Tero al Disco Domestic Sports Newswire

by **Tero al Disco** » Thu Feb 08, 2024 7:35 am

This newswire will be used to post information covering Tero al Disco's domestic sports, mainly national league results, but it'll also include national team results and the like.

Tero al Disco's most popular sport, by very far, is football. Basketball is the second most popular team sport, followed by futsal. Other sports followed at a much lower rate include rugby union, field hockey, volleyball, handball (and others), so all those sports will feature in this thread.

by **Tero al Disco** » Thu Feb 08, 2024 8:18 am

FOOTBALL: Football in the nation is managed by the Asociación Terense del Fútbol (Terense Football Association; ATF). Its top two divisions, run by ATF, are the Nacional A and Nacional B. The Nacional A was only open to teams from the capital city and its surroundings, from its first season in the year 1897 to 1992, when the football league system was finally federalised (teams elsewhere played in their own regional leagues).

Champions by year

Note: this table counts from the first season of professional football (1937 onwards).

1937	Nacional Terense	(1)		1970	Sportivo Terense	(4)		2000	Solanet			(1)
1938	Gimnasia y Bala		(1)		1971	Rosamonte		(1)		2001	Tacurú			(3)
1939	Independiente (Escobar)	(1)		1972	Nacional Terense	(12)		2002	Gimnasia y Bala		(18)
1940	unfinished due to players' strike	1973	Nacional Terense	(13)		2003	Rosamonte		(5)
1941	Nacional Terense	(2)		1974	Nacional Terense	(14)		2004	Tacurú			(4)
1942	Gimnasia y Bala		(2)		1975	Nacional Terense	(15)		2005	Nacional Terense	(23)
1943	Nacional Terense	(3)		1976	Independiente (Escobar)	(6)		2006	Gimnasia y Bala		(19)
1944	Nacional Terense	(4)		1977	Nacional Terense	(16)		2007	Gimnasia y Bala		(20)
1945	Gimnasia y Bala		(3)		1978	Norteño			(2)		2008	Gimnasia y Bala		(21)
1946	Nacional Terense	(5)		1979	Sportivo Terense	(5)		2009	Nacional Terense	(24)
1947	Independiente (Escobar)	(2)		1980	Norteño			(3)		2010	Gimnasia y Bala		(22)
1948	Gimnasia y Bala		(4)		1981	Gimnasia y Bala		(11)		2011	Gimnasia y Bala		(23)
1949	Gimnasia y Bala		(5)		1982	Rosamonte		(2)		2012	Gimnasia y Bala		(24)
1950	Sportivo Terense	(1)		1983	Gimnasia y Bala		(12)		2013	Nacional Terense	(25)
1951	Moncloa			(1)		1984	Nacional Terense	(17)		2014	Norteño			(4)
1952	Nacional Terense	(6)		1985	Gimnasia y Bala		(13)		2015	Independiente (Escobar)	(8)
1953	Gimnasia y Bala		(6)		1986	Gimnasia y Bala		(14)		2016	Gimnasia y Bala		(25)
1954	Gimnasia y Bala		(7)		1987	Rosamonte		(3)		2017	Gimnasia y Bala		(26)
1955	Norteño			(1)		1988	Nacional Terense	(18)		2018	Tacurú			(5)
1956	Nacional Terense	(7)		1989	Nacional Terense	(19)		2019	GImnasia y Bala		(27)
1957	Nacional Terense	(8)		1990	Gimnasia y Bala		(15)		2020	Norteño			(5)
1958	Independiente (Escobar)	(3)		1991	Gimnasia y Bala		(16)		2021	Gimnasia y Bala		(28)
1959	Sportivo Terense	(2)		1992	Gimnasia y Bala		(17)		2022	Norteño			(6)
1960	Gimnasia y Bala		(8)		1993	Nacional Terense	(20)		2023	Independiente (Escobar)	(9)
1961	Nacional Terense	(9)		1994	Rosamonte		(4)		2024	Moncloa			(2)
1962	Nacional Terense	(10)		1995	Tacurú			(1)             2025	Laureles                (1)
1963	Gimnasia y Bala		(9)		1996	Nacional Terense	(21)
1964	Independiente (Escobar)	(4)		1997	Tacurú			(2)
1965	Independiente (Escobar)	(5)		1998	Nacional Terense	(22)
1966	Gimnasia y Bala		(10)		1999	Independiente (Escobar)	(7)
1967	Sportivo Terense	(3)
1968	Nacional Terense	(11)
1969	Ferrocarriles Unidos	(1)

Season index

2024	Moncloa			Preview - Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. - Review

by **Tero al Disco** » Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:43 pm

reserved

by **Tero al Disco** » Sun Feb 18, 2024 8:08 am

NACIONAL A 2024 PREVIEW

Club de Gimnasia y Bala

Main kit

Nickname(s): Gimnasia, el Celeste (the Light Blues), el Tirador (the shooter)
Stadium: Estadio Ernesto Forli, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 15.117
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Manager: Alfredo Félix
Preferred formation: 4-3-1-2
Best eleven:

GK 1. Gabriel Stenger
LB 3. Valerio Daniel
CB 2. Martín Kuchler
CB 5. José Salas
RB 4. Jaime Adamo
LM 7. Reinaldo Perrín
CM 6. Hernán Beaufort
RM 8. Feliciano Duque
AM 11. Alexander Cornelli
FW 9. Iker Ibarra
FW 10. Juan José Leonardi

Club Nacional Terense

Main kit

Nickname(s): Nacional, los Bomberos (the Firemen)
Stadium: Estadio Nacional, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 20.400
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Manager: Andrés Jiménez
Preferred formation: 4-4-2
Best eleven:

GK 1. Rodrigo Mantovano
LB 3. Javier Miranda
CB 5. Eugenio Pastor
CB 2. Cristian Riese
RB 6. Maximiliano Anselm
LM 7. Marcos Monyor
CM 11. Justo Freitas
CM 8. Paulo Tedesco
RM 4. Francisco Martini
FW 9. Benjamin Insfrán
FW 10. Ramiro Guerra

Club Atlético Norteño

Main kit

Nickname(s): el Canguro (the Kangaroos)
Stadium: Estadio Mariano Mieszki, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 9.336
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Manager: Cristian Rivero
Preferred formation: 4-3-2-1
Best eleven:

GK 1. Braian Rico
LB 3. Emiliano Baldinotti
CB 5. Salomón Forester
CB 2. Gamariel Arza
RB 6. Simón Alemano
LM 4. Juan de la Cruz
CM 8. Esteban Hirsch
RM 7. Javier Vidal Montoya
LW 11. Fulgencio Llop
RW 9. Roberto Villar
FW 10. Sergio Cervantes

Club Social y Deportivo Laureles Terenses

Main kit

Nickname(s): Laureles de Moncloa, Laureles, los Guerreros (the Warriors - hardly used), la Banda Azul (the blue line)
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Moncloa, Moncloa. Capacity 21.550
Alternative stadium(s): unnamed stadium (Estadio de Laureles - Simone & Cuervo streets). Capacity 6.671
Manager: Amílcar Fernández
Preferred formation: 4-4-2
Best eleven:

GK 1. Miguel Ángel Palazo
LB 3. Edison Kennedy
CB 5. Gaspar Bustos
CB 2. Alan Duff
RB 6. Felipe Barostti
LM 7. Melchor Gallina
CM 11. Aaron Rojo
CM 8. Serafín Agustino
RM 4. Isidro Savich
FW 9. Hector Sánchez
FW 10. Lautaro Araujo

Club Atlético Moncloa

Main kit

Nickname(s): el Bordó (the Maroons)
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Moncloa, Moncloa. Capacity 21.550
Alternative stadium(s): none
Manager: Rubén Lima
Preferred formation: 3-4-3
Best eleven:

GK 1. Andrés Castillo
LB 3. Néstor Martelli
CB 2. Guillermo Branco
RB 6. Máximo Manet
LM 4. Miguel Napoliello
CM 5. Facundo Véccoli
CM 8. Claudio Tapia
RM 7. Germán Hasse
FW 9. Álvaro Biaggi
FW 10. Fidel Cardozo
FW 11. José María Herrera

Club Atlético Independiente

Main kit

Nickname(s): Caide (due to the acronym), Independiente
Stadium: Estadio CAIDE, Escobar. Capacity 21.301
Alternative stadium(s): none
Manager: Marco de la Cruz
Preferred formation: 3-4-3
Best eleven:

GK 1. Jerónimo García
LB 3. Nicolás Colón
CB 2. Lautaro Cárdenas
RB 6. Gerardo Bulgari
LM 4. Tomás Righi
CM 5. Walter Toledo
CM 8. Jeremías Barrionuevo
RM 7. Lucas Figueredo
FW 9. Joaquin Marconi
FW 10. Ramiro Sava
FW 11. Denis Pereyra

Club Sportivo Escobar

Main kit

Nickname(s): Sportivo (to people from the city of Escobar), el Albiceleste (the Light Blue & Whites)
Stadium: Estadio Sportivo Escobar, Escobar. Capacity 13.550
Alternative stadium(s): none
Manager: Agustín Ibarra
Preferred formation: 5-3-2
Best eleven:

GK 1. Eduardo Acciaio
LB 3. Isaac Kunz
CB 4. Damián Africano
CB 2. Renzo Salinas
CB 5. Eugenio Palencia
RB 6. Luís Abel
LM 7. Narciso Giovanni
CM 11. Hernando Lucero
RM 8. Maximiliano Alesci
FW 9. Andrés Roscalli
FW 10. Mateo Portelli

Club Social, Deportivo y Cultural Solanet

Main kit

Nickname(s): el Callejero (the Street People (not necessarily the Homeless))
Stadium: Estadio de Solanet, Moncloa. Capacity 7.240
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio Municipal de Moncloa, Moncloa. Capacity 21.550
Manager: Rufino Rosales
Preferred formation: 4-3-2-1
Best eleven:

GK 1. Adrián Aguilar
LB 3. Rodolfo Sandoval
CB 2. Zacarías Martín
CB 5. Pablo Sastre
RB 4. Luciano Clotieri
LM 7. Marcos Acerbi
CM 6. Ángel Montero
RM 8. Federico Cabral
LW 9. Daniel Méndez
RW 11. Juan Caballero
FW 10. Samuel Figueroa

Centro Sportivo Caamaño

Main kit

Nickname(s): el Gigante Caamañense (the Caamaño Giant), los Diablos Rojos (the Red Devils)
Stadium: Estadio Mundialista del Sur "Candelario Gómez", Caamaño. Capacity 33.151
Alternative stadium(s): none
Manager: Gonzalo Sabella
Preferred formation: 3-4-3
Best eleven:

GK 1. Fabricio de la Fontaine
LB 3. Agustín Antunes
CB 2. Carmelo Rivero
RB 6. Sancho Moritz
LM 4. Teófilo Clementini
CM 5. Hugo Adelardi
CM 8. Jacinto Coutinho
RM 7. Ismael Monte
FW 9. Ariel Salomón
FW 10. Juan Carlos Pacheco
FW 11. Isidro Contreras

Rosamonte Fútbol Club

Main kit

Nickname(s): el Decano (the Dean (of Terense football)), el Botánico (the Botanics), el Rojiazul (the Red-Blues)
Stadium: Estadio Soluciones Yarjá, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 10.800
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Manager: Flavio Godoy
Preferred formation: 3-5-2
Best eleven:

GK 1. Bautista Berger
LB 3. Emir Álvarez
CB 2. Daniel Stauss
RB 6. Carlos Catalán
LM 4. Vito Fuentes
CM 5. Silvio Simón
CM 8. Francisco Barrios
CM 11. Fabricio Droit
RM 7. Faustino Pagano
FW 9. Orlando Abbiati
FW 10. Esteban Belloni

Club Atlético Tacurú

Main kit

Nickname(s): la Menta Granizada (the Minty Hail team)
Stadium: Estadio Nacional, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 20.400 (note: their home stadium, Barrio Tacurú (cap. 6.632) is currently being renovated and modernised)
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Manager: Fabio Delgado
Preferred formation: 4-2-3-1
Best eleven:

GK 1. Efraín Azzaro
LB 3. Roberto Russo
CB 2. Emiliano Lucas
CB 5. Simón Berenger
RB 6. Miguel Schenck
DM 4. Santiago Vaccaro
DM 7. Marco Gil
LW 8. Franco Maroni
AM 9. Miguel Gil
RW 11. José Raza
FW 10. Joaquín Leguizamón

Salto Athletic Club

Main kit

Nickname(s): Athletic, el Orito (the Goldies)
Stadium: Estadio Lara Burton, Salto. Capacity 18.410
Alternative stadium(s): none
Manager: Sebastián Ricci
Preferred formation: 4-4-2
Best eleven:

GK 1. Noé Zino
LB 3. Clemente Juan
CB 5. José Ángel Rodríguez
CB 2. Lucio Gil
RB 6. Vito Constantino
LM 7. Gonzalo Sandoval
CM 11. Álvaro Sierra
CM 8. Artemio Nigro
RM 4. Nereo Acone
FW 9. Telmo Martín
FW 10. Domingo Torres

Club Social y Deportivo Centauro

Main kit

Nickname(s): los Centauros (the Centaurs), los de Belvedere (the ones from Belvedere (neighbourhood))
Stadium: Estadio del Centenario, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 8.477
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Manager: Marcos Cáceres
Preferred formation: 4-3-2-1
Best eleven:

GK 1. Oscar Díez
LB 3. Gerónimo Duerr
CB 5. Franco Stilo
CB 2. José Luís Ramos
RB 6. Cristian Abbatelli
LM 4. Teófilo Luna
CM 8. Norberto Ríos
RM 7. Adolfo Autino
LW 11. Felipe Carrizo
RW 9. Federico Villalba
FW 10. Alejandro Domínguez

Asociación Atlética Ferrocarriles Unidos

Main kit

Nickname(s): Ferro, el Navideño (the Christmas team), el Tricolor.
Stadium: Parque Omar Sata, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 13.717
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Manager: José Rousse
Preferred formation: 4-4-2
Best eleven:

GK 1. Efraín Narzecián
LB 3. Cecilio Leiva
CB 5. Reinaldo Castiglione
CB 2. Jano Vargas
RB 6. Pablo Menéndez
LM 4. Felipe Oliveira
CM 8. Juan Sosa
CM 11. Marcelo Villa
RM 7. Renato Moyano
FW 9. Salvador Bogatzián
FW 10. Bruno Prieto

Club Atlético Comergas

Main kit

Nickname(s): el Azur/el Azzurro (the Azure), Come-Come
Stadium: Estadio Raimundo Sánchez, Arias. Capacity 6.000
Alternative stadium(s): none
Manager: Mateo Rey
Preferred formation: 3-4-2-1
Best eleven:

GK 1. Vicente Endrizzi
LB 3. Domingo Cuevas
CB 2. César Hidalgo
RB 6. Rubén Parra
LM 4. Ginés Ferro
CM 8. Álvaro Russo
CM 11. Leandro Gil
RM 5. Ayrton Hidalgo
LW 7. José Luis Ortiz
RW 9. Nahuel French
FW 10. Marcelo Leiva

Club Manuel Rodríguez

Main kit

Nickname(s): Manuel, el Nacional del Este
Stadium: Estadio Manuel Rodríguez, Inticuna. Capacity 7.742
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio Marcelo Sassari, Inticuna. Capacity 20.700
Manager: Mauricio Guzmán
Preferred formation: 5-3-2
Best eleven:

GK 1. Walter Kirchner
LB 3. Ignacio Pellegrini
CB 4. Enzo Palermo
CB 2. Octavio Gerkovich
CB 5. Antonio Sastre
RB 6. José María de los Santos
LM 7. Alfonso Pirozzi
CM 11. Tomás Maldonado
RM 8. Antonio Constantino Lobos
FW 9. Américo Alonso
FW 10. Eduardo Lacroze

Note: all players are male. Also, all players are from Tero al Disco unless specified by their country's flag (since in this first season there were no international transfers, then all the players are from Tero al Disco.).

by **Tero al Disco** » Tue Feb 20, 2024 1:01 pm

NACIONAL A 2024 REVIEW PART 1 - ROUNDS 1 to 5

Matchday 1
Ferrocarriles Unidos 1–0 Rosamonte
Salto Athletic 0–1 Centauro
Sportivo Caamaño 0–1 Sportivo Escobar
Norteño 1–2 Gimnasia y Bala
Independiente (E) 1–1 Tacurú
Moncloa 1–0 Nacional Terense
Manuel Rodriguez 0–3 Laureles (M)
Comergas 2–1 Solanet

Matchday 2
Rosamonte 0–0 Solanet
Laureles (M) 3–0 Comergas
Nacional Terense 3–0 Manuel Rodriguez
Tacurú 0–1 Moncloa
Gimnasia y Bala 4–2 Independiente (E)
Sportivo Escobar 0–0 Norteño
Centauro 2–2 Sportivo Caamaño
Ferrocarriles Unidos 0–1 Salto Athletic

Matchday 3
Salto Athletic 1–3 Rosamonte
Sportivo Caamaño 0–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Norteño 1–0 Centauro
Independiente (E) 2–1 Sportivo Escobar
Moncloa 2–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Manuel Rodriguez 0–1 Tacurú
Comergas 4–5 Nacional Terense
Solanet 3–1 Laureles (M)

Matchday 4
Rosamonte 3–4 Laureles (M)
Nacional Terense 0–0 Solanet
Tacurú 0–0 Comergas
Gimnasia y Bala 0–0 Manuel Rodriguez
Sportivo Escobar 2–0 Moncloa
Centauro 0–2 Independiente (E)
Ferrocarriles Unidos 1–5 Norteño
Salto Athletic 1–0 Sportivo Caamaño

Matchday 5
Sportivo Caamaño 1–1 Rosamonte
Norteño 1–0 Salto Athletic
Independiente (E) 0–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Moncloa 3–2 Centauro
Manuel Rodriguez 0–5 Sportivo Escobar
Comergas 1–2 Gimnasia y Bala
Solanet 1–0 Tacurú
Laureles (M) 1–0 Nacional Terense

Derbies highlighted in yellow.

The league started with the Thursday night match between Ferro and Rosamonte, in which Ferro won with right-back Pablo Menéndez being the only scorer, with a powerful shot from outside the area, just before halftime. Gimnasia also won a title favourites' clash, when they beat Norteño at their home 2-1. Independiente de Escobar started their title defense with a draw against Tacurú, 1-1, which included Joaquín Marconi, one of their better strikers, getting sent off, as well as centre-back Lautaro Cárdenas. Meanwhile, Moncloa beat Nacional 1-0, thanks to an early goal by Alvaro Biaggi; newly-promoted Comergas beat Solanet 2-1, which included both of the blue-and-whites' goals coming 2 minutes apart; and Laureles took the top after beating 16th-place favourites Manuel Rodríguez 3-0. Lautaro Araujo scored 2 goals.

Now onto round 2: Rosamonte-Solanet finished a goalless draw in a really, really boring match. Laureles won, again by 3-0, this time versus Comergas, which made them keep first spot on the table. Nacional also won 3-0, against Manuel Rodríguez, with the three goals coming from Guerra, Freitas one minute later, and Insfrán. Alvaro Biaggi continued his goal-scoring run after scoring Moncloa's only goal against Solanet, which made them victorious in the match between the Moncloa teams. The match of the week, meanwhile was between Gimnasia y Bala and Independiente, a fixture between one of the Top 2 and the 3rd-best team in the country. And it was entertaining: the full-time score was 4-2 to Gimnasia, as Duque, Leonardi, Ibarra and Paz scored for the home team, as Sava and Pereyra did so for Caide. That win made el Celeste good for second place in the table. Sportivo Escobar and Norteño drew 0-0, Federico Villalba scored for Centauro to rescue a point, as they drew versus Sportivo Caamaño, 2-2, and Salto Athletic beat Ferrocarriles Unidos with a goal from Gonzalo Sandoval in the 80th minute.

The next week, Salto Athletic and Rosamonte started off the round. Rosamonte broke their goal-scoring drought of (only) two games with not one, but three goals, as Orlando Abbiati scored two, and Pagano scored once. Sportivo Caamaño drew for a second time this season against Ferrocarriles Unidos. This time, no goals were scored. Norteño beat Centauro 1-0, with a lone goal by their striker, Sergio Cervantes. That was before the main course of this round: the Escobar derby, between Independiente and Sportivo, in which the former managed to come back from a goal by Sportivo's Lucero, when Sava scored from a tap-in in the 68th minute, and then came Joaquín Marconi from a counter-attack three minutes later. Sportivo's manager, Agustín Ibarra said: "It was really a shame (...) I just have no idea how we could dominate this match for the 90 minutes, but the only thing we could do was score a tap-in, and then we managed to lose because of the...2 shots at goal they had all the game." The next day, Moncloa shocked the nationwide football world by beating Gimnasia y Bala 2-1, with goals by Veccoli and Cardozo. Meanwhile, Nacional Terense and Comergas starred in a candidate for match of the season. The result? 5-4. And there were so many (relatively) strange events. For example, Ramiro Guerra's four-goal haul for Nacional, or the fact that Comergas could have drawn this game. Let's see, by the 85th minute, Nacional were leading 5-2, but Rivero scored, and then came Hidalgo four minutes later to put the score 4-5. But also, Hidalgo missed the chance to become the hero by having a header hit the crossbar in the 92nd minute, which left the score as it was, 5-4. Round three was finished by Laureles losing at Solanet 3-1, which, along with Gimnasia y Bala's loss, put Moncloa in 1st place, as they were the only team that had won all three matches.

Round 4 started with another thriller, when Laureles de Moncloa won 4-3 at Rosamonte. The man of the match was undoubtedly León Siera, who came off the bench to score two goals, including an 86-minute winner. Friday had seven goals scored, whereas the three Saturday fixtures had exactly zero, including Gimnasia dissapointing against Manuel Rodriguez. Sportivo Escobar beat Moncloa 2-0, so as to make Laureles regain the lead, this time by goal difference. Independiente beat Centauro 2-0 in the capital, as Norteño humilliated Ferro 5-1, with braces from Vidal Montoya and Hirsch, and the one goal left being scored by Baldinotti. Finally, Sportivo Caamaño were still in bad form, as they lost to Salto 1-0 via a 70-minute goal from Domingo Torres.

Sportivo Caamaño started round five with their fifth match without being able to win. This time, they drew 1-1 with Rosamonte. Later, Salto Athletic were subject to yet another 1-0 match. 1-0 to Norteño, as they kept their multiversal football spot with a great strike from Roberto Villar. Independiente had a goalless draw against Ferro, as Moncloa beat Centauro, including an 83' goal from Guillermo Mendoza which made the final score 3-2. Sportivo Escobar achieved the biggest away win as they beat Manuel Rodríguez 5-0. Another game without winning, another one, another one getting battered for the newly-promoted team from Inticuna. Gimnasia y Bala beat Comergas away from home, 2-1, with goals by Ibarra and Leonardi for Gimnasia, and Hidalgo for Comergas. Solanet beat Tacurú 1-0 with a very early penalty and a very early red card; Roberto Russo got sent off at the 3rd minute for stomping Marcos Coelho's ankle badly. Zacarías Martín converted a minute later. Finally, Laureles de Moncloa's midfielder Aaron Rojo scored a 91st minute header, as Laureles beat Nacional Terense 1-0.

hi Nacional A                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Laureles (M)                5    4   0   1    12    6   +6    12 Champions League & League of Victors
#2 Moncloa                     5    4   0   1     7    5   +2    12 Challengers Cup & League of Victors
#3 Sportivo Escobar            5    3   1   1     9    2   +7    10 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Norteño                     5    3   1   1     8    3   +5    10 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Gimnasia y Bala             5    3   1   1     9    6   +3    10 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Solanet                     5    2   2   1     5    3   +2     8 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Independiente (E)           5    2   2   1     7    6   +1     8 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Nacional Terense            5    2   1   2     8    6   +2     7 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Salto Athletic              5    2   0   3     3    5   −2     6
10 Rosamonte                   5    1   2   2     7    7    0     5
11 Tacurú                      5    1   2   2     2    3   −1     5
12 Ferrocarriles Unidos        5    1   2   2     2    6   −4     5
13 Centauro                    5    1   1   3     5    8   −3     4
14 Comergas                    5    1   1   3     7   11   −4     4 Relegation playoff
15 Sportivo Caamaño            5    0   3   2     3    5   −2     3 Relegation
16 Manuel Rodriguez            5    0   1   4     0   12  −12     1 Relegation

NACIONAL B 2024 TABLE - ROUNDS 1 to 5

hi Nacional B                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Camioneros                  5    4   0   1     8    2   +6    12 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#2 Palestino                   5    3   1   1     9    5   +4    10 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#3 Plaza Cura Cortez           5    3   1   1     6    4   +2    10 Promotion playoff, Liga B Champions Trophy
 4 Sportivo Terense            5    3   0   2     8    7   +1     9
 5 Camino Real                 5    3   0   2     4    3   +1     9
 6 Progreso                    5    2   2   1     5    6   −1     8
 7 Sionista                    5    2   2   1     6    8   −2     8
 8 Unión Ferroviaria           5    2   1   2     8    3   +5     7
 9 Colmena                     5    2   1   2     3    3    0     7
10 San Cipriano                5    1   2   2     5    5    0     5
11 Lawn Tennis                 5    1   2   2     6    7   −1     5
12 Villa Vallier               5    1   2   2     4    6   −2     5
13 Parque Rodó                 5    0   4   1     2    3   −1     4 Relegation playoff
14 Carpincho Atropellado       5    1   1   3     3    6   −3     4 Relegation playoff
15 Defensores de Salto         5    0   3   2     6    9   −3     3 Relegation
16 Yaguareté                   5    1   0   4     5   11   −6     3 Relegation

by **Tero al Disco** » Sun Feb 25, 2024 7:42 am

NACIONAL A 2024 REVIEW PART 2 - ROUNDS 6 to 10

Matchday 6
Rosamonte 0–2 Nacional Terense
Tacurú 1–0 Laureles (M)
Gimnasia y Bala 3–1 Solanet
Sportivo Escobar 3–0 Comergas
Centauro 0–1 Manuel Rodriguez
Ferrocarriles Unidos 0–2 Moncloa
Salto Athletic 1–2 Independiente (E)
Sportivo Caamaño 1–1 Norteño

Matchday 7
Norteño 1–0 Rosamonte
Independiente (E) 1–0 Sportivo Caamaño
Moncloa 1–0 Salto Athletic
Manuel Rodriguez 0–1 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Comergas 1–0 Centauro
Solanet 1–2 Sportivo Escobar
Laureles (M) 0–2 Gimnasia y Bala
Nacional Terense 1–0 Tacurú

Matchday 8
Rosamonte 2–0 Tacurú
Gimnasia y Bala 2–1 Nacional Terense
Sportivo Escobar 0–1 Laureles (M)
Centauro 0–1 Solanet
Ferrocarriles Unidos 1–2 Comergas
Salto Athletic 3–1 Manuel Rodriguez
Sportivo Caamaño 1–4 Moncloa
Norteño 0–0 Independiente (E)

Matchday 9
Independiente (E) 2–3 Rosamonte
Moncloa 0–3 Norteño
Manuel Rodriguez 0–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Comergas 1–0 Salto Athletic
Solanet 1–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Laureles (M) 1–2 Centauro
Nacional Terense 0–1 Sportivo Escobar
Tacurú 2–2 Gimnasia y Bala

Matchday 10
Rosamonte 0–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Sportivo Escobar 0–3 Tacurú
Centauro 0–1 Nacional Terense
Ferrocarriles Unidos 0–0 Laureles (M)
Salto Athletic 1–1 Solanet
Sportivo Caamaño 0–2 Comergas
Norteño 6–0 Manuel Rodriguez
Independiente (E) 1–2 Moncloa

Derbies highlighted in yellow.

Round six started with Nacional Terense winning 2-0 at Rosamonte, with goals by Tedesco and Guerra, who extended his goal tally to six. Laureles de Moncloa were shocked by Tacurú, who, with a goal by Simón Berenger at the 64th minute, beat them 1-0. Combined with Moncloa beating Ferro 2-0 (goals scored by Biaggi and an own goal by Oliveira), Gimnasia y Bala defeating Solanet by a solid 3-1, and Sportivo Escobar scoring three past Comergas in a 3-0 victory, made Laureles drop from first down to fourth, with el Bordó, el Tirador and Sportivo occupying the top three spots. Manuel Rodríguez won their first game this season, as Lacroze scored from a free kick so as to make his team beat Centauro 1-0. This season looks to be absolutely disastrous: they're bottom of the table, with one win, and one draw, alongside only one goal scored in said win, which came against another relegation candidate like Centauro. Mauricio Guzmán is the favourite to be the first managed sacked this league year. Independiente came back again to win, this time against Salto Athletic, when Barrionuevo and Sava scored their team's two goals for a 2-1 win. Sportivoo Caamaño drew against Norteño 1-1 to end up as the only team in these 6 rounds to not win a single fixture.

The next round was rather boring (though were no 0-0s). Independiente started the round as Denis Pereyra got them the three points against Caamaño. Academy prospect Manuel Seraí scored a relatively late goal for Moncloa...and then got sent off due to a second yellow card. Nevertheless, the scoreline remained unchanged (1-0), and Moncloa held the top spot in the league. Now we go down to the bottom of the table as Ferrocarriles Unidos beat Manuel 1-0, and at the same time Comergas beat Centauro by the same scoreline. Isaac Kunz and Narciso Giovanni helped Sportivo Escobar beat Solanet 2-1 in Moncloa, as Laureles lost to Gimnasia y Bala thanks to two goals by Juan José Leonardi. Norteño beat Rosamonte 1-0 as Esteban Hirsch scored his fourth goal in the tournament. And before the Clásico de Clásicos against Gimnasia, Nacional Terense made sure to get their three points, when they beat Tacurú 1-0.

Centauro lost their sixth match in a row, when Daniel Méndez's cross "accidentally" went in the goal and Solanet won 1-0, which made them still have their FFI play-off spot. Laureles got themselves up after their two-loss string after winning 1-0 against Sportivo Escobar, with a goal by Serafín Agustino. Then came the most important match in the nation: Gimnasia-Nacional, the first Clásico de Clásicos of the season, as Gimnasia y Bala were looking to stretch their winning streak, and Nacional Terense wanted to get into the top 4 after that shaky start to the season. Although it already started badly for los Bomberos, when César Paz scored the fastest Clásico de Clásicos goal ever recorded. A very weak pass from Emiliano David made Paz intercept the ball, get into a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and slot it in. Top-scorer Ramiro Guerra quickly backfired at the 10th minute mark. Then, 50 minutes of no one having any strong chances, until Gimnasia's own star striker, JJ Leonardi sent the ball into the top-left corner and scored the final goal of the match. It was 2-1 to Gimnasia y Bala, who climbed up to second place, and Nacional went down to seventh by the end of the round.
In the south side of Tero al Disco Capital, the 35-year-old Marcelo Leiva scored his first two goals for Comergas, as they came back to beat Ferrocarriles Unidos 2-1. Bruno Prieto was the scored for Ferro. In one of the suburban derbies, Rosamonte beat Tacurú 2-0 thanks to Simón and Pagano, who made both teams go four points out from the relegation zone. Salto beat Manuel Rodríguez 3-1, including two goals from Telmo Martín. Round eight ended with Sportivo Caamaño extending their streak of eight as many without a win; they were beaten 1-4 by Moncloa as Herrera opened the score with after the ball landed on him to volley to the goal. Salomón equalised it temporarily for Caamaño but then came Martelli, Villaverde, and Cardozo.

In round 9, Moncloa put on a performance so bad, it seemed that they were starting to lose their grip in the league title, as they were swept 3-0 by Norteño at home, with a brace from Herrera and another goal for Biaggi - his fifth. The only thing that saved them from being beaten to the punch by Gimnasia y Bala, was that Gimnasia dropped two points as they drew to Tacurú, in an entertaing 2-2 draw. Sportivo Caamaño finally won as they beat Manuel Rodríguez 1-0 away from home, thanks to a goal by forward Pacheco. Rosamonte beat Independiente 3-2. By the 40th minute, el Decano were losing 2-1, but a close-range goal by Delgado in the 48th, and another one by U19s player Hector Ferré by the 86th sealed the deal, and got them into tenth place. Comergas beat Salto 1-0, thanks to a late goal by Nahuel French, which helped them stay in ninth. Valerio Perrín made Solanet beat Ferro by the same result as Comergas, and hopefully they get closer and closer to IFCF berths. Centauro gave the league the upset of the week, as they cameback from a one-goal deficit to beat Laureles 2-1, with goals by Stilo and Domínguez. Luckily for them, they stayed in fifth, as Nacional lost again, this time to Sportivo Escobar.

