cardoso; 5-Marcos Senna, 8-Ailton, 18-Robert,
11-Adaozinho; 10-Anailson, 9-Somalia.
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