Champions In Our Hearts

Boca Juniors did their part, beating Banfield 2-0 on two goals from Martin Palermo, ending his drought. Newell's Old Boys, however, were not up to the task against San Lorenzo, as they lost by the same margin. Banfield thus claim their first ever first division title in a history that goes back 113 years.

Early in the Newell's - San Lorenzo match Newell's defender Juan Quiroga (pictured left) committed a foul in the area, giving up a penalty. Former Rosario Central midfielder Kily González took the penalty shot, but Sebastián Peratta did well when he dove to his left and stopped the shot. Quiroga went on to commit defensive mistakes which lead to both of San Lorenzo's goals, both scored by Fabián Bordagaray.

Newell's started out playing poorly, but late in the first half started getting things together, and the half ended with them putting non stop pressure. Unfortunately, they went back to playing rather nervously in much of the second half. They did have their chances, but nothing that San Lorenzo keeper Pablo Migliore couldn't handle.

While I could simply blame Quiroga for his defensive mistakes, Jorge Achucarro, whom I've praise for his work rate, also did little to impress me today. Though he did come perhaps the closest to scoring on a shot from range which Migliore only just managed to put over the bar, he turned into a bit of a ball hog. Were normally he's played will in the attacking third of the pitch, today he seemed to try to do it all himself when he received the ball in that position, only to find himself surrounded by defenders, and no where to go.

Still, once again I must remind myself, no one expected this kind of finish from Newell's at the beginning of the Apertura. For La Lepra faithful, they may not be champions, but they are champions in our hearts.

May this experience go far to bringing fortune in the Clausura 2010, as well as the Libertadores.

Peratta dressed in the red and black jersey, but in the end this didn't bring any luck to La Lepra.

Mauro "El Gato" Fórmica. Still my favorite of the current batch of players. Still only 21, so has a long way to go before he hits his prime. Question is, how long can Newell's hold on to him?

El coloso del Coloso, the giant Boghossian. Team leader in goals scored with 11.