By this time, the Manuel Rodriguez board decided to sack Mauricio Guzmán, and the team had to travel to the Mariano Mieszki to play Norteño with interim manager, José Santa Cruz. This showed how much the club was in shambles (in sporting matters), as Norteño put six in the back of the net, with a brace from Cervantes, and one goal each for Hirsch, Villar, Salinas and Lobo. In Escobar, Sportivo were beaten 0-3 by Tacurú, including two goals by Joaquín Leguizamón, who made himself his club's top scorer for the season. Nacional Terense broke their run of three losses by beating Centauro 1-0, with a header from Marcos Monyor. Laureles still disappointed, as they drew 0-0 to Ferrocarriles Unidos. Salto Athletic drew with Solanet 1-1, and Comergas beat Sportivo Caamaño 2-0 away from home, which was enough for Caamaño's board to sack Gonzalo Sabella. Then, two players reached Ramiro Guerra's league-high tally of seven goals: J.J. Leonardi for Gimnasia y Bala, who scored an early goal against Rosamonte to give his team their seventh win; and Alvaro Biaggi, who scored Moncloa's two goals to beat Caide 2-1, and therefore conserve their lead, by one point. Although, Moncloa could be overtaken at any moment.

---Nacional A                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Moncloa                    10    8   0   2    16   10   +6    24 Champions League & League of Victors
#2 Gimnasia y Bala            10    7   2   1    19   10   +9    23 Challengers Cup & League of Victors
#3 Norteño                    10    6   3   1    19    4  +15    21 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Sportivo Escobar           10    6   1   3    15    7   +8    19 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Nacional Terense           10    5   1   4    13    9   +4    16 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Laureles (M)               10    5   1   4    14   11   +3    16 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Comergas                   10    5   1   4    13   15   −2    16 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Independiente (E)          10    4   3   3    13   12   +1    15 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Solanet                    10    4   3   3    10    9   +1    15
10 Tacurú                     10    3   3   4     8    8    0    12
11 Rosamonte                  10    3   2   5    12   13   −1    11
12 Salto Athletic             10    3   1   6     8   11   −3    10
13 Ferrocarriles Unidos       10    2   3   5     4   11   −7     9
14 Centauro                   10    2   1   7     7   13   −6     7 Relegation playoff
15 Sportivo Caamaño           10    1   4   5     6   13   −7     7 Relegation
16 Manuel Rodriguez           10    1   1   8     2   23  −21     4 Relegation

NACIONAL B 2024 TABLE - ROUNDS 6 to 10

hi Nacional B                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Progreso                   10    6   2   2    11    8   +3    20 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#2 Camioneros                 10    6   1   3    12    8   +4    19 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#3 Unión Ferroviaria          10    5   2   3    14    8   +6    17 Promotion playoff, Liga B Champions Trophy
 4 Palestino                  10    5   2   3    13    8   +5    17
 5 Sionista                   10    5   2   3     9   11   −2    17
 6 Sportivo Terense           10    5   0   5    15   12   +3    15
 7 Defensores de Salto        10    3   5   2    13   10   +3    14
 8 Villa Vallier              10    3   5   2     8    6   +2    14
 9 Colmena                    10    4   2   4     9    8   +1    14
10 Plaza Cura Cortez          10    4   2   4     7   10   −3    14
11 Camino Real                10    4   0   6     8   10   −2    12
12 Carpincho Atropellado      10    3   3   4     8   11   −3    12
13 Yaguareté                  10    4   0   6     9   14   −5    12 Relegation playoff
14 Lawn Tennis                10    3   2   5    11   12   −1    11 Relegation playoff
15 San Cipriano               10    2   3   5     7   11   −4     9 Relegation
16 Parque Rodó                10    0   5   5     3   10   −7     5 Relegation

by **Tero al Disco** » Thu Feb 29, 2024 11:22 am

NACIONAL A 2024 REVIEW PART 3 - ROUNDS 11 to 15

Matchday 11
Manuel Rodriguez 0–1 Independiente (E)
Moncloa 1–1 Rosamonte
Comergas 1–0 Norteño
Solanet 0–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Laureles (M) 3–1 Salto Athletic
Nacional Terense 0–2 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Tacurú 1–0 Centauro
Gimnasia y Bala 0–0 Sportivo Escobar

Matchday 12
Centauro 1–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Ferrocarriles Unidos 0–0 Tacurú
Salto Athletic 1–0 Nacional Terense
Sportivo Caamaño 1–1 Laureles (M)
Rosamonte 1–3 Sportivo Escobar
Norteño 3–0 Solanet
Independiente (E) 0–1 Comergas
Moncloa 1–0 Manuel Rodriguez

Matchday 13
Manuel Rodriguez 0–0 Rosamonte
Comergas 0–0 Moncloa
Solanet 0–1 Independiente (E)
Laureles (M) 0–2 Norteño
Nacional Terense 1–0 Sportivo Caamaño
Tacurú 0–0 Salto Athletic
Gimnasia y Bala 3–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Sportivo Escobar 0–1 Centauro

Matchday 14
Ferrocarriles Unidos 0–1 Sportivo Escobar
Salto Athletic 1–5 Gimnasia y Bala
Sportivo Caamaño 0–3 Tacurú
Norteño 3–3 Nacional Terense
Independiente (E) 0–1 Laureles (M)
Moncloa 1–0 Solanet
Rosamonte 0–1 Centauro
Manuel Rodriguez 0–1 Comergas

Matchday 15
Solanet 0–3 Manuel Rodriguez
Comergas 0–2 Rosamonte
Laureles (M) 1–1 Moncloa
Nacional Terense 0–0 Independiente (E)
Tacurú 0–0 Norteño
Gimnasia y Bala 0–0 Sportivo Caamaño
Sportivo Escobar 0–1 Salto Athletic
Centauro 0–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos

Derbies highlighted in yellow.

Sportivo Caamaño fans celebrated as the team won for the second time in eleven matches. This time it was against Solanet, when right-wing midfielder Ismael Monte scored an early goal to give them the three points. This, along with Centauro's loss at Tacurú, by 1-0, made los Diablos Rojos go up into the relegation play-off spot, level on points with Salto Athletic, who were beaten by Laureles 3-1. Moncloa's streak of luck looked to have run out, as they drew with Rosamonte 1-1 (the goals being made by Casale for Moncloa, and Belloni for Rosamonte). Except...in a 2nd vs. 4th place clash, Gimnasia y Bala drew themselves against Sportivo Escobar 0-0. A match with few shots on target, which Gimnasia could've won if it were not from a chip by Leonardi hitting the post. Manuel Rodriguez's defender Octavio Gerkovich had a ball bounce off his leg to give Independiente a 1-0 victory, cementing the yellow-red club as favourites for last place in the league. Meanwhile, Norteño were shocked by Comergas' Nahuel French who scored his team's only goal in a 1-0 win, as el Azzurro climbed up to sixth. Finally, Nacional lost at home to Ferro by 2-0 with goals by Sosa and Bogatzián, as the fans were already asking for Andres Jimenez's head to be the Nth sacked in the club's search of another league title.

As we come closer to the end of the first half of the league, Centauro drew 1-1 with Gimnasia y Bala. Gonzalo Rodríguez scored for the Centaurs as Iker Ibarra broke his drought of 657 minutes without scoring a goal (or a little over 7 matches). This as especially great news to Moncloa, who, by Sunday, had beaten Manuel Rodríguez thanks to Jonathan Juárez's first goal of the season, 1-0, thus extending their lead to three points. Tacurú drew at home with Ferro, 0-0, including a missed penalty by Joaquín Leguizamón to the hosts. Nacional Terense's board had actually sent a final warning to their manager Andrés Jiménez saying that, if he were to lose this match, he was to lose his job. And he did exactly that, giving Salto Athletic three points to help them in their relegation battle. Domingo Torres was the only scorer as Salto beat Nacional 1-0 in a shocker. Gimnasia's draw was also great news to Norteño and Sportivo Escobar. Sportivo came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat Rosamonte away from home, 3-1, including two from Maximiliano Alesci, and a rabona from Voivoda that went in goal. Meanwhile Norteño were busy beating Solanet by 3-0. Cervantes scored a brace and Villar broke his drought of 580 minutes without scoring. And while all this happened, a snoozefest of a game between Caide and Comergas finished with Lombardo becoming a super-sub, as he scored from a volley in injury time.

Round 13 started with two goalless draws: Manuel Rodriguez (featuring new manager Rodrigo Sula) 0-0 Rosamonte, and Comergas 0-0 Moncloa. The latter was great news to Gimnasia; the same thing happened as in round 12, but with reversed roles. Gimnasia, in this case, were busy defeating Ferrocarriles Unidos 3-0, as substitute players De Fiore and Durand (who has been selected to play for the Terense national team in the Baptism of Fire, as of writing this), along with midfielder Feliciano Duque, scoring the goals. The gap went from three points, back to one point. Independiente defeated Solanet as Marconi scored a late goal from a free kick, getting them from 7th to 6th, as Laureles were beaten by Norteño 2-0 with goals by Hirsch (who broke a two-game drought) and Llop. Laureles went down to seventh, and Norteño were two points from first place. The team that was unable to take advantage of Moncloa's draw was Sportivo Escobar, who were beaten by Centauro, with another goal from Gonzalo Rodríguez. Ramiro Guerra made himself the undisputed top scorer, with an eighth goal coming against Sportivo Caamaño (who also featured a new manager, Jesús Tichy, one of their former managers). Tacurú drew again, 0-0 against Salto Athletic, and that was Efraín Azzaro's fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Round number fourteen started as Sportivo looked to get back from their loss at Centauro while they visited Ferro's stadium. Second-string right-back Paulo Marini got them the win, and by Friday night they were three points away from the top (with one more match). Gimnasia y Bala thumped Salto 5-1 away from home, as Leonardi scored a brace to take back the top goalscorer lead. Kuchler, Reyes and Ibarra (again) scored one goal each, as Alvaro Sierra scored his first ever goal for his team. Caamaño disappointed heavily (again) as they lost 3-0 at home to Tacurú, which included Tacurú's right-winger José Raza scoring his first two goals of the season. Norteño and Nacional played out one hell of a fixture. 3-3 was the final result, with Cervantes, an own goal for Martini and Vidal Montoya scoring for Norteño, and Martini (who scored eight minutes before the own goal came), Insfrán and substitute Jocelín pulling los Bomberos from 1-3 down to 3-3 in five minutes. Laureles beat Caide away from home 1-0, with Melchor Gallina scoring his first goal ever in the first division. Moncloa kept the lead yet again, as substitute Carlos Esparza scored fifteen minutes from time to deliver a 1-0 victory over Solanet. Comergas beat Rodríguez 1-0 and, in a relegation clash, Centauro beat Rosamonte 1-0 with a goal from Alejandro Domínguez as the Dean went from 12th to 13th, two points from direct relegation.

Solanet were 10/16th, and they were just two points over relegation playoff territory, so they could drop four places if they wanted to (and if all their rivals won by we don't care about that). Guess what? Manuel Rodríguez finally had a great day, as they beat them 0-3 away from home. RIP. And 3/4 of those rivals I was talking about, won. First of all, Rosamonte beat Comergas 2-0 as Orlando Abbiati and Esteban Belloni went back to putting balls in the back of the net. Salto Athletic shocked Sportivo Escobar when they won 0-1 with another goal from Alvaro Sierra scored his second goal in as many games. Centauro and Ferro drew 0-0 and so Ferro finished in 14th with 14 points, Solanet in 13th with 15, and Centauro in 12th, also with 15 but with better goal difference. Anyway, the Moncloa derby was in town as Laureles played Moncloa. Héctor Sánchez scored for Laureles by the fourth minute, and could've scored another one seven minutes later, if it were not for a spectacular save by the goalkeeper. Germán Hasse equalised in the 36th minute thanks to a header, but in the minutes afterwards there were hardly any shots at goal, and the final whistle blew it was 1-1 and Moncloa conserved their lead, thanks to Gimnasia drawing with Caamaño 0-0. Speaking of 0-0s, there were plenty of them this round. Nacional-Independiente, Tacurú-Norteño, Gimnasia-Caamaño and Centauro-Ferro had zero goals scored between them.

And this is the table heading into the Baptism of Fire break:

---Nacional A                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Moncloa                    15   10   3   2    20   12   +8    33 Champions League & League of Victors
#2 Gimnasia y Bala            15    9   5   1    28   12  +16    32 Challengers Cup & League of Victors
#3 Norteño                    15    8   5   2    27    8  +19    29 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Sportivo Escobar           15    8   2   5    19   10   +9    26 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Comergas                   15    8   2   5    16   17   −1    26 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Laureles (M)               15    7   3   5    20   16   +4    24 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Independiente (E)          15    6   4   5    15   14   +1    22 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Tacurú                     15    5   6   4    12    8   +4    21 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Nacional Terense           15    6   3   6    17   15   +2    21
10 Salto Athletic             15    5   2   8    12   19   −7    17
11 Rosamonte                  15    4   4   7    16   18   −2    16
12 Centauro                   15    4   3   8    10   15   −5    15
13 Solanet                    15    4   3   8    10   18   −8    15
14 Ferrocarriles Unidos       15    3   5   7     6   15   −9    14 Relegation playoff
15 Sportivo Caamaño           15    2   6   7     8   18  −10    12 Relegation
16 Manuel Rodriguez           15    2   2  11     5   26  −21     8 Relegation

Top goalscorers:
 1 Juan José Leonardi (Gimnasia y Bala)	9 goals
 2 Ramiro Guerra (Nacional Terense)	8 goals
 3 Alvaro Biaggi (Moncloa)		7 goals
 4 Esteban Hirsch (Norteño)		6 goals
   Sergio Cervantes (Norteño)		6 goals

NACIONAL B 2024 TABLE - ROUNDS 11 to 15

   Nacional B                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Progreso                   15    9   3   3    17   11   +6    30 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#2 Palestino                  15    8   3   4    16    9   +7    27 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#3 Sportivo Terense           15    8   1   6    18   13   +5    25 Promotion playoff, Liga B Champions Trophy
 4 Camioneros                 15    7   2   6    15   13   +2    23
 5 Camino Real                15    7   2   6    15   14   +1    23
 6 Unión Ferroviaria          15    6   4   5    19   14   +5    22
 7 Colmena                    15    6   3   6    14   12   +2    21
 8 Yaguareté                  15    6   3   6    14   17   −3    21
 9 Plaza Cura Cortez          15    6   3   6    14   19   −5    21
10 Carpincho Atropellado      15    5   5   5    16   17   −1    20
11 Villa Vallier              15    5   5   5    13   15   −2    20
12 Defensores de Salto        15    4   7   4    14   12   +2    19
13 Sionista                   15    5   3   7    11   18   −7    18 Relegation playoff
14 Lawn Tennis                15    4   3   8    17   17    0    15 Relegation playoff
15 San Cipriano               15    3   6   6     9   13   −4    15 Relegation
16 Parque Rodó                15    0   9   6    10   18   −8     9 Relegation

COPA DE LA REPÚBLICA 2024 REVIEW PART 1 - QUALIFYING STAGE

The Copa de la República (Republic's Cup) is Tero al Disco's premier cup competition. Inaugurated around the same time as the Estadio de la República, the country's premier stadium, by ATF season 1962, its function was to serve as a tournament in which teams from all divisions participated in. The cup would conclude in a final, played at said stadium. The cup was played regularly between 1962 and 1973, but due to decreasing public interest, it started to be played irregularly since season 1974, with different formats. Sometimes teams from multiple divisions were present, and at times it was only teams from the first division. Though, since the season 2006, there have been no interruptions.

For this season there will be 64 teams: the 32 teams in Nacional A and Nacional B, but also 16 teams from the Torneo Federal (3rd tier), 12 teams from the 4th tier, and 4 invited teams from the 5th division of Terense football. The 3rd, 4th and 5th tier teams will enter in the first qualifying round, and the 16 winners will play the Nacional B teams in the second and final qualifying round. Those 16 winners will join the 16 first division teams in the first round proper of the cup.

As a sidenote, matches go inmediately into penalty shoot-outs when drawn.

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

Vecindario (4) 			1–1 Ciudad Cerutti (3) 			(4–2 pen.)
Atlético Carreras (4) 		1–2 Macedonia (5)
Talleres (Inticuna) (3) 	1–0 Pontevedra (3)
Defensores de Boca (3) 		0–2 Italiano (4)
Terense (Tatapirá) (5) 		0–3 Central (Inticuna) (3)
Carshe del Sur (3) 		3–0 Manto (5)
Guacamayo Manco (3) 		0–1 Barrial (Brisco) (4)
Defensores de Olimpo (3) 	2–1 Liberación (4)
Municipalidad de Caamaño (4) 	0–3 Júpiter (3)
Sportivo Retiro (3) 		0–0 Nacional (Inticuna) (3) 		(3–4 pen.)
Deportivo Tattersall (3) 	3–1 La Unión (4)
Capiibary (3) 			1–2 Sportivo Central (4)
Vigor (4) 			1–2 Motocross Lavalle (5)
Puchaquí (3) 			0–0 Gimnasia (Banda Oeste) (3) 		(4–5 pen.)
Atlético Cazador (4) 		1–0 Independiente (Belvedere) (4)
Old Patrician (3) 		2–0 San Antonio (4)

SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND

Nacional (Inticuna) (3) 	0–0 Palestino (2) 			(4–3 pen.)
Plaza Cura Cortez (2) 		1–4 Unión Ferroviaria (2)
Carshe del Sur (3) 		0–1 Gimnasia (Banda Oeste) (3)
Talleres (Inticuna) (3) 	1–0 Jupiter (3)
Sportivo Central (4) 		0–0 Macedonia (5) 			(3–2 pen.)
Italiano (4) 			1–0 Lawn Tennis (2)
Carpincho Atropellado (2) 	1–0 Barrial (Brisco) (4)
Motocross Lavalle (5) 		1–1 Vecindario (4) 			(6–5 pen.)
Sionista (2) 			1–0 Colmena (2)
Deportivo Tattersall (3) 	1–0 Central (Inticuna) (3)
Progreso (2) 			1–0 Old Patrician (3)
Defensores de Salto (2) 	1–0 Defensores de Olimpo (3)
Parque Rodó (2) 		0–0 Camino Real (2) 			(3–4 pen.)
Atlético Cazador (4) 		0–0 Sportivo Terense (2) 		(2–3 pen.)
Villa Vallier (2) 		1–1 Camioneros (2) 			(4–5 pen.)
San Cipriano (2) 		6–0 Yaguareté (2)

FIRST ROUND DRAW

Sportivo Central (4) 		vs. Ferrocarriles Unidos (1)
Camino Real (2) 		vs. Defensores de Salto (2)
Sportivo Terense (2) 		vs. Progreso (2)
Motocross Lavalle (5) 		vs. Sionista (2)
Nacional (Inticuna) (3) 	vs. Sportivo Caamaño (1)
San Cipriano (2) 		vs. Manuel Rodriguez (1)
Gimnasia (Banda Oeste) (3) 	vs. Nacional Terense (1)
Talleres (Inticuna) (3) 	vs. Independiente (Escobar) (1)
Sportivo Escobar (1) 		vs. Laureles (Moncloa) (1)
Solanet (1) 			vs. Salto Athletic (1)
Carpincho Atropellado (2) 	vs. Norteño (1)
Camioneros (2) 			vs. Centauro (1)
Tacurú (1) 			vs. Gimnasia y Bala (1)
Italiano (4) 			vs. Unión Ferroviaria (2)
Deportivo Tattersall (3) 	vs. Comergas (1)
Moncloa (1) 			vs. Rosamonte (1)

by **Tero al Disco** » Sun Mar 24, 2024 12:59 pm

NACIONAL A 2024 REVIEW PART 4 - ROUNDS 16 to 22
(We had to play midweek)

Matchday 16
Rosamonte 2–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Centauro 1–2 Salto Athletic
Sportivo Escobar 1–0 Sportivo Caamaño
Gimnasia y Bala 0–0 Norteño
Tacurú 2–0 Independiente (E)
Nacional Terense 3–0 Moncloa
Laureles (M) 2–3 Manuel Rodriguez
Solanet 0–0 Comergas

Matchday 17
Manuel Rodriguez 0–1 Solanet
Moncloa 0–0 Laureles (M)
Independiente (E) 1–0 Nacional Terense
Ferrocarriles Unidos 0–1 Comergas
Norteño 2–3 Tacurú
Sportivo Caamaño 3–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Salto Athletic 2–0 Sportivo Escobar
Rosamonte 0–1 Centauro

Matchday 18
Sportivo Escobar 2–0 Rosamonte
Gimnasia y Bala 1–0 Salto Athletic
Centauro 1–1 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Tacurú 1–0 Sportivo Caamaño
Nacional Terense 1–2 Norteño
Laureles (M) 0–0 Independiente (E)
Solanet 0–2 Moncloa
Comergas 1–1 Manuel Rodriguez

Matchday 19
Moncloa 1–0 Comergas
Independiente (E) 1–1 Solanet
Norteño 3–4 Laureles (M)
Sportivo Caamaño 0–1 Nacional Terense
Salto Athletic 0–0 Tacurú
Ferrocarriles Unidos 1–2 Manuel Rodriguez
Rosamonte 2–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Centauro 0–3 Sportivo Escobar

Matchday 20
Gimnasia y Bala 2–1 Centauro
Tacurú 2–1 Rosamonte
Sportivo Escobar 1–1 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Nacional Terense 4–0 Salto Athletic
Laureles (M) 0–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Solanet 0–1 Norteño
Comergas 2–1 Independiente (E)
Manuel Rodriguez 0–1 Moncloa

Matchday 21
Independiente (E) 1–0 Manuel Rodriguez
Norteño 1–2 Comergas
Sportivo Caamaño 0–1 Solanet
Salto Athletic 1–0 Laureles (M)
Ferrocarriles Unidos 0–1 Moncloa
Rosamonte 1–0 Nacional Terense
Centauro 4–1 Tacurú
Sportivo Escobar 2–1 Gimnasia y Bala

Matchday 22
Tacurú 2–4 Sportivo Escobar
Gimnasia y Bala 1–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Nacional Terense 0–1 Centauro
Laureles (M) 3–2 Rosamonte
Solanet 1–0 Salto Athletic
Comergas 3–4 Sportivo Caamaño
Manuel Rodriguez 0–1 Norteño
Moncloa 1–0 Independiente (E)

Derbies highlighted in yellow.

First of all: Whilst the Baptism of Fire was happening, three things happened: First of all Nacional had to exclude Ramiro Guerra due to international backlash due to him being racist towards some Hakushiyan players, and being a rich spoiled brat as well. Then Nacional hired Tacurú's Fabio Delgado. Tacurú hired Ramiro Rosal (who was currently unattached, and is not to be confused with Solanet's Rufino Rosales)...that's all.

Because I'm not in the mood for doing a round-by-round summary right now, what I'm going to do is to sum it up into headlines.
Round 16

Moncloa concedes three against Nacional: will they hand the first-place spot to Gimnasia y Bala?
Oh, but Gimnasia draw 0-0! They're in the lead anyway due to goal difference.
Maldonado, Constantino and Alonso give Manuel Rodríguez their second straight win.
Laureles "close to sacking" Fernández after slump in form.

Round 17

Comergas beat Ferro 1-0: can they get in IFCF spots after promotion?
Moncloa derby ends 0-0 in a boring fixture; El Bordó are hoping that Gimnasia loses.
Nacional go back to 9th after a 1-0 loss to Caide; pressure's already on Delgado.
10-man El Celeste are battered 3-1 by 15th-placed and equally 10-manned Caamaño. Moncloa take the lead!
Sportivo are shocked 2-0 by Salto, letting Comergas in 4th.
Norteño can't come back from conceding 3 goals in the first 16 minutes: 2-3 against Tacurú.

Round 18

Ferro still in relegation spots after drawing to Centauro, 1-1.
Gimnasia beat Salto due to an early penalty: it's 1-0.
Nacional lose 2-1 to Norteño as Hirsch gets back to scoring.
Laureles drew to Caide, but they give the board just enough hope so as to make Fernández not get sacked.
Moncloa beat Solanet 2-0; they're flying high again
Manuel's 3rd win in 4 matches is denied by French; Comergas go back down to 5th (Sportivo beat Rosamonte).

Round 19

Manuel go 3-1-1 in the last 5 matches as they beat Ferro 2-1; will this be the start of a miraculous save?*
Moncloa beat Comergas 1-0 despite finishing with 10 men.
Nacional (1-0 vs Caamaño) and Caide (1-1 vs Solanet) change places; 8th and 9th respectively.
Cervantes' hat-trick isn't enough as Laureles beat Norteño 4-3 in a thriller.
Gimnasia lose again, 1-2 to Rosamonte; the gap for the top is 4 points wide.
*Caamaño, Ferro and Manuel Rodríguez are all level at 15 points right now.

Round 20

Gimnasia beat Centauro 2-1 after the loss to Rosamonte.
Salto's defense implodes as Riese, Jocelín, Insfrán and Martini score within 10 minutes to give Nacional a 4-0 win.
Caamaño beats Laureles 1-0 as Amílcar Fernández is sacked.
Comergas beat Caide 2-1 thanks to Leiva and Ortiz, getting back from the loss at Moncloa.
With Manuel's loss and Ferro's draw, it's Caamaño with 18 points, Ferro with 16 and Rodríguez with 15.

Round 21

Moncloa are still going at it! It's four games won in a row after beating Ferro 1-0.
Comergas beat Norteño 2-1 in a match for the last Challengers Cup spot, it's thanks to Leiva and French
Manager-less Laureles lose to Salto 1-0 thanks to a goal from Álvarez.
Nacional stumble to Rosamonte amid rumours of Delgado getting sacked.
Sportivo Escobar beat Gimnasia; they're not in League of Victors spots due to only scoring less goals.

Round 22

Gimnasia beat Ferro in an attempt to recoup the 7-point gap.
Sportivo defeat Tacurú 4-2 and overtake Gimnasia in 2nd place.
Nacional are beaten by 13th-spot Centauro; Carrizo makes it 1-0.
Laureles get back into 7th with a 3-2 victory against Rosamonte.
Comergas 3-4 Caamaño: el Gigante are now five points over 15th-placed Ferro.
Cardozo gets a late free-kick in for Moncloa as they defeat Caide 1-0.

---Nacional A                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Moncloa                22   15   4   3    26   15  +11    49 Champions League & League of Victors
#2 Sportivo Escobar       22   13   3   6    32   16  +16    42 Challengers Cup & League of Victors
#3 Gimnasia y Bala        22   12   6   4    35   20  +15    42 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Norteño                22   11   6   5    37   18  +19    39 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Comergas               22   11   4   7    25   25    0    37 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Tacurú                 22    9   7   6    23   19   +4    34 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Laureles (M)           22    9   5   8    29   26   +3    32 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Nacional Terense       22    9   3  10    26   20   +6    30 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Independiente (E)      22    8   6   8    19   20   −1    30
10 Salto Athletic         22    8   3  11    17   26   −9    27
11 Solanet                22    7   5  10    14   22   −8    26
12 Rosamonte              22    7   4  11    24   27   −3    25
13 Centauro               22    7   4  11    19   24   −5    25
14 Sportivo Caamaño       22    5   6  11    16   26  −10    21 Relegation playoff
15 Ferrocarriles Unidos   22    3   7  12     9   24  −15    16 Relegation
16 Manuel Rodriguez       22    4   3  15    11   34  −23    15 Relegation

And so I have no option but to go from the round-by-round headlines to a team-by-team review, so let's go:

First of all, Moncloa are really shocking the whole country out here. They might win the first title since season 1951 and are holding a 7-point lead over Sportivo Escobar and Gimnasia. Alvaro Biaggi has gone from being the team's top-scorer in the Baptism of Fire (3 goals) to having an 8-match+ goalscoring drought, but he bounced back with 3 goals in 3 rounds: 19, 20, and 21, which made him end up with a tally of 10 in 22 matches. Although, this might be because of Rubén Lima, and not Amílcar Fernández somehow managing them and Laureles, making the team play very defensively, as any good underdog should do. This has affected their performance, massively. Despite their 3-0 loss against Nacional, they are now on a six-match unbeaten streak. They might've drawn 0-0 with Laureles, but then they won 2-0, 1-0, 1-0, 1-0, and 1-0 as well. That's six consecutive clean sheets for Andrés Castillo, whom Alfredo Félix (probably since he's also coaching title challengers Gimnasia y Bala) decided to be favoured over Tacurú's Rico for the NT, though that might change later. He's seemingly ignored Tacurú's new defensive flaws under Rosal, which we'll look into later.
Meanwhile, for the last matches, the puppetmaster for the team has undoubtedly been Miguel Napoliello, the left-midfielder. After a suffering a heavy injury while training which left him out for 10 or so of the first games, he's come out fresh with his deadly crosses and great dribbling skills. The problem was when no-one scored off those crosses, but anyway, Félix has decided to "recognise" him as the best LM in Tero's player pool, maybe as compensation for Castillo?

Meanwhile, Gimnasia y Bala have slowed down, partly because of silly losses, like the 1-3 at Sportivo Caamaño and the 1-2 defeat at the hands of Rosamonte. Juan José Leonardi has cemented himself as the top scorer of the league, as he's now on 12 goals. But similarly to Biaggi, he's suffered from streaks of incosistency. After he scored a goal each for rounds 18, 19 and 20, he's now on a 2-match drought. I think that's asking quite a lot in a low-scoring league like this (measuring only off goals), but after an excellent debut in international football representing the country, Gimnasia fans must have been asking for more from him when he hardly had a chance at scoring, as the team lost to Sportivo Escobar. His partner Iker Ibarra hasn't had that much of a goalscoring prowess either, leaving most of the heavy lifting in the offense to Leonardi. The players who have been solid have been Beaufort and Cornelli, who might've had 0 goals between them, but they both settled on serving the purpose of playmakers for most of the matches. Gimnasia have a record of 3-1-3 in this part four, and a 7-8 goal record. Dissapointing.

I think people might suspect of favouritism when it comes to this, since Sportivo Escobar are second in the league but third in the review...whatever. Agustín Ibarra is doing a very great job at the team. They've always been fighting for the title, or the second League of Victors spot, but now the team are really going for that top 2 spot, since they beat Gimnasia 2-1. They might be far from Moncloa, but Gimnasia are currently out of the League of Victors, if the league finished here. This success may be attributed to them scoring like there is no tomorrow, somewhat, with 13 goals scored in 7 matches. One of the other advantages of the team is that they aren't carried by someone, like the case of Gimnasia with Leonardi, or Moncloa with Biaggi. The team's top scorers are Mateo Portelli and Maxi Alesci, with 5 goals. That makes them tied for 11th in the goalscorer table. But they're complemented by Lucero, Roscalli, Giovanni or Bengoechea (who's hardly played in the starting 11, but has scored 3 goals), et al. The team's defense might be flawed, but their main flaw is long-range shots. In a short distance, however, Kunz (showing his NT traces), Salinas or Palencia have shown that they are very good in the clearance department. The goalkeeper Eduardo Acciaio can save better, but I think that's all for them.

Ending the IFCF spots is Norteño. They're still showing that they've got the best attack in the league, as they still have scored the most goals. Cervantes is doing the hard pushing here; he's now second in the scorers' table with 11 footballs in the back of the net. Surprisingly, Hirsch has beaten that period of scoring like a striker most of the time since he's now gone over 360 minutes without scoring (i.e. four matches, or more). Cristian Rivero's side, however, only showed their entertaining side of football when they lost: 2-3 against Tacurú in round 17, and 3-4 against Laureles in round 19. Otherwise, when they won, they didn't score much: it was mostly 2-1s, or 1-0s. Like Napoliello in Moncloa, Villar has turned into a great crosser for the team, with an impressive 5 assists out of the 10 goals in these 7 matches.

Then there's the Cinderella team of the season, Comergas. Despite starting off 14th in the first 5 matches, since round 9 more or less they've been fighting to enter in IFCF competitions right after their promotion. They've always been no more than three, maybe four points apart from 4th place in this period of matches. That may be attributed to players like the forwards Leiva or French, but also to others, like César Hidalgo being a very tough defender to beat, with his 32 years of age, or his second cousin Ayrton having great technique with the football and so being the main player to set up the shots at goal. Obviously, every fan is hoping that Come manage to get in the Challengers Cup.

In sixth, there's the other Challengers' challenger (yes I know, terrible joke), Tacurú. They started in round 16 with a 5-point gap over then-4th placed Sportivo Escobar, but their results have been getting progressively better until they lost 4-1 against Centauro and 4-2 against el Albiceleste. Needless to say, it looks like Ramiro Rosal has erased all traces of Delgado's very defensive football. They've had a goal-tally of 11-11 in 7 matches. In other words, in half the matches they've scored almost more goals and conceded definitely more, than the 12-8 tally when Delgado left the club. Joaquín Leguizamón woke up in rounds 16 (2-0 against Caide, 1 goal from Joaco) and 17 (3-2 against Norteño, 2 goals from him), but then went back to sleep for the remainder of this quarter-season. He was "replaced" by players like José Raza and Franco Maroni.

Then there's Laureles, who sacked Amílcar Fernández due to a poor run of results. Laure went from being favourites to challenge for the title, to barely being able to stay inside the Confederations Trophy play-offs. They conceded three to Manuel Rodríguez in round 16, when everyone agreed they were a dead corpse. Then they did a Gimnasia and lost at home to Caamaño, but only 0-1, not 3-1 like el Celeste. Maybe Isidro Savich, who's been called up to the national team for the first two rounds World Cup qualifiers, or Lautaro Araujo, who was the top scorer very early on in the season, can make them rise from their "ashes"; well I'm exaggerating a bit here, but they really shouldn't be playing like this.

