Where Have All The Good Times Gone

One goal in the last eight matches, three in the last twelve (including matches in the Copa Sudamericana.) That sums up the current form Newell's Old Boys are in, a slump that today found the team losing 1-0 at home against Olimpio, a team that until today had only managed one point in nine previous road games.

I am not sure if I should call it fortune, or misfortune, but I was able to see the second half of the game. Turns out that today was the company Christmas Meeting/Party, and, sense I am working through a temporary employment agency, I was not invited.

Newell's spent nearly the entire second half looking for an equalizer (the lone goal came in the 38th minute, scored by Olimpo defender Christian Villanueva,) but Newell's continues to fire blanks. The best chance came when a cross found Diego Mateo at the far post with only keeper Laureano Tombolini to beat, but his header bounced harmlessly off the post.

One might say that La Lepra were playing with nothing to gain, but while the Copa Libertadores qualification slot was taken when Independiente lifted the Copa Sudamericana last night, Newell's still should be looking for points in the quest to qualify for the 2011 Sudamericana. Award for boneheaded play of the game goes to Marcelo Estigarribia. His late tackle in injury time earned him a red card. The tackle was so ill timed that I would not be surprised if it earns him more than the customary one game suspension.

Here is the red earned by Estigarribia:

And here, for those who can bare it, is the lone goal:

Ah, well. Guess we only have one more game to lose before the summer break... against Colón de Santa Fe in El Cementerio de los Elefantes.