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 and Anderlecht agree friendly date

It's official. According to Belgian media reports, Anderlecht and Belgrano will meet in a friendly match on the 16 July 2008. This will be the first time these two teams have faced each other. The match is part of the arrangements involved in the Suarez transfer deal and is one of three matches to be played by Belgrano in their European tour.

Belgrano will spend 15 days in Europe as part of their pre-season preparations and are likely to be based in Belgium (location still to be confirmed). No one has confirmed yet whether Suarez will play for Belgrano --wouldn't it be sweet if gives us one final stellar performance against Anderlecht?- or not. In other words, whether we have a chance of putting in a decent performance or be in for a really tough time.

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