In eighth place Nacional Terense, whose manager Fabio Delgado has been dissapointing fans all over the country, more or less. I mean, he's a small team manager, and people predicted that it wouldn't go that well for him. Well, it didn't go that well for him. Despite having players that were called up to the NT for the Baptism of Fire, like Riese, Insfrán or Martini, they still had the injury problems and all the defensive errors they had when Andrés Jiménez was at the club. After smashing Moncloa 3-0, they only won two more matches afterwards. We can hope that they get better, or not turn into Bacional, am I right?

In ninth place there's Independiente de Escobar. They mostly have the same problems as Nacional, except they're defending the league title and their manager somehow hasn't been sacked, presumably because of said league title. Joaquín Marconi and Denis Pereyra have kept playing solidly, but they suffer the disadvantages of Tomás Righi and Lucas Figueredo, as well as them two, not having a very accurate cross. That being said, the forward three of Marconi, Pereyra and Sava still have some potential in this league campaign, Figueredo is very tall (199cm tall), has a great pace, has his techinque, and so he's another one of the main playmakers of the league. One of his setbacks is that he's horrible at finishing.

Because I'm getting tired of writing this review: if the low-mid-table was its own division, it would be very competitive. In 10th place there's Salto Athletic, which was predicted to battle for relegation. That's partly true, since they're six points off the relegation playoff zone. Anyways...the team have earned a reputation for upsets. They beat Sportivo Escobar in round 17, and Laureles in round 21. This is apart from beating Nacional in round 12 and Sportivo Escobar again, back in round 15, so Sportivo fans must hate them with all their lives. However, due to lots of setbacks (including the 0-4 against Nacional which, I'm gonna say it again, the defense pulverised themselves for 10 minutes before coming back and doing nothing), the team couldn't break above the 10th-place barrier. Solanet's Achilles heel is attack, it seemes like, since they've only scored 14 goals, but also have one of the best defenses with 22 goals conceded. Their top scorer, Samuel Figueroa, has only netted it 3 times. Rosamonte is another team that shouldn't be here, but unlike Solanet, their biggest flaw is defense. Even though the duo of Belloni and Abbiati should play in the upper end of the table, complemented by Pagano and Delgado, you still see scorelines like 2-3 against Laureles and 0-3 against Sportivo. I mean, they're not catastrophic results, but it shows that they've had this problem for the length of the season. Finally, there's Centauro, who were one of the favourites to get relegated, but are currently 4 points away from 14th, thanks to Alejandro Domínguez's sharpshooting, and defenders like Duerr, Abbatelli or Stilo having good performances at the back.

Then there's the bottom three. Sportivo Caamaño absolutely shouldn't be where they are now, given that almost the entire city of Caamaño, the 3rd biggest city in the country, supports them, and so they should have lots of money, have probably the best players from the city, but no. They're fighting relegation. Luckily, Ferrocarriles Unidos are five points under El Gigante, so now they would be safe inside the relegation playoff spot. Unlike Solanet, Ferro's Achilles heel really is attacking. They have scored a single digit of goals with 8 matches to go in the league, even though Salvador Bogatzián has been put inside the player pool for the WCQ. Bogatzián's main ability is his versatility. He can defend well, he can advance the ball well, and he's a talented striker. But at the front, he's inaccurate; he's only scored 3 goals (which is a third of his team's goals). And then Manuel Rodríguez occupying the last spot. They might be Inticuna's 5th team, unlike Sportivo Caamaño, but they've given the country a big surprise when they were level on points with Caamaño and Ferro in round 19, after going 3-1-1 between rounds 15 and that day (3-0, 3-2, 0-1, 1-1 and 2-1). They then proceeded to lose the next 3 matches...

NACIONAL B 2024 TABLE - ROUNDS 16 to 22

   Nacional B                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Palestino               22   13   4   5    30   14  +16    43 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#2 Progreso                22   12   4   6    25   20   +5    40 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#3 Sportivo Terense        22   11   2   9    23   19   +4    35 Promotion playoff, Liga B Champions Trophy
 4 Camino Real             22   11   2   9    25   23   +2    35
 5 Camioneros              22   10   3   9    23   22   +1    33
 6 Unión Ferroviaria       22    9   5   8    28   21   +7    32
 7 Yaguarete               22    9   4   9    18   21   −3    31
 8 Villa Vallier           22    7   9   6    16   16    0    30
 9 Plaza Cura Cortez       22    8   5   9    16   23   −7    29
10 Colmena                 22    7   7   8    16   16    0    28
11 Sionista                22    8   4  10    17   22   −5    28
12 San Cipriano            22    7   6   9    15   20   −5    27
13 Carpincho Atropellado   22    7   6   9    23   31   −8    27 Relegation playoff
14 Defensores de Salto     22    5   8   9    18   19   −1    23 Relegation playoff
15 Lawn Tennis             22    6   5  11    20   22   −2    23 Relegation
16 Parque Rodo             22    4  10   8    20   24   −4    22 Relegation

COPA DE LA REPÚBLICA 2024 REVIEW PART 2 - THE FIRST ROUNDS, PROPER

ROUND OF 32

Sportivo Central (4) 		0–1 Ferrocarriles Unidos (1)
Camino Real (2) 		2–0 Defensores de Salto (2)
Sportivo Terense (2) 		0–1 Progreso (2)
Motocross Lavalle (5) 		0–1 Sionista (2)
Nacional (Inticuna) (3) 	0–2 Sportivo Caamaño (1)
San Cipriano (2) 		0–1 Manuel Rodríguez (1)
Gimnasia (Banda Oeste) (3) 	0–1 Nacional Terense (1)
Talleres (Inticuna) (3) 	0–4 Independiente (E) (1)
Sportivo Escobar (1) 		0–3 Laureles (M) (1)
Solanet (1) 			0–1 Salto Athletic (1)
Carpincho Atropellado (2) 	4–2 Norteño (1)
Camioneros (2) 			1–0 Centauro (1)
Tacurú (1) 			0–1 Gimnasia y Bala (1)
Italiano (4) 			0–4 Unión Ferroviaria (2)
Deportivo Tattersall (3) 	0–0 Comergas (1) 		(3–4 pen.)
Moncloa (1) 			2–3 Rosamonte (1)

ROUND OF 16

Ferrocarriles Unidos (1) 	3–3 Camino Real (2) 		(3–2 pen.)
Progreso (2) 			2–0 Sionista (2)
Sportivo Caamaño (1) 		2–1 Manuel Rodríguez (1)
Nacional Terense (1) 		1–0 Independiente (E) (1)
Laureles (M) (1) 		1–2 Salto Athletic (1)
Carpincho Atropellado (2) 	0–0 Camioneros (2) 		(3–1 pen.)
Gimnasia y Bala (1) 		1–0 Unión Ferroviaria (2)
Comergas (1) 			0–1 Rosamonte (1)

QUARTER-FINAL MATCHUPS

Ferrocarriles Unidos (1)	vs. Progreso (2)
Sportivo Caamaño (1)		vs. Nacional Terense (1)
Salto Athletic (1)		vs. Carpincho Atropellado (2)
Gimnasia y Bala (1)		vs. Rosamonte (1)

by **Tero al Disco** » Sun Mar 31, 2024 5:49 pm

NACIONAL A 2024 REVIEW PART 5 - ROUNDS 23 to 28

Matchday 23
Ferrocarriles Unidos 0–1 Independiente (E)
Norteño 0–0 Moncloa
Sportivo Caamaño 2–2 Manuel Rodríguez
Salto Athletic 0–2 Comergas
Rosamonte 0–0 Solanet
Centauro 0–1 Laureles (M)
Sportivo Escobar 1–0 Nacional Terense
Gimnasia y Bala 3–2 Tacurú

Matchday 24
Tacurú 2–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Nacional Terense 2–0 Gimnasia y Bala
Laureles (M) 0–1 Sportivo Escobar
Solanet 0–1 Centauro
Comergas 1–0 Rosamonte
Manuel Rodriguez 1–1 Salto Athletic
Moncloa 3–3 Sportivo Caamaño
Independiente (E) 0–1 Norteño

Matchday 25
Ferrocarriles Unidos 1–2 Norteño
Sportivo Caamaño 1–4 Independiente (E)
Salto Athletic 0–1 Moncloa
Rosamonte 0–1 Manuel Rodriguez
Centauro 1–1 Comergas
Sportivo Escobar 1–0 Solanet
Gimnasia y Bala 0–2 Laureles (M)
Tacurú 0–0 Nacional Terense

Matchday 26
Nacional Terense 0–1 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Laureles (M) 0–0 Tacurú
Solanet 1–3 Gimnasia y Bala
Comergas 0–1 Sportivo Escobar
Manuel Rodriguez 3–0 Centauro
Moncloa 0–2 Rosamonte
Independiente (E) 1–0 Salto Athletic
Norteño 2–2 Sportivo Caamaño

Matchday 27
Ferrocarriles Unidos 0–3 Sportivo Caamaño
Salto Athletic 2–2 Norteño
Rosamonte 0–1 Independiente (E)
Centauro 0–1 Moncloa
Sportivo Escobar 1–1 Manuel Rodriguez
Gimnasia y Bala 6–2 Comergas
Tacurú 0–1 Solanet
Nacional Terense 3–2 Laureles (M)

Matchday 28
Laureles (M) 3–1 Ferrocarriles Unidos
Solanet 1–1 Nacional Terense
Comergas 1–0 Tacurú
Manuel Rodriguez 2–4 Gimnasia y Bala
Moncloa 1–1 Sportivo Escobar
Independiente (E) 1–0 Centauro
Norteño 1–0 Rosamonte
Sportivo Caamaño 2–2 Salto Athletic
Derbies highlighted in yellow.

Round 23

Comergas beat Salto Athletic 2-0 and their Challengers Cup dreams are still very possible.
Jiménez's debut with Laureles ends in a win over Centauro
Norteño and Moncloa tie 0-0; Norteño level on points with Comergas and Moncloa could be 5 points over 2nd.
Sportivo Escobar beat Nacional; could this be the moment they take off?
Gimnasia y Bala resist Tacurú scare to win 3-2 and stay level with Sportivo Escobar.

Round 24

Delgado breathes a sigh of relief: Nacional win Clásico de Clásicos 2-0
Supersub Voivoda gets Sportivo Escobar a 1-0 victory
Comergas and Norteño are still fighting over 4th place with 1-0 wins for each
Moncloa draw 3-3 with Caamaño and the gap is 3 points over Sportivo Escobar: is this REALLY the end for them?
Manuel Rodríguez go on top of Ferro after drawing 1-1 with Salto.

CLÁSICO DE CLÁSICOS (Nacional Terense-Gimnasia y Bala):
The two teams came with very different realities: the board of Nacional Terense had almost decided to sack manager Fabio Delgado. After all, in a team where you're expected to win every single time, in his eight matches with the club, he had led them to just three wins. This comes after Ramiro Guerra was "separated" from the squad; international pundits during the Baptism of Fire noted that Nacional could make him start later in the tournament, but fortunately he hasn't played one minute of footy since. The remainder were all losses, as Nacional went into round 24, 3 points away from the Confederations Trophy playoffs (which is a very low bar, to be in 9th place in a club which I already mentioned was how it is), and 8 from the relegation playoffs. Gimnasia y Bala were...not in the best of days either. They were fighting head-to-head with Moncloa for the title, but especially due to losses to the two Sportivos: Escobar and Caamaño, they let Moncloa run away with the lead they've got now. They are fighting the same way with Sportivo Escobar for the League of Victors spot now, especially given the fact that Alfredo Felix is travelling very frequently between one continent of the multiverse to another whilst managing Tero al Disco.

As it happened in any good Terense derby, not much of note happened: first of all, in the 10th minute Paulo Tedesco went down and the referee gave a penalty. Understandably, the Gimnasia players crowded the referee, no matter if it was the most obvious of fouls, or a really close penalty that even VAR could have problems deciding what it was. Cristian Riese lined up for it, and it went wide. Some more chances later, and 37 minutes in Benjamín Insfrán found himself beating Alejo Roux and Martín Kuchler, before chipping the ball over Gabriel Stenger. And it was 1-0 to Nacional. Probably the only chance that Gimnasia had was in the 27th, as JJ Leonardi tried a shot out from the edge of the area, only to be headed out by Nacional's Eugenio Pastor for a corner.

It was half-time, then the break, and then the break ended and the second half started. Just 100 seconds after the half-time break did end, Gimnasia had missed their biggest opportunity to tie the match as Leonardi had the goal open for him, when he shot from a 45° angle on the right side, and hit the right post. Luis Ángel Clemente made it worse for el Celeste when he scored from a header in the 65th minute, which put Nacional 2-0 up. Gimnasia searched and searched for the goal, with 25 minutes left, but they couldn't find it. 78 minutes, and Insfrán was close to scoring a brace, when his header was saved by Stenger, and thus Gimnasia saved themselves from losing by a very considerable 0-3. Fabio Delgado decided to make his time sit back, relax and celebrate the eventual win which made the board decide not to sack him...yet.

Round 25

Caide put 4 past Caamaño away from home in an important relegation game for the latter
Moncloa are back on track: 1-0 in Salto.
Manuel Rodríguez shock Rosamonte and are only 3 points off 14th.
Portelli's peanlty makes Sportivo Escobar defeat Solanet and keeps them chasing Moncloa.
Laureles shock Gimnasia by 2-0 away from home.
With a 9-point gap off 1st, Gimnasia y Bala will sack Félix in case "Gimnasia fall out of title contention".

Round 26

Gimnasia win 3-1 at Solanet's stadium: will Félix save his job?
Sportivo Escobar defeat Comergas 1-0 in Arias, thanks to Andrés Roscalli's goal.
Nacional loses to last-placed Ferro: Delgado's sacked!
Manuel Rodríguez beat Centauro by three-nil.
Moncloa lose 2-0 at Rosamonte: will Sportivo Escobar snatch the title away from them?
Sportivo Caamaño draw 2-2 in Capital against Norteño: can Manuel pull themselves out of direct relegation?

Round 27

Moncloa and an easy 1-0 defeat of Centauro.
Sportivo Escobar draw in disillusioning fashion to Manuel: 1-1 in Escobar, and Moncloa have a 2-point lead.
What's going on with Gimnasia now? It's a 6-2 victory over Comergas.
Gimnasia-Comergas breaks an all-time record after going into halftime 5-2.
Solanet take an important win in the relegation battle: 1-0 over Tacurú.
Insfrán makes it 3-2 for Nacional with a 67th minute winner.
Caamaño defeat Ferro 3-0: will they survive?

Round 28

Nacional draw to Solanet, and I'm afraid their Confederation Trophy hopes are going away.
Say goodbye to Ferro: a 1-3 loss at Laureles' makes it impossible for them to venture out of 15th, with 2 matches left.
Gimnasia beat Manuel 4-2 in Inticuna as they accumulate 13 goals in the last 3 fixtures.
Moncloa draw with Sportivo Escobar and maintain the lead in the game of the season (OOC: report to be done later)
Sportivo Caamaño's 2-2 comeback against Salto complicates Manuel's hopes of surviving.

---Nacional A             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Moncloa                28   17   7   4    32   21  +11    58 Champions League & League of Victors
#2 Sportivo Escobar       28   17   5   6    38   18  +20    56 Challengers Cup & League of Victors
#3 Gimnasia y Bala        28   16   6   6    51   31  +20    54 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Norteño                28   14   9   5    45   23  +22    51 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Comergas               28   14   5   9    32   33   −1    47 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Independiente (E)      28   13   6   9    27   22   +5    45 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Laureles (M)           28   12   6  10    37   31   +6    42 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Tacurú                 28   10   9   9    27   24   +3    39 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Nacional Terense       28   11   5  12    32   25   +7    38
10 Solanet                28    8   7  13    17   28  −11    31
11 Salto Athletic         28    8   6  14    22   35  −13    30
12 Rosamonte              28    8   5  15    26   31   −5    29
13 Centauro               28    8   5  15    21   31  −10    29
14 Sportivo Caamaño       28    6  10  12    29   39  −10    28 Relegation playoff
15 Manuel Rodriguez       28    6   6  16    21   42  −21    24 Relegation
16 Ferrocarriles Unidos   28    4   7  17    12   35  −23    19 Relegation

HOW DOES EACH CLUB STAND IN RELATION TO THE TITLE/INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL/RELEGATION?
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League title and international football right now

---Nacional A             Pld   GD   Pts
#1 Moncloa                28   +11    58 League leaders
#2 Sportivo Escobar       28   +20    56 Can win the league
#3 Gimnasia y Bala        28   +20    54 Can only win the league by a miracle; have a guaranteed CC spot and can beat Sportivo for 2nd place
#4 Norteño                28   +22    51 May finish comfortably in fourth
#5 Comergas               28   −1     47 Is the only other team that can qualify for the CC, but they'll need to hope a lot
#6 Independiente (E)      28   +5     45 Can mathematically qualify for the CC, mathematically
#7 Laureles (M)           28   +6     42 Is going to qualify for the playoffs, I can tell it
#8 Tacurú                 28   +3     39 Fighting head-to-head for 8th place
#9 Nacional Terense       28   +7     38 If Nacional finish 9th, the team is a total disgrace
10 Solanet                28   −11    31
11 Salto Athletic         28   −13    30
12 Rosamonte              28   −5     29
13 Centauro               28   −10    29
14 Sportivo Caamaño       28   −10    28
15 Manuel Rodriguez       28   −21    24
16 Ferrocarriles Unidos   28   −23    19

Relegation right now

---Nacional A             Pld   GD   Pts
 1 Moncloa                28   +11    58
 2 Sportivo Escobar       28   +20    56
 3 Gimnasia y Bala        28   +20    54
 4 Norteño                28   +22    51
 5 Comergas               28   −1     47
 6 Independiente (E)      28   +5     45
 7 Laureles (M)           28   +6     42
 8 Tacurú                 28   +3     39
 9 Nacional Terense       28   +7     38
10 Solanet                28   −11    31 Fighting not to finish 14th
11 Salto Athletic         28   −13    30 Fighting not to finish 14th
12 Rosamonte              28   −5     29 Fighting not to finish 14th
13 Centauro               28   −10    29 Fighting not to finish 14th
14 Sportivo Caamaño       28   −10    28 Fighting not to finish 14th
15 Manuel Rodriguez       28   −21    24 It'll be difficult that they get out of 15th, let alone outside of any relegation place.
16 Ferrocarriles Unidos   28   −23    19 Relegated. Please laugh.

NACIONAL B 2024 TABLE - ROUNDS 23 to 28

hi Nacional B                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Progreso                28   15   5   8    31   24   +7    50 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#2 Palestino               28   14   7   7    34   19  +15    49 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#3 Unión Ferroviaria       28   14   5   9    35   24  +11    47 Promotion playoff, Liga B Champions Trophy
 4 Camioneros              28   14   4  10    32   26   +6    46
 5 Sportivo Terense        28   14   2  12    31   28   +3    44
 6 Villa Vallier           28    9  11   8    22   23   −1    38
 7 Camino Real             28   11   5  12    29   33   −4    38
 8 Yaguarete               28   11   5  12    22   26   −4    38
 9 Colmena                 28    9   9  10    20   20    0    36
10 Plaza Cura Cortez       28   10   6  12    22   30   −8    36
11 Sionista                28   10   5  13    24   28   −4    35
12 San Cipriano            28    9   7  12    17   27  −10    34
13 Lawn Tennis             28    9   6  13    26   28   −2    33 Relegation playoff
14 Carpincho Atropellado   28    8   8  12    28   37   −9    32 Relegation playoff
15 Defensores de Salto     28    7  10  11    25   23   +2    31 Relegation
16 Parque Rodo             28    6  13   9    26   28   −2    31 Relegation

COPA DE LA REPÚBLICA 2024 REVIEW PART 3 - THE FINAL ROUNDS

QUARTER-FINALS

Ferrocarriles Unidos (1) 	1–2 Progreso (2)
Sportivo Caamaño (1) 		0–2 Nacional Terense (1)
Salto Athletic (1) 		1–1 Carpincho Atropellado (2) 	(1–3 pen.)
Gimnasia y Bala (1) 		2–0 Rosamonte (1)

SEMI-FINALS

Progreso (2) 			0–0 Nacional Terense (1) 	(4–3 pen.)
Carpincho Atropellado (2) 	0–1 Gimnasia y Bala (1)

THE FINAL!

Progreso (2) 			1–3 Gimnasia y Bala (1)
PRO: E. Laza 55'
GYB: I. Ibarra 19', 31', G. Durand 68

And so, with a solid 3-1 defeat of Nacional B favourites Progreso in the final, Gimnasia y Bala have won the 1st Copa de la República in the IFCF era. By winning the Copa, they will play in the Cup Winners' Cup, aside from having a guaranteed spot in the Challengers' Cup. El Celeste fans will have something to be delighted about, other than them seemingly bottling the league lead.

by **Tero al Disco** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 7:14 pm

NACIONAL A 2024 REVIEW PART 6 - ROUNDS 29 and 30

At this moment we enter round 29 with Moncloa having a 2-point lead above Sportivo Escobar for 1st place. That comes after these two met the round before and drew 1-1, with goals from Alesci early on for CSE, and then a late equaliser from local hero Alvaro Biaggi. This round will also contain the Escobar derby. Yes, a major derby just 2 rounds from the end of the league, so potentially Independiente can brag about stopping their rivals from winning their first league title, ever. Speaking of droughts, if you haven't the part 4 review, Moncloa hasn't won a league title for nearly 75 seasons (for those of you asking, no, I didn't scorinate it for another browser-based political roleplay game's international club football championship), and, if they were to end up first by round 30, they would win the 2nd professional title and the 1st IFCF-era league title.

That, and a lot more matches involving relegation, international competitions and whatnot will be written about in this post.

Friday 20:15 match
Centauro 1–3 Norteño

Saturday 17:30 matches
Rosamonte 0–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Ferrocarriles Unidos 2–1 Salto Athletic
Tacurú 3–0 Manuel Rodriguez

Saturday 20:15 matches
Nacional Terense 4–0 Comergas
Laureles (M) 0–0 Solanet

Sunday 16:45 matches
Gimnasia y Bala 1–2 Moncloa
Sportivo Escobar 1–0 Independiente (E)

First came Norteño playing at Centauro's stadium. Norteño could theoretically qualify for the League of Victors, but they were five points away from Sportivo Escobar, so that was going to be a very difficult task. However, they'd play Centauro, who were only one point over Sportivo Caamaño for the relegation playoff. That match scheduling benefitted the opponents, since they would already know the results of one of the relegation strugglers. Centauro took the lead in the 24th minute with a powerful shot from the club's Man of the Season, Alejandro Domínguez. However, Juan de la Cruz made it 1-1 just 3 minutes later. And before halftime, Salomón Forester made it a comeback; Norteño were leading 2-1. Ñeño weren't letting Centauro have one chance in the second half, but they themselves weren't accurate at shooting. It was until Sergio Cervantes sealed the deal with a 3rd goal coming in the 90th minute. Cervantes had made a heroic comeback from the heavy ankle injury he suffered against Sannyamathland in the WC Qualifiers, so that was good for him.

The next day, 15th place would be decided, surely. After the Centauro match, Salto Athletic, Rosamonte, Sportivo Caamaño, and Manuel Rodríguez, the 4 teams capable of finishing in the second direct relegation spot, would both play at the same time. However, the deal was a bit between the latter two, as well as Centauro. From the first minutes of the match it was clear that Manuel was going down: Tacurú's Santiago Vaccaro scored the first goal within 2 minutes, and then came center-back Simón Berenger with a 36th minute header. La Menta Granizada were winning 2-0 by halftime. Salto Athletic also got shocked, as Bruno Prieto made already-relegated Ferro go 1-0 up. But eyes were all on Caamaño, who were drawing against Rosamonte 0-0, and Manuel Rodríguez who were losing 0-2. With Caamaño's draw, Manuel had to win or go down. After the break, it all worsened as Jacinto Coutinho made Caamaño take a 1-0 lead over el Decano, after a header. Now the relegation fight would be between Manuel Rodríguez (who were standing at 24 points) and Centauro (who had 29 after the defeat), as Caamaño were progressively outmatching their opponents. In the 67th minute, all was made worse when Berenger doubled his goal tally to make Tacurú 3-0 up. At that moment the fans knew there would be no miracles, that the team wouldn't magically end up winning 4-3, against a much superior Tacurú team. Caamaño made all their efforts to waste time, Salto had scored at the same time Tacurú did their third (although they later lost with an 89th minute winner), and minutes later, all matches had ended, Manuel Rodríguez were officially the second team to go down.

Two relatively unimportant matches closed the Saturday schedule, as Nacional-Comergas and Laureles-Solanet would decide more the Confederation Trophy playoff seeds more than anything else. Comergas' hopes of entering IFCF competition were officially ended, as an away trip to the capital finished with a 4-0 defeat. Thanks to Freitas, Anselm and Tedesco, Nacional were already 3-0 up by the 35th minute. Benjamín Insfrán added the fourth in the 60th minute. Laureles and Solanet was a bit more boring than Nacional's smashing of Norteño: it ended 0-0 instead.

And then came the two matches that could define the season's title, two huge matches between big teams: first, Moncloa would drive one hour east to visit the Estadio de la República against Gimnasia y Bala; and second, Sportivo Escobar would play against Caide in the derby of Escobar.

And so both matches started as the box on your left says, at 4:45 pm, because around 5pm is the perfect timeslot for a big match heree, a huge match in this case. Gimnasia-Moncloa started with Gimnasia y Bala controlling the game, but unexpectedly, after a free kick crossed in from the right-hand side by Germán Hasse, the ball lands on José María Herrera for him to score a perfect header, and Moncloa were up 1-0 by 18 minutes. With this result, and Sportivo Escobar-Caide being 0-0, Moncloa were on 61 points, and Sportivo were on 57. Moncloa would be the champions. Herrera's goal really destabilised el Celeste, and now it was Moncloa who were dominating. But because of Gimnasia's defenders managing to stay put well, and lots of good saves from Stenger stopped the maroon shirts from scoring another goal. As both matches neared the end of the first half, there were news from Escobar: A header, from Luís Abel, from Sportivo Escobar. Defensive errors from Independiente made their arch-rivals have several key chances, and Abel would slot it home for the first time. Sportivo Escobar were still in the race, this time it was 61 for Moncloa, 59 for el Albiceleste.

The second half rolled around and, while Moncloa's momentum ceased to be and their game was an even one, Caide still were having plenty of errors, and Sportivo Escobar were running ever the more loose. However, Moncloa would strike again. Alvaro Biaggi appeared in the 55th minute, like a superhero or something when the team most needed it, dribbled round Stenger, and put it in the back of the net for 2-0. From there on it was quite clear that Moncloa were going to win and play for the title in the last round, independent of if Sportivo Escobar would win or not. Anyway, Independiente would stop screwing around and Sportivo would gradually have less and less chances to take advatage of their opponents' defensive errors. However, el Albiceleste would still play well at the back, with a particularly strong showing by Damián Africano and Renzo Salinas, whose main tactic was to tackle, tackle and tackle whenever they came. And in the 68th minute, the ball was left to Iker Ibarra to score a tap-in, and so Gimnasia y Bala shortened the gap with 68 minutes gone. Sportivo fans went wild at that moment. Could Gimnasia finally draw it? The answer was no, they couldn't. They tried and tried and tried towards the end of the match, but Moncloa had decided to chicken out of the attack and did the typical time-wasting. Iker Ibarra had managed to cut through the defense by the 92nd minute. He was one-on-one with Castillo. Could he complete a miracle and make the comeback all by himself? Could he hamper Moncloa's chances of being the champions? It was like a scene out of a movie, but...nah. Castillo dived forward and caught the ball. He did nothing, he lied there on the pitch, he got booked, but Gimnasia couldn't manage nothing. Moncloa beat Gimnasia 2-1 away from home, and three minutes later the Escobar derby came to a close. Caide played a much better second half, but they couldn't tie it. Sportivo Escobar 1-0 Independiente, it was.

---Nacional A                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Moncloa                29   18   7   4    34   22  +12    61 Champions League & League of Victors
#2 Sportivo Escobar       29   18   5   6    39   18  +21    59 Challengers Cup & League of Victors
#3 Norteño                29   15   9   5    48   24  +24    54 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Gimnasia y Bala        29   16   6   7    52   33  +19    54 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Comergas               29   14   5  10    32   37   −5    47 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Independiente (E)      29   13   6  10    27   23   +4    45 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Laureles (M)           29   12   7  10    37   31   +6    43 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Tacurú                 29   11   9   9    30   24   +6    42 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Nacional Terense       29   12   5  12    36   25  +11    41
10 Solanet                29    8   8  13    17   28  −11    32
11 Sportivo Caamaño       29    7  10  12    30   39   −9    31
12 Salto Athletic         29    8   6  15    23   37  −14    30
13 Rosamonte              29    8   5  16    26   32   −6    29
14 Centauro               29    8   5  16    22   34  −12    29 Relegation playoff
15 Manuel Rodriguez       29    6   6  17    21   45  −24    24 Relegation
16 Ferrocarriles Unidos   29    5   7  17    14   36  −22    22 Relegation

Saturday 17:15 matches
Comergas vs. Laureles (M)
Sportivo Caamaño vs. Centauro
Manuel Rodríguez vs. Nacional Terense
Independiente (E) vs. Gimnasia y Bala
Salto Athletic vs. Rosamonte
Moncloa vs. Tacurú
Norteño vs. Sportivo Escobar
Solanet vs. Ferrocarriles Unidos

And, ladies and gentlemen, this is it. This is the round that defines the 1st league season in the IFCF era. Moncloa will be playing at home against Tacurú, searching for their second league title. Sportivo Escobar will be heading to the Estadio de la República (which will be the only game played there for the round), going up against 3rd-placed Norteño. The relegation playoff spot will also be decided, but that's a thing of lesser importance.

Will Moncloa win and snatch the league championship? Or will they trip and let Sportivo Escobar run away with their first ever title? Only time will tell.

Oh, also, the commentators for this match will be: Gastón Dezapeggo (the dude who I posted two commentaries in the WC thread) for Moncloa-Tacurú, and Paulo Videla (who's like, the other famous Terense commentator) will commentate the Sportivo Escobar-Norteño game.

KICK-OFF
applies to all matches

Uh, so yes, all the matches kicked off probably at the exact same second. Go team(s).

5 minutes
MRO 0-1 CNT

It's a perfect pass forward from Riese to Tedesco, Tedesco tries to shoot but it's blocked by a Ferro defender. The ball lands on Justo Freitas to score the first goal of this round. Nacional fans are ecstatic right now, maybe sarcastically, maybe not. Their team are entering the Confederations Trophy play-offs right now.

5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48
 6 Independiente (E)      30   13   7  10    27   23   +4    46
 7 Nacional Terense       30   13   5  12    37   25  +12    44
 8 Laureles (M)           30   12   8  10    37   31   +6    44
 9 Tacurú                 30   11  10   9    30   24   +6    43

6 minutes
NOR 0-1 CSE

"That's a great pass from Roscalli to Portelli, I think Portelli's going looking to cross it. The Sportivo forwards are outnumbered 3-2 but there runs Roscalli, it's a cross from Portelli, Roscalliii GOAL! Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollll! (...) Sportivo Escobar are leading 1-0, from a good header from Andrés Roscalli. The fans are going wild right now, this might as well be one of the most important goals in the history of the club. Sportivo Escobar and Moncloa are now level on points, and at this rate it's going to a tiebreaker."

1 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    40   18  +22    62
 2 Moncloa                30   18   8   4    34   22  +12    62
 3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
 4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    48   25  +23    54
 5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48

15 minutes
SOL 1-0 FER

Joaquín Leguizamón scores from a deadly free kick in an already dangerous spot of the pitch for fERRO. That man really deserves the place in the national team...anyway, it's basically dead rubber; It's very unlikely that Solanet are beaten down to 14th, and Ferrocarriles Unidos are already relegated, so...

16 minutes
SCA 1-0 CEN

"It's a goal in Caamaño! Juan Carlos Pacheco, he's the goalscorer. A silly error from the Centauro goalkeeper derives in a corner taken by Teófilo Clementini. Pacheco swooped in with a first-time header and he puts in the back of the net. Caamaño 1-0 up! Centauro seem to be drowning down in 14th place."

10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Sportivo Caamaño       30    8  10  12    31   39   −8    34
12 Salto Athletic         30    8   7  15    23   37  −14    31
13 Rosamonte              30    8   6  16    26   32   −6    30
14 Centauro               30    8   5  17    22   35  −13    29
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   46  −25    24

20 minutes
MRO 0-2 CNT

"Goooooooooal for Nacional! Anselm with an assist for himself, it was like how Sportivo Escobar scored their first goal. Anselm crosses it into the area, from the right-hand side, and there comes Insfrán with a volley. Nacional are leading 2-0. The fans are really going nu-."

5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48
 6 Independiente (E)      30   13   7  10    27   23   +4    46
 7 Nacional Terense       30   13   5  12    38   25  +13    44
 8 Laureles (M)           30   12   8  10    37   31   +6    44
 9 Tacurú                 30   11  10   9    30   24   +6    43

Meanwhile...
MON 1-0 TAC

"Hold on one second Juanpi, cause Véccoli's taking the free kick and he does it and the entire team are running forwards, Néstor Martelli hits it IT'S A GOAL! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL FOR MONCLOAAAAA! (...) GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOOOOL! MONCLOA SCORES! IT'S NESTOR MARTELLI WITH A LEFT-FOOTED SHOT, THE BALL BOUNCES OFF THE GRASS AFTER VÉCCOLI'S FREE KICK, AND IT LANDS ON MARTELLI, AND THE GOALKEEPER CAN'T BLOCK THE BALL AWAY AND IT ENTERS THE GOAL! Moncloa one, Tacurú nil!"

1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    35   22  +13    64
 2 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    40   18  +22    62
 3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
 4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    48   25  +23    54
 5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48
 6 Independiente (E)      30   13   7  10    27   23   +4    46
 7 Nacional Terense       30   13   5  12    38   25  +13    44
 8 Laureles (M)           30   12   8  10    37   31   +6    44
 9 Tacurú                 30   11   9  10    30   25   +5    42

23 minutes
SAL 0-1 ROS

And while millions of Terenses watch with keen eyes whatever is happening at the top, there is also a key goal at the bottom. A crossing free kick from 35 metres out, taken by a Rosamonte midfielder lands on Orlando Abbiati's head, as the team's own star forward makes it 1-0 for the Dean, a key goal in their relegation battle.

10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Sportivo Caamaño       30    8  10  12    31   39   −8    34
12 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    27   32   −5    32
13 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   38  −15    30
14 Centauro               30    8   5  17    22   35  −13    29
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24

25 minutes
NOR 1-1 CSE

Sergio Cervantes equalises it after a powerful volley from the left-hand side of the pitch. I originally wrote Videla's commentary but then I unknowingly overwrote it, and because I'm writing this on Notepad I can't go back. Sorry!

1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    35   22  +13    64
 2 Sportivo Escobar       30   18   6   6    40   19  +21    60
 3 Norteño                30   15  10   5    49   25  +24    55
 4 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
 5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48

30 minutes
MON 2-0 TAC

"I think Claudio Tapia's gonna take his time to cross it in, the players are all running onto the area, Tapia cuts past Marco Gil, there goes Tapia, he's gonna cross it in the area and he does, he connects to Biaggi BIAGGIIII IT'S SAVED BY THE KEEPER! THE REBOUND'S ON MARTELLI MARTELLI GOAL! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL!!!!! (...) GOAL FOR MONCLOA, IT'S MARTELLI AGAIN, HE SCORES A BRACE. HE'S SUCH AN ACCURATE MAN, HE'S AT THE BACK MOST OF THE TIME, BUT TWO CROSSES NOW AND TWO GOALS FROM NÉSTOR MARTELLI, THE REBOUND WAS LEFT FROM BIAGGI'S SHOT, THEN CAME IN MARTELLI, RUNNING FROM THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, AND IT'S A GOAL, MONCLOA ARE 2-0 UP!"

1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    36   22  +14    64
 2 Sportivo Escobar       30   18   6   6    40   19  +21    60
 3 Norteño                30   15  10   5    49   25  +24    55
 4 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
 5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48

31 minutes
NOR 1-2 CSE

"...Lucero's trying to sort out how to pass the ball forward here, the Sportivo Escobar fans have been humbled by Martelli's goal. Lucero can't get past Marco Lixau here, Lucero goes- he finds Maxi Alesci running forward, Maxi's alone with Forester and O'Reilly, Maxi chips it, GOL! Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooolll!!! (...) for Sportivo Escobar! It's Maxi Alesci, what a lob past Santiago O'Reilly, and Sportivo Escobar are back in the lead 2-1, and the fans regain a little bit of hope, but it won't be enough for them."

1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    36   22  +14    64
 2 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    41   19  +22    62
 3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
 4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    49   26  +23    54
 5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48

35 minutes
MON 2-0 TAC

"The fans are celebrating a festival here in the Estadio Municipal, I tell you... the fans are jumping and chanting like crazy. It's very unlikely that Moncloa will bottle their lead seeing how Tacurú are playing, it seems like they could go steamrolling over la Menta Granizada."

1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    36   22  +14    64
 2 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    41   19  +22    62
 3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
 4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    49   26  +23    54
 5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48

38 minutes
SCA 1-1 CEN

Goal, goal, goal for Centauro! A corner kick from Caamaño is headed out by one of the black-and-white defenders and several errors while defending end up with Alejandro Domínguez getting the ball, him being alone with Fabricio de la Fontaine, and a solid shot from his going into the bottom-left corner. Centauro are now out of relegation playoffs by virtue of goal difference.

10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    27   32   −5    32
12 Sportivo Caamaño       30    7  11  12    31   40   −9    32
13 Centauro               30    8   6  16    23   35  −12    30
14 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   38  −15    30
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24

Halftime. It's halftime now for all matches. Moncloa are leading the race for the championship, with a solid 2-0 lead against Tacurú for the first 45 minutes. Norteño-Sportivo Escobar, meanwhile, was certainly entertaining, as it's 2-1 in favour of el Albiceleste. Gimnasia y Bala were in 4th place at one point, because Norteño was drawing, but now they're still in third, as Caide-Gimnasia is a 0-0 draw for now with not much going on. Tacurú are currently out of the Confederations Trophy playoffs, and Nacional are in, so this season was a disgrace for them, but now that disgrace is a bit better (assuming they get knocked out of the playoffs). Salto Athletic occupies the relegation playoff spot, and Sportivo Caamaño fans rejoice in happiness that it will not be them, after spending at least the entire second half in the bottom 3.

Comergas 0–0 Laureles (M)
Sportivo Caamaño 1–1 Centauro
Manuel Rodriguez 0–2 Nacional Terense
Independiente (E) 0–0 Gimnasia y Bala
Salto Athletic 0–1 Rosamonte
Moncloa 2–0 Tacurú
Norteño 1–2 Sportivo Escobar
Solanet 1–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    36   22  +14    64
 2 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    41   19  +22    62
 3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
 4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    49   26  +23    54
 5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48
 6 Independiente (E)      30   13   7  10    27   23   +4    46
 7 Nacional Terense       30   13   5  12    38   25  +13    44
 8 Laureles (M)           30   12   8  10    37   31   +6    44
 9 Tacurú                 30   11   9  10    30   26   +4    42
10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    27   32   −5    32
12 Sportivo Caamaño       30    7  11  12    31   40   −9    32
13 Centauro               30    8   6  16    23   35  −12    30
14 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   38  −15    30
15 Manuel Rodríguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24
16 Ferrocarriles Unidos   30    5   7  18    14   37  −23    22

55 minutes
SAL 0-2 ROS

"It's a brace for Orlando Abbiati, goal for Rosamonte! After a corner kick taken with a very small angle, the ball graces his head and flies into Noé Zino's goal. Salto Athletic are getting into really hot water here, their only hope is that Caamaño score again to get Centauro back into 14th!"

10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    28   32   −4    32
12 Sportivo Caamaño       30    7  11  12    31   40   −9    32
13 Centauro               30    8   6  16    23   35  −12    30
14 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   39  −16    30
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24

57 minutes
SCA 2-1 CEN

(on a YourTube live broadcast on one of Salto Athletic's fan channels) "GOAL FOR CAAMAÑO! GOAL, GOAL, GOAL FOR CAAMAÑO! The app we're reading from says here it's...Jacinto Coutinho with the goal, an assist from Joel Mansilla, and Sportivo Caamaño, they're currently taking us out of the playoff spots, Centauro are now in 14th place. The Orito fans are celebrating it like they should...it's been only two minutes since the last goal, and el Gigante are giving us something to be happy about. It's Sportivo 2, Centauro 1 in Caamaño..."

10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Sportivo Caamaño       30    8  10  12    32   40   −8    34
12 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    28   32   −4    32
13 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   39  −16    30
14 Centauro               30    8   5  17    23   36  −13    29
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24

59 minutes
SCA 3-1 CEN

"And there's another goal in Caamaño! Oooh... It's Ismael Monte now! That second goal have definitely shaken Centauro's defense. Sportivo Caamaño were on the attack almost inmediately after the kickoff, they went on a bit of a counter, but they stopped at the edge of the area, they passed the ball around, until it landed on Monte, who decided to hit it low from the edge of the penalty area, and it went in goal. I hear Salto Athletic fans have been celebrating for three minutes straight, they've really been blessed. two goals in three minutes for Sportivo Caamaño!"

10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Sportivo Caamaño       30    8  10  12    33   40   −7    34
12 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    28   32   −4    32
13 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   39  −16    30
14 Centauro               30    8   5  17    23   37  −14    29
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24

60 minutes
MON 3-0 TAC

"Napoliello runs, he's trying to get into the area but stops, he tries to go past Roberto Russo, and he does! Can Miguel cross it? He does, but it's headed out by Lucas, it lands on Manet, MANEEEEEEEET GOL! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO(...)OOOOL! FOR MONCLOA! MIGUEL MANET THIS TIME, NOT MARTELLI, BUT MANET! EMILIANO LUCAS HEADS IT OUT, BUT IT'S AS FAR AS IT LANDS ON MÁXIMO MANET, AND HE DOES A FIRST TIME VOLLEY, THE BALL ENTERS LOW INTO RICO'S GOAL, AND WHAT A DISASTROUS PERFORMANCE FOR HIM, AND IN THE LAST 15 MATCHES IN GENERAL SINCE HE'S SIGNED FOR TACURÚ...IT'S MONCLOA 3, TACURÚ 0!"

1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    37   22  +15    64
 2 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    41   19  +22    62
 3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
 4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    49   26  +23    54
 5 Comergas               30   14   6  10    32   37   −5    48
 6 Independiente (E)      30   13   7  10    27   23   +4    46
 7 Nacional Terense       30   13   5  12    38   25  +13    44
 8 Laureles (M)           30   12   8  10    37   31   +6    44
9 Tacurú                 30   11   9  10    30   27   +3    42

63 minutes
COM 1-0 LAU

3 minutes after Manet's goal for Moncloa, it was Comergas' turn to score. Defensive errors left Marcelo Leiva one-on-one with the keeper, as he shot powerfully in the top half of the goal, and it went in. There was no chance for Palazo to save that. After Tacurú conceding three goals, this match has turned into a dead rubber. Comergas couldn't qualify for the Challengers Cup coming into the last round, and Tacurú need to score 3 goals if they want to get into 8th.

4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    49   26  +23    54
5 Comergas               30   15   5  10    33   37   −4    50
 6 Independiente (E)      30   13   7  10    27   23   +4    46
 7 Nacional Terense       30   13   5  12    38   25  +13    44
 8 Laureles (M)           30   12   7  11    37   32   +5    43
9 Tacurú                 30   11   9  10    30   27   +3    42

66 minutes
SAL 0-3 ROS

At the Lara Burton it's all but sealed for Rosamonte. It's Esteban Belloni this time from a cross by Silvio Simón, as Esteban headed it home. Salto might be getting smashed, but from the looks of the Caamaño-Centauro match, I don't think Centauro will come back; they haven't had one shot at goal in the match, aside from Domínguez's goal, so why should Orito fans worry?

10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Sportivo Caamaño       30    8  10  12    33   40   −7    34
12 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    29   32   −3    32
13 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   40  −17    30
14 Centauro               30    8   5  17    23   37  −14    29
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24

70 minutes
NOR 1-3 CSE

"Giovanni tries to run into the area, he tries to pass it but he's tripped! PENALTY to Sportivo Escobar! Narciso Giovanni's brought down by Emiliano Baldinotti. And el Albiceleste will have a penalty kick for the chance to score a third goal now!" (...) "Lucerooo...[/b]GOL! Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool for Sportivo Escobar! It's Hernando Lucero with the goal for Sportivo! And it's unfortunate because they always score shortly after Moncloa does!"

1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    37   22  +15    64
2 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    42   19  +23    62
 3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    49   27  +22    54
 5 Comergas               30   15   5  10    33   37   −4    50

83 minutes
SCA 4-1 CEN

(a YourTube fan channel broadcast, this time in one dedicated to Sportivo Caamaño) "It's a high pass from one side of the penalty area to the other side; Gastón Fernández finds Ismael Monte, there goes Monteeee GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLL!!! (...) ...TO SPORTIVO CAAMAÑO! MONTE, MONTE, MONTEEE!!! WITH A BRACE!!! AND THE TEAM, THE TEAM ARE OUT OF THIS RELEGATION SWAMP, NO "DOWN TO NACIONAL B" BULLCRAP, NO PLAYOFFS, NO FUCKING NOTHING ABOUT THAT, SPORTIVO CAAMAÑO WILL SURVIVE THIS BATTLE ONCE MORE!!! ISMAEL MONTE WITH HIS SECOND GOAL FOR HIM(sic)[/b] OF THE MATCH!!! IT'S 4, 4 GOALS, 4-1 AGAINST CENTAURO![/b]"

10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Sportivo Caamaño       30    8  10  12    34   40   −6    34
12 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    29   32   −3    32
13 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   40  −17    30
14 Centauro               30    8   5  17    23   38  −15    29
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24

87 minutes
MON 4-0 TAC

"Look out for Germán Hasse, Moncloa are going on the counter once more, we'll see if they get a fourth one, Hasse's still with it, here's Hasse, Hasseeeee GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLL!!! GOOOOOOL FOR MONCLOA, GERMÁN HASSE, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COUNTER-ATTACK, THE FANS ARE GOING WILD, THEY'RE REALLY GOING WILD, IT'S "THE FANS ARE WASTING THEIR SUPPLY OF FIREWORKS" WILD, they're all pointing into the sky so that's good, they ain't harming no one, BUT MONCLOA ARE GOING TO BE CHAMPIONS, AND THE TROPHY IS GOING BACK TO THE MAROON SIDE OF THE CITY SINCE SEVENTY YEARS AGO (...) A great build-up starting with Guillermo Branco snatching the ball away from Miguel Gil's foot and ending with Germán Hasse with yet another one-on-one goal this round, from what I've seen. The maroon-shirted champions of Tero al Disco are 4-0 up!"

1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    38   22  +16    64
 2 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    42   19  +23    62
 3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55
 4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    49   27  +22    54
 5 Comergas               30   15   5  10    33   37   −4    50
 6 Independiente (E)      30   13   7  10    27   23   +4    46
 7 Nacional Terense       30   13   5  12    38   25  +13    44
 8 Laureles (M)           30   12   7  11    37   32   +5    43
9 Tacurú                 30   11   9  10    30   28   +2    42

90+1 minutes
SCA 4-2 CEN

Everyone was watching how Moncloa were ever closer to winning the title, and not many cared about Centauro getting one back over Sportivo Caamaño, via a goal from left-midfielder Teófilo Luna. Centauro were going to finish in the relegation playoff spots, so what mattered?

10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Sportivo Caamaño       30    8  10  12    34   41   −7    34
12 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    29   32   −3    32
13 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   40  −17    30
14 Centauro               30    8   5  17    24   38  −14    29
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24

90+7 minutes
MON 4-0 TAC

90+6 minutes
NOR 1-3 CSE

And, well, both matches came to a conclusion (in conclusion, they ended?), and Moncloa fans went wild and Sportivo Escobar went back to Escobar disappointed. Moncloa fans were let to storm the pitch some 30 minutes after the Tacurú players left the Municipal de Moncloa, and I hope everything went fine there, and no one was harmed. I don't know, I don't wanna write about how like, tens of people randomly died because I'm getting tired of writing this, I've been writing the last-two-rounds special for four days already and I just want to end it here, and I have ever the more homework and exams to worry about and whatever.

The point being, Moncloa fans lived happily forever and ever. Until next season, at least, that is.

THE FINAL TABLE

Matchday 30
Comergas 1–0 Laureles (M)
Sportivo Caamaño 4–2 Centauro
Manuel Rodriguez 0–2 Nacional Terense
Independiente (E) 0–0 Gimnasia y Bala
Salto Athletic 0–3 Rosamonte
Moncloa 4–0 Tacurú
Norteño 1–3 Sportivo Escobar
Solanet 1–0 Ferrocarriles Unidos

---Nacional A                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    38   22  +16    64 Champions League & League of Victors
#2 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    42   19  +22    62 Challengers Cup & League of Victors
#3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    49   27  +22    54 Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Comergas               30   15   5  10    33   37   −4    50 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Independiente (E)      30   13   7  10    27   23   +4    46 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Nacional Terense       30   13   5  12    38   25  +13    44 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Laureles (M)           30   12   7  11    37   32   +5    43 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Tacurú                 30   11   9  10    30   28   +2    42
10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Sportivo Caamaño       30    8  10  12    34   41   −7    34
12 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    29   32   −3    32
13 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   40  −17    30
14 Centauro               30    8   5  17    24   38  −14    29 Relegation playoff
15 Manuel Rodriguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24 Relegation
16 Ferrocarriles Unidos   30    5   7  18    14   37  −23    22 Relegation

NACIONAL B 2024 TABLE - ROUNDS 29 and 30

Matchday 29
Colmena 4–4 Carpincho Atropellado
Camino Real 0–1 San Cipriano
Plaza Cura Cortez 1–1 Camioneros
Parque Rodo 1–0 Lawn Tennis
Sionista 2–2 Defensores de Salto
Progreso 0–3 Villa Vallier
Yaguarete 0–0 Unión Ferroviaria
Palestino 0–0 Sportivo Terense

Matchday 30
Sportivo Terense 3–0 Colmena
Unión Ferroviaria 0–1 Palestino
Villa Vallier 1–2 Yaguarete
Defensores de Salto 0–1 Progreso
Lawn Tennis 1–1 Sionista
Camioneros 0–1 Parque Rodo
San Cipriano 0–1 Plaza Cura Cortez
Carpincho Atropellado 1–0 Camino Real

hi Nacional B                Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Palestino               30   15   8   7    35   19  +16    53 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#2 Progreso                30   16   5   9    32   27   +5    53 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#3 Unión Ferroviaria       30   14   6  10    35   25  +10    48 Promotion playoff, Liga B Champions Trophy
 4 Sportivo Terense        30   15   3  12    34   28   +6    48
 5 Camioneros              30   14   5  11    33   28   +5    47
 6 Yaguareté               30   12   6  12    24   27   −3    42
 7 Villa Vallier           30   10  11   9    26   25   +1    41
 8 Plaza Cura Cortez       30   11   7  12    24   31   −7    40
 9 Camino Real             30   11   5  14    29   35   −6    38
10 Parque Rodó             30    8  13   9    28   28    0    37
11 Colmena                 30    9  10  11    24   27   −3    37
12 Sionista                30   10   7  13    27   31   −4    37
13 San Cipriano            30   10   7  13    18   28  −10    37 Relegation playoff
14 Carpincho Atropellado   30    9   9  12    33   41   −8    36 Relegation playoff
15 Lawn Tennis             30    9   7  14    27   30   −3    34 Relegation
16 Defensores de Salto     30    7  11  12    27   26   +1    32 Relegation

by **Tero al Disco** » Sat Apr 13, 2024 10:29 am

OOC: This is just the barebones post. I'll later edit it with more information, like top goalscorers, or a review of the Nacional A clubs (this in particular will end up not happening eventually), etc., in the lead up for the IFCF cutoff.

THE SEASON IN REVIEW

NACIONAL A

LEAGUE STATS

Goals scored: 508
Goals per match: 508/240 = 2,12
Biggest home win: Norteño 6–0 Manuel Rodríguez (R10)
Biggest away win: Manuel Rodriguez 0–5 Sportivo Escobar (R5)
Highest score: Comergas 4–5 Nacional Terense (R3)

---Nacional A             Pld   W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
#1 Moncloa                30   19   7   4    38   22  +16    64# Champions League & League of Victors
#2 Sportivo Escobar       30   19   5   6    42   19  +22    62# Challengers Cup & League of Victors
#3 Gimnasia y Bala        30   16   7   7    52   33  +19    55# Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs & Cup Winners Cup
#4 Norteño                30   15   9   6    49   27  +22    54  Challengers Cup & Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Comergas               30   15   5  10    33   37   −4    50  Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Independiente (E)      30   13   7  10    27   23   +4    46  Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Nacional Terense       30   13   5  12    38   25  +13    44# Won Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Laureles (M)           30   12   7  11    37   32   +5    43  Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Tacurú                 30   11   9  10    30   28   +2    42
10 Solanet                30    9   8  13    18   28  −10    35
11 Sportivo Caamaño       30    8  10  12    34   41   −7    34
12 Rosamonte              30    9   5  16    29   32   −3    32
13 Salto Athletic         30    8   6  16    23   40  −17    30
14 Centauro               30    8   5  17    24   38  −14    29  Relegation playoff (Won)
15 Manuel Rodríguez       30    6   6  18    21   47  −26    24  Relegation
16 Ferrocarriles Unidos   30    5   7  18    14   37  −23    22  Relegation

AWARDS

GOLDEN BALL/PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Journalists representing 11 Terense newspapers, radio stations, and TV channels voted. Each had six votes: 3 for the best player, 2 for the second-best, and 1 for the third-best

BEST ELEVEN

GOLDEN BOOT

GOLDEN GLOVE

CONFEDERATIONS TROPHY PLAYOFFS
QUARTER-FINALS

Comergas 		0–2 Laureles (M)
Independiente (E) 	0–1 Nacional Terense

Two seasons end here. First of all, Comergas. A very, very respectable finish to the season after getting promoted. A deserved 2-0 loss to Laureles wasn't the result football fans in general were looking for, since they went from fighting for the 3rd Challengers Cup spot, to getting beaten by the 8th place. Nonetheless, it's still a great start (back) into the top flight. Then we have a close match between Nacional and Caide. Nacional win 1-0, and that match made last season's title win look like a total fluke. Independiente never looked like fighting for an IFCF title at all, they mostly rested upon the midtable, saved by the fact that now 50% of the league can potentially qualify for international tournaments. With that weak win, it looks as if Nacional Terense won't have it easy against Norteño. Let's see...

SEMI-FINALS

Gimnasia y Bala 	1–1 Laureles (M) 		(4–3 pen.)
Norteño 		0–2 Nacional Terense

We've got a Clásico de Clásicos set up here for the playoff finals! Managerless Gimnasia put up their reserves for the match against Laureles, seen by the fact that Laureles had it slightly better and took it to penalties, but after a goal from Hernán Beaufort and a miss from Gaspar Bustos in the 5th round of penalties, made el Celeste get in the final for a berth in a second tournament. And for Norteño-Nacional...after a goal from Martini, the first-half lead seemed like taken out of pure luck; Norteño missed three key chances due to bad finishing, and had some more attempts on target, but by the second half los Bomberos bounced back, and with the help of a header from Justo Freitas, won the second semifinal.

FINAL

Gimnasia y Bala 	0–1 Nacional Terense

I'm not going to get into too many details here, but to sum it up, it was a little bit boring. There just weren't many attempts at goal throughout the match. By the first half, only Gimnasia y Bala had one shot on target, thanks to an excellent solo run from JJ Leonardi, which finished with a sloppy shot that was easily saved by Mantovano. The second 45 minutes saw more of the same, defensive play. With just two minutes gone from the restart, Martini got fouled in the penalty spot. Pastor's penalty was saved by Stenger and sent into a corner kick. Jaime Adamo got sent off by the referee for the foul. Besides that, none of the teams were able to break the deadlock. That was until minute 80, when substitute Bautista Sixto managed a breakaway, sprinting the left corner. Bautista sent a good cross up high to Jocelín, but Eric headed it badly. However, it landed on Monyor, who heeled it into the goal. Nacional Terense had finally gotten international football, with a win over their archrivals.

NACIONAL A-B RELEGATION PLAYOFFS (Centauro-Unión Ferriovaria)

Unión Ferroviaria 	0-1 Centauro
Centauro 		3-0 Unión Ferroviaria		(4-0 agg)

NACIONAL A U19

---Nacional A U19             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts                                                                           
#1 Norteño                     30   16   8   6    39   21  +18    56    —   1–1  0–2  1–1  1–0  0–0  1–0  1–1  2–0  0–0  1–0  2–1  4–0  2–1  3–1  5–2 U19 champions, Rising Stars Cup
 2 Gimnasia y Bala             30   14  10   6    41   29  +12    52   0–1   —   1–2  0–0  1–0  1–0  1–1  0–2  1–3  2–2  4–4  2–0  8–1  1–0  1–0  1–1
 3 Sportivo Caamaño            30   15   6   9    29   24   +5    51   0–0  0–1   —   1–0  1–0  2–2  1–0  1–2  0–0  1–0  0–1  1–0  0–0  0–1  2–1  1–0
 4 Rosamonte                   30   13   9   8    33   26   +7    48   2–1  1–0  1–1   —   0–1  2–2  0–2  1–1  0–1  0–0  2–1  1–0  3–1  2–1  2–0  0–1
 5 Salto Athletic              30   14   4  12    31   29   +2    46   0–2  0–2  0–1  0–0   —   0–2  2–1  3–2  1–0  2–3  1–0  0–1  3–3  1–0  1–0  1–3
 6 Independiente (E)           30   11  12   7    42   30  +12    45   1–0  3–0  2–2  0–1  0–1   —   2–1  1–0  3–0  2–0  1–1  0–2  1–1  2–1  0–0  2–0
 7 Solanet                     30   11  10   9    29   22   +7    43   0–1  0–1  1–0  1–2  2–2  2–0   —   2–0  2–0  2–0  1–1  0–0  0–0  0–0  2–1  0–0
 8 Nacional Terense            30   11  10   9    29   25   +4    43   1–0  1–1  3–1  4–1  1–1  0–3  2–2   —   0–2  0–1  0–0  0–0  0–1  0–0  0–0  1–0
 9 Ferrocarriles Unidos        30   10  10  10    26   27   −1    40   1–1  1–2  1–0  1–1  0–1  1–0  0–0  0–1   —   2–1  0–0  1–0  3–2  0–1  2–0  0–0
10 Moncloa                     30    9  12   9    28   32   −4    39   0–3  1–1  2–1  0–1  2–1  0–0  3–0  1–0  1–1   —   0–0  1–1  1–0  1–2  0–3  0–0
11 Sportivo Escobar            30    9  11  10    28   31   −3    38   3–1  1–2  0–1  1–0  1–0  2–2  1–3  0–0  1–1  0–0   —   1–1  2–3  1–0  1–0  1–0
12 Tacurú                      30   10   7  13    28   30   −2    37   0–1  1–2  0–1  1–1  0–4  0–0  1–0  0–1  2–0  1–1  2–0   —   2–0  0–1  1–3  0–2
13 Manuel Rodríguez            30    9   6  15    30   50  −20    33   0–1  0–1  1–3  2–1  0–2  2–4  0–1  1–0  1–1  3–1  1–0  1–5   —   2–0  0–1  0–0
14 Laureles (M)                30    7   9  14    24   36  −12    30   1–0  2–2  0–1  0–4  0–1  2–2  0–0  0–2  0–0  1–1  3–1  2–3  1–0   —   1–2  1–1
15 Comergas                    30    7   5  18    27   40  −13    26   0–0  0–0  4–1  0–1  0–1  2–1  0–2  0–2  1–3  1–3  0–1  0–1  1–3  4–2   —   1–1
16 Centauro                    30    5   9  16    26   38  −12    24   2–3  0–1  0–1  1–2  0–1  4–4  0–1  1–2  2–1  1–2  1–2  1–2  0–1  0–0  2–1   —

Alongside the senior team managing a fourth place finish in the league, Norteño's youth team have something to be proud about, as they finish as champions of the U19 Terense league, four points over Gimnasia y Bala. Thus, they're the first team from Tero al Disco to qualify for the Rising Stars Cup. The key players include midfielder Marco Lixau, as well as full-back Rafael Cáceres, or striker Hernando Toledo. These lads won't be present in the U18 World Cup (if they're even selected for the squad), but do keep an eye on them in the Di Bradini Cup.

NACIONAL B

hi Nacional B              Pld   W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
#1 Palestino               30   15   8   7    35   19  +16    53 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#2 Progreso                30   16   5   9    32   27   +5    53 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#3 Unión Ferroviaria       30   14   6  10    35   25  +10    48 Promotion playoff (Lost), Liga B Champions Trophy
 4 Sportivo Terense        30   15   3  12    34   28   +6    48
 5 Camioneros              30   14   5  11    33   28   +5    47
 6 Yaguareté               30   12   6  12    24   27   −3    42
 7 Villa Vallier           30   10  11   9    26   25   +1    41
 8 Plaza Cura Cortez       30   11   7  12    24   31   −7    40
 9 Camino Real             30   11   5  14    29   35   −6    38
10 Parque Rodó             30    8  13   9    28   28    0    37
11 Colmena                 30    9  10  11    24   27   −3    37
12 Sionista                30   10   7  13    27   31   −4    37
13 San Cipriano            30   10   7  13    18   28  −10    37 Relegation playoff (Lost)
14 Carpincho Atropellado   30    9   9  12    33   41   −8    36 Relegation playoff (Won)
15 Lawn Tennis             30    9   7  14    27   30   −3    34 Relegation
16 Defensores de Salto     30    7  11  12    27   26   +1    32 Relegation

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF

Palestino 		1–1 Progreso 			(5–4 pen.)

NACIONAL B-TORNEO FEDERAL RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
FIRST LEG

Nacional Inticuneño 	1-0 San Cipriano
Old Patrician 		2-3 Carpincho Atropellado

SECOND LEG

San Cipriano 		1-0 Nacional Inticuneño 	(1-1 agg, 5-6 pen.)
Carpincho Atropellado 	2-1 Old Patrician 		(5-3 agg)

by **Tero al Disco** » Thu May 09, 2024 6:44 pm

THE CAMPEONATO FEDERAL DE BÁSQUET REVEAL NEW PROPOSALS FOR ITS MAIDEN SEASON

Redacted by Héctor Mena.

May 9th, 2024

While everyone's looking at the start of IFCF competitions, with Moncloa playing against Kamijiro's Raijin-shi, and Gimnasia debuting in the Challengers Cup against Porto Nowi (of Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom), Camilo Wagner, the president of the Campeonato Federal de Básquet, the breakaway national-level basketball league in Tero al Disco, has revealed how the new two-tier league system will work, and how would the 55 parting teams be divided.

Ideas of a national breakaway league were present for years now, but with Tero al Disco leaving behind isolation and joining multiversal sports competitions (in club basketball's case the IUBC Trophy), that idea accelerated considerably. The top clubs were obvious candidates to jump on the bandwagon, looking to quit playing the usually lopsided and uncompetitive regional leagues, instead going in the way of a more profitable national competition, preferrably with foreign media rights to be broadcast worldwide (or at least outside Tero al Disco). However, owing to persistent tense relations with the Asociación del Básquetbol Terense, the sport's countrywide governing body, as well as the chance to gain more revenue in a league with more money flowing in, lower-reputation clubs have decided to join in, despite the chance of the skill and wealth gulf getting much bigger.

After the plans for a new league were practically officialised midway last year, there were questions on how it would go on. Wagner had stated that it would feature a promotion-and-relegation system, but that they weren't sure if it would have 2 divisions (with a national first tier, and a regionalised second), or 3 national divisions. In an interview with Radio Galaxia, he stated that they would go for the first option, as it would (very obviously) cut the costs of the minor clubs, especially those playing outside the capital-and-surroundings, who would have to travel half the country, instead of the entirety of it.

Besides that, he also announced that there would be a league cup featuring all of the teams participating in any of the CFB's divisions, which would give the winner a spot in international competitions, as well as the number of teams that would play each division: the 1st tier (with both league' names still to be decided) would feature 18 teams, meanwhile the 2nd tier would hold the 37 remaining teams, to be split into a Northern conference and a Southern conference, one with 19 and the other one with 18.

The teams in the first division would be invited based off a number of criteria, mainly being a mix of the "reputation within their province or region" and performance in past league seasons, with a higher consideration on teams from under-represented provinces, so as to make the national league an effectively federal one, as Wagner said in the interview.

by **Tero al Disco** » Sun May 26, 2024 7:13 pm

CNH SEASON I*: PART 1

Handball isn't a relatively popular sport in Tero al Disco. After all, it's a top-6 or top-7 sport, in comparison to the behemoth that is football, or other indoor sports, such as basketball, volleyball, or futsal. However, if you ask the average person who's gone to a public school in the country to watch a game, then they'll more or less recognise how it's played. That's because it's included in public school curriculums (along with basketball and volleyball). It may not have a reputation as a secondary school-only sport, but it still has few fans. However, reading from handball fans' and journalists' social media that they're ecstatic about playing some of the multiverse's best countries in general sport.

[Insert a small number of - that's why there's an asterisk in the title] years ago, the FTH (the Terense handball federation) decided that the top clubs would compete in a national league outside the regional league system. That national league would become the Campeonato Nacional de Handball (CNH). It was founded with the purpose (and still has the purpose) of federalising top-level Terense club handball, trying to include the best teams from every province in a competitive league. However, due to issues with fixture congestion reported by the players, the league has limited itself to including only 14 teams in the top division.

The league is still in a stage of development, though. Even though one of its objectives also was to profesionalise club handball, you'll find that the clubs at the bottom of the table tend to be semi-professional, with their players only receiving a small bonus of cash, which may have influenced the small number of teams.

Outside of that: he CNH operates in a promotion-relegation system with the regional leagues (now relegated to being the 2nd tier of Terense handball). The team that finishes at the bottom (i.e. in 14th place) is relegated to its regional league of origin. Meanwhile, the 13th placed team participates in a relegation tournament, along with the 7 regional league champions. Said tournament divides the 8 teams into two brackets of 4, where the winner of each earns a spot in the CNH.

Starting this season, as it's the first one in which the teams will qualify for international tournaments, in this case the WCHC, to lure foreign viewers, the FTH has decided to install a playoff system, played for by the regular season's top six teams, so that the top two due to their performance get the added benefit of qualifying directly to the semifinals and also, starting this season as well, to the WCHC (which awards four spots per nation).

Well...that's that.

OOC: if you want to buy any of these players or have players of your own that you want to sel to me, send me a TG, or a DM over Discord (user: xxelmisterjjaaxx)

Ok, so the first 6 rounds...At the top we have a bit of a surprise. Suraco Caamaño have the lead, after being the only unbeaten team in...the first 6 rounds, I hope not to repeat that phrase a lot. 5 wins for Villagrán's side, as well as a 24-goal draw against Centauro in round 4 (who are becoming a relegation candidate as the matches go by - they're in 15th). A perfect partnership between Suraco's wingers, Gonzalo Palavecino and Antonio Garcia, who average an impressive 9 goals between them, per game, as well as the defense, with NT center-back Eugenio Soria as captain of the team, are the ones starring in that performance. Soria's showing Aníbal Schmidt why he should select him again to the Comadrejas' team, come next Handball World Cup.

Then there's Handball Corona, who are second now. Every journalist predicted the 30.000-population city government's team to finish last, or second-to-last, but now they've got a 4-2 record, and a goal difference high enough to put them in second place. However, there's a really high chance this might be a fluke: all their four wins came in easy fixtures: Plaza Cura Cortez, a 29-15 battering of Lusitano, Centauro, and a 1-goal edging-out of Sionista (all 4 except Lusitano being relegation candidates). Their two losses came against Suraco (33-29) and Gimnasia (34-27). Then there's the fact that it's been a very close start: out of 14 teams, 3 (including Corona) are at 4-2, and 5 other teams are at 3-3. Pablo Arteaga, player-manager Hugo Almirón and Miguel Maciel were certainly stand-outs when the team played well and won, but they really need to prove themselves for the next fixtures.

Outside of Chancalay Sata and Hermandad y Patria, two teams who you'd expect to hover at the top but have had shaky starts this year in particular, the one that's having it difficult is Nacional Terense. If you were a Nacional A follower who knew nothing about the CNH, and I showed you the table,

## Campeonato Nacional    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Suraco Caamaño           6    5   1   0   165  149  +16    16 Semifinal
 2 Handball Corona          6    4   0   2   171  150  +21    12 Semifinal
 3 Gimnasia y Bala          6    4   0   2   178  160  +18    12 First round
 4 Solanet                  6    4   0   2   155  150   +5    12 First round
 5 Laureles                 6    3   0   3   160  156   +4     9 First round
 6 Chancalay Sata           6    3   0   3   165  164   +1     9 First round
 = Ciudad Capital           6    3   0   3   165  164   +1     9
 8 Vanguardista             6    3   0   3   170  171   −1     9
 9 Lusitano                 6    3   0   3   142  155  −13     9
10 Hermandad y Patria       6    2   1   3   157  163   −6     7
11 Plaza Cura Cortez        6    2   1   3   155  167  −12     7
12 Sionista                 6    2   0   4   152  157   −5     6
13 Centauro                 6    1   2   3   151  169  −18     5 Relegation playoff
14 Nacional Terense         6    0   1   5   152  163  −11     1 Relegation

it would be difficult to understand how Nacional have started that badly. Sure, they're not supposed to be perennial title contenders like in football, but in handball they're also not supposed to be at the bottom like in this case. Again, sure, you could tell me "well they've only lost by very small margins, they were unlucky", but their handball has been bad. There have been's lots of both defensive and offensive errors by Risso's team, and that's led them to miss easy wins against other, more inferior teams like Vanguardista or Sionista. But well...they have 20 more matches to not finish the season in 13th place.

## Campeonato Nacional    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Suraco Caamaño          13   10   1   2   360  326  +34    31 Semifinal
 2 Chancalay Sata          13   10   0   3   372  348  +24    30 Semifinal
 3 Gimnasia y Bala         13    9   1   3   381  343  +38    28 First round
 4 Hermandad y Patria      13    8   1   4   353  338  +15    25 First round
 5 Solanet                 13    8   0   5   354  329  +25    24 First round
 6 Laureles                13    8   0   5   351  329  +22    24 First round
 7 Sionista                13    6   0   7   350  340  +10    18
 8 Lusitano                13    6   0   7   330  347  −17    18
 9 Handball Corona         13    5   1   7   359  359    0    16
10 Vanguardista            13    5   1   7   349  369  −20    16
11 Plaza Cura Cortez       13    4   1   8   319  354  −35    13
12 Nacional Terense        13    3   1   9   341  354  −13    10
13 Ciudad Capital          13    3   1   9   336  368  −32    10 Relegation playoff
14 Centauro                13    1   2  10   323  374  −51     5 Relegation

So let's see how the league is shaping up for the second half...

Still in first place, Suraco Caamaño. The fight for the lead between Suraco and Chancalay Sata is making every single point gained count. Chanca have, since their one-goal loss to Plaza Cura Cortez in round 6, won every one of their next 7 games, including the confrontation between both in round 7, which ended 24-23 for the host Chancalay. At that moment, Chancalay was 6th, 4 points away from Suraco in 1st. However, that win made the Augusto Trevisani-captained team morale's rise. Suraco, on their part, turned a bit more complacent. Gonzalo Palavecino suffering an injury in round 8 made it worse for the southerners, as after the Chancalay loss, they also lost by 3 goals versus Solanet, and had shaky performances against Vanguardista and Sionista (they didn't blow them out (?)). That isn't too bad, to be fair, but Suraco still have to watch out for Chancalay and probably Gimnasia y Bala as well. Gimnasia did trip here and there, but thanks to performances from Silvio da Souza and Gastón García, Simonetti's squad may get into the top 2 at any moment.

Handball Corona, as expected, had a really bad end to the first half of fthe season, with only 1 game won, 1 draw and five more losses, to drop them down to 9th, 8 points off the playoff zone.

Nacional Terense are still struggling to get out of the relegation battle. Mind you, Centauro are solidly in last place, with a 9-game losing streak, but the problem is the relegation playoff spot that they're fighting with Ciudad Capital. From round 7 onwards, they still had a "losing" record of 3-0-4. Sure, it picked them up, from where they were at the end of round six, with only 1 point gained from a possible 18. Their own NT player, Santiago Marcelino defended badly all season so far, and that, combined with an injury crisis where he, and attackers Faustino de los Santos and Alvaro Cattaneo (who was showing very promising potential on the court) all got injured, has made it not an ideal scenario for Nacional. And in this case, they're struggling to get out of it.

by **Tero al Disco** » Sat Jun 15, 2024 10:12 am

CNH SEASON I*: PART 1.5 - THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER WINDOW

OOC: this post will serve as a news ticker for international transfers in and out of the CNH. The window will close today around 21:00 UTC before I start scorinating the second half of the season.

- MÁXIMO MORETTI TRANSFERED from LAURELES to CLEOROUGH THORNS (SYLESTONE) - the Laureles squad and fans will truly miss their best goalkeeper, and probably the best goalkeeper in all of Terense handball. Moretti will leave for Cleorough Thorns, who won the last edition of the WCHC, as well as being one of the best teams in arguably the best handball league in the multiverse. The club are looking to replace veteran goalie Bianca Gotch, who was 38 years old by last season of Sylestone's league, the S.H.I.T., instead snapping up 27-year-old HWC international Máximo.
- RODRIGO TOLEDO TRANSFERED from GIMNASIA Y BALA to CHAMBERLEY CROCODILES (SYLESTONE) - Toledo is the second international to go to Sylestone. The 30 year old had already run down his contract with Gimnasia after the HWC, causing him to be a free agent for six months. Several Terense club presidents criticised CNH executives for the rigid transfer rules it currently has, as it doesn't allow players to go from one club to the other outside of the summer off-season window. No foreign club or team picked up on him, until the Crocodiles, who won the last two edition of the S.H.I.T. league, snapped him up for the Sylestonean handball season.
- SILVIO DA SOUZA TRANSFERED from GIMNASIA Y BALA to CIS WANDERERS (SYLESTONE) - It looks like Gimnasia will have a hard time after the international transfer window. With Toledo already gone before the CNH had started, now it's wonderkid da Souza being another one to go to Sylestone, with eyes being possibly put on René Sánchez and Justiniano Guzmán. The Wanderers, representing the Chamberley Institute of Sport, "one of the best sport-focused universities in the world" according to sources related to the institution, are currently also competing in the S.H.I.T. We've been told he was going to receive a generous wage, along with a tuition, before probably being transferred from the U23 team to another big club from that country.
- PERTZ-KARAR MIZ (QUS) TRANSFERED from (QUSMO) to NACIONAL TERENSE - Pertz-Karar makes history as the first foreign player to be transferred to any of the iterations of a top-tier Terense handball league. Some pundits were surprised by the choice of nation, as Qusmo isn't a country where handball is a popular sport. Others theorised that Pertz-Karar arriving at Nacional may have been because of compatriot Evela-Dwada Inu being hired as Nacional's football coach. He said "I guess it's 30% that and 70% that it's my dream to be a professional handball player. Here in Qusmo that dream looks a bit weird, we aren't a handball a country, but I don't care about any of that. I decided to follow through with what I liked. Evela-Dwada going to this club...that definitely influenced me wanting to get here, specifically here..."

by **Tero al Disco** » Sat Jun 15, 2024 3:20 pm

CNH SEASON I*: PART 2 - THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON

## Campeonato Nacional    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Hermandad y Patria      20   13   2   5   551  500  +51    41 Semifinals
 2 Chancalay Sata          20   13   2   5   548  523  +25    41 Semifinals
 3 Suraco Caamaño          20   13   1   6   554  512  +42    40 First round
 4 Gimnasia y Bala         20   13   1   6   576  537  +39    40 First round
 5 Laureles                20   12   0   8   532  511  +21    36 First round
 6 Sionista                20   11   0   9   542  518  +24    33 First round
 7 Solanet                 20   10   2   8   541  516  +25    32
 8 Handball Corona         20    8   2  10   543  546   −3    26
 9 Lusitano                20    8   2  10   517  541  −24    26
10 Vanguardista            20    7   4   9   538  563  −25    25
11 Plaza Cura Cortez       20    7   2  11   484  519  −35    23
12 Nacional Terense        20    6   1  13   528  542  −14    19
13 Ciudad Capital          20    5   2  13   516  562  −46    17 Relegation playoff
14 Centauro                20    2   3  15   492  572  −80     9 Relegation

One thing that's certain is that the top four is getting closer than ever since we last left the league. Hermandad y Patria are finally swooping in on the lead. Granted, the top four are separated by only one point, one draw; but the Laiquén team have gone from a very bumpy start, to fighting for the top spots. This is thanks in part to the league getting very...funky, for lack of a better word, you understand? Lots of upsets here and there. Suraco Caamaño have dropped sharply, having only won 3 and lost 4 of the next seven matches played. Those losses including a shaky defensive desplay against Plaza Cura Cortez, to whom Suraco lost by four goals, and a Nacional Terense who are still struggling down at the bottom. Eugenio Soria and Samuel Quispe have had underwhelming performances overall, and an injured Gonzalo Palavecino has made it worse for them.

Gimnasia y Bala haven't been able to break into the top two for the duration of the season. This was demonstrated in round 16, when after a 32-27 defeat of Lusitano (with a perfect performance from Gastón Turco on the attack), they got into first place on goal difference. Despite this, the next match they stumbled to Handball Corona, and the next one was a high-scoring defeat against Sionista, 34-28. The club are definitely mourning the departure of Silvio da Souza to Sylestone, their top playmaker and goalscorer being gone. Chancalay Sata are still holding strong, tied with Hermandad y Patria on first place, but they also have the Gimnasia y Bala lead "syndrome". In their case, after a loss for Suraco, they won a six-pointer versus Gimnasia by 28-27, with Luciano Cabaña becoming key in the last few minutes, putting them in first place. A tight loss against Sionista (Sionista again surprising the big boys) and a draw to Solanet put them in third by round 16, but they managed to rebuild back a bit, apparently, putting them in second.

Then, the playoffs. It seems that Laureles are faring...okay? since the departure of Máximo Moretti to Sylestone's Cleorough Thorns. They've still been "a team who are always near the top 4 but can't go higher than that" as they've been all season. They've had no problems being inside the playoff zone, but at the same time, they can't break into the top four. Since round 7 they've been on a stasis of "doing alright against the smaller teams and then not being able to beat the top four teams". Round 8 against Suraco: 26-28. Round 12 against Chanca: 26-29. Round 14 against Gimnasia: 28-29. Round 19 against Hermandad y Patria: 22-27. Always close results, usually hovering around the 30-goal mark. Salvador Lai and Ciro Davide, both attackers, are currently the best performers for the Moncloa team so far.

Solanet have been probably the Most Undeservedly Underpeforming Team of the Part. As we've seen over the games, they've gone from #4 by round 6, to #5 by round 13, to being out of the playoffs by round 20. They were on a 4-match winning streak after the 15th round, with a win over Nacional Terense, but they drew to Chancalay and later lost key matches for the top 6, 24-29 to Laureles and 22-26 to Sionista, along with dropping points to Lusitano and losing by a singular goal to Gimnasia. Solanet's performance has been coupled with Sionista promising to become the dark horse of the league. They've started out low, ended the first half a long way out from the playoffs, and now they're in them. Shocking Gimnasia y Bala and Chancalay Sata, wins for the playoff berth against Solanet, as well as Laureles, and a win over Handball Corona brought them here. Roque Kirakosián, Bruno Alanis and Facundo di Benedetti have been the main horsemen.

Then there's the low-midtable...Handball Corona is in eighth place. They didn't implode like were predicting them to...they just stayed there in 8th place, far from the playoffs, far from relegation danger. Their initial 3rd quarter record wasn't as bad as the 2nd quarter one; 3-1-3 instead of 1-1-5, respectively. Led by Hugo Almirón as their captain-manager, they're OK for a team that was expected to be fighting to not go down. Lusitano have been perenially stuck in being 7th to 9th. Like Corona, they're far away from the playoffs and far away from the relegation spots. They'll probably be alright.

After Vanguardista and Plaza Cura Cortez, Nacional Terense still can't get out of the pit. The incorporation of Qusma, and thus only foreigner in the league (as pundits attribute the lack of transfers due to the CNH's international transfer window having been basically at the last minute) Pertz-Karar Miz unfortunately hasn't changed things much. Pertz-Karar, as right-winger has played alright, but their main problem has been defense, with Dante Aguilar and Santiago Marcelino being injured. Álvaro Cattaneo, the youngster, has done an excellent job replacing Aguilar, but it isn't enough. Nacional are still only two points over the relegation playoff spots. Ciudad Capital have been fighting since round 13 to not end in the relegation playoff spots with Nacional Terense. If you could relate each club in the league with something, the two would've probably been "relegation playoff fight". Both clubs have had spells in 13th place, but it slowly looks like Nacional could potentially be the one who gets out of this.

Centauro are all but relegated because come on, two wins in twenty matches...

ROUND 21
Solanet 31–29 Handball Corona
Sionista 25–25 Vanguardista
Gimnasia y Bala 23–21 Hermandad y Patria
Lusitano 28–29 Plaza Cura Cortez
Laureles 29–22 Suraco Caamaño
Chancalay Sata 24–22 Centauro
Nacional Terense 24–24 Ciudad Capital

ROUND 22
Handball Corona 24–27 Nacional Terense
Ciudad Capital 32–25 Chancalay Sata
Centauro 27–24 Laureles
Suraco Caamaño 29–32 Lusitano
Plaza Cura Cortez 21–27 Gimnasia y Bala
Hermandad y Patria 31–23 Sionista
Vanguardista 27–27 Solanet

ROUND 23
Vanguardista 22–24 Handball Corona
Solanet 29–30 Hermandad y Patria
Sionista 28–24 Plaza Cura Cortez
Gimnasia y Bala 24–21 Suraco Caamaño
Lusitano 29–27 Centauro
Laureles 24–21 Ciudad Capital
Chancalay Sata 27–29 Nacional Terense

ROUND 24
Handball Corona 28–29 Chancalay Sata
Nacional Terense 34–31 Laureles
Ciudad Capital 21–28 Lusitano
Centauro 26–32 Gimnasia y Bala
Suraco Caamaño 29–25 Sionista
Plaza Cura Cortez 23–28 Solanet
Hermandad y Patria 30–22 Vanguardista

ROUND 25
Hermandad y Patria 30–27 Handball Corona
Vanguardista 28–29 Plaza Cura Cortez
Solanet 28–28 Suraco Caamaño
Sionista 27–24 Centauro
Gimnasia y Bala 20–23 Ciudad Capital
Lusitano 27–35 Nacional Terense
Laureles 25–27 Chancalay Sata

ROUND 26
Handball Corona 24–28 Laureles
Chancalay Sata 31–24 Lusitano
Nacional Terense 24–24 Gimnasia y Bala
Ciudad Capital 23–30 Sionista
Centauro 25–21 Solanet
Suraco Caamaño 32–23 Vanguardista
Plaza Cura Cortez 24–24 Hermandad y Patria

## Campeonato Nacional    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
#1 Hermandad y Patria      26   17   3   6   717  648  +69    54 Semifinals & WCHC
#2 Gimnasia y Bala         26   17   2   7   726  673  +53    53 Semifinals & WCHC
#3 Chancalay Sata          26   17   2   7   711  683  +28    53 First round
#4 Suraco Caamaño          26   15   2   9   715  673  +42    47 First round
#5 Laureles                26   15   0  11   693  666  +27    45 First round
#6 Sionista                26   14   1  11   700  674  +26    43 First round
 7 Solanet                 26   12   4  10   705  678  +27    40
 8 Lusitano                26   11   2  13   685  713  −28    35
 9 Nacional Terense        26   10   3  13   701  699   +2    33
10 Plaza Cura Cortez       26    9   3  14   634  682  −48    30
11 Handball Corona         26    9   2  15   699  713  −14    29
12 Vanguardista            26    7   6  13   685  730  −45    27
13 Ciudad Capital          26    7   3  16   660  713  −53    24 Relegation playoff
14 Centauro                26    4   3  19   643  729  −86    15 Relegated

The top ends up very close, with the added exception of Suraco Caamaño crashing out. Hermandad y Patria, Gimnasia and Chanca are separated by just 1 point. Of the three, Chancalay Sata is the one who will have to go the long way these playoffs. Suraco win only 2 games out of the last six to finish down fourth. Laureles and Sionista get the last two spots, as Solanet also wins 2/6, drawing another two. Lusitano end up eighth. Nacional Terense have the pickup of their lives, but it's very, very late for that. Four games won out of six to make them finish ninth. Interestingly enough, the handball Clásico de Clásicos was held on the very last matchday. Both teams' hooligans and ultras filled Nacional's arena, but somehow there were no incidents. The game ended in a draw. Plaza Cura Cortez end up close to the relegation playoffs but not too close. Handball Corona dip down a bit. Vanguardista dips down a little bit more, finishing three points over Ciudad Capital, who is going to the relegation playoffs. Centauro are relegated.

by **Tero al Disco** » Sun Jun 16, 2024 11:44 am

CNH PART 3 - THE PLAYOFFS

DAY 1
SUNDAY: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS (FIRST ROUND)

Chancalay Sata 24–27 Sionista
Suraco Caamaño 24–21 Laureles

The relegation playoffs have been around longer than championship playoffs in the CNH, since, as we mentioned in the introduction to the league, the championship playoffs were added in this season. The teams in the regional leagues have always ranged from being semi-professional to fully amateur, and not having a big budget to, for example, travel around the country when needed. This is why, from the moment it was introduced, the relegation playoffs have been a week-long tournament held in only one neutral arena, so players could travel to just one city, almost always by bus as no club has the money to afford chartering a plane. For the championship playoffs, the FTH has decided to do apply the same hosting system, because in their words "it would create a carnival of handball centered in one city, showcasing the best teams playing for the league title, as well as the best start-ups looking for a spot among the elite clubs", and also to "help out smaller clubs, who may be transitioning from having a part-time squad to being fully paid, in the same vein as the relegation playoffs".

Both the championship and relegation playoffs would take place, in this season in particular, in the Microestadio Socios Fundadores (cap. 5.500) in Laiquén, Hermandad y Patria's home. The FTH made it so the top team's arena, subject to meeting the minimum standards criteria, particularly attendance.

The CNH playoffs start out with an upset already, as Sionista would defeat Chancalay Sata by 27-24. Chanca would start out with a solid lead by the first half, as they went 15-12 to the changing rooms. However, the second half would prove ugly for the Miravalle side. In the first 11 minutes, Sionista scored six goals. Six! With Roque Kirakosián scoring four of them (10 by the end of the match). A mix of Chancalay getting overconfident and Sionista coming back to the court with a heroic performance, made the latter get the lead, which they managed to succesfully hold on to as they slowed play down. Sionista would go to the semis, as well as the WCHC.

Later, Suraco would prove that thet were not out yet, with a (some would say) standard three-goal win over Laureles. With Moretti having gone, Carmelo Vargas had an excellent performance as the goalkeeper for the Moncloa team, but their attack was outmatched by Suraco's defense, with Vargas' opposite number, Julián Lombardo being the man of the match.

MONDAY: RELEGATION PLAYOFFS (SEMIFINALS - BRACKET 1)

Yaguareté 32–27 Provincial (M)
San Antonio 25–24 Shirley

The day later, the final for who would get spot #9 for CNH's next season was decided. Yaguareté, who turned out as the dark horse of the Liga Metropolitana, would eliminate Mojica giants Provincial with a score of 32-27, featuring a 38-year-old Pablo Diego scoring eleven goals. Meanwhile, another favourite for promotion, Shirley de Punta del Sol, was knocked out. The team from the iconic coastal city was leading 24-22 in the 55th minute, but goals from San Antonio's Nacho Madrid, Juan Carlos Preziosi and Ángel Picazo turned the tie around.

DAY 2
WEDNESDAY: RELEGATION PLAYOFFS (SEMIFINALS - BRACKET 2)

Ciudad Capital 26–24 Empleados de Comercio (C)
Carpincho Atropellado 24–25 Aeronáutica (I)

It seems that it Ciudad Capital won't have it that easy in the final. Their win by only two goals against Empleados de Comercio, a club representing the provincial trade and cimmerce workers' union of Casuarinas, can be described as lackluster for the Capital team. The match was marked by defensive errors from both sides, allowing it to end 26-24 to Ciudad Capital. Meanwhile, Inticuna's Aeronáutica, the team representing Tero al Disco's northeastern regional league, are onto the final by beating Carpincho Atropellado by one goal. Lots of close games here...

THURSDAY: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS (SEMIFINALS)

Hermandad y Patria 29–24 Suraco Caamaño
Gimnasia y Bala 24–20 Sionista

The championship semifinals end up not nearly as close as the relegation semis... HyP finish Suraco off early to win by 29-24. Sionista star Roque Kirakosián's cousin Lucio scores seven goals for the host team, with NTer Fabricio Pagano scoring five. Speaking of Sionista, a mix of lackluster performance up in the court and a marvellous display of defense holds the Casuarinas team to only twenty goals, letting Gimnasia's attackers be on cruise control, winning the match 24-20.
Who is going to win the inaugural open-to-the-world season of the CNH?

DAY 3
SATURDAY: RELEGATION PLAYOFFS (FINAL - BRACKET 1)

Yaguareté 28–28 San Antonio (32–31 AET)

The two surprise teams meet in the final for promotion and it feels like a semi-pro version of inmovable object meets unstoppable force. Both teams take a lot of turns at the lead, but it remains drawn going to the 60th minute. Two decisive goals by Yaguareté's Jaime Barbieri and a last-second deflection by goalie Joaquín Chamorro put the team in as the 13th club to play in next year's CNH.

SUNDAY: RELEGATION PLAYOFFS (FINAL - BRACKET 2)

Ciudad Capital 22–23 Aeronáutica (I)

...and Ciudad Capital gets relegated to the Liga Metropolitana next season. A lot to be desired from them in the relegation playoffs, as Aeronáutica wins a low-scoring affair and makes Inticuna get one team in Tero al Disco's top handball league. Youngster Esteban di Santi scored five goals for the northerners and center-back Benja López makes an impressive seven blocks to win Aeronáutica the game and the promotion.

We can only wait for what happens next: will Hermandad y Patria win the title at home or will Gimnasia y Bala take the trophy to the capital?

SUNDAY: THE GRAND FINAL

Hermandad y Patria 26–24 Gimnasia y Bala

And presenting to you, the winners of season 1* of the CNH...Hermandad y Patria!
A fun game to watch. Close, competitive, defenders defending well and attackers attacking well. Showed you why HyP and Gimnasia have been the two best teams of the year. The hosts caught the away team offguard. Three goals each by Lucas Kirakosián and Luciano Cabaña put Hermandad 6-2 up by the 10th minute, but Gimnasia started to climb back, with Gastón Garcia and Justiniano Guzmán being the leading forces in attack, and then René Sánchez, Ángel Corvalán and José Vargas being the key defenders. However, from 10-9 to Gimnasia by minute 25, Hermandad y Patria's attackers overpowered the opposition's defense, going up 12-10 until halftime. Throughout the second half, the Augureño team's defense stabilised. Gimnasia sometimes got within one goal, or even drawing the match at times. But, thanks to manager Gonzalo Donato switching Hermandad's tactics to rapid counter-attacking, those problems were solved for his team. Fabricio Pagano, due to his rapid pace, scored four goals from counters, making his team maintain a grip on the result. A goal scored by Matías Blanco off a loose ball with twelve seconds to go made it a final 26-24, making Hermandad y Patria win the first WCHC-era CNH.

So in summary: Hermandad y Patria are champions, Gimnasia y Bala are runners-up, Suraco Caamaño and Sionista qualify for the WCHC, Ciudad Capital and Centauro have been relegated, and Yaguareté and Aeronáutica have been promoted...K?

by **Tero al Disco** » Sat Jun 22, 2024 4:08 pm

NACIONAL A 93 PREVIEW - PART 1/4
[spoiler=Spoiler!](yes we changed the calendar so as to align with the IFCF calendar, because of the millions of calendars out there, you get it...)[/spoiler]

Caide

Full name: Club Atlético Independiente
Nickname/other names: CAI, Caide (due to its initials), Independiente de Escobar
From: Escobar (Tero al Disco Capital conurbation), Parsuha.
Stadium: Estadio CAIDE, capacity 21.301
Alternative stadium(s): none
Rivalries: Sportivo Escobar (local - Clásico Escobarense)
Traditional colours: Green and black stripes

Last season: 6th - disappointed
Nacional A titles: 9 (1939, 1947, 1958, 1964-65, 1976, 1999, 2015, 2023)
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Lucas Figueredo
Captain: Lautaro Cárdenas
Key prospect: Andrés Chocobar

Fan social class: Varied - imagine you picked half of the city at random.
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: none

Best eleven:

GK Santiago O'Reilly		(24)		from Norteño, $300k.
LB Ginés Ferro			(27) LM		from Comergás, $250k.
CB  Peter Bracknell		(26)		from  Mosfleet Albion, $500k.
CB Lautaro Cárdenas (c)		(27)
RB Gerardo Bulgari		(35)
LM Tomás Righi			(24)
CM Walter Toledo		(31)
RM Lucas Figueredo		(28) RW
FW Ramiro Sava			(21) CM AM
FW Joaquín Marconi		(23)
FW Denis Pereyra		(25)
MG Amílcar Fernández		(53) 4-3-3 - 1st season at club

Substitutes:

GK Aaron Goñi			(25)
GK Rolando Wenzel		(17)		Promoted
LB Fernando Dupuy		(25) LM
CB Mauricio Antonino		(32)
CB Rubén Paz			(26) LB		from Nacional Terense, free.
CB Samuel Villareal		(22)		from Gimnasia y Bala, free.
DM Jeremías Barronuevo		(23) CB
CM Santiago Vaccaro		(30) DM		from Tacurú, $100k.
CM Federico Castilloduro	(19) AM		Promoted
RM Eugenio Orlando		(30)
AM Flavio Villalba		(18)
AM Ángel Caro			(22) CM
FW  Roi Viveiros		(21)		from  Joaqueras A.F., free.
FW Andrés Chocobar		(18)		Promoted

Departures:

CB Daniel Falcone		(22) LB		to  Columbia City, $2m.
CB Nicolás Colón		(28)		to  Alexandria City, $500k.
FW Pedro Vinkovich		(30)		to Rosamonte, $150k.
FW Iván Laporte			(26)		to Tacurú, free.
GK Jerónimo García		(24)		to Sportivo Caamaño, $300k.
FW Patricio Ojeda		(24)		to Solanet, free.

Background
Independiente de Escobar, Independiente Escobar, Independiente, CAI, Caide; yeah...whatever, if you get confused over the names, just know that all of those refer to the same club, one located in the city of Escobar, who tends to play in a green-and-black striped shirt. The club was founded like your stereotypical Terense club; a group of teenagers and young adults wanting to do sporty stuff, particularly football. They pride themselves on being the oldest club in the city, founded 20 to 80 years before cross-town rivals Sportivo, if you ask whatever calendar there is. During the Capital-only years of the "Terense" top tier, their success made them cement their position as the club of the greater Tero al Disco area. They might be a long way out from the Big 2 of Gimnasia and Nacional in terms of titles, but they've been able to consistently fight for the title.

After their title in season 1976, that was the period where the club's darkest hour came. The club president at that stage, Juan Manuel Scorsone, insisted on a transfer policy of "spectacle football", buying both the flashiest players and retiring legends. Those transfers caused a financial crisis which sunk economic- and performance-wise, going from hovering at the top to fighting for relegation. Only four seasons later, in 1980, they spent virtually all season in last place and on a points deduction, until a mythical 4-3 comeback over Puchaquí (now playing in the third tier) forced a relegation tiebreaker against .the same team, which Caide won with a last-minute goal from player-manager Edgardo de Chiaro. Keeping this movie-like tone, as full-time manager de Chiaro would get the club out of the low table with a group of talented youngsters, reaching 2nd in '90 and 3rd in '91. In 1999, with de Chiaro now as president of the club, the club would end its 23-season title drought, after defeating Laureles 2-1 in another tiebreaker, this time. Since then, the club have only won two titles, but they've never gone below mid-, maybe mid-to-low table. The club's status as a first-division tier has never been doubted.

The squad
Caide have made lots of moves in the transfer market, most notably the selling of Daniel Falcone off to Tumbra, the host of the 88th Cup of Harmony in which the Teros finished fourth, to play in Columbia City, a team who will have trouble fighting for survival in the 4th best league in the world, according to the IFCF rankings. Alongside Falcone, Nicolás Colón, one of their star center-backs, has been signed by Xannerian outfit Alexandria City. With $2,5 million NSS dollars, the club have brought in several reinforcements: Then-substitute keeper Santiago O'Reilly, after wanting out to due to barely seeing the action at Norteño, got his wish by getting signed by another big Terense club; Ginés Ferro, one of the better players at Comergás, was brought in as Falcone's replacement at left-back; Santiago Vaccaro, renowned for his pace, was bought from Tacurú; And the final one of the big signings was a foreigner, with Elmyian full-back Peter Bracknell coming in at half a million NSD. Other signings include Rubén Paz and Samuel Villareal, dropped out from Nacional and Gimnasia's squads, as well as Ko-orenite Roi Viveiros, hoping to add more youth in the bench.

Speaking of youth, Caide also look very promising in this aspect, with Federico Castilloduro being promoted, an already-trusted Ramiro Sava joining Castilloduro in the Di Bradini Cup squad, and Andrés Chocobar, who's a solid candidate to be in Tero al Disco's U18 World Cup squd as a starting striker.

After underperforming last season, as they always hovered around the mid-table, finally ending in sixth place and making the 2023 title look like a massive fluke in comparison, the club sacked manager Marco de la Cruz, replacing de la Cruz with another manager who underperformed, and made his team finish in the mid-table: Laureles' Amílcar Fernández, who was inmediately criticised by some fans for the reasons I mentioned before.

The club got rid of other "filler" players, most prominently substitue goalkeeper Jerónimo García to Sportivo Caamaño, for a whopping $300k, even though he plays like he'd barely make the cut in Caamaño. Other releases of this type include Pedro Vinkovich to Rosamonte ($150k, also an excessive fee for Rosamonte), Iván Laporte to Tacurú (free), and Patricio Ojeda to Solanet (free). Despite this, the squad urgently lacks players in more than one position, as both left-midfield (Tomás Righi and Fernando Dupuy) and right-midfield (Lucas Figueredo, one of the best players, and Eugenio Orlando) lack severely in depth. Meanwhile, there are 5 CBs, and if Vinkovich, Laporte and Ojeda wouldn't have been transferred out, 8/29 players would all be strikers.

Centauro

Full name: Club Social y Deportivo Centauro
Nickname/other names: los Centauros (wow what a surprise!), Centa, el Blanquinegro (The Black-Whites)
From: Tero al Disco Capital
Stadium: Estadio del Centenario, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 8.477
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Rivalries: Norteño (local), Independiente de Belvedere (the neighbourhood derby)
Traditional colours: Black and white stripes

Last season: 14th - won relegation playoff
Nacional A titles: none
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Alejandro Domínguez
Captain: Óscar Díez
Key prospect: Justo Liguori, Leoncio Schreiber

Fan social class: Low-middle to middle-class
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: maybe

Best eleven:

GK Oscar Díez (c)		(32)
LB Gerónimo Duerr		(26)
CB Franco Stilo			(24)
CB Jose Luís Ramos		(26)
RB Justo Liguori		(19) CB		Promoted
LM Teófilo Luna			(26)
CM Norberto Ríos		(33) DM
RM Bernardo Marroquín		(24)
LW Felipe Carrizo		(26) AM
RW Federico Villalba		(31) FW RM
FW Alejandro Domínguez		(28)
MG Lisandro Godoy		(63) 4-3-2-1 - 1st season at club

Substitutes:

GK Fabio Giménez		(30)
GK Simón Pimienta		(20)
LB Manuel Muñoz			(33)
CB Carlos Giménez		(27)
RB Cristian Abbatelli		(35)
RB Gonzalo Lauzirica		(24) DM		from Progreso, $25k.
DM Juan Carlos Flores		(29)
DM Andrés de Santis		(29) LB
LM Felipe Oliveira		(26)		from Ferrocarriles Unidos, $100k.
CM Jaime Sánchez		(30)
CM Emiliano Capellán		(18)		Promoted
AM Omar Melis			(27) CM
AM Gonzalo Rodríguez		(26) RW
LW Benjamín Santander		(20) AM		Promoted
FW Leoncio Schreiber		(21)

Departures:

RM Adolfo Autino		(37)		Retired
CB Héctor Gallardo		(25)		to Salto Athletic, $100k.
CM David Zetticci		(32) AM		to Sportivo Terense, free.

Background
Centauro are famous for two things: 1) they are called Centauro and yet there's no centaur in their crest nor is a centaur part of their identity, and 2) they're from the neighbourhood of Belvedere. They emphasise and really want you to know that they effectively represent this neighbourhood in Tero al Disco Capital's southwest. Belvedere would normally be yet another neighbourhood, but thanks to Centauro they have a special place in the city, etc., etc., etc...The point is that, whereas the centaur isn't part of Centauro's identity, the neighbourhood where they're located is.

Centauro are a founder club of what's now the Terense professional top flight, having played in the inaugural 1937 season. While what would be the equivalent to the 1930s and 1940s were the best years for the club, in 1949 they would taste their first relegation (which included a 10-1 loss at Norteño's stadium). After that, they would fall off spectacularly, eventually being at the bottom of the third and last division of the metropolitan league system. From 1972 through 1973, legendary manager Hipólito Gaitán would lead them through a double promotion to the top division. In their first season back, they would get relegated instantly, but from then on they'd transform themselves into a yo-yo club. Their best season would come in the season 1998, finishing 4th, with a squad led by Franco Moster and Fabián Artaza. Those days are long gone, and soon they went back into being a perennial relegation contender.

Now, as probably every season, they're going to have to be especially wary of relegation, being ranked by most pundits as inside the bottom three, alongside the newly-promoted teams, Palestino and Progreso.

The squad
Centauro have mostly keeps the same squad as last season's, with a minimal amount of players coming in and out. The key departure was that of Adolfo Autino, a one-club right-midfielder who retired age 37. To make up for Autino, the player who will come in is 24-year-old Bernardo Marroquín, who had minimal participation this season. Sources related to the club have told us that Marroquín could've been sent away to a lower division club had Autino not retired. On the other hand, rotational option Héctor Gallardo was sold for an honestly hefty price for a substitute CB playing in a relegation team, as Salto Athletic snapped him up for $100k. Finally, another rotation, David Zetticci, ran down his contract, with Sportivo Terense signing him on a free for the upcoming Nacional B season.

Gonzalo Lauzirica from Progreso and Felipe Oliveira from recently-relegated Ferrocarriles Unidos were the only players bought by Centa, with both players assuming the role of a rotational right-back and a rotational left-midfielder, respectively, possibly to provide depth for each position. Lauzirica had started in Progreso's cup final against Gimnasia y Bala, but due to an eventual injury, he was subbed off.

Justo Liguori and Leoncio Schreiber are by far the most promising youngsters in Centauro's squad. On one hand, Liguori will have a baptism of fire at right-back, as the player who'd normally be there Cristian Abbatelli, announcing his plans to retire next season. Justo will have to be a key piece at defence trying to avoid his team's relegation. On the other hand, Schreiber's been called up for the DBC squad, but the position of the forward has a ton of competition, with Carrizo, Villalba and Domínguez already playing at the front, so as it's been said before, Schreiber will probably have to spend some time in the bench.

Comergás

Full name: Club Atlético Comergas
Nickname/other names: el Azzurro/el Azul (the Blues), Come, el Gasista (the Gas Workers)
From: Arias, San Miguel
Stadium: Estadio de la Liga Arieña "Raimundo Sánchez", Arias. Capacity 6.000
Alternative stadium(s): none
Rivalries: Miguelense (local)
Traditional colours: Dark blue and white stripes

Last season: 5th - shocked the nation
Nacional A titles: none
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Domingo Cuevas
Captain: César Hidalgo
Key prospect: Luciano Gamboa

Fan social class: Varied - it's the thing that unites a small town
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: very, very rarely

Best eleven:

GK Vicente Endrizzi		(34)
LCB Domingo Cuevas		(27)
CB César Hidalgo (c)		(31)
RCB Vito Constantino		(29)		from Salto Athletic, free.
LM Joaquín Lombardo		(25) AM CM
CM Alvaro Russo			(23)
CM Emiliano Laza		(25) AM FW	from Progreso, $250k.
RM Ayrton Hidalgo		(26)
LW José Luís Ortiz		(34)
RW Nahuel French		(22)
FW Marcelo Leiva		(35)
MG Mateo Rey			(63) 3-4-2-1 - 12th season at club

Substitutes:

GK Samuel Boni			(25)
GK Nicolás Sala			(27)
LB Rodrigo Vidal		(30)
CB Ezequiel del Médico		(30)		from Unión Ferroviaria, free.
CB Santiago Pichón		(20) LB DM	Promoted
RB Rubén Parra			(25)
RB Jorge Nucci			(38) CB
DM Hernán Montiel		(17)		Promoted
CM Leandro Gil			(24) AM
CM Luciano Gamboa		(18)		Promoted
CM Nicolás Banes		(23) RM
RM Julián Rivero		(27) CM
RW Samuel Fetuccini		(19)		Promoted
ST Albert Ortiz			(29)
ST Luciano Pascua		(33)

Departures:

LB Ginés Ferro			(27) LM		to Caide, $250k.
DM Mauro Bilbao			(32) DM CB	to Sportivo Caamaño, free.

Background
For a lot of people, Comergás' recent overachievements have turned it into their second club. Hailing from the small town of Arias, a border town between the southern provinces of San Miguel and Independencia with a population of just over 9.000, the club has gained a reputation for punching above their weight recently (though no one knows if that'll just be a one-season wonder and that they're going to get second-season syndrome).

Comergás was founded just over 50 years ago by workers of the Compañía del Comercio del Gas del Sur (COMERGAS), a company which specialised in buying and selling gas obtained in the provinces of San Miguel and Independencia, the two southernmost provinces in Tero al Disco. It quickly affiliated itself in the regional Liga Arieña, which not only brought teams from Arias, but from nearby villages, such as Suñer and Mondragón. The club won its first silverware by winning seasons 1979 and 1980 of the regional league, before fading back into relative obscurity. During season 2001, the club promoted to the newly created 5th tier of the Terense football pyramid, but then dropped back down. Five seasons later, they got promoted back again, staying until season 2013, which was when Mateo Rey took the helm.

That season, they finished fourth in the San Miguel regional league. The season after (2014), they would get promoted to the Categoría A, the fourth division, for the first time in their history. In 2016, they blew out Puchaquí in the Categoría A promotion finals, securing a place in the 3rd tier, the Torneo Federal. In 2017, they won the Nacional B-Torneo Federal promotion playoffs on penalties, to win promotion to the 2nd tier for the first time. After cementing themselves firmly in the Nacional B, and led by players such as Marcelo Leiva and César Hidalgo, they would crown themselves champions of the 2023 Nacional B, capping off a meteoric rise to the first division.

Then, well, they fought hard, they were even in the race for IFCF spots for several weeks, finally finishing 5th last season. Let's see what happens next.

The squad
There were surprisingly no major transfers, whether that be out of Tero al Disco or even to a big club, considering Domingo Cuevas was called up for the national team, winning 12 caps, as well as Marcelo Leiva being "considered" for the national team at some point. Comergás also had only two departures, those being Ginés Ferro for Caide, as well as reserve player Mauro Bilbao heading to Sportivo Caamaño.

Among the players who came in, Emiliano Laza, one of Progreso's best players, was brought in to make the center-midfield better. There are already five different CMs out of the 26 players in the squad, depth which is desperately needed in the flanks (it seems that there being next-to-none LMs or RMs is a theme among Terense clubs this time...). It seems that the other left/right midfielders will be chosen on which foot is the preferred one, it seems. Down at the back, 30-year-old Ezequiel del Médico's contract with Unión Ferroviaria (the team who reached the promotion playoffs but lost them) expired, as el Azzurro took advantage of that to add another centre-back to their lineup. Well, Comergás seemed to need defenders in general, with Salto Athletic's right-back Vito Constantino being signed by the Arias club

Luciano Gamboa, a central midfielder, is probably the most promising youngster to come from the academy. Again, we don't know if he'll have to be used on the sides. It seems that there is more depth on the right (with a whopping 3 players being able to play there) than on the left (only Joaquín Lombardo, who will have to prove himself this time round, with no one to sub him out for). If Luciano uses his stamina, fitness and hunger well, then Comergás' midfield might turn one of the best, combined with Laza coming in, and Ayrton Hidalgo and Alvaro Russo's experience.

Gimnasia y Bala

Full name: Club de Gimnasia y Bala
Nickname/other names: Gimnasia, el Celeste (the Light Blues), el Tirador (the shooter)
From: Tero al Disco Capital
Stadium: Estadio Ernesto Forli, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 15.117
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Rivalries: Nacional Terense (competitive - Clásico de Clásicos), Norteño (competitive), Caide (competitive/local - Clásico Capital-Escobar)
Traditional colours: Light blue and white stripes

Last season: 3rd - should've won it
Nacional A titles: 28 (1938, 1942, 1945, 1948-49, 1953-54, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1981, 1983, 1985-86, 1990-92, 2002, 2006-08, 2010-12, 2016-17, 2019, 2021)
Copa de la República titles: 1* (2024)
Star man: Juan José Leonardi
Captain: Martín Kuchler
Key prospect: Lucas Maillard

Fan social class: Varied - too big to have a defining one
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: rarely

Best eleven:

GK Efraín Azzaro		(26)
LB Valerio Daniel		(25) CB
CB José Salas			(26) LB
CB Martín Kuchler (c)		(31)
RB Jaime Adamo			(23)
LM Reinaldo Perrín		(25)
CM  Lew Anton		(27)		from  Zenic, $600k.
CM  Wanyonyi Lawal		(23)		from  Zenic, $600k.
RM  Ronaldinho Caicedo	(21) AM CM	from  Universitario, free.
FW Juan José Leonardi		(33)
FW Ismael Colombera		(25)
MG Faustino Allegretto		(49) 4-4-2 - interim

Substitutes:

GK Gabriel Stenger		(33)
GK Lucas Maillard		(18)		Promoted
LB Agustín Antunes		(25)		from Sportivo Caamaño, $150k.
CB Alejo Roux			(20) RB
CB Franco Rosales		(24) CB
RB Pedro Fredes			(30)
RB Fabio Sola			(18)		Promoted
LM Hernán Beaufort		(32) CM
CM Rodolfo Traverso		(17)		Promoted
CM Adolfo Duré			(35) RM
CM Reinaldo Reyes		(26)
RM Feliciano Duque		(29)
AM Francisco Borrell		(25)
AM Alexander Cornelli		(24)
FW Damián San Ángelo		(30)CM

Departures:

LB Gildo Durand			(20) DM LM	to  Perce Town, $3m.
FW Iker Ibarra			(32)		to  N-City, $500k.
AM Miguel de Fiore		(26) FW		to  Ethelfled, $400k.
CM César Paz			(32) RM		to Moncloa, $300k.
GK Lautaro Corti		(20)		to Sportivo Escobar, free.
AM Nicolás Larramendi		(17)		to  Tikariot City, free.
CB Samuel Villareal		(22)		to Caide, free.

Background
Ah yes, Gimnasia y Bala. One of the big 2 clubs in Tero al Disco, by excellence. The club was founded more or less during the ATF calendar decade of the 1900s. It was originally a club of the upper classes, practising generally upper-class sports, like gymnastics and shooting (the two disciplines which gave the club its name). However, its presence and also normally unlikely popularity in the working-class neighborhood of El Poste made its social dynamic into a melting pot since its formation. Now that it's transformed itself into one of the two best clubs in the country, it's now supported by lots of Terense from lots of places around the country, and lots of social classes, but just know that that's been there.

Originally founded as a club which only practised gymnastics, as Club Gimnástico de Tero al Disco (Gymnastic Club of Tero al Disco), it eventually added other sports, such as shooting, fencing, and later football. It is unknown why it was ultimately renamed to "Gimnasia y Bala" (gymnastics and bullet) instead of "Gimnasia y Tiro" (gymnastics and shooting). Many club historians have formulated many different theories, but it is widely known that it wasn't because they either didn't want to be confused with an RLStates club of the same name, nor was it because they threaten their opponents at gunpoint before each match. No. No, I'm not sorry.

By the 1920s, they'd grown to have one of the best football teams in the city. After winning many amateur trophies, they were invited to participate in the inaugural Nacional A season (then called the Primera División). From then on, they'd have a history of always fighting for the league title, with a few exceptions, a few droughts here or there, but they've always had that present.

Despite always going head-to-head with Nacional Terense, until 15 years ago fans of el Aurirojo taunted Gimnasia fans, since Gimnasia always had less league titles than Nacional. Under manager Ernesto Forli, they went of a period of domination in the late 2000s-early 2010s, in which they won six titles in seven years, which was arguably the final trophy to win for Gimnasia fans (that's cause they had no idea about international competitions in that time).

The squad
This squad has probably got the potential to win the league title. First there's the advantage of Juan José Leonardi being publicly against the opening up of Terense football to the world, meaning that he's going to stay in the club for the foreseeable future. Then there's Martín Kuchler, Tero al Disco's best centerback, saying that he "couldn't be bothered" to leave his childhood club. Two of Tero al Disco's best staying at the club. Then there's José Salas at the back, at Kuchler's company, there's Reinaldo Perrín at left-midfielder, as well as his replacement, Hernán Beaufort, the three of them NTers, or former NTers.

Gimnasia's management have clearly gone for prestige here, with a total of 3 foreign NTers signing up for them. First, there's the Zenician midfield duo of Lew Anton and Wanyonyi Lawal. Lawal's signing could mean that the forwards could get a good complement, seeing as Wanyonyi tends to play up, closer to an attacking midfielder. Lew Anton, on the other hand, is also someone who tends to move the ball forwards, meaning that both signings are more additions to the attacking part of the midfield.

Then there's the Huayramarcan Ronaldinho Caicedo. After running down his contract for AD Universitario, in his home country, he willingly came here, to Tero al Disco, to "try out and get in a club here". He told us, after signing for Gimnasia, that "I think I want to start over here in Tero al Disco, because at times I feel at home here...er...I feel that it's culturally somewhat similar to my country, Huayramarca. I mean, what I'm trying to say is that I like this place...".

One problem is that, like any other club, Gimnasia has problems with depth. Caicedo is someone who plays as a central midfielder or an attacking one. Because of Anton and Lawal, Gimnasia's interim manager, Faustino Allegretto, is currently training as a right-midfielder. We don't know what the outcome is going to be, but we know that right-mid Caicedo has only one good replacement for RM (aside from Adolfo Duré, who can "barely be good as RM" according to Allegretto), Feliciano Duque. Besides that, there are also only two LMs, Perrín and Beaufort. Yes, every club has a lack-of-LM/RM problem, we know.

Gildo Durand was bought by Perce Town, one of Quebec and Shingoryeo's best clubs, which is a key loss to any position in the left side of the pitch, if we keep talking about squad depth. Iker Ibarra was bought by Natanians and Nosts team N-City, Miguel de Fiore and César Paz were sold to the international market free up space for the Zenician CMs (Reinaldo Reyes was also transfer-listed but no team offered for him). One key academy player in Nicolás Larramendi was sold to Tikariotan side Tikariot City for free, with the most promising youngster being Lucas Maillard in between the posts.

by **Tero al Disco** » Fri Jun 28, 2024 6:34 pm

NACIONAL A 93 PREVIEW - PART 2/4

Laureles

Full name: Club Social y Deportivo Laureles Terenses
Nickname/other names: Laureles, Laureles de Moncloa, la Banda Azul (the Blue Line), los Guerreros (the Warriors - hardly used)
From: Moncloa (Tero al Disco Capital conurbation), Marquira.
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Moncloa, Moncloa. Capacity 21.550
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de Laureles, Moncloa. Capacity 6.671
Rivalries: Moncloa (local - Clásico de Moncloa), Solanet (local)
Traditional colours: White with a dark blue vertical line

Last season: 8th - started out promising then fell off
Nacional A titles: none
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Lautaro Araujo
Captain: Gaspar Bustos
Key prospect: Octavio Dávila

Fan social class: Mostly middle class
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: sometimes

Best eleven:

GK Miguel Ángel Palazo		(31)
LB Fernando Aciar		(27)
CB Gaspar Bustos (c)		(32) DM
CB Carmelo Rivero		(30)		from Sportivo Caamaño, $150k.
RB Felipe Barostti		(25)
LM Melchor Gallina		(21)
CM Aaron Rojo			(26) AM
CM Ulises Fabbiani		(23)		from Nacional Terense, free.
RM Isidro Savich		(25)
FW Lautaro Araujo		(24)
FW León Siera			(23)
MG  Sotirios Ikonomou	(53) 4-4-2 - 1st season at club, hired from  Kos

Substitutes:

GK Fernando Le Pen		(21)
GK Luciano Muñiz		(20)
LB Oscar Teller			(34)
CB Alan Duff			(27)
CB Teófilo Monán		(24)
CB Ignacio Magni		(26) RB
CB Nicolás Ibarra		(33) DM
CB Franco Apicella		(35) CB
LM Joaquín Bonfils		(30) AM
CM Octavio Dávila		(20)		Promoted
CM Juan Baroni			(17) AM		Promoted
RM Ignacio Fontana		(25)
AM Ramiro Fabrón		(27) FW
FW Héctor Sanchez		(28)

Departures:

LB Edison Kennedy		(25)		to Nacional Terense, $200k.
CB Adrián Méndez		(17)		to Rosamonte, free.

Background
Laureles are the younger of the two big Moncloa clubs, having been founded some 5/20 years before Moncloa. Sports like football or athletics were getting ever more popular, and sports-and-community clubs were popping up all over the city and other cities- Some residents of Moncloa's southern neighbourhood of San Augusto, seeing as there was no club of that style in the area, decided to found one of their own, to put it simply, and so Laureles was born.

There was hardly anything of note to say about the club in its early years. In 1937, they were one of the fourteen founding teams of what is now the Nacional A, and by then it had been established as a mid-table club, being overshadowed by their neighbours Moncloa. The team gradually started to perform worse, until their first relegation came in season 1954, becoming more of a yo-yo club for the next 35 years. Despite this, in the 1990s decade of the ATF calendar, the club would start a process of rebirth, headed by now-legends like Fernando Alba, Francisco Pesqueira (the club's top scorer) and Nicolás Camacho. Through the ten seasons from 1995 to 2004, the club would finish in the podium seven times. However, they'd never taste the fruits of success, as they'd come second five times, with heartbreaking defeats like a 2-1 tiebreaker loss at Caide for the 1999 championship, and then losing a last-matchday final against Solanet the season after.

Once the golden age stifled out with the three already-mentioned players retiring, Laureles would settle back into being a generally solid side, who are never threatened by the relegation battle. In the last few years they've had better seasons, with players coming in like Isidro Savich and Lautaro Araujo who do give Laureles fans something to hope about.

The squad
The transfer window hasn't traditionally been given that much of an importance in Tero al Disco, with there being several past legends from every club who were also one-club men. The Laureles management didn't care about breaking with tradition after the end of international isolation and the opening of the Terense league to the world (in Terense football's particular case). Statistically, only four players have either come in or out.

And out of the two players that have been signed from other teams (all Terense ones), the most important departure would be that of Edison Kennedy. Yeah, I know, doesn't sound like a Terense name but it is. Anyway (name stigma aside???) he's been the main left-back for three seasons now at Laureles, and him leaving poses a tight scenario for Laureles' left-backs, as they've only got two of them. First, Oscar Teller who's getting worse with age. That is why Fernando Aciar, a player who's more of a reserves guy than a main team guy, is generally considered as the better of the two by the media. But still, Teller's gotta do a damn good job helping him out.

Despite this normally conservative posture, Laureles are one of two clubs this season (to be revealed later) to have hired a foreign manager, Vdaran Sotirios Ikonomou, coming from managing in his country of origin's league. He's said to Terense media that "money is very tight here in Vdara. I love my club, but with the salary they're paying me, I'm almost threatened to have to work a second job just to pay the bills, raise my kids, you know. It was a very tough decision for me, but I want my club to have it the best they can, I don't want it to die. Hopefully opening us up to the world will be the solution."

The two signings have been Carmelo Rivero, Sportivo Caamaño's starting full-back, as well as Nacional Terense youth product Ulises Fabbiani, as Laureles are looking to add an extra slab into their group of central midfielders, worrying that (in traditional Terense football fashion) the youngsters might burn out playing too many matches at their age. You'll see lots of situations like this happening.

Moncloa

Full name: Club Atlético Moncloa
Nickname/other names: el Bordó (the Maroons)
From: Moncloa (Tero al Disco Capital conurbation), Marquira.
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Moncloa, Moncloa. Capacity 21.550
Alternative stadium(s): none
Rivalries: Laureles (local - Clásico de Moncloa), Solanet (local)
Traditional colours: All maroon

Last season: 1st - surprised everyone
Nacional A titles: 2 (1951, 2024)
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Miguel Napoliello
Captain: Andrés Castillo
Key prospect: Tomás Serravalle, Néstor Dionisio

Fan social class: Low to middle-class
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: sometimes

Best eleven:

GK Andrés Castillo (c)		(33)
LB Nestor Martelli		(28)
CB Guillermo Branco		(34)
RB Facundo Grosso		(23) CB
LM Miguel Napoliello		(28) CM
CM Facundo Véccoli		(27) LM
CM César Paz			(32)		from Gimnasia y Bala, $300k.
RM Jonathan Juárez		(22) CM
FW Fidel Cardozo		(29)
FW  Pilypas Aldhard		(22)		from  Zenic, $600k.
FW José María Herrera		(35)
MG Rubén Lima			(53) - 3-4-3 - 3rd season at club

Substitutes:

GK Flavio Carreño		(24)
GK Isaac Bárbara		(19)
LB Luís Cueto			(34)
LB Hipólito Antúnez		(22)
CB Tomás Serravalle		(19)		from Unión Ferroviaria, $100k.
CB Agustín Fabián		(22)
RB Antonio Sastre		(28) CB		from Manuel Rodríguez, $100k.
RB Leonel Narbitz		(18)		from Defensores de Boca, $20k.
RB Camilo Carli			(28)
LM José Villaverde		(31)
CM Néstor Dionisio		(19)		Promoted
RM Carlos Esparza		(34)
LW Facundo Mineo		(20)		Promoted
FW  Micheal Basile		(20)		from free agency.
FW Gianfranco Casale		(24)

Departures:

FW Alvaro Biaggi		(24)		to  Nasjonale Hauker, $3,5m.
RB Máximo Manet			(23)		to  Crimsonhawke, $1m.
RM Germán Hasse			(24) RW		to  North Star Grimsey, $700k.
CM Claudio Tapia		(27) RM		to  Hawthorne Kickers, $600k.
CM Paolo Guaymas		(17)		to Sportivo Escobar, free.
GK Marcos Ibarrán		(19)		to Sionista, free.

Background
Moncloa were founded during whatever equivalent to the 1900s, by young people looking to play football (you see the pattern here, it's either a bunch of youngsters dreaming big and wanting to play organised football, or neighbours wanting to found a charitable organisation for the colective benefit). Originally known as "Calle Mazariegos" due to the club being located in Mazariegos street, it had a discrete presence among the other football clubs from the city. However, financed by local businessman and philantropist Jacobo Cloarec, the club would transform itself into one of the best teams. It changed its name to "Moncloa-Mazariegos", and, by the time they competed in the first season of the Nacional A in 1937, they would drop all notions of Mazariegos, renaming themselves to just "Moncloa".

The rename to show that they weren't just a street, but that they represented the whole city was originally risky, but it would show in the coming years. Moncloa would start outperforming Laureles (the one who was originally the best in the city), coming second in the first season of the league, after Nacional Terense. They wouldn't be able to keep that run of form, but in the 1940s and 1950s, led by manager Javier Urionaguena (after whom Moncloa's old stadium was named after), they would return to fight at the top. Their finest hour would come in season 1951, after they became the champions with a comfortable margin separating them and second place. They really were the most popular club in Moncloa to deserve that name.

With Urionaguena retiring due to health problems, Moncloa would go from its most glorious days to its worst so far. Only in 1961, the club would finish last in the table and go back down to the Primera B (the Capital-only era's second division). Fans would have to wait until season 1974 to go back up, from there on they wouldn't have any major problems.

But, in the late 1980s, the club would suffer another dark era, and this time it would be serious. A grave financial crisis forced them to sell nearly the entire squad just to stay with a positive balance. In 1988, they would go down to the Primera B. In 1990, the problems would still not be solved, and the team went down another step, this time falling to the Primera C. To add further insult to injury, the game in which they were relegated was against Laureles at home, and it was in this same fixture that Laureles won promotion to the first tier. Too bad that they got relegated, since after the federalisation in 1992 of Terense football gave way to a national second tier, the Nacional B, all the existent metropolitan leagues were brought a level down, with the Nacional B drawing some clubs from the Primera B. Moncloa would be relegated to the fourth tier this time. After that nonsense, the club would go up to the 3rd tier in '92, up to the new second tier in '93, and would stay there until gaining back promotion in 1999, as the institution was given a whole new look.

The club hasn't been relegated since then, with the closest to doing so coming in the mid-2000s, as they fought for survival some seasons. However, they've never been seen as a team that could fight for the title. After the big crisis, fans forgot about their 70-odd-year drought completely, but last time, with the breakout of Alvaro Biaggi, Miguel Napoliello, Máximo Manet and company, they finally brought the title home.

The squad
If there are seven words that could describe Moncloa's roster this year, it would be full of promise to defend the title. They could keep most of their players from last season, especially Miguel Napoliello, and brought in new ones that could turn out to be key for the season if used properly, as well as promoting and buying top-class talent.

The two most prominent signings are Zenician NTer Pilypas Aldhard, a well-rounded attacker who's more than suitable for Nacional A's level of play. It looks as if he could fit right in with the striker trio of Fidel Cardozo and Jose María Herrera, then there's the excuse thrown about that he would need to adapt to life in Tero al Disco, but nnyyyeaaaah I'm sure he'll be fine...

Second is Tomás Serravalle, coming from Unión Ferroviaria. Serrvalle's signing kills four birds with one stone, as he adds talent, depth (Moncloa's number of center-backs is low compared to the other teams if you look closely), aggresiveness, and prestige from his inexplicable 4 caps in the Baptism of Fire, to the role of the center-back and the defense in general.

César Paz from Gimnasia y Bala has been brought to strengthen the midfield after Claudio Tapia departed from the club. Alongside Paz, Leonel Narbitz, after standout performances for Defensores de Boca, was brought in to el Bordó, with another right-back also coming in the form of Antonio Sastre from Manuel Rodríguez. Rounding up the signings, another foreign players was brought in, with South Newlandian youngster Micheal Basile picked up on a free, providing a rotational option for the strikers.

For all the good players they've got, they sadly needed to compensate it. Alvaro Biaggi's gone away to the Polar Islandstates, to play in one of the best teams there, Nasjonale Hauker (as the most expensive signing so far for a Terense player; $3.500.000. Biaggi will be accompanied to the Polarian league by Germán Hasse, who'll play for North Star Grimsey. Máximo Manet's gone to Tikariot, to play in Crimsonhawke. Claudio Tapia's been bought by Xannerian side Hawthorn Kickers. Manager Rubén Lima will have to figure out a way to fight for the title without four of the best players from last season, and it may turn out as being not an easy task for him.

Nacional Terense

Full name: Club Nacional Terense
Nickname/other names: Nacional, el Bombero (the Firemen), el Rey de Copas (the King of Cups)
From: Tero al Disco Capital
Stadium: Estadio Nacional, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 20.400
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Rivalries: Gimnasia y Bala (competitive - Clásico de Clásicos), Norteño (competitive/local), Caide (competitive)
Traditional colours: Red with yellow sleeves

Last season: 7th - massive underperformance for a Big 2 team
Nacional A titles: 25 (1937, 1941, 1943-44, 1946, 1952, 1956-57, 1961-62, 1968, 1972-75, 1977, 1984, 1988-89, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2009, 2013)
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Cristian Riese, Caleb Brennan
Captain: Cristian Riese
Key prospect: Marco Lixau, Roque Antonini

Fan social class: Varied - too big to have a defining one.
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: maybe

Best eleven:

GK Rodrigo Mantovano		(32)
LB Javier Miranda		(25)
CB Cristian Riese (c)		(34) RB
CB  Pâb Rügreráterrhé	(29) RB LB	from  Hawthorne United, $850k.
RB Maximiliano Anselm		(27) CB
LM Marcos Monyor		(24)
CM Justo Freitas		(25)
RM Francisco Martini		(27)
FW  Caleb Brennan		(25)		from  Myrtle Beach Union, $500k.
FW Benjamín Insfrán		(22)
FW Luis Ángel Clemente		(29)
MG  Evela-Dwada Inu		(45) - 4-3-3 - 1st season at club, hired from  Viltvodle United

Substitutes:

GK Pablo d'Angelo		(31)
GK Jaime Lanziego		(21)
LB Edison Kennedy		(25)		from Laureles, $200k.
CB Eugenio Pastor		(30)
CB Emiliano David		(25)
CB Miguel Laca			(31)
CB Raúl Grassi			(18)		Promoted
RB Raúl Nanni			(22) RM
RB Roque Antonini		(18) RM		Promoted
DM Leonardo Bracamonte		(35)
LM Norberto Modugno		(33)
CM Marco Lixau			(18) RM AM	from Norteño, free.
CM Régulo Cándido		(18) DM AM	from  National Football Academy, free.
CM Guido Treviso		(21) RM
FW Felipe Alberto		(21)		Promoted

Departures:

CM Bautista Sixto		(18) RM		to  Klampenborg, $1,5m.
LM Paulo Tedesco		(25) CM		to  Xaiv 1919, $700k.
FW Eric Jocelín			(20)		to  Longyearbyen Town, $500k.
AM Felipe Ochoa			(17)		to  Krsthaven, free.
GK Hernán Sotelo		(30)		to Manuel Rodríguez, $50k.
CM Ulises Fabbiani		(23)		to Laureles, free.

Background
Nacional Terense were founded approximately some years later than their arch-rivals Gimnasia y Bala. The club, in its early years, was firmly middle-class, unlike Gimnasia who were an icon of both the working and upper classes. Its early years, this time like Gimnasia, was the time when they got big, quick. The first big, historic match was in the year 1921, when the metropolitan amateur championship came to a last-round meetup between the two. Nacional would win the match by an exhilarating 5-3, involving top-class football (for the time) and then a full-time brawl, which ended with their goalkeeper, Mario Briand, going to prison for hospitalising another player, the team being kicked out of the city amateur football association, and the eternal rivalry between the two becoming "official".

Due to Nacional having persistent problems with the football authorities, as well as players putting on pressure for professionalisation of football and the big clubs (who could afford having a professional squad) wanting to form their own league (but that's a minor thing compared to whatever was Nacional's problems), those issues eventually led to the breakaway and formation of what was then the "División Profesional", back then the name of the league which would later become the Nacional A.

Nacional would inmediately become a big player, being at the top every other season of it, except for the occasional title droughts. They'd break records (like being the only team to have won four titles in a row so far) and generally be the club with the most titles won, over Gimnasia.

However, after federalisation, the club's performance as league winners dropped sharply. A combo of bad managers and bad administration, as well as other unexpected events like Ernesto Forli taking charge of Gimnasia y Bala and winning that stretch of 6 titles in 7 years, has made Nacional overshadowed by Gimnasia for the last 30 seasons. They've won titles here and there, but they haven't performed well compared to el Celeste. Now, they've got a decently promising squad, and they're looking to go big this season.

The squad
Nacional's management have seen their arch-rivals Gimnasia spending big, and they've decided "you know what? we're gonna do the same as them". The marquee signing is Caleb Brennan from Myrtle Beach, a striker who's been said by local media to be "Myrtle Beach's #2 player". In the qualifiers for the last World Cup cycle, WC 96, Myrtle Beach came in 3rd place, missing the playoffs by head-to-head results after tying on points and goal difference with 2nd-placed Poafmersia, so it's safe to say what kind of player Nacional are dealing with here. With the new manager's three-striker tactic, Brennan will replace 20-year-old Eric Jocelín, who's gone out to play for Polarian outfit Longyearbyen Town

Their most expensive signing, at $850k, is Farfadillis' Pâb Rügreráterrhé. Pâb's strength is that he's quick, very quick. He'd been put on the transfer list by Hawthorne United as a residue, as the team had younger players, but Nacional's management are very confident that he's going to make an impact in the team. However, the most impactful signing hasn't been a player, but a manager. Enter fellow Qusmi Evela-Dwada Inu, from what we've seen from their stint at Viltvodle United along with co-manager Rynyr-Xeral Ixi, they both favour defensive play, similar to our football. And they've got experience working at a foreign club, which means that they can apply whatever stuff those pesky foreigners use, in our football.

Oh, see how I used "they" instead of "he"? According to our research, right...like all people from Qusmo, Evela-Dwada's non-binary. Aside from the fact that I'm massively downscaling the effect that this will or may have on Terense sports in the long term, it will also mean opposition fans will shower him in homophobic insults, but what we've saw from them in press conferences he "doesn't mind that" and "will see how it develops". So that's fine?

The big prospect is definitely going to be a Terense player, Marco Lixau. After a release of sorts from Norteño's academy, Lixau was snapped up by the red-yellows, with the purpose of shaping him into a senior team player, and probably to replace Bautista Sixto, transferred out into the Quebecois league with the same age as Marco's. Still, don't expect him starting lots of times, because apparently Evela-Dwada also started adopting Terense match selection culture. Régulo Cándido was put up for free by Crpostran's National Football Academy, so you know he's a nationally-guaranteed player. Aside from that, Cándido's pretty versatile up in the middle, allowing him to play in all gradients of the midfield (although it is said that his defensive positioning can get better), and he's going to feature in his country's Di Bradini Cup squad. Roque Antonini and Raúl Grassi have shown plenty of promise, with the two players being highlighted for their pace and natural fitness.

Rounding up Nacional's incoming players, with the position of the left-back becoming shallow, that problem being carried over from last season, Edison Kennedy was bought for Laureles, hoping to provide a rotational option for Javier Miranda, as the Farf Rügreráterrhé being put as a third option.

Speaking of player replacements for depth (like Brennan for Jocelín or Lixau for Sixto), the left midfielders (Marcos Monyor and Norberto Modugno) will probably have to deal with the problem, as Paulo Tedesco was the third big international transfer, playing in Saternalian side Xaiv 1919.

Norteño

Full name: Club Atlético Norteño
Nickname/other names: el Azzurro (the Blues), Ñeño, Norté, el Canguro (the Kangaroos)
From: Tero al Disco Capital
Stadium: Estadio Mariano Mieszki, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 9.336
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Rivalries: Gimnasia y Bala (competitive), Nacional Terense (competitive), loads of inter-neighbourhood derbies.
Traditional colours: Light and dark blue hoops

Last season: 4th - not bad
Nacional A titles: 6 (1955, 1978, 1980, 2014, 2020, 2022)
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Esteban Hirsch
Captain: Esteban Hirsch
Key prospect: Leonel Berriex, Hernando Toledo

Fan social class: Varied
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: maybe

Best eleven:

GK  Luke Sundvall		(20)		from  Caledon Simpson, $450k.
LB Emiliano Baldinotti		(31)
CB Salomón Forester		(31)
CB Gamariel Arza		(20)
RB Miguel Schenck		(26)		from Tacurú, free.
LM Juan de la Cruz		(26) LM
CM Esteban Hirsch (c)		(33)
RM Celestino Christian		(25)
LW Fulgencio Llop		(23) LM
RW Roberto Villar		(26) AM
FW Américo Alonso		(26)		from Manuel Rodríguez, $125k.
MG Cristian Rivero		(53) - 4-3-2-1 - 5th season at club

[b]Substitutes:

GK Ernesto Farina		(18)		Promoted
GK Manuel Saavedra		(17)		Promoted
LB Lucas Quintana		(26)
LB Leonel Berriex		(21) LM
CB Ricardo Galeano		(32)
CB Gerónimo Mendoza		(26)
RB Simón Alemano		(27) RB
LM Hernán Ledesma		(23) CM
CM Andrés Lobo			(30)
RM Javier Vidal Montoya		(30)
AM Simón Burgaleta		(26)
LW Reinaldo Arévalo		(28) LM
RW Facundo Pellegrino		(34)
FW Hernando Toledo		(20)		Promoted

Departures:

AM Sergio Cervantes		(18) FW		to  Pesfield Trees, $1,5m.
GK Santiago O'Reilly		(24)		to Caide, $300k.
CM Marco Lixau			(18) RM AM	to Nacional Terense, $50k.
CB Rubén Sosa			(18)		to KMJ Chamonix, free.
CB Rafael Cáceres		(20)		to Tacurú, free.
CB Teófilo Guardia		(25)		to Progreso, free.

Background
Norteño are a club which was founded by a group of dockyard workers mainly working (predictably) in the northern neighbourhoods of the capital city, hence its name. However, today there's virtually no trace of its naval origins, and neither is it in the north, as the Mariano Mieszki stadium is located directly south.

From their first affiliation to the Terense leagues, Norteño would have an infamous reputation as one of the clubs that are always fighting for the title but never win anything. They would get their first taste of that back in the amateur era, as they'd go second in the 1920 and 1922 through '24 seasons. The early years were also some of the best for them so far, as they'd have a slump in form later in. They would become one of the founder clubs of the new professional division, but they'd remain silent until the mid-1940s, when they'd regain what they had lost the decades before. In 1948, 1950 (tiebreaker loss to Sportivo Terense) and 1954 they'd come second, but in 1955 they'd finally be champions for the first time in their history.

Then, they'd lay dormant, including a relegation in season 1961, from which they would bounce back inmediately. But finally, managed by Juan Cruz Lista, the club would break a 20+-year drought with two titles in three years, in 1978 and 1980 (in '79 they'd come third). However, in one hell of a plot twist, Lista would pass away due to a car crash, eliminating the base of one of the best squads in the country. Despite the tragic loss, Norteño would come second in 1981, 1983 and 1987, before gradually decaying over the next few years into a team of mixed performances.

The last few years have seen a rebirth for the team, as lead by Lorenzo Canizares (with an upset 2014 title win) and now by Cristian Rivero (2020 and 2022 titles), Norteño have been restored as a club that now generally hovers around the top.

The squad
Despite the growing need to make plenty of transfers, mainly to replace players who were lured to foreign leagues, in the new post-isolation age of football, Cristian Rivero was seemingly happy with not moving players around that much. And with the amount and impact of the departures, it wasn't that necessary. Sergio Cervantes was bought by Sylestonean side Pesfield Trees, luring Norteño's best striker away. That led to the club signing Américo Alonso from a recently relegated Manuel Rodríguez. Alonso isn't a fraction of good that Cervantes is, but they've still got Roberto Villar. They still have Celestino Christian up in the midfield. They still have Esteban Hirsch (who wanted to stay with the club of his life), for crying out loud!

And yeah, Santiago O'Reilly, who had to make up for Braian Rico's unexpected transfer to Tacurú ~~no, I didn't make an error while writing the BOF roster~~, has gone out to Caide for $300k. O'Reilly's move will have affect their defense, not in the best of ways, but they've still got a Salomón Forester reaching his prime, and a young and ambitious Gamariel Arza as the center-backs. Despite O'Reilly going away, Krytenian Luke Sundvall was brought in to replace Santiago between the posts, with Miguel Schenck running down his contract, allowing for a transfer out of free agency.

The U19 league-winning squad has seen Marco Lixau, Rubén Sosa, Rafael Cáceres, Hernando Toledo and Ernesto Farina being promoted to the first team, but only the latter two are staying with the double blues.

by **Tero al Disco** » Fri Jul 05, 2024 4:35 pm

NACIONAL A 93 PREVIEW - PART 3/4

Palestino

Full name: Club Atlético Palestino
Nickname/other names: el Sultán, el Jeque, el Emir, etc. (any "Arabic" nobility title you can think of), Tino, el Tricolor de Casurainas (the Tricolors of Casuarinas)
From: Casuarinas, Casuarinas
Stadium: Parque de la Soberanía Nacional "La Babosa". Capacity 31.920
Alternative stadium(s): none
Rivalries: Sionista and Lawn Tennis (local/competitive - Clásico de Casuarinas)
Traditional colours: Green, white and black stripes, with red elements

Last season: 1st in the Nacional B
Nacional A titles: none
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Damián Sánchez
Captain: Ramiro Engelhardt
Key prospect: Iván Palomeque

Fan social class: Low to middle-class
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: sometimes

Best eleven:

GK Damián Sánchez		(26)
LB Francisco Sanfilippo		(29)
CB Rómulo Vivas			(29)
CB Joaquín Idoeta		(24)		from Parque Rodó, $25k.
CB Ángel Innocenti		(25)
RB Alexis Silveira		(29)
LM Marcos Portillo		(22)
CM Ramiro Engelhardt (c)	(30)
RM Mauricio Naves		(33)
FW Miguel Guerra		(24)		from Unión Ferroviaria, free.
FW Fabián Greco			(26)
MG Esteban Mastrianni		(49) 5-3-2 - 3rd season at club

[b]Substitutes:

GK Juan Adames			(30)
GK Fernando Mignano		(24)
LB Franco Montaño		(29)
CB Iván Palomeque		(21) LB		Promoted
CB Maximiliano Pascual		(23)
CB Álvaro Mayor			(31) RB
RB Ignacio Benegas		(35)
LM Antonio Manjarrez		(20)		Promoted
LM Ángel Pallero		(22)
CM Adrián Carli			(31)		from Talleres Inticuna, free.
CM Maximiliano Mora		(20)		Promoted
LW César Kolak			(26)
RW Marcos Gioia			(21) RM		Promoted
RW Mario Belo			(20) FW
FW Martín Calvo			(25)

Departures:

RB Francisco Martinovich	(29)		to Solanet, free.
FW Moisés Pasquali		(40)		retired.

Background
The city of Casuarinas, like any other big city, has its own share of "Big x" clubs. In the case of the northwestern city, there are three: Sionista (the club of the "Jewish" inmigrants, but that eventually blended in with the rest of the city after its rise), Lawn Tennis (originally of the upper-middle and upper classes) and then Palestino.

To start the story of Palestino, first we need to start with Sionista. Some 60/240 years ago from now, a schism occurred within the club. The leagues from the interior of the country developed at a slower rate than that of the capital, but by the "1950s" and "1960s" Casuarinas' league was starting to professionalise. Sionista's executives, however, refused to pay their players. That problem reached a boiling point, as the players went on to break away and form their own team. Alongside the players' problems, in spite of the club not paying them, tickets were being sold at prohibitive prices, which made the fans join the players in that new club. Said new club would be baptised "Palestino", after the nation featured in folklore which was fighting a neverending war against the "Sionists". That explanation would answer why it's called like that, even though the founders did not have anything to do with said nation nor anything related to it.

With the team being made up by a big chunk of the former Sionista squad, the team would instantly make a name for themselves in the city, as their ex-club would take a hard knock although recovering by some 20 seasons later. And although it's got no relation the "Palestino" nation inside Tero al Discc, it is still supported by international fans identifying themselves as "Arabic", to which "Palestino" has some supposed relation.

The squad
Manager Esteban Mastrianni is currently succeeding at making a youthful squad that can (at least) compete in the top tier, with only two plaers in the preferred eleven being 30 or over. Still, that doesn't mean Ramiro Engelhardt or Mauricio Naves aren't important pieces in the midfield.

It's strange to see that Damián Sánchez hasn't been sold out to another, better club. Sánchez worked like a brick wall during the Casuarinas team's Nacional B season last year, as Palestino had the least amount of goals conceded by a long shot, being the only club to have conceded less than 20 goals if we're going by exact statistics.

In the Di Bradini Cup, the club's got two players in the 26-man squad, with right-winger and right-midfielder Marcos Gioia, and center-back Iván Palomeque, a particularly tough defenseman to beat as shown in the reserves and youth teams, being featured there.

Onto the transfers: Palestino haven't seen that much action, like any other minor club featured in this preview. Veteran Moisés Pasquali retired, and Francisco Martinovich terminated his contract before being picked up by Solanet. Three players from the second division have been brought in: Joaquín Idoeta and Miguel Guerra (not to be confused with Ramiro Guerra) making the preferred XI, and Adrián Carli from third-tier Talleres de Inticuna being brought in as a rotation option to Ramiro Engelhardt.

Progreso

Full name: Club Social y Deportivo Progreso
Nickname/other names: los Canarios (the Canaries)
From: Tero al Disco Capital
Stadium: Estadio Lisandro Aguilar. Capacity 10.001
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Rivalries: Puchaquí (local)
Traditional colours: Gold, blue and white stripes

Last season: 2nd in the Nacional B
Nacional A titles: none
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Gerardo Mendiolagaray
Captain: Alan Passalacqua
Key prospect: Rogelio Chianese

Fan social class: Varied
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: rarely

Best eleven:

GK Manuel Calandra		(25)
LB Fabián Acevedo		(23) LM
CB Germán Richard		(28)
CB Alan Passalacqua (c)		(30)
RB Damián Alí			(29)		from Solanet, free.
LM Gerardo Mendiolagaray	(26)
CM Ezequiel Liendo		(22)
CM Christian Aiello		(31)
RM Rogelio Chianese		(21)
FW Pablo Casanova		(34)
FW Nelson Villas		(27)
MG Sebastián Ricci		(46) - 4-4-2 - 1st season at club, hired from Salto Athletic

Substitutes:

GK Samuel Rolan			(32)
GK Lorenzo Corradini		(31)
LB Vicente Servín		(27) CB
CB Teófilo Guardia		(25)		from Norteño, free.
CB Julián Falsone		(23)
RB Simón Deus			(24) RM
RB Héctor Saraiva		(23)
LM Daniel Sabatini		(26)
LM Pablo Kremer			(30)
CM Teodoro Barbera		(21)		Promoted
RM Marcos Marcos		(23)
RM Gabriel Mele			(34)
RW Benjamín Carlos		(20) RM		Promoted
FW Tomás Bartolini		(29)
FW Miguel Vizgarra		(19)		Promoted

Departures:

CM Emiliano Laza		(25) AM FW		to Comergás, $200k.
RB [color=#880011]Gonzalo Lauzirica		(24) DM		to Centauro, $25k.

Background
Located in the northern neighbourhoods of Tero al Disco, Progre hasn't really got that much going for them. They were founded in "1930", affiliating themselves to the Capital amateur league system rather quickly, where they lingered down its last divisions. They didn't make the jump to the new "professional", or rather breakaway league system until season 1952, when the amateur league officially disbanded. That reluctancy was due to them now being in the first division of the Federación Terense (the amateur league's name), sometimes even battling at the top of it. It was much more viable in the financial aspect to be at the top of the first division than to struggle in the last divisions, but they had to make the jump regardless.

The predictable would happen, and Progreso would consolidate themselves as a third division team in the Asociación Terense (the ATF, the now Terense FA, that's what it refers to). In season 1989, they'd finally win promotion out of the last division and then the next season they'd nearly achieve a double promotion; in a second-division season with 3 promotions, the squad led by captain Gabriel Beltrán would finish fourth. Afterwards, they'd become a regular fixture in the second division, but they'd never really try to put up a fight to get out of it.

Last season was arguably the best in the club's history. Led by Emiliano Laza, Pablo Casanova and Gerardo Mendiolagaray, the club won promotion to the first division for the first time in their history (an unlikely one at that), as well as reaching the final of the Copa de la República, losing out to Gimnasia y Bala by 3-1. The current objective is to not get relegated any way they can.

The squad
In a window with not that many transfers for them, one will likely be concerning for the future of the team: Emiliano Laza joins Comergás for a considerable $200k. However, the club still retains the depth in centre midfield, attacking midfield and the forward line, with Pablo Casanova having formed the duo at the front. Meanwhile, we already mentioned Gerardo Mendiolagaray, who's done a key job as the left midfielder, with a sizable amount of goals coming in from left crosses.

Teodoro Barbera was promoted from the reserves to get one more central midfielder. And yes...with only three CMs, I may be contradicting what I said in the first paragraph about the central midfield having depth, but due to "Terense Football Logic" or whatever, you could pluck one of the midfielders at the side and put them as CMs, and it may work out.

Despite Barbera, the most promising player is Rogelio Chianese. His very fast pace means he's deadly moving the ball from the defence to the attack, and that's apparently deserved him a spot as the main right midfielder in Tero al Disco's Di Bradini Cup squad. Despite all of that, this squad still might not be enough to survive the first season.

Rosamonte

Full name: Rosamonte Fútbol Club
Nickname/other names: el Decano (the Dean [of Terense football]), el Botánico (the Botanics), el Rojiazul (the Red-Blues)
From: Tero al Disco Capital
Stadium: Estadio Victor Banovich, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 10.800
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Rivalries: Tacurú (local), Sportivo Terense (local)
Traditional colours: Blue and red halves

Last season: 12th - survived a big scare down the table
Nacional A titles: 5 (1971, 1982, 1987, 1994, 2003)
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Esteban Belloni
Captain: Faustino Pagano
Key prospect: Emir Álvarez, Andrés Legato

Fan social class: Varied
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: maybe

Best eleven:

GK Bautista Berger		(25)
LB Emir Álvarez			(20) CB LB
CB Daniel Stauss		(31)
RB Carlos Catalán		(30) CB
LM Vito Fuentes			(23) LB
CM Silvio Simón			(29)
CM Lázaro Ferraresi		(25)
CM Fabricio Droit		(24) CM
RM Faustino Pagano (c)		(27)
FW Orlando Abbiati		(34)
FW Esteban Belloni		(30)
MG Flavio Godoy			(62) - 3-5-2 - 2nd season at club

Substitutes:

GK Esteban Roig			(26)		from Sportivo Escobar, $200k.
GK Zenón Acuña			(23)
LB Armando Bianchi		(37)
CB Francisco Diodati		(30)
RB Iván Cacho			(34)
RB Vicente Matteis		(23)
LM Mirco Fito			(24) LB
LM Mauro Carneiro		(20)		Promoted
CM Francisco Barrios		(23)
CM Andrés Legato		(20)		Promoted
CM Guido Treviso		(21) RM
LW Adrián Méndez		(17)		from Laureles, free.
RW Felipe Alberto		(21) FW		Promoted
FW Pedro Vinkovich		(26)		from Caide, $200k.
FW Jonás Delgado		(21)

Departures:

CB Teodoro González		(33)		to Tacurú, $20k.
LW Alejandro Palermo		(17) FW		to  Zenit Attawapiskat, free.
CB Fernando Caputo		(17)		to  Notrina Lat, free.

Background
Rosamonte's main nickname is el Decano, the Dean, a term used by Terense football fans to describe the oldest team, the first club to be founded. The red-blue club was established in "1895", by a group of "English" inmigrants coming from the Earthen dimension they called home to practice sports brought from the same place. Those sports would have various levels of impact in the Terense sporting world during the following decades and in the present. The club, based in the neighbourhood of Rosamonte, originally practiced cricket and rugby, although it would adopt football soon and later drop rugby from the list of sports.

From then on and for the next decades, the club would be known as Rosamonte Cricket & Football Club. The football team would become on of the foremost in the amateur era, but by the "1930s" performance would drop. In general, the club itself wasn't really doing that well, with financial constraints forcing them to dissolve their cricket team, with money being very short as cricket took a lot of backseats compared to previous decades. That decision would make them be one of the few football-only clubs in the country (although the RCFC acronym would stay in their badge) They were one of the founding clubs of the Nacional A, but they came third-to-last in the first season, accustoming themselves to being near the bottom and then becoming a regular fixture in the second division during the "1940s" and "1950s".

However, all not was doom and gloom. From the "1950s" on, due to successive competent administrations of the club, it was put back on track. The club got finally rid of the economic problems, and shrewd transfers and a growing academy made them quickly get up into the top tier. It was the best some of the younger fans had ever seen, but could they push further?

In 1969, headed by veteran midfielder Victor Banovich (who had started out seeing the worst and would end up seeing the best) and goalkeeper Bruno Belzaguy, they'd make a spectacular run for the title, carrying the league lead from the first round. However, from round 21 until the last, 26th round, they'd start a winless run that eventually led them to bottle the championship to Ferrocarriles Unidos by one point. Two years later, with Banovich about to retire at age 41 due to consistent health problems, they'd snatch the title away from Gimnasia y Bala in the last round, bringing joy to another western neighbourhood of the capital.

After a slight dip in performance in the decade that followed for the club, the Primera A in general would enter its most boring stage, statistically speaking. In the period spanning seasons 1981 to 1994, Gimnasia and Nacional would share 11 out of the 14 titles between that interval. Who won the three remaining ones, you may ask? All of them went to Rosamonte in 1982, '87 and '94. Gonzalo Guimaraes' and later Ángel Marianovich's attacking football style proved too much for the other clubs, as they won those 3 titles in addition to some silver and bronze medals. That kind of success made el Decano a second team among many in the capital, as an alternative to the Big 2.

The team would taste victory one last time (as of now) in season 2003, after pipping Caide by four points. Since then on, the club would go back (sadly for them) from the golden age to the mid-table, even being relegated in season 2013, though returning two years later.

The squad
You could say that Rosamonte's main strength is that they haven't lost any key players this transfer window. Unless you count the academy rejects/dropouts/transfers Alejandro Palermo (who's continuing his development in Quebecois first-tier side Zenit Attawapiskat, in one of the world's best leagues) and Fernando Caputo (who's gone to Natanians and Nosts' Notrina Lat AA), they've kept their best players. The forward dynamic duo of Orlando Abbiati and Esteban Belloni has been kept untouched, but they've got to have an eye kept on them due to the two aging. That's the main reason why they brought Pedro Vinkovich from Independiente, especially to rotate with Abbiati, who's getting close to retirement at age 34.

Despite Palermo and Caputo dropping out to join foreign academies, Rosamonte's young players bring the fans plenty of hope. Two of the Dean's players have been called up to play in the 58th Di Bradini Cup: Emir Álvarez, who'll be second at left-back to Gildo Durand himself (apparently you can put a player with 20 senior caps onto the U21 tournament); and then Andrés Legato, who's going to be Jacinto Coutinho's, another great youngster, substitute at central midfield.

Going back to the forwards, Adrián Méndez came in for free from Laureles (hoping to be another reserve option for Abbiati), with a youngster in Felipe Alberto, and Jonás Delgado adding even more depth to the position of the striker. Bautista Berger who's had a shaky last season but is an otherwise decent goalkeeper, will be joined in by Sportivo Escobar sub Esteban Roig.

Salto Athletic

Full name: Salto Athletic Club
Nickname/other names: Athletic, el Orito (the Goldies)
From: Salto, Salto.
Stadium: Estadio Lara Burton, Salto. Capacity 18.410
Alternative stadium(s): none
Rivalries: Defensores de Salto (local - Clásico de Salto)
Traditional colours: All yellow with black elements

Last season: 13th - could've gotten relegated
Nacional A titles: none
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Domingo Torres, Gonzalo Sandoval
Captain: Domingo Torres
Key prospect: Matías Mingo

Fan social class: Varied
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: maybe

Best eleven:

GK Noé Zino			(30)
LB Álvaro Sierra		(25) LM CM
CB Héctor Gallardo		(25)		from Centauro, $100k.
CB Joel Velardez		(23)
RB Enrique Siciliano		(30)
LM Gonzalo Sandoval		(27)
CM Artemio Nigro		(35)
RM Nereo Acone			(27)
FW Telmo Martín			(24)
FW Domingo Torres (c)		(28) AM
FW Marcos Ontiveros		(22)
MG Fabio Aranda			(57) - 4-3-3 - 1st season at club

[b]Substitutes:

GK Jacinto Castro		(23)
GK Agustin Zirpoli		(23)
LB Clemente Juan		(34)
CB Lucio Gil			(24)
CB José Arias			(22)
CB José Ángel Rodríguez		(31) DM
CB Estéfano Baronet		(28)		from Colmena, $10k.
RB Jairo di Lorenzo		(26)
RB Matías Mingo			(20) CM RM	Promoted
RB Francisco Bonano		(18)		Promoted
LM Gianluca Miniati		(25) CM
LM Marcos Ochanguren		(23) LW
CM Raúl Dimarco			(27)
RM Rafael Álvarez		(20)
FW Mario Delgado		(33)

Departures:

RB Vito Constantino		(29)		to Comergás, free.
DM Fernando da Rosa		(18)		to  Fajar Nike, free.
CM Antonio Leoni		(17)		to  Northampton Olympic, free.
GK Lucas Jara			(25)		to Defensores de Boca, free.

Background
For this one, we'll need to head east of the metropolitan peninsula, as the province of Salto (where the city of the same name, and therefore Salto Athletic as well) is located just outside of the two "greater Capital" provinces, Parsuha and Marquira. Salto's got two big teams: Athletic and Defensores. Defensores hold the title of being the older club by a marginal number of years, but Salto have been historically the better-performing club.

Despite the "English"-sounding name, again, they're a bit younger than their cross-town arch-rivals. The fact is that Athletic were founded by "English" inmigrants, and that fact quickly set up a rivalry on sectarian lines with Defensores, with the latter being the club of the working-class "criollos", and Athletic being the club of the aristocracy. Despite that, Athletic never featured sports that one would associate with upper-class "English" people, like cricket (unlike Rosamonte's case), and through time they settled down to manage to draw support from the city's lower classes, as well.

From the "1950s" on, the club would dominate the Salto city league, including seven titles in a row from 1962 to 1968. That would see them become the most popular club in the city. In the frequent pre-season inter-city friendlies played by clubs from different cities, Athletic would gain an historic 5-0 away win at Nacional Terense in 1970, just before Nacional's streak of four consecutive Capital league titles in the early-to-mid 1970s. Salto Athletic's level of quality would be one of the catalysts which would consolidate a federal league. However, that project would slow down as the club would face the classic economic hardships in the mid 1980s, limiting its economic capabilities (budget), and in turn the football team's performance. Season 1988 would be its lowest point, as they'd finish third-to-last in the Salto league.

They wouldn't qualify for the first season of federalised football; as a sort of compromise between the Capital league (who didn't want to keep its power) and the other leagues, only one team from the best regional leagues would enter into a new 22-team division for season 1992. It wouldn't be Salto nor Defensores, but rather Club Garibaldi, an obscure team who would win their only regional title in season '91, and then get relegated quickly afterwards.

Salto Athletic would bounce back. The season 2001 would bring about their first title and promotion from the Nacional B. They'd become a yo-yo club at that stage, with their longest shift in the first division being between seasons 2008 and 2014. At this stage, though, they're still very vulnerable for relegation at any time.

The squad
Salto Athletic haven't lost much this time around. Their one impactful departure was their starting right-back, Vito Constantino, leaving for Comergás after terminating his contract with the Salto club. The two international free academy transfers were Fernando da Rosa, leaving for the Doubeian first division, and central midfielder Antonio Leoni who was signed to the Sylestonean second division. Lucas Jara, a young goalkeeper, was sent to Defensores de Boca to gain experience in the Nacional B.

For the transfers, the only big one out of two players brought in was Héctor Gallardo, with the Centauro center-back being lured in with a hundred-thousand NSD fee to play in gold and black. Meanwhile, a decent second-division player like Estéfano Baronet will probably make his first division debut in Salto, with the "probably" being put in there as his possible impact on the team is doubted by the media. After all, the team have a total of six center-backs, while there are 3 RBs and only 2 LBs.

After having sacked Sebastián Ricci, Salto Athletic announced a new manager taking his place: Fabio Aranda, a manager who's a stand-out for his intense-pressing and attacking football in a sea of defensive managers, but we'll how it goes later down the line.

by **Tero al Disco** » Sun Jul 07, 2024 2:57 pm

CAMPEONATO FEDERAL DE BÁSQUET I - REGULAR SEASON

So, the first season of the Campeonato Federal de Básquet has gone by. The new CFB organising committee will be very excited to see which teams qualify for the 25th edition of the IUBC.

Before presenting you the results, we'll go over the definitive system that will be used for the league: first of all, it will be a 20-team league [url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?p=41581614#p41581614](and not an 18-team league as rumoured), drawing a different amount of clubs depending each of their respective provinces' (perceived) level of quality in the regional basketball leagues. So, the 20 most important teams have been picked from the ten regional leagues, and those will be...

Metropolitan (Capital+Parsuha+Marquira) (5): the three big basketball clubs from the city of Escobar (who have also been three of the best in the metropolitan league), Independiente, Sportivo, and Defensores de Boca; as well as the two most popular clubs in the country: Gimnasia y Bala and Nacional Terense, obviously.
San Miguel (2): Shirley, from the biggest coastal resort in the country, Punta del Sol, and Océanico Básquet, from Trestrí, another coastal town located further south.
Casuarinas (2): the two biggest basketball clubs from the namesake provincial capital, Ceafortis and Sionista.
Auguria (2): a province which isn't known for its football teams, but rather its best basketball, handball and volleyball team, Hermandad y Patria, as well as another Gimnasia, this time from the town of Banda Oeste.
Inticuna (2): Aeronáutica and Central from its namesake provincial capital.
Independencia (2): Sportivo Caamaño and Perseo, both from the city of Caamaño.
Mojica (2): another relatively obscure province adds two teams, Iribarren BC and Ciudad Mojica
Salto (1): Salto Athletic
Norte (1): Sportivo Michimullen
Jarsurúa (1): Atlético Londiha

After all that, the 20 teams will face each other twice in the regular season (for a total of 38 games). The bottom five from the CFB 1 will be relegated to their respective CFB 2 conference, to be replaced by the winners of the CFB 2's North and South conference, as well as an 8-team playoff for the 3rd promotion. In simpler terms, for next season there will be 18 teams.

In the regular season, the top 7 clubs will qualify for the playoffs. Those playoffs will be divided in a best-of-3 play-in round, played for by teams who have finished 2nd-7th. The play-in winners will join the top-ranked team in the Final Four: best-of-one semifinals and finals played in a neutral arena. In this case, that arena will be the CasuArena, Casuarinas (cap. 13 200), with the stadium also looking to host more indoor competitions, like the WCHC (the top multiversal handball competition)'s Final Four.

Now, the results!

 # CFB 1                    Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD    Win % Rd 1-10    Rd 11-19	     Rd 20-28  Rd 29-38                                                                                           
#1 Independiente (E)         38   28  10  3072 2732 +340    0.737 WLLLLWWWWW WWWWWWWWL 14-5  WWWWWWLWL WWWWLWWLWL 15-4  Final Four
#2 Sportivo Escobar          38   27  11  2997 2794 +203    0.711 LWWWWLLWWW LWWWWLLWW 13-6  LWWWLWWWW LLLWWWWWWW 14-5  Play-in
#3 Nacional Terense          38   26  12  2987 2758 +229    0.684 WWLLLWWWLW WLWWWLLWW 12-7  LWWWWWWWL WWWWLLLWWW 14-5  Play-in
#4 Sportivo Caamaño          38   26  12  2981 2748 +233    0.684 WLWLLWLWLW LWWWWWWLW 13-6  LWLLWLWWW WLWWWWWWLW 13-6  Play-in
#5 Shirley                   38   21  17  2888 2740 +148    0.553 LWLWWLLLWL LLLLLWWWW  8-11 WLLWWWLWW LLWWWWLWWW 13-6  Play-in
#6 Aeronáutica               38   21  17  2920 2958  −38    0.553 WWWLWWWLWL WLLWLLWWL 11-8  LLWLLLLWW WWLWLWWLWL 10-9  Play-in
#7 Salto Athletic            38   21  17  2920 2823  +97    0.553 WLWLWWWLLL WWWLLWLWW 11-8  WLLLWLWWW WLLLLLWWWW 10-9  Play-in
 8 Hermandad y Patria        38   20  18  2930 2827 +103    0.526 LWWWWWWWWL WLWLLLWLL 11-8  LWWLWWWLW WWLLLLLWLL  9-10
 9 Gimnasia y Bala           38   19  19  2854 2734 +120    0.500 WLWWWLWWWL LWLWWWLLW 13-6  WLLWLLLLL LWWLWLWLLL  6-13
10 Iribarren BC              38   19  19  2874 3047 −173    0.500 WLLLLLLLWW WWLLLLWWW  7-12 WWWWLLLWW WWWWLWLLWW 12-7 
11 Océanico Básquet          38   18  20  2850 2865  −15    0.474 WLLWLLLLLL WLLLLWLLW  5-14 LLWWLWWLL WWWWWWWWLW 13-6 
12 Defensores de Boca        38   18  20  2916 2903  +13    0.474 LLWWWWLWLL LLWWLLLLW  8-11 LWWWWLWWW LLWLWLLLLW 10-9 
13 Ciudad Mojica             38   17  21  2830 3020 −190    0.447 LWLLWWWLWW LWLWLWLWL 10-9  LWLLWLLLL LWLWWWLWLL  7-12
14 Sionista                  38   16  22  2807 2847  −40    0.421 LWWLLLWLLW WLLLWWWLW  9-10 WWLLLWLLW LLLLLLWLLW  7-12
15 Gimnasia (BO)             38   16  22  2729 2877 −148    0.421 LLLWLLLWWW LWWWWLLLL  8-11 WLWLLWWWL LLLLWLWLLW  8-11
16 Ceafortis                 38   15  23  2747 2883 −136    0.395 WWWLLWLWLL LLWWLWWWL  9-10 WLLLWLLLL LWLWLWLLWL  6-13 Relegated
17 Sportivo Michimullen      38   14  24  2863 2944  −81    0.368 LLWWLLWWLW WLLLWLLLL  7-12 WLWWLLLLW WLWLLLWLLL  7-12 Relegated
18 Atlético Londiha          38   14  24  2796 2993 −197    0.368 WLLWLWWLLW LLLLWWLLL  7-12 WLLLLLWLL WLWLWWLWWL  7-12 Relegated
19 Perseo                    38   13  25  2692 2950 −258    0.342 LWLLWLLLLL LWWLWLWWL  7-12 LWLLLWWLL LWLLWLLWLL  6-13 Relegated
20 Central (I)               38   11  27  2747 2957 −210    0.289 LWLWWLLLWL WWLLLLWLL  7-12 LLLWWWLLL LLLLLLLLWL  4-15 Relegated

The teams at the top 2 were the expected ones: the big 2 Escobar teams, Caide and Sportivo Escobar. Caide had a bad start to the season, losing 4 out of their first 5 games, but they managed to turn it around nonetheless, including having won 19 out of their next 20 games, and then keeping themselves afloat to finish in 1st place. After a round 5 Escobar derby loss to Sportivo by 78-76, it looked as if Caide coach Julián Cuccia was going to get sacked soon, but he turned it around as he saw before. Young power forward Brian Altamiranda and sixth man Samuel Villegas led the highest scoring offense for the season, as the two are favourites to be selected for Tero al Disco's 40th IBC squad. Caide also had the best defense going by points conceded, with center Paulino Rapoza being the main man on the back.

Sportivo Escobar ran overshadowed by their cross-city rivals for much of the season, being always close to first place but never reaching it at the end. The light blue-whites were predicted to make a splash in the league by signing promising Panayense NT power forward Sergio Vergara, the first foreign player to play in Terense basketball. But alas, it wouldn't go like that for Sportivo Escobar. Well, Vergara would have a solid season, but he wouldn't reach the standard that had been set for him, as well as going out to injuries from time to time. Vergara's replacement when he was out was Isaac Casciato. Casciato didn't carry the team, but he had an excellent performance as a 19-year-old reserve player. Sportivo would also have the second best offense in the season, led by point guard Fabián La Monica and veteran small forward Enzo Matos.

Unlike the top 2, the next two, Nacional Terense and Sportivo Caamaño were sides that no one expected to finish like they did. Nacional had a good start in the first 10 rounds, but coach Tobías Cárdenas would start to polish his team's shooting errors, until turning it into a force to be reckoned with at times. I say "at times" because Nacional kept dropping wins, but come on, seeing long win streaks makes it look better for them...A 198cm veteran point guard by the name Hernán Tellería shone when the red-yellows played well, accompanied by small forward Isidro Messore made a team who where predicted to fight for the playoff spot finish only two wins away from a bye to the Final Four.

Sportivo Caamaño started out rocky, with a 5-5 record over the first 10 matches putting them in 9th place. It all changed, however, when coach Roberto Villafañe was forced to take his leave, as he needed to get treatment for heart problems. In Villafañe's place, interim Rafael Alo made the Caamaño team focus on possessing the ball and playing defensively. This new tactic enabled center Antonio Andreola to become a brick wall around the basket, and for the team to get a series of clutch wins, propelling them to 3rd by round 19. The second half would start out as the same mountain that Villafañe struggled to climb, with Caamaño going 6-4. Around round 30, the top 4 was much more competitive, but for Caamaño, key wins over Hermandad y Patria (81-79 in round 34) and a thumping over Nacional the game later (80-69) made the team end the regular season on a high note. It wasn't all defense however, as shooting guard Agustín Encarnación and power forward César Magnani left their mark with the red-blues.

The battle for the last three playoff spots was thrilling, with the seeds 5 to 7 not being decided until the very last round.

First, no one expected Shirley to finish 5th in the table. They started out on a losing record, and they weren't considered by anyone to be a play-off worthy team until the last five rounds. After a 6-point loss to Iribarren BC on round 30, the team from the province of San Miguel had a streak of 7 wins in the last 8 games. They took advantage of the relatively easy schedule in hand, and fought their way up through the league table. Their only two difficult games were against Sportivo Escobar (78-64 L) and Gimnasia y Bala, a key match for the playoff spots which ended 69-62 for the green-whites. Point guard Paulo Cajal and center Valentín Sacchi were the top two players for the team.

In sixth, the city of Inticuna gets a playoff team in Aeronáutica. They had an optimal start of the season, with Gonzalo Vallejos actually leading the points table early on, and the team going 7-3. In spite of this, their form for the next 20 or so games would fall off due to an injury crisis in the squad, with Vallejos, Tomás Foti and Leonidas Gregori, two defense players who had contributed to the team in the early stages, being out for multiple weeks. Between rounds 11 and 28, the team would win 7 and lose 11 games, but that only made them drop down to the chase for the last of playoff spot. A final sprint led by young rotation small forward Diego Corrente, and with Vallejos, Foti and Gregori having come back from injury, made Aeronáutica snatch a place among the top 7.

Finally, there's Salto Athletic. As you could probably guess from the introduction, the province of Salto (as a somewhat important province inside Tero al Disco) isn't very good at basketball. Despite all of this, Athletic made a shock regular season, being inside the playoffs for pretty much the entirety of it. With coach Juan Manuel Correale being the driving force behind the team's form, more clutch performances from Aníbal Franco on the offense, as well as point guard Pedro Piriz captaining the team on the court, the team stayed consistent throughout the year, reaching the playoff spot.

The two huge dissapointments were Hermandad y Patria and Gimnasia y Bala, with Gimnasia especially having a catastrophic end to the season. Hermandad y Patria actually had the lead in the first rounds, owing to an 8-game win streak, but their form would gradually fall off until they got out on the last match of the season, as they were fighting for the playoff spots. In the capital, Gimnasia y Bala would finish the first half in fourth place, only 1 win away from the top, but then they would plummet in the second half, ending up in 9th place.

The next two spots are occupied by Iribarren BC and Oceánico Básquet, two clubs who came back from being in the relegation spots by round 19, to ending up quite close to this new promised land. Océanico Básquet in particular made the table-turning of their lives, being rock bottom by the end of the first half of the season, but an NT-worthy performance at the back for Marcelo Corsi, along with sixth man and Corsi's replacement Matias Salazar, and power forward Hipólito Madrid making the difference for the Oceanic club.

Defensores de Boca in 12th place is a very underwhelming final spot for the third Escobar club. A bad start to the league which would see them with only one win over relegation by the end of the first half wasn't compensated with an excellent second half performance. Lightning-quick small forward Paulo Sferrazza being the star for the blue and gold side wasn't enough for the club to recover and end up in a better place.

Contrary to what was expected from the province's two sides, Casuarinas didn't have it that well: Sionista would have it tough, accustoming themselves to fight for relegation throughout the season, and Ceafortis, its best basketball team, was actually relegated to next season's CFB 2. Ceafortis' hardships can be attributed to the squad having their own version of the injury crisis: young white hope and power forward Nacho Cusinamo suffered an injury in the preseason which left him for five weeks, and then suffered from a torn ACL which left him out for pretty much the rest of the year; center Matías Galván suffered from a torn tendon which also left him out for months and affected his performance in the last matches; and small forward Bruno Echebarne suffered multiple injuries, minor but still at a consistent rate.

Sportivo Michimullen, Atlético Londiha, and Perseo were three clubs that were expected to end up at the bottom, and were relegated...

and then there's Central de Inticuna. Central were expected, yes, to fight for survival, and especially so when there are five relegation spots. They were in the bottom 5 at the end of the first half, but they would win only win 5 out of their last 26 games, basically a disaster in how competitive a league this is turning out. But hey, we'll see how they go in the second division for next season.

CFB 1 Result grid
 1 Independiente (E)           —    93–90  84–65  62–78  71–88  92–82  68–65  82–71  77–65  83–85  67–90  70–58  82–67  76–64  60–76  84–54  83–69  78–80  87–64  72–67
 2 Sportivo Escobar          78–76    —    78–82  74–73  78–64  72–76  66–80  74–79  67–79  84–66  91–72 101–66  80–69  82–63  74–66  58–67  77–75  82–73  93–65  79–66
 3 Nacional Terense          79–77  75–76    —    70–83  75–83  94–71  66–89  87–76  70–69  99–66  76–58  75–74  65–82  93–65  93–69  81–62  83–63  78–77  72–77  78–59
 4 Sportivo Caamaño          71–84  76–80  80–69    —    76–80  61–68  77–68  90–74  68–66  68–72  64–55  72–70 103–83  80–60  77–79  96–98  76–68  67–63  75–71  77–69
 5 Shirley                   67–79  83–80  73–69  83–84    —   113–70  63–98  89–78  69–62  66–70  78–64  73–93  83–70  80–64  75–57  64–81  79–82  70–65  63–66  86–71
 6 Aeronáutica               80–92  76–80  71–73  78–71  58–79   —     95–92  90–81  65–66  79–69  74–59  62–59  60–67  69–88  91–73  62–92  79–94  81–80  74–81  91–74
 7 Salto Athletic            60–82  66–78  64–80  77–86  76–68  83–76    —    66–90  69–71  84–76 103–62  78–70  75–89  81–58  75–65  75–87  71–77  92–65  77–62  84–67
 8 Hermandad y Patria        67–97  75–68  74–66  79–81  77–65  73–81  90–60    —    64–67 103–73  66–74  97–81  85–93  63–66  59–66  84–60  71–63  65–78  77–64 101–77
 9 Gimnasia y Bala           49–87  91–72  65–69  65–63  59–72  79–84  77–89  79–72    —    77–76  78–74  91–73  73–66  73–63  95–63  74–76  84–61  62–65  88–90  83–53
10 Iribarren                 89–78  59–80  73–95  77–102 75–69  71–112 62–91  57–64  79–76    —    66–84  71–65  73–75  65–100 88–78  84–76  83–67  83–69 101–75  80–74
11 Océanico Básquet          79–90  76–89  74–68  76–59  69–89  64–94  80–62  71–80  81–78  90–70    —    83–90  76–79  83–78  72–76  79–71  58–71  76–67  82–77  66–67
12 Defensores de Boca        77–86  81–77  66–79  61–86  66–65 110–69  75–84  67–83  95–84  72–74  97–75    —    96–58  81–78  80–63  77–75  85–80  69–73  74–67  80–83
13 Ciudad Mojica             66–72  70–76  83–95  78–76  57–95  69–78  67–73  85–72  76–89  68–91  72–71  86–74    —    72–74  84–67  74–90  71–84  70–85  70–74  61–73
14 Sionista                  69–95  61–82  94–79  66–70  65–82  62–72  63–75  73–59  77–76  60–76  77–71  70–76  80–81    —    77–83  71–75  75–66  96–61  67–66  74–78
15 Gimnasia (BO)             59–82  72–79  69–81  74–78  70–61  85–72  86–67  58–81  72–62  75–64  70–71  75–81  82–85  58–83    —    71–66  80–89  68–67  72–76  73–57
16 Ceafortis                 83–71  76–79  61–79  88–93  69–78  67–71  70–74  67–73  54–123 70–79  67–75  68–85  82–59  68–93  84–71    —    67–69  71–74  71–76  65–60
17 Sportivo Michimullen      74–78  75–80  62–69  59–74  84–73  65–69  78–62  88–94  65–68  92–84  77–95  72–79  92–94  75–85  77–78  69–72    —    71–61  78–67  90–82
18 Atlético Londiha          69–100 69–76  62–93  77–94  80–66  83–74  72–75  73–67  79–75  99–89  67–82  87–82  72–73  75–110 87–91  74–62  72–95    —    87–83  53–62
19 Perseo                    50–83  81–84  74–80  60–82  65–91  66–81  69–77  67–75  69–65  75–81  61–93  72–69  75–83  59–74  67–58  60–67  88–68  90–83    —    69–64
20 Central (I)               88–92  82–83  75–87  67–94  67–63  79–85  90–83  84–91  70–71  73–77  59–90  61–62  77–78  91–64  60–81  64–68  98–79  75–73  84–74    —

by **Tero al Disco** » Sun Jul 07, 2024 5:18 pm

CAMPEONATO FEDERAL DE BÁSQUET I - PLAYOFFS
(regular season results and review for reference)

#1 CAIDE

PG Marcos Soler
SG Faustino Lizarraga
SF Gregorio Severino
PF Brian Altamiranda
C Paulino Rapoza
PG Federico Marinelli
SG Augusto Amarillo
SF Jaime Longo
PF Emilio Rocca
C Marcelo Orellano
F Samuel Villegas
G Manuel Alegre
Coach: Julián Cuccia

Matchup: bye

#2 SPORTIVO ESCOBAR

PG Fabián La Monica
SG Román Rapasa
SF Enzo Matos
PF Sergio Vergara (IPG)
C Marco Trueba
PG Nacho Ferraris
SG Teófilo Vizcarra
SF Felipe Franco
PF Ezequiel Nobriga
C Luciano Cerutti
F Isaac Casciato
G Vicente Talavera
Coach: Rubén da Rocha

Matchup: vs. #7 Salto Athletic

#3 NACIONAL TERENSE

PG Hernán Tellería
SG Rogelio Colón
SF Isidro Messore
PF Guillermo Apaolaza
C Federico Armato
PG Mario Vayo
SG Mario Palumbo
SF Gonzalo Musso
PF Iván Reis
C Braian Obregón
F Juan Ignacio Berger
G José María Castiglia
Coach: Tobías Cárdenas

Matchup: vs. #6 Aeronáutica

#4 SPORTIVO CAAMAÑO

PG Fernando Monterrosa
SG Agustín Encarnación
SF Leonardo de Santis
PF César Magnani
C Antonio Andreola
PG Norberto Luciani
SG Federico Bezio
SF Leandro Murr
PF Lucio Traverso
C Gustavo Ludueña
F Juan Manuel Barbo
G Leonel Valeri
Coach: Rafael Alo

Matchup: vs. #5 Shirley

#5 SHIRLEY

PG Paulo Cajal
SG Alfred Durante
SF Héctor Fusco
PF Marcos Camacho
C Valentín Sacchi
PG Diego John
SG Rafael Guglielmi
SF Franco Alvarez
PF José María Pieri
C Santiago d'Andrea
F Leonel Romeo
G Diego Andino
Coach: Ezequiel Polón

Matchup: vs. #4 Sportivo Caamaño

#6 AERONÁUTICA

PG Tomás Foti
SG Alexis Busto
SF Gonzalo Vallejos
PF Joaquín Larraburu
C Leónidas Gregori
PG César Ruggiero
SG Felipe Guerrero
SF Alvaro Cacchione
PF Diego Corrente
C Mauro Requena
F Francisco Marta
G Sergio Ochoa
Coach: Teseo Rodríguez

Matchup: vs. #3 Aeronáutica

#7 SALTO ATHLETIC

PG Pedro Píriz
SG Julián Iparaguirre
SF Arturo Zaccone
PF Aníbal Franco
C Ignacio Sicilia
PG Cayetano Laíno
SG Valentino Pedraza
SF Lucio Monterroso
PF Alexis Scarpati
C Roberto Carranza
F Nicolás Aldi
G Esteban Henry
Coach: Juan Manuel Correale

Matchup: vs. #2 Sportivo Caamaño

The first match of the play-ins sees three close games, and three upsets (i.e. lower seed team beats higher seed team). First of all, Nacional-Aeronáutica seems like a fixture between two even-leveled teams, but it was in fact the most unbalanced one in this batch - It starts out as an actually close game, but Aeronáutica gets the hang of it, overpowers Nacional Terense and ultimately gets a 9-point win. Meanwhile in Caamaño, Caamaño-Shirley is predicted to be a close game between closely-matched teams. Sportivo Caamaño takes the lead, with a 37-33 lead going by the end of the second quarter, but Shirley comes back in the third quarter, keeps their grip on the lead during the last minutes and ultimately wins 69-66.

However, the real upset was in Sportivo Escobar's arena: as Salto Athletic visited the aforementioned Escobar club, the game was kept a close one, but it all looked as if Sportivo Escobar would win this one going to Salto. The balance went in favour of Sportivo in the last two quarters. With four minutes left on the clock, Sportivo Escobar was leading 63-56 as Salto's coach, Juan Manuel Correale, called a timeout...

...Half a minute later, Valentino Pedraza would score a three-pointer, and an error by the local team's power forward Ezequiel Nobriega, made Aníbla Franco score on an easy dunk. With 2:31 left on the clock it was 63-61, when Sportivo's Enzo Matos scored two free throws. At that point, Sportivo's players would start to get complacent, allowing many attacks from Salto's players. Luckily for them, many of those ended in misses, though blocked shots were rare. Pedro Píriz would make it 65-63 with 41 seconds left. On the next play for Sportivo Escobar, they'd end up running down the shot clock, as Enzo Matos' shot would end up hitting the rim. 21 seconds left, and Salto needed a three-pointer. Ignacio Sicilia inbounded it to Aníbal Franco. Franco jogged forward, took his time to position himself for a three, passed it to Lucio Monterroso, as Monterroso would wait 5 seconds until shooting. Nobody knows why he didn't shoot earlier for a possible rebound, but it would be a buzzer beater if it entered the basket...and it did.

Everyone thought that, with Salto's clutch defeat of Sportivo Escobar in match 1, with support back home and newfound morale, they'd defeat Sportivo and get a shock ticket to the Final Four, but no. Sportivo Escobar would ultimately defeat the yellow-blacks by just 4 points, forcing a third game back in Escobar. Sergio Vergara has been having an excellent play-in series, but that's seemingly not enough for his Sportivo Escobar, and with this close scoreline it doesn't look as if it will be smooth sailing for Sportivo.

In Inticuna, Nacional ties the series with almost the exact same score as the first game, only that Aeronáutica/the home team scored one more point. Isidro Messore's 32 points have certainly made the difference for Nacional Terense in this game. Who will win in Capital: Nacional or Aeronáutica?

And then, in Punta del Sol, Shirley becomes the only team to sweep a series this play-in round. This time, it was a bit easier than away in Caamaño, with Shirley always having the lead throughout the match (albeit it never looked like a blowout), and then winning by 8 points.

There you have it, Sportivo Escobar are out of the CFB playoffs...even in a best-of-x round there can be massive shocks like this one. Caide have to watch out for the Final Four, now that it's a best-of-one affair, and you don't have the second chance cushion if you lose the first match unlike the play-ins...yeah I'm getting offtopic here. It is yet another clutch win for Salto Athletic. In this particular match, the lead changed hands lots of times throughout its duration, with Sportivo having the lead by the end of the first quarter (20-15), and then it being tied by the second (39-39), then Sportivo taking the lead again by the third (57-55), and then a fourth-quarter comeback for Salto in the same way as the first match. Whatever basketball fans in Salto must have been euphoric now.

Meanwhile, some 55km away from Escobar, Nacional Terense get their ticket in the Final Four. Yeah, another close one, whatever. It's been a lifechanging experience for the young and inexperienced manager Tobías Cárdenas, as well as excellent news for a team, or a squad that was tipped as probably not reaching the semifinals this year, that they were not good enough. 20-pointers from Guillermo Apaolaza and Hernán Tellería were the catalyst in this case.

Oh boy, it's Salto again! Back with another miserable win! Before you knew it, Tero al Disco's "best basketball club" is out of championship contention against a team which everyone predicted would be stuck in mid-table, but here we go again. Salto Athletic are now in the finals of the first ever Terense national basketball championship. To whoever's organising this, this result will be a great push forwards for the development of the CFB.

And later, the other underdog, who wasn't predicted to qualify for the finals, qualified for the finals. This time you could see that it wasn't Nacional's day, it clearly wasn't. With an influential offense player in Rogelio Colón being out, and a bad day for Hernán Tellería, that meant Shirley's defense had almost free reign. Well, not that much, they only won by ten points, but those 10 points of difference have been the biggest score difference so far these playoffs.

And just like that, a Caide team that was a very understandable favourite for the title win, will not even play in international competitions next season. Nacional give their all for the 3rd IUBC spot match, their defense have a collectively good performance, and they end up defeating Independiente by 12 points.

There you have it: Salto Athletic Club are the first Campeonato Federal de Básquet champions!

This time, it was the opposite of how Salto have been doing in the playoffs up until now. A resounding 15-point win, especially in a final. Salto-Shirley was a final of underdogs, but Salto was the under-er dog here...and they achieved a 15-point win. It wasn't a massive fluke, Salto had control virtually the entire match. No one expected them to beat...anyone by that margin, not only the teams that they've knocked out, the two Escobar clubs, but a weaker team like Shirley.

I believe, and well, it seems obvious, that this is what the creators of this new breakaway federal league were looking for, a federal league, because you don't tend to see teams from the interior win any national competition, but in this case, that's how it turned out; a final being played between two underdog teams from the interior.

by **Tero al Disco** » Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:18 pm

NACIONAL A 93 PREVIEW - PART 4/4

Solanet

Full name: Club Social, Deportivo y Cultural Solanet
Nickname/other names: el Callejero (the Street People (not necessarily the Homeless)), el Verdolaga (the Greens)
From: Moncloa, Marquira
Stadium: Estadio de Solanet, Moncloa. Capacity 7.240
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio Municipal de Moncloa, Moncloa. Capacity 21.550
Rivalries: Moncloa and Laureles (local)
Traditional colours: Green and white stripes

Last season: 10th - spent the season stuck in midtable
Nacional A titles: 1 (2000)
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Joaquín Leguizamón
Captain: Joaquín Leguizamón
Key prospect: Héctor Monsivais, Elías Cobarrubias

Fan social class: Low to middle-class
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: sometimes

Best eleven:

GK Efraín Narzecián		(25)		from Ferrocarriles Unidos, $125k.
LB Rodolfo Sandoval		(36)
CB Pablo Sastre			(25) LB
CB Zacarías Oursler		(25)
RB Juan Manuel Melgarejo	(27)
LM Marcos Acerbi		(28)
CM Ángel Montero		(30)
RM Valerio Perro		(29) CM
LW Patricio Ojeda		(24)		from Caide, free.
RW Juan Caballero		(32) FW AM
FW Joaquín Leguizamón (c)	(24)
MG Marcos Cáceres		(44) - 4-3-2-1 - 1st season at club, hired from Centauro.

[b]Substitutes:

GK Adrián Aguilar		(31)
GK Mario Guillot		(30)
LB Valentín Porra		(29)
CB Zacarías Martín		(29)
CB Milton Loja			(24) RB
RB Francisco Martinovich	(29)		from Palestino, free.
LM Daniel Méndez		(23) LW
LM Samuel Solagaistoa		(25)
CM Miguel Albuquerque		(24) DM
CM Adrian Angeli		(30) RM
RM Bruno Campos			(21)
RM Dante Raiola			(21)		Promoted
FW Samuel Figueroa		(25)
FW Héctor Monsivais		(18)		Promoted
FW Elías Cobarrubias		(17)		Promoted

Departures:

RB Luciano Clotieri		(24)		to  Marzig, $950k.
FW Luis Invernizzi		(18)		to  Galaxy SC, free.
FW Lorenzo Invernizzi		(17)		to  Carathyr Emeralds, free.
RB Damián Alí			(29)		to Progreso, free.
FW Norberto Lobo		(32)		to Ferrocarriles Unidos, free.

Background
Solanet are often referred to as the third club of the city of Moncloa, after el Bordó (Moncloa) and Laureles. However, its fans claim that they are actually the second, with Solanet having won one league title (which will be talked about later), and in this case Laureles having won none at all.

The club is, along with Palestino, the youngest for this season's Nacional A. The first mention of Solanet existing comes from around ATF season 1967. Founded by a group of neighbours in northern Moncloa, usually populated by working-class people, it gets its name thanks to the street adjacent to the first pitch in which they played. At first, Solanet was only a football team created to play recreational matches, but it would affiliate itself to amateur metropolitan circuits outside the jurisdiction of the ATF, and in 1974 they'd finally make the big jump, competing in the third division of the Terense FA for the first time in its history. As time went on, Solanet also transformed from "just a football team", to a proper multi-sport club, standing out in handball, swimming and field hockey, to name three sports.

Things would still be on the rise, as with only 11 years of age as an institution, they'd win promotion to the Primera B (the second division back then) in the season 1978. Granted, their stay in the second division would be quick, as in 1980 they'd be relegated back down. They'd try and try to get back, and they'd finally do so in season 1987. For the seasons that would come, Solanet would show that 1978 wasn't just a fluke.

In 1991, with all that reestructuring and federalisation of the Terense football pyramid, they won promotion to the new Nacional A; they'd play in the first tier for the first time. And even better: at first they'd obviously have a tough mountain to climb, but they managed to stay in the top flight, and were progressively doing even better, under the leadership of manager Guillermo Piras, and later Martín Zamora.

The season 2000 would be the best year ever for the club. After starting out strong in the league, Solanet would find themselves toe-to-toe with Laureles (who were already in a golden age of their own) for most of the season. The title race was lined up to finish on the last matchday of the season, when both teams would meet in a winner-takes-all affair. The team who won it would be Solanet: two of their best players at that time, Facundo Lacombe and Juan Rocha would score a goal each to deliver Solanet their first ever title (a 2-1 win), and the bragging rights told in the introduction.

2000 would be Solanet's apex season, and their sporting performance would gradually fall off from there. Only four years after the title, in season 2004 they'd be embroiled in a relegation battle, staying over the line by only four points at the end of the season. From then on it looked like that was only a case of bad luck, but as season 2009 came, Solanet would return to the second division after 18 years.

They would spend their five first seasons in the Nacional B, and not in the Primera B like in the pre-federalisation era, until winning promotion in season 2015, with Solanet now being a mid- to mid-to-low-table side.

The squad
This transfer window has looked a bit dissapointing for Solanet heading towards this season, and that's because of only three departures: first, Luciano Clotieri was bought by Marzig for just shy of a million NSD, to play in Siovanija & Teusland's now very promising league, the Meisterschaft. Clotieri's departure has caused problems with squad depth at the bottom-right corner of the pitch, meaning that only Juan Carlos Melgarejo, a 27-year-old with potential who's had no involvement with Solanet's senior team this season, and Francisco Martinovich, an average player brought from Palestino, will have to share that role between themselves.

Academy-wise, the Invernizzi brothers, Luis and Lorenzo, who did have plenty of potential at the front for a club at the level of Solanet, were both bought to continue their education or something or actually start to get some matches, and they're out to different countries; Luis to Xanneria and Lorenzo to Tikariot. However, there's another pair of strikers coming from the academy, not brothers, who (according to the press) are bringing Solanet fans hope: Héctor Monsivais and Elías Cobarrubias, who have displayed plenty of pace, strength, and hunger in Solanet's U19s.

Patricio Ojeda is the second incoming player, as a leftover from Caide's squad, who needed to get rid of the forwards to have the space necessary to add depth to their squad. Ojeda will form new manager Marcos Cáceres (who was sacked for poor results and a poor title defense at Caide)'s attacking trio, along with Juan Caballero, who can play anywhere at the front, and Joaquín Leguizamón...well yeah, how could you forget about Leguizamón - he wasn't transferred out, he wasn't even listed for a transfer from what we know.

Sportivo Caamaño

Full name: Centro Sportivo Caamaño
Nickname/other names: Sportivo, Caamaño, el Gigante Caamañense (the Caamaño Giant), los Diablos Rojos (the Red Devils)
From: Caamaño, Independencia
Stadium: Estadio Mundialista del Sur "Candelario Gómez", Caamaño. Capacity 33.151
Alternative stadium(s): none.
Rivalries: Perseo and Municipalidad (local/competitive - Clásico de Caamaño), San Miguel (local/competitive - Clásico del Sur)
Traditional colours: Red and dark blue stripes

Last season: 12th - underperformed heavily
Nacional A titles: none
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Isidro Contreras, Sancho Moritz
Captain: Ismael Monte
Key prospect: Pedro Soares

Fan social class: Varied
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: sometimes

Best eleven:

GK Fabricio de la Fontaine	(25)
LB Joel Mansilla		(29) LM
CB Mauro Bilbao			(32) DM		from Comergas, free.
CB Carmelo Rivero		(29)
RB Sancho Moritz		(25)
LM Teófilo Clementini		(24)
CM Jacinto Coutinho		(21)
RM Ismael Monte (c)		(27)
LW Ariel Salomón		(24) RM
RW Isidro Contreras		(25)
FW  Ibrahim Fases		(22)		from [color=#0000BF] Anasb FK, $200k.
MG Rufino Rosales		(53) - 4-3-2-1 - 1st season at club, from Solanet.

Substitutes:

GK Jerónimo García		(24)		from Caide, $300k.
GK Nelson Campana		(27)
LB Fabián Brasil		(28)
LB Rubén Aguilera		(31)
CB Rómulo Hernández		(35)
CB Pedro Soares			(20)		Promoted
RB Simón Bruno			(25)
RB Guillermo Grillo		(17)		Promoted
LM Hugo Adelardi		(34) CM
CM Gastón Ferrari		(25)
CM Ramiro Mariscal		(24)
RM Héctor Vivanco		(18) RW		Promoted
AM Nicanor González		(28)
FW Juan Carlos Pacheco		(31)
FW Milton Grimoldi		(22)

Departures:

LB Agustín Antunes		(25)		to Gimnasia y Bala, $150k.
FW Iván Ibáñez			(17) GK CB	to  N-City, free.

Background
Caamaño, unlike other major cities in the country, has only got one big club, and that is Sportivo Caamaño. Actually, from its start it had a very unfair advantage in comparison to the other clubs. Sportivo was founded in the late-1930s decade, as one of the wealthiest businessmen in the city, Jaime Braga, created a club that would, taking advantage of the creation of a new professional league in the capital, be able to compete for the top consistently against the best clubs by fielding a team with the best players from Caamaño. Braga was also the man who built the Mundialista del Sur to make the Terense NT play there, so the man really wanted to put the spotlight of Terense football in his city.

After that project failed as Sportivo Caamaño was repeatedly denied entry to the capital's league, it just stayed in existence, only that it played in the Caamaño city league. As expected, Sportivo would win a massive amount of league titles in its early stages, and the other clubs would protest, as Sportivo had taken their best players from them, only to fail in their objective and end up in what was essentially a "farmers' league". However, from the "1960s" onwards, Sportivo's period of utter dominance would calm down, allowing some of the former big clubs like Perseo, Municipalidad and Bella Vista to win some of their own city titles as well.

The idea of a united Caamaño team would resurge after executives from all the regional leagues back then tried and succeeded in creating a new, federal league. Sportivo would gain access to the first season of the Nacional A after easily winning the Caamaño league, but it wouldn't be so easy from then on. The minor clubs happily turned into ruining their squads, but the two other big clubs, Perseo and Municipalidad de Caamaño, refused. Sportivo would finish 4th in the league, actually, but from then on (1992) and now, they'd only reach the podium twice: 3rd in 1995 and 3rd again in 2012. Taking into account last season, where they were in the bottom 3 for most of it, things don't look that promising for football in the city, but will it rise again?

The squad
This transfer window has seemingly ended on an up for Sportivo Caamaño, as none of their stars were transferred out to a bigger club in Tero al Disco, or to an overseas team. Caamaño disappointed massively, and finished 11th, four points over the relegation playoff line, so their players weren't as attractive to snap up for bigger clubs than other Terense teams who had performed better than them.

Unknown extraterrestrial being Iván Ibáñez was put up on the international transfer market as a free agent, before being signed by another Natanians & Nosts side, N-City. Meanwhile, the only significant transfer out of the two (outside from Iván Ibáñez who's easily making the U18 WC squad for Tero al Disco) was Agustín Antunes, signed by Gimnasia y Bala for $150.000. Their other players who you could call "stars" of the red-blues, Sancho Moritz with 3 WCQ caps under his belt, and Jacinto Coutinho who's shown plenty of promise, being called up for the Di Bradini Cup squad are still there.

On the other hand, there have been two significant transfers. Caide's substitute goalkeeper, Jeronimo García, was one of the three players snapped up by Sportivo Caamaño, with the Escobar club looking to make room for Santiago O'Reilly in the sort-of best way possible, keeping their main goalie until last season, Aaron Goñi. Then, on the international market, they signed Saternalian Ibrahim Fases, who looked to get a move to get playing time, and whose club, Anasb FK, decided that this man would be fit for a team like Sportivo Caamaño. The final man incoming was Comergás' Mauro Bilbao, with Rufino Rosales, coming in from Solanet, needing a second main defender for his team.

Sportivo Escobar

Full name: Club Sportivo Escobar
Nickname/other names: Sportivo, el Albiceleste (the Light Blue & Whites)
From: Escobar, Parsuha
Stadium: Estadio Sportivo Escobar, