Young Argentina scraped into the final six of the U-20 South American Championship after fighting out an exciting 2-2 draw with Ecuador. Sergio BATISTA side dominated early in the match, with some exciting attacking football, that allowed them to create a number of clear-cut opportunities.
In the 32nd minute, Cristian GAITAN appeared with a good finish inside of the area to give Argentina side an important advantage. However, only seven minutes later Jefferson PINTO drew the Ecuadorians level when he beat Diego RODRIGUEZ with a well placed header from a free-kick.
After the break both sides created enough opportunities to score, but although Argentina dominated the midfield, Ecuador were the more dangerous side when moving forward to the attack. In the 77th minute Ecuador went ahead for the first time, when Juan ANANGONO connected to a Jefferson MONTERO free-kick with a powerful header.
But within one minute, Ivan BELLA equalized for Argentina with a superb finish after a fine individual move. The midfielder was sent off for a second bookable offence after his goal celebration.
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I couldn't watch any of these games (just bits and pieces), but I have to say I'm concerned about the results we're getting and it's quite obvious we're weak at the back.
If it wasn't for a brilliant save by our keeper, we could have been knocked out in the last minute and out of the Egypt Youth World Cup later this year.
Now there'll be 6 teams in the next round. The top four will qualify for Egypt.
Here's hoping our defence improves and we can score the goals we need.
For what I've been watching, Uruguay really looked like a great explosive team and they could be the best in this tournament.
I read that since Colombia and Ecuador were equal on points and GA/GD the difference was a coin flip which Colombia won? What a crappy way to go out. Argentina should go through but if they do not I will not be shocked. This team is probably the weakest side I can really recall. Sure a couple key players are missing but giving up 6 goals in 4 games is horrible. So lets hope they kick it to another gear so that Di Santo and Piatti can shine in the tourney in Egypt.
Jack!
Didn't we struggle the last time back in 2007? If I can recall, it was last minute goal that saw us through.
You are correct, John. It was Lautaro ACOSTA's last gasp game-winning header against Uruguay that helped us qualify for the World Cup in Canada 2007 (which we won) and the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 football tournament (which we won).
That U20 South American tournament became (last minute) the qualifying stage for the Olympic Games. It was a ridiculous decision since the Olympics are played with U23s and this U20 South American tournament was held only one year before the Olympics (if it was 2 or 3 years they may have had the point of saying: 'it's the same generation of players and so they will be qualifying today to play in the Olympics in 2-3 years', but they didn't).
That team we brought to Paraguay for that South American tournament was better than this one, but TOCALLI was quite happy to draw against Uruguay and miss out on the Olympics. He only wanted to get to the Youth World Cup and he confessed it later.
It was a better team than this, in my opinion.
To add to Lautaro ACOSTA, we had: Sergio ROMERO (a regular in every national team call up), Federico FAZIO (now at Sevilla), Matias CAHAIS (didn't quite establish himself at Boca, but he did play some matches there), the 5 or 6 Racing players (ROMERO was one, MERCADO, Matías SANCHEZ, Claudio YACOB and Maxi MORALEZ -I'm probably forgetting about one guy-). Kun AGUERO and Mauro ZARATE joined these guys to win the Youth WC in Canada later that year.
We finished second in that South American tournament (I'd settle for that kind of result this time around). Brazil, with AC Milan's Alexandre PATO and Liverpool's Lucas LEIVA, were the worthy winners.
Firstly, can i just say it's Diego Rodriguez not Matias, Goal.com got it wrong.
The other thing is Tocalli was much more defensive minded than Batista, it's not that we haven't got a good bunch of players, coz we have, it's Batista's system.
In every match we've come from behind with the exception of this one, and the boys have shown a great strength of mind and attitude.
We've created lots but the finishing is not quite there yet. I'm sure we'll qualify and that's the whole point.
If you look at the Olympic team, they didn't play all that great apart from the match against Brazil, and Batista was in charge there as well.
I really wish Tocalli would come back but it doesn't look likely.
day1star
Firstly, can i just say it's Diego Rodriguez not Matias, Goal.com got it wrong.
The other thing is Tocalli was much more defensive minded than Batista, it's not that we haven't got a good bunch of players, coz we have, it's Batista's system.
In every match we've come from behind with the exception of this one, and the boys have shown a great strength of mind and attitude.
We've created lots but the finishing is not quite there yet. I'm sure we'll qualify and that's the whole point.
If you look at the Olympic team, they didn't play all that great apart from the match against Brazil, and Batista was in charge there as well.
I really wish Tocalli would come back but it doesn't look likely.
day1star
Just like to add that the Brazilian referee was a shit. Sorry about the language but he was giving our players yellow cards for nothing and the sending off was a disgrace.
day1star
Day1star: I would like to add that even if we scored first against Ecuador, we also cameback from behind after they scored twice to go up 2-1.
Thanks for correcting RODRIGUEZ's name. I'll change that in a moment.
Regarding TOCALLI vs. BATISTA. So far...it's BATISTA all the way for me. And I'm not happy with how our team is playing at the moment.
I don't want any more of TOCALLI after what he made me suffer in that U20 South American tournament of 2007 (risking our Olympic qualification and only getting there because ACOSTA jumped higher than ever before in his life to head it past the Uruguayan keeper on 94 minutes!).
Agree about that harsh sending off. The referee should have kept that card deep in his pocket.
I think a couple key names to watch out for in the future of this tourney will be Erik Lamela and Gustavo Bau. One a River Plate product the other Boca.
Jack!
I doubt you will see any of these two ones. The first one, Erik Lamela is 16y old and we will be with the next sub-17. As for Gustavo Bou (not Bau), he could have been taken by Batista for this tournament but untimately, he wasnt so (he's 18y old)...
And both are River Plate products.
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