Soccer-Chilavert and Castrilli back in the limelight
By Brian Homewood
RIO DE JANEIRO, May 4 (Reuters) - Velez Sarsfield goalkeeper
Jose Luis Chilavert and referee Javier Castrilli, two of the
most controversial figures in Argentine soccer, were in the
spotlight again at the weekend.
In Brazil, Corinthians took the initiative in the Paulista
championship final while Paraguay's championship resumed after a
two-week players' strike.
ARGENTINA
Velez Sarsfield goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert and referee
Javier Castrilli were again in the limelight as Velez drew 2-2
with Lanus in a top-of-the-table clash.
Paraguay captain Chilavert converted a penalty for his
fourth goal of the tournament while Castrilli, known for his
liberal use of the red card, sent off Javier Sotomayor of Velez
and Lanus's Gabriel Ramon.
Last week Castrilli caused outrage in Brazil when he awarded
a highly dubious last-minute penalty that enabled Corinthians to
win their Paulista championship semifinal against underdogs
Portuguesa. He also sent off three players from Portuguesa and
one from Corinthians.
Velez twice came from behind to salvage a draw which kept
them top of the Clausura (Closing) championship, the second of
two tournaments played in the Argentine season, on goal
difference from Gimnasia-La Plata. Lanus are two points behind
with fourth-places Gimnasia-Jujuy a further seven points adrift.
Gimnasia-La Plata overtook Lanus and went level with Velez
on points thanks to a 3-1 win away to Gimnmasia-Salta.
Boca Juniors' miserable season continued as they lost 3-2 at
home to Deportivo Espanol, who had only previously won one game,
and slipped to 14th.
Two goals by Juan Parodi and one by Carlos Galvan had given
Deportivo a 3-0 lead in Boca's once impregnable "La Bonbonera"
(Chocolate Box) stadium. Claudio Caniggia and Peruvian Nolberto
Solano pulled two goals back to give the score an air of
respectability for Boca whose coach Hector Veira had resigned on
Thursday in the wake of poor results.
BRAZIL
Corinthians won the first leg of the Paulista (Sao Paulo
state) championship final against Sao Paulo in a game of three
headed goals.
An 80,000 crowd saw central defender Cris give Corinthians,
who many felt did not deserve to be in the final after last
week's stormy tie with Portuguesa, a 2-1 win and leave them
needing a draw in next Sunday's second leg to take the title for
the second successive year.
Corinthians full-back Rodrigo was sent off for two bookable
offences, both fouls on Sao Paulo's Brazilian international
Denilson, who otherwise had a quiet game.
If the aggregate score finishes level next week, Sao Paulo
will take the title on having the better overall record in the
competition.
Romario scored a hat-trick as Flamengo beat Madureira 3-2 in
the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro state) championship. Police had to
pull Madureira players away from the linesman as they protested
that his first goal was offside.
Vasco da Gama lead the third stage of the tournament with
maximum points from three games and will take the title if they
win, having already won the second stage.
PARAGUAY
Paraguay's championship resumed after a two-week strike
called by players who want to be allowed to leave their clubs
automatically when their contracts expire.
Olimpia, who had lost their unbeaten record on the first
weekend of the strike when clubs fulfilled their fixtures by
fielding youth teams, suffered again when they were beaten 1-0
by 12 de Octubre.
This allowed their arch-rivals Cerro Porteno, who were one
point behind them before the strike, to open a five-point
advantage by beating Guarani 2-0 in the Apertura (Opening)
tournament, the first stage of the Paraguayan championship.
MEXICO
Toluca and Necaxa will meet in the final of the Verano
(Summer) championship, the second of two tournaments played in
the Mexican season.
Toluca, whose fans are famous for stripping their shirts off
to celebrate goals, overcame America 2-1 to go through 3-2 on
aggregate while Necaxa won by the same overall score after a 1-1
draw at home to Atlas.
Jose Abundis and Chilean Fabian Estay, who is being
considered for a national team recall in time for the World Cup,
put Toluca two goals ahead while Uruguay's Gabriel Cedres
grabbed a late consolation for America.
America's Brazilian-born Mexican international Zague was
sent off in the first half for punching Toluca's Paraguayan top
scorer Jose Cardozo in the face.
America will now return to Argentina to face River Plate in
their South American Libertadores Cup second round, second leg
match on Thursday.
Their first match was called off last week because the
referee failed to turn up.
CHILE
Modest provincial teams Concepcion and Rangers share the
lead in the Chilean championship.
Concepcion overcame Wanderers 3-2 while Rangers won 2-1 away
to Iquique, leaving the pair level on 12 points after five
games.
Colo Colo, the country's biggest club, slipped to third
after a goalless stalemate with Palestino, nine-goal winners
last week over Deportes Temuco who fielded their reserve team
because of a strike by the professionals.
Universidad de Chile slipped to fifth after a 1-0 defeat
away to Cobreloa while Universidad Catolica suffered a shock 3-1
home defeat by Huachipato.
URUGUAY
Nacional and Penarol, who traditionally dominate Uruguayan
football, both won at the weekend and share the lead in the
Apertura tournament with 15 points from seven games.
Nacional beat Rampla Juniors 3-1 while Penarol, who are
aiming for their sixth consecutive championship, beat Liverpool
5-1.
The Uruguayan championship, which follows the calendar year,
is divided into two stages -- the Apertura and Clausura -- with
the winners meeting in the final.
BOLIVIA
Bolivar and The Strongest drew 1-1 in a derby match in La
Paz, while Wilsertmann stayed top of the Apertura tournament
without playing. Wilstermann are one point ahead of
second-placed Guabira who lost 2-0 away to San Jose.
As in Uruguay, the Bolivian championship follows the
calendar year. It is divided into two stages with the winners
meeting in the final.
COLOMBIA
Defending champions America lost their fifth consecutive
match as they went down 1-0 to Tulua. The string of defeats has
seen them eliminated from the South American Libertadores Cup
and slip to eighth place in the Colombian championship, which is
led by Atletico Nacional.
REUTERS
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