A total of 5 goals from our compatriots on foreign soil this weekend, we have goals from China, Colombia, Ecuador and as ever Mexico to show you below.
CHINA
Lucas Barrios (Guangzhou Evergrande) desperately wants out of the Far East but there are no such problems for José Ortigoza who scored what looked to be the winner against Didier Drogba’s Shanghai Shenhua only for Nicolas Anelka to grab a last minute equaliser in a thrilling 3-3 draw. You can watch a shaven-headed Ortigoza’s well timed run and cool finish below (aprox 3 mins 30 secs)
MEXICO
No goals for the defenders this week but Pablo Aguilar (Tijuana), Herminio Miranda (Puebla) and Paulo da Silva (Pachuca) all kept cleansheets. Edgar Benítez was used off the bench in Toluca’s draw while Dario Verón saw his Pumas side suffer another defeat. That leaves the hero of the weekend, Osvaldo Martinez (Atlante) who scored a delightful lob, the only goal of the game, versus Atlas.
COLOMBIA
For once we are not talking about a Robin Ramirez goal, his Tolima side (that included Antony Silva and Manuel Maciel) were beaten 3-1 at home by Atletico Nacional. Instead the plaudits go to Marco Lazaga who grabbed a headed equaliser for Patriotas against Pasto.
ECUADOR
Eduardo Echverría continues his amazing rise from futsal player to Carapeguá’s topscorer and now is playing for one of the continent’s biggest clubs, Liga de Quito. On Saturday he scored the winner 10 minutes from time with a stunning shot, Aldo Vera was tresent for the opponents, LDU Loja.
In other games, Domingo Martinez (Macará) was on the winning side as were Librado Azcona and Edgar Balbuena (Independiente) but Miguel Paniagua (Deportivo Cuenca) crashed to defeat against Barcelona.
ITALY
Ivan Piris (Roma) made his debut in a 2-2 draw with Catania while Marcelo Estigarribia (Sampdoria) also played his first competitive game in an excellent victory in the San Siro versus AC Milan.
SPAIN
Nelson Haedo (Valencia) was consigned to the bench and didn’t come on in his team’s 3-3 draw.
ENGLAND
Antolín Alcaraz (Wigan Athletic) was involved in his side’s 2-0 win away to Southampton.
A great weekend for the Mexican legion with defenders Pablo Aguilar and Paulo da Silva both securing 1-0 wins for their sides with crucial goals, Atlante’s Osvaldo Martinez capped a fine week for the expats with a penalty in the draw with América. On the other side of the world Pablo Zeballos came of the bench to set up Krylya’s late winner and Lucas Barrios’ Guanzhou Evergrande saw their lead at the top of the Chinese Super League cut to just one point. Here is a brief round-up.
MEXICO
Pablo Aguilar (Tijuana) got the winner against Dario Veron’s Pumas side following a defensive mix up
Paulo Da Silva (Pachuca) also scored the only goal for his side, making up for his own goal last week
Osvaldo Martinez (Atlante) scored the second of the game, a penalty, in a 2-2 draw.
Elsewhere in Mexico, Edgar Benítez played the final half hour for Toluca as they ran out 2-1 winners at home.
SOUTH AMERICA
In Argentina there were no goals, worth noting that Orlando Gaona Lugo got a rare outing for Boca Juniors, he played the last 30 minutes in their 3-0 defeat. Victor Ayala (Lanús) and Ricardo Mazacotte (Unión Santa Fe) both made their debuts in 1-0 defeats away from home.
Wilson Pittoni was involved in yet another defeat for Figueirense who sit bottom of the Brasilerão, Víctor Cáceres (Flamengo) has finally been cleared to play but his game was postponed this weeekend.
Miguel Angel Cuellar found the net for Cobresal, with ex-Sol de América striker Victor Ferreira playing for the opponents, Unión La Calera, having moved from Caracas in Venezuela.
Over in Ecuador there was a red card for Eduardo Echeverría (Liga de Quito) in the clásico against Barcelona, he picked up two bookings in the 2-2 draw. In Perú there was better news as Mario Villasanti (Inti Gas) kept a cleansheet in a win that puts them in sixth place. Robin Ramirez (Tolima) didn’t score in Colombia as he and his teammate, Antony Silva, fell 2-1 against German Centurión’s Santa Fe side.
No goals for Lucas Barrios (Guanzhou Evergrande) nor José Ortigoza (Shandong Luneng) as neither side managed a victory, losing 2-1 and drawing 3-3 respectively.
With several Paraguayan players heading north during this (southern hemisphere) winter it seems a good time to inform you all of the Mexican Legion that will be on show in the Mexican Apertura that kicks off next month. Sit back and enjoy
NEW RECRUITS
Herminio Miranda (Puebla)
The 27-year-old defender has joined Puebla after four years at Paraguayan club Nacional where he picked up two league titles (2009 & 2011 Apertura). A left-footed player known for his vicious freekicks and strong challenges he is as likely to be amongst the goals as the red cards!
Stats
D.o.B: 4 April 1985
Hometown: Itá, Paraguay
Height: 1.85 metres
Position: Left back/Centre back
Previous Clubs: General Caballero, 2 de Mayo, Nacional (all Paraguay), Huachipato (Chile)
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Paulo Da Silva (Pachuca)
Technically a returning hero – the former Sunderland man couldn’t agree terms with Real Zaragoza who he helped save from relegation in Spain. Da Silva of course made his name with Toluca in México where he spent six years and picked up three winners medals. Although he struggled in the Premier League the central defender has excelled at international level winning over 100 caps for the albirroja and is impressive as a covering defender behind a more physical partner who wins the aerial battles.
Stats
Paulo Da Silva (left) is a stalwart of the national team – Photo: Prensa Selección Paraguaya
D.o.B: 1 February 1980
Hometown: Asunción, Paraguay
Height: 1.81 metres
Position: Centre back
Previous Clubs: Atlantida, Presidente Hayes, Cerro Porteño, Sport Colombia, Libertad (all Paraguay), Perugia, Venezia (both Italy), Lanús (Argentina), Toluca (Mexico), Sunderland (England), Real Zaragoza (Spain)
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Edgar ‘Pajaro’ Benitez (Toluca)
Ok so this one is unofficial, but the pajaro will fly the nest if he can’t agree terms with Cerro Porteño where he is currently on loan. Parent club Pachuca have already stated publicly he will be a Toluca player if the Paraguayan club don’t retain his services. The 24-year-old has already enjoyed success in México scoring the crucial goal for Pachuca to win the CONCACAF Champions League in 2009/10. The left-footed winger cum striker has excelled in the domestic sphere with Cerro with his blistering pace and tendency to run at defenders making him a real handful.
Stats
D.o.B: 8 November 1987
Hometown: Repatriación, Paraguay
Height: 1.76 metres
Position: Left winger/forward
Previous Clubs: Libertad, Sol de América, Cerro Porteño (all Paraguay), Pachuca (Mexico)
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OLD GUARD
Just a brief round-up of the guys already plying their trade in La Liga Mexicana.
Osvaldo Martinez (Atlante) – This blog is a big fan of the diminutive forward who like Edgar Benitez has won the CONCACAF Champions League with Monterrey where he picked up a couple of league titles to boot. We featured him earlier in the season.
Fredy Bareiro (Estudiantes Tecos) - Fredy ‘The Fox’ Bareiro is close to coming back to Paraguay possibly with Olimpia with his contract up at Tecos, however if the right deal comes through he will happily stay in the country he first moved to five years ago with León.
Fredy Bareiro could come back to Paraguay – Photo: Paraguay.com
Aureliano Torres (Toluca) – The left back was a regular starter for the side who missed out on the liguilla he will hope to form a good partnership down the left with his compatrior Edgar Benítez should he stay, although Torres has been linked heavily with Uruguayan club Peñarol.
Dario Verón (PUMAS) – Paulo da Silva’s long-standing central defensive partner in the national team is recovering from a long-term injury and how PUMAS missed him towards the end of last season. He has been a pillar of the team so successful in recent years winning five trophies since joining almost a decade ago.
There is no feature this week because we have another exclusive interview tomorrow with a Paraguay Abroad, check back for that! On a sad note we bid farewell to a ‘classic’ Paraguay Abroad who passed away last Monday. Having represented Paraguay at the 1954 World Cup, Juan Vicente Lezcano was part of the Olimpia pentacampeón side of the 1950s. So impressive in the first ever Copa Libertadores final in 1960 that Olimpia’s opponents Peñarol snapped him up and he stayed until 1967 picking up a Libertadores medal in ’66. A great tribute to Lezcano by José María Troche is here (in Spanish).
Juan Vicente Lezcano for Peñarol, Photo: D10.com.py
PARAGUAY ABROAD ROUND UP
A round up of most of the goals here plus the individual efforts below, the below video is courtesy of the excellent Goroso y Santander Ediciones.
EUROPE
England
Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan Athletic) – played full 90 mins in 2-1 win
Portugal
Oscar Cardozo (Benfica) – SCORED after 21 mins and missed a penalty on 81 mis in 4-1 win, Benifca’s 8th straight victory
Javier Cohene (Paços de Ferreira) – subbed off after 72 mins in 3-1 win
Lorenzo Melgarejo (Paços de Ferreira) – played full 90 mins in 3-1 win
Juan Manuel Iturbe (Porto) – Not in match squad
Italy
Edgar Barreto (Palermo) – played full 90 mins in 2-1 defeat
Marcelo Estigarribia (Juventus) – Game suspended due to snow
Spain
Roque Santa Cruz (Real Betis) – subbed on after 75 mins in 2-1 win
Hernan Perez (Villarreal) – subbed on after 89 mins in 3-1 victory
Paulo Da Silva (Real Zaragoza) – SCORED a header in 2-0 win
Germany
Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund) – subbed on in 77th min in 1-0 win
Turkey
Cristian Riveros (Kayserispor) – played full 90 mins in 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray
Holland
Celso Ortiz (AZ) – Unused sub
Roberto ‘Gatito’ Fernandez (Utrecht) – played full 90 mins in 1-1 draw
Cyprus
Aldo Adorno (APOEL) – Not in match squad
LATIN AMERICA
Argentina
Nestor Bareiro (Olimpo) – subbed off after 83 mins in 2-0 defeat
Eduardo Ledesma (Lanús) – subbed on after 66 mins in 4-1 win
Victor Aquino (Newell’s) – subbed on after 78 mins in 1-1 draw
Jorge Achucarro (Banfield) – played full 90 mins in 3-0 victory
Marcos Cáceres (Racing) – played full 90 mins in 0-0 stalemate
Mexico
Fredy Bareiro (Estudiantes Tecos) – Not in match squad
Aureliano Torres (Toluca) – played full 90 mins in 2-0 win
Dario Verón (PUMAS) – played full 90 mins in 2-0 defeat
Osvaldo Martinez (Atlante) – played full 90 mins in 2-0 loss
Brazil
Ivan Piris (São Paulo) - Not in squad
Chile
José David Portillo (Antofagasta) - played full 90 mins in 2-1 win
Fabian Benitez (Audax Italiano) – played full 90 mins in 1-1 draw
Miguel Angel Cuellar (Cobresal) – SCORED after 10 mins in 2-2 draw with Colo Colo, he has scored in each of his last four games!
Hugo Luzardi (Cobreloa) – played full 90 mins in 1-1 draw
Pedro Vera (Cobreloa) – subbed off after 59 mins in 1-1 draw
Derlis Barrios (Cobreloa) – unused sub
Cristian Bogad0 (Dep. Iquique) – played full 90 mins in 1-1 draw
Cristian Limenza (Dep. Iquique) - played full 90 mins in 1-1 draw
Milton Benitez (Huachipato) – subbed off after 45 mins in 1-1 draw
Roberto ‘Bufalo’ Ovelar (Uni. Catolica) – Not in match squad
Cristian Britez (Uni. Concepción) – played full 90 mins in 2-1 loss
Colombia
Digno Gonzalez (Atletico Huila) – not in match squad
Robin Ramirez (Dep. Tolima) – played full 90 mins in 3-0 defeat
Antony Silva (Dep. Tolima) – played full 90 mins in 3-0 defeat
Edison Gimenez (La Equidad) – subbed on after 68 mins in 1-0 loss
German Centurion (Santa Fe) – subbed off after 81 mins in 2-0 win
Jorge Nuñez (Once Caldas) – subbed off after 46 mins in 2-2 draw
Marcos Lazaga (Patriotas) – SCORED after 57 mins (on debut!) in 2-1 victory
Ecuador
Mingo Martinez (Macará) – played full 90 mins in 3-2 defeat
Fernando Gimenez (Emelec) – suspended (red card in previous league match)
Miguel Paniagua (Dtvo. Cuenca) – played full 90 mins in 3-2 win
Enrique Vera (Liga de Quito) – Injured
Librado Azcona (Independiente) – Not in match squad
Edgar Balbuena (Independiente) – played full 90 mins in 3-2 defeat
Richard Estigarribia (Independiente) – subbed off after 61 mins in 3-2 defeat
Venezuela
Luis Ovelar (Dptvo. Petare) – SENT OFF for second yellow in 92nd min in 2-2 draw
This week we look at Osvaldo Martinez who scored a stoppage time free kick to earn Atlante a 3-2 win over Querétaro having also scored his side’s first goal. The pocket-sized winger has now netted four goals in his last three games for the Potros de Hierro who are currently second in the Mexican Primera.
The midfielder began his career in Paraguay with Libertad where enjoyed plenty of success, garnering four league titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008 (both Apertura and Clausura). In that same double-winning year Osvaldito also made his debut for the national side under Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino and sealed a lucrative move to Monterrey in the north of Mexico.
Martinez continued his knack of picking up league titles with the ‘Rayados’ winning consecutive Mexican Primera titles in 2009 and 2010 then playing a key part in their CONCACAF Champions League triumph last year. Martinez played both legs of the final and in the Quarter Final scored a crucial goal away to Toluca, another trademark free kick. In the second half of 2011 he swapped the arid north for the beaches of Cancún and joined Atlante where to date he has been enjoying life and scoring goals.
Martinez scores in Copa America penalty shootout. Photo: AFP
The big gap in his CV is a major international tournament, Rodolfo Gamarra pipped him to the last place for the 2010 World Cup and he only saw 20 minutes in the 2011 Copa America coming on as a sub in two games against Brazil and Venezuela respectively. He is yet to be considered by new coach Chiqui Arce but if this goalscoring streak continues it will be hard to ignore this Paraguay Abroad!
PARAGUAY ABROAD ROUND UP
LATIN AMERICA
Mexico
Fredy Bareiro (Estudiantes Tecos) – played full 90 mins in 0-0 draw
Aureliano Torres (Toluca) – played full 90 mins in 4-3 loss, having been 3-0 up after just 17 mins!
Dario Verón (PUMAS) – played full 90 mins in 2-1 defeat
Brazil
Ivan Piris (São Paulo) - subbed on after 65 minutes in 4-1 win over Santos
Chile
José David Portillo (Antofagasta) - played full 90 mins in 1-1 draw
Miguel Angel Cuellar (Cobresal) – SCORED opener for side who were then thrashed 6-1 by Union Española
Cristian Bogad0 (Dep. Iquique) – subbed on after 55 mins in 1-1 draw
Cristian Limenza (Dep. Iquique) - played full 90 mins in 1-1 draw
Roberto ‘Bufalo’ Ovelar (Uni. Catolica) – played 79 mins in 2-1 defeat before being subbed off
Cristian Britez (Uni. Concepción) – played full 90 mins in 1-1 draw
Fabian Benitez (Audax Italiano) - played full 90 mins in 1-1 draw
Milton Benitez (Huachipato) – subbed on after 85 mins in 2-2 draw
Colombia
Robin Ramirez (Dep. Tolima) – played full 90 mins in 2-1 win
Antony Silva (Dep. Tolima) - played full 90 mins in 2-1 win
German Centurion (Santa Fe) - played full 90 mins in 2-1 defeat
Guillermo Beltran (Once Caldas) – subbed off after 64 mins in 2-1 defeat
Jorge Nuñez (Once Caldas) - subbed off after 27 mins in 2-1 defeat
Ecuador
Mingo Martinez (Macará) – played full 90 mins in 1-0 win
Fernando Gimenez (Emelec) – SENT OFF in 82nd minute in 2-0 victory
EUROPE
England
Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan Athletic) – Unused sub in 1-1 draw
Portugal
Oscar Cardozo (Benfica) – subbed on after 85 mins in 3-0 cup win
Javier Cohene (Paços de Ferreira) – played full 90 mins in 1-0 cup victory
Lorenzo Melgarejo (Paços de Ferreira) - unused sub in 1-0 cup win
Juan Manuel Iturbe (Porto) – unused sub in 2-0 cup win
Italy
Edgar Barreto (Palermo) – played full 90 mins in 2-1 victory
Marcelo Estigarribia (Juventus) – not in match squad
Spain
Roque Santa Cruz (Real Betis) – played full 90 mins in 1-0 loss
Paulo Da Silva (Real Zaragoza) – played full 90 mins in 2-1 loss
Germany
Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund) – having been linked with a move to Fulham he’s survived the transfer window, subbed on after 72 mins and SCORED 10 mins later
Turkey
Cristian Riveros (Kayserispor) – SCORED in 3-2 defeat
Holland
Celso Ortiz (AZ) – game postponed due to snow
Roberto ‘Gatito’ Fernandez (Utrecht) – played full 90 mins and kept CLEANSHEET in 2-0 win
Cyprus
Aldo Adorno (APOEL) – out of squad, injury – hoping to be back for Champions League
