15/09/2006 13.24

Boca Juniors added to São Paulo’s recent woes by drawing 2-2 with the Brazilian hosts at a sparsely-populated Morumbi stadium to lift their 16th international trophy to bypass Independiente, Real Madrid and AC Milan as the club with the most international silverware in the world.

The Tricolor Paulista are now on the verge of a mini-crisis as the club that swept the board in 2005 with the Paulistão 2005 (São Paulo state trophy), Libertadores 2005 and FIFA CWC Toyota Cup 2005 collect their third runners-up medal this year after losing out on their defenses of the Paulistão (Santos won), Libertadores (Inter won) and now the Recopa.

With both centre-forwards Leandro and Aloísio out of action, São Paulo fielded a 3-6-1 that gave wingman Souza more room for offensive runs rather than risk the irregular Alex Dias who disappeared in the first leg. Boca weren’t hanging back either with Rodrigo Palacio showing skill and determination in the Xeneize front line.

It took 34 minutes for a cool Souza move to make the difference; the Tricolor man left Marino for dead with a swift dribble and snapped a perfect pass for veteran left-back Júnior (34 min) - playing more of an inside left role in the 3-6-1 - to slot the ball past a charging Bobadilla. This spiced up the match with Boca hitting out in search of a goal.

Marino forced Rogério Ceni into a great save four minutes later, but the visitors’ goal was swift in coming as Krupoviesa whipped a left flank cross over and the Brazilian defense froze like rabbits in headlights. Palermo knocked on from the far post and Palacio (40 min) nodded the equaliser in to put a Xeneize hand on the Cup with an aggregate third goal.

The second half was more cautious and the stale draw remained lit up on the Morumbi scoreboard, leading Muricy Ramalho to switch to a riskier and more offensive 4-4-2 by bringing on Alex Dias for centre-back Edcarlos. It didn’t work: ten minutes later Boca Juniors nabbed the lead through a Palermo (75 min) move that left Fabão sprawled and Rogério Ceni beaten.

São Paulo managed to score the definitive 2-2 as Thiago galloped up the left wing, sliced in a low cross and counted on the aid and assistance of Boca wing-back Rodríguez (85 min) to give a helping boot and put the ball past his own keeper. Nevertheless, Boca Juniors won fair and square at Morumbi and Coach Alfio Basile bade goodbye in true winning style.


Venue: Morumbi, São Paulo (SP), Brazil

Date: Thursday, 14th September 2006

Gate: R$ 490,085

Spectators: 19,861

Referee: Óscar Ruiz (Colombia)

Linesmen: Eduardo Botero and José Navia (Colombia).

Yellow Cards: Díaz (Boc), Thiago (SP), Cardozo (Boc), Palermo (Boc) and Fabão (SP)

Goals: SÃO PAULO: Júnior (34 min); Rodríguez (own goal - 85 min) BOCA JUNIORS: Palacio (40 min); Palermo (75 min)

SÃO PAULO (2): Rogério Ceni; Alex Silva, Fabão and Edcarlos (Alex Dias); Souza (Ilsinho), Mineiro, Josué, Danilo, Lenílson and Júnior; Thiago.
Coach: Muricy Ramalho.

BOCA JUNIORS (2): Bobadilla; Ibarra, Rodríguez, Díaz and Krupoviesa; Ledesma, Gago, Cardozo (Maidana) and Marino (Dátolo); Palacio (Manzoia) and Palermo
Coach: Alfio Basile.

Boca Juniors win their third straight Recopa trophy with a 3-2 aggregate victory


Aaron Marcus


Goal

... just till May comes!!!

I saw that game and it was nothing special