Racing Club 1 - Belgrano 0

Belgrano deserved better (Photo source: LaVoz)

Heartbreak. When you know you were so close and it just vanished. Because Belgrano played with heart, passion and discipline and dominated Racing Club during large passages of the game. Belgrano had no less than four clear goal chances and they pushed Racing to their limit but it just wasn't going to happen today. There was an agonizing moment when Bustos tumbled down and fell with the goal at his mercy. It was painfully close and yet, from that moment, you knew Racing would stay. In the second half, the Avellaneda-based team put a brave resistance and held off Belgrano spirited effort. Our boys pushed until the end but to no avail. They deserved a goal that never arrived. Belgrano will play another season in the second division but we believe every Belgrano fan will be proud of the courageous, never-say-die attitude shown by the boys. It was a real shame that Mati Suarez, the greatest talent this club has produced in the last 20 years, could not end his Belgrano career with a flourish. More to follow...

Goals: Moralez (RC)
Attendance: 50000

Promotion - Second Leg

Racing Club - Belgrano

Stadium: Cilindro de Avellaneda
Sunday, 29 June 2008, 15:10
Referee: Sergio Pezzotta
Odds: not available
Previous: Belgrano 1 - Racing Club 1
Key Players: Sava (RC), Gigli (B)
Recent History: Belgrano have only won once at Racing's ground
Prediction: Racing Club 1 - Belgrano 2

Promotion hopes

We're going to promote, f**k yeah

Belgrano players celebrate the victory (Photo source: La Voz)


Okay, let's not get ahead of ourselves!!!. First, we gotta know who we'll play against. It's either Racing, Colon or Olimpo. The rival will be decided next Sunday when the last round of the Clausura is played. The first leg will be played in Cordoba and Belgrano will have to travel for the second leg. It's also worth pointing out that the Premier Division team has the advantage: given equal results in both legs, they will avoid relegation and deny Belgrano promotion.

But we are hopeful. Belgrano have played several promotion matches in the past with great success and we know what it takes to win at this stage. Form and history do not matter. It's to come out there and give our all. We hope the players will be able to do it and we may be celebrating the return to top-flight football by the end of this month.

Defensa y Justicia 1 - Belgrano 2

Belgrano produced a miraculous recovery from 1-0 down in the first half to earn themselves a hugely important 2-1 victory with late goals from Suarez and Gigli. The victory means that Belgrano ended fourth in the tournament and will play two promotion legs to contend for a place in the top flight. More to follow...

Round 38

Defensa y Justicia - Belgrano

Stadium: Norberto "Tito" Tomaghello

Saturday, 14 Jun 2008, 13:30
Referee: Leandro Bottoni
Odds: 2.25 (H), 3.25 (D), 2.8 (A)
Previous: Belgrano 3 - Defensa y Justicia 0
Key Players: Sabadia (DyJ), Suarez (B)
Recent History: Belgrano won 4 and drew 2 out of the last six
Prediction: It's all or nothing. Belgrano to win 2-0

Belgrano 1 - Nueva Chicago 1

The players show their frustration (Photo source: LMCBA)

Belgrano proved yet again unable to take their chances to record a much-needed win and had to settle for a draw against the relegation-threatened Nueva Chicago. With this result, Belgrano are now in 6th position and they not only need a win in the last round but also a combination of results if they are to reach either the 3rd or 4th spot. It's a long shot, but this is Belgrano. Nothing is lost yet. More to follow...

Goals: Suarez (B), Boderone (NC)
Sent off: Farias (B)
Attendance: 18000

Round 37

Belgrano - Nueva Chicago

Stadium: Olimpico de Cordoba
Saturday, 07 June 2008, 15:10
Referee: Federico Beligoy
Odds: 1.67 (H), 3.25 (D), 5 (A)
Previous: Nueva Chicago 1 - Belgrano 3
Key Players: Olave (B), Zermatten (NC)
Recent History: Nueva Chicago won 5, drew and lost only 1
Prediction: It's a MUST WIN game. I say 1-0

San Martin (T) 2 - Belgrano 0

San Martin celebrate a goal (Photo source: LMCBA)

It was always going to be a tall order against the leaders at their home ground but Belgrano must have left disappointed knowing that they had everything to win the match and yet they let it slip from their hands. The first twenty minutes saw Belgrano produce the best chances against a solid but ineffectual San Martin. Suarez and Gigli were a nightmare for the San Martin defenders and it was Suarez who was brought down in the area prompting the referee to signal to the spot. Penalty to Belgrano. Gigli stepped up but his weak effort was stopped by the goalkeeper. The match changed after that incident and San Martin felt revitalised starting to circulate the ball in the midfield. Belgrano took another blow when Maidana was shown a second yellow for a clumsy foul and got the marching orders. And to make matters worse, Campodonico, a former Belgrano striker, unleashed a fierce drive that rushed into the net. San Martin went close to scoring another but luckily for Belgrano the half ended only 1-0. Belgrano had to reshuffle for the second half and that they did but they gave up on any attacking intent. They just sat back trying to deny San Martin and hoping to launch the occasional break. That break never looked likely to arrive and it didn't. San Martin were conceded a penalty near the end making it 2-0 but the match had been over for a long while by then.

Goals: Campodonico (SM0, Ibanez (SM)
Sent off: Maidana (B), Berza (B)
Attendance: 29000

Round 36

San Martin (T) - Belgrano

Stadium: Estadio La Ciudadela

Monday, 02 June 2008, 21:00
Referee: Javier Ruiz
Odds: 2.05 (H), 3.3 (D), 4.3 (A)
Previous: Belgrano 2 - San Martin 3
Key Players: Campodonico (SM), Suarez (B)
Recent History: In 17 games, Belgrano won 6, lost 5 and drew 6
Prediction: San Martin 1 - Belgrano 1

Belgrano 0 - Quilmes 2

Dejected Belgrano players (Photo source: LMCBA)

Belgrano wasted a great chance to get a hold of third position after going down to an efficient display by the visiting team. The home team started positively and were trying to take the game to Quilmes but this only lasted for 10 minutes. Giampietri (Q) gradually started to boss the midfield and spread the ball out to the wingers. Belgrano were out of sorts and didn't look threatening except for a few isolated attacks. Quilmes had the better chances -Giampietri hit the post and Olave produced a great save minutes earlier- and were unlucky not to be winning at half time. But if the first half saw a lackadaisical approach by Belgrano, the second half evidenced their defensive problems. Berza, Martinez and Turus were unable to stop the attacks from the wings and it was only a matter of time until Quilmes got the deserved opener. And it came courtesy of the best man in the pitch, the former Belgrano man, Adrian Giampietri. He received the ball outside the box and unleashed a fierce shot that, despite Olave's reaction, went slowly into the net. Quilmes were good for their victory and Belgrano looked dejected. In fact, the Belgrano reaction was short-lived and ineffectual and Quilmes looked more likely to scoring the second than Belgrano equalizing. When the match was dying, Quilmes made a quick break that was superbly finished by Diego Garcia. It was 0-2 and game over. Belgrano had played one of their worst match of the season and the supporters vented their anger with the coach and players. Belgrano are lying dangerously close to losing any promotion chance and this would be one of the biggest failures of recent years.

Goals: Giampietri (Q), Garcia (Q)
Attendance: 17000

Round 35

Belgrano - Quilmes

Stadium: Olimpico de Cordoba
Thursday, 22 May 2008, 21:10
Referee: Alejandro Castro
Odds: 1.81 (H), 3.11 (D), 4.22 (A)
Previous: Quilmes 2 - Belgrano 1
Key Players: Suarez (B), Pontiroli (Q)
Recent History: Belgrano won two of the last three.
Prediction: Belgrano 2 - Quilmes 0

Progress Chart - Round 34

Click to enlarge

Ben Hur 1 - Belgrano 2

Belgrano celebrate the winning goal (Photo source: LMCBA)

Belgrano kept their promotion hopes very much alive after securing an unlikely win against Ben Hur in Rafaela. With Ben Hur desperately fighting to avoid relegation and Belgrano needing a win to help them close in on the promotion spots, it promised to be an exciting match. Only that it wasn't. Both sides looked average and were bereft of ideas to get a result. Ben Hur were more positive throughout the game while Belgrano decided to play the waiting game that so well has suited them lately. And the first goal came from a quick Belgrano break that saw Gigli connecting a perfect cross from Suarez. Belgrano didn't have time to celebrate since 4 minutes later, Klusener evened the match with a lobbed header. The goals had arrived but the match was still very poor. Ben Hur threatened the Belgrano goal several times before half time but Belgrano held on firmly. Gomez decided to pull Gigli out and rebuilt a four-men defense aiming at having a grasp of the ball. Ben Hur seemed to have slowed down their pace and were finding it harder to unsettle Belgrano. When the match was undoubtedly heading for a draw, Suarez had another cross into the box that found his way to Lollo who scored with a half-volley. It was 2-1 with 4 minutes left and Belgrano were jubilant. There would be still time for a gross mistake by the referee who should have given Ben Hur a penalty and a disallowed Ben Hur goal for a clear offside position. Belgrano didn't deserve to win, but with the chance of promotion so close to our grasp, who cares?

Goals: Gigli (B), Klusener (BH), Lollo (B)
Sent off: Carrizo (BH)
Attendance: 1000

Round 34

Ben Hur - Belgrano

Stadium: Sportivo Ben HUr
Thursday, 15 May 2008, 20:30
Referee: Miguel Mazzon
Odds: not available
Previous: Belgrano 0 - Ben Hur 2
Key Players: Bustos (B), Klusener (BH)
Recent History: Ben Hur won 2 out of last 3 matches. Belgrano won only once.
Prediction: Ben Hur 1 - Belgrano 1

Belgrano 0 - Independiente (MZA) 1

Belgrano lacked ideas (Photo source: LMCBA)

Belgrano suffered a huge blow to their promotion hopes after a shock loss to Independiente de Mendoza. At this stage, it is evident that Belgrano are not only lacking good play but also confidence. Because Independiente (MZA) didn't do much to deserve to win but they found an early goal after a header by Giarrizo (I) and that was all it took to undo Belgrano. After that goal, Belgrano showed why they have been unable to win home matches. They were nervous, as if they were afraid to try to play football. The few chances they created were either squandered by the strikers or easily disposed of by the Independiente (MZA)'s keeper. Manzanelli and Crossa came close to an equalizer but Belgrano could have played all afternoon and still wouldn't have scored a goal. The frustration of the home fans grew larger and they took it with the coach and some of the players. There was no late-gasp goal to save the draw this time around and Belgrano may yet have to work very hard to cling to the fourth place in the remaining five matches. It was disheartening for the fans who were clearly expecting a win and a revenge for the 7-0 humiliation suffered last year in Mendoza. Belgrano go to relegation-troubled Ben Hur next round.

Goals: Giarrizo (I)
Sent off: Landagarza (I)
Attendance: 17000

Round 33

Belgrano - Indep. Mza.

Stadium: Gigante de Alberdi
Saturday: 10 May 2008, 15:30
Referee: Guillermo Rietti
Odds: 1.67 (H), 3.3 (D), 5 (A)
Previous: Independiente (MZA) 7 - Belgrano 0
Key Players: Gigli (B), Gomez (I)
Recent History: Independiente (MZA) won 2 and drawed once in the last three
Prediction: Belgrano 4 - Independiente 1

Talleres 0 - 0 Belgrano

Belgrano put in a spirited effort (Photo source: La Voz)

Talleres and Belgrano ended up locked in a goalless draw that was ultimately disappointing for both teams. Belgrano had better chances but Talleres also threatened upfront and in the end the draw felt like it was the right result. The opening minutes saw Belgrano dictating play with both Gigli and Bustos causing difficulties for the Talleres defenders. Lollo, helped by Lux, controlled the midfield and the Belgrano back line kept the home team strikers at bay. Brasca (T) saved from Bustos and Gigli and Talleres only threatened with a ball that ricotched to Reyes that forced a prompt response from Olave. Although Talleres slowly started to put a foot in the game, Belgrano were more dangerous and went close to opening the score when Bustos rattled the crossbar from long range as the half come to a close. The second half was more evenly matched. Talleres improved with the introduction of Rosales and Viveros while Belgrano opted to sit back waiting for their chance. Talleres threatened, usually with dangerous crosses and through balls that were cleared by the Belgrano defense. The match seemed to present Belgrano with a golden chance when Brasca (T) was sent off after a childish headbutt on Aldecoa but Talleres held on firmly. It could have gone Belgrano's way but ultimately the goalless draw seemed the more fitting result for a match that offered very little from both sides. They sure put in a gutsy and spirited display but they forgot about the football.

Goals: -
Sent off: Brasca (T)
Attendance: 40000

Banderazo!

Belgrano fans organized a banderazo before the derby to show the players their support and wishing them good luck for the match today. A banderazo is a gathering of fans waving flags, wearing club shirts, and playing drums and trumpets as a way of showing support to the team and players. Media sources informed around 5000 (yes, five thousand) fans gathered at the most traditional corner of Cordoba and later marched on to the hotel where the players were resting prior to the derby. The players took it in great mood as they were waving and singing from their rooms. It was an amazing celebration as only our wonderful fans can do it. Here is a clip made by the folks from Soy Celeste:

Wow, just wow! Keep it up guys and we hope the players get the job done today.

The big day

Belgrano face Talleres in the local derby and it will be a special day for both teams. Belgrano, fighting for the title and promotion to Primera, will be targeting a win to foster their chances to leapfrog Godoy Cruz in the table. Talleres, fighting for relegation and promotion to the third division of Argentine football, will be hoping Belgrano do not turn on the style and give them the killing blow. For a Belgrano win will leave Talleres in a desperate position. Is there any greater incentive for winning this derby than the prospect of sending these scumbags straight into hell? I don't think so. It's because of this that our players must be focused on getting the win today. This is a must win match. We already know we are the biggest club in Cordoba. We now have to remind them of that.

Come on Belgrano! Come on Suarez, Bustos, Olave and all you guys out there. Let's teach them a lesson they'll never forget.

We win, no matter what.

Round 32

Talleres - Belgrano
a.k.a. "The Derby"

Stadium: Olimpico de Cordoba
Saturday: 03 May 2008, 16:30
Referee: Sergio Pezotta
Odds: -
Previous: Belgrano 0 - Talleres 1
Key Players: Borghello (T), Suarez (B)
Recent History: Belgrano won 5, Talleres won 3 and 3 were drawn.
Prediction: We win no matter what