Here I am, it is two weeks into the Clausura, and I have not posted anything about Newell's Old Boys first two matches. And I do not have much time to write up much now, but here goes...

The first match saw Newell's visit Estudiantes and come away with a 1-1 draw. After thirteen draws in nineteen matches during the Apertura, it was difficult seeing any encouragement in such a result. This was a match between two teams that struggled through much of the Apertura, but Estudiantes should be better than they have shown this season.

Estudiantes scored first from the penalty spot, which defender Víctor López argued was caused by the opposing player the referee says he fouled having a hand full of his shirt. The video evidence is not conclusive, but does lend some support to his claim.

Newell's tactics to continually foul Juan Sebastián Verón was not exactly pretty futbol, but certainly sound. The veteran midfielder left the match early in the second half, and from there Newell's took over. Maximiliano Urruti brought the score level as a near perfect pass from Pablo Perez left the young forward with only the goalkeeper to beat.


I missed most of the second match, a 1-0 win at home against Arentinos Juniors. Family commitments do come first, but I did leave my neice's Birthday dinner early and got home in time to watch the final twenty minutes. What I saw was encouraging, but I still feel that we have a long way to go before we can call this team a good one. At least it looks like we may have a new goal scoring hero as young Urruti (he will turn 21 on Wednesday - Happy Birthday, Maxi) now has two goals in two games.


Up next is perhaps the toughest test of the Clausura, as Newell's head to Buenos Aires to face Apertura champions Boca Juniors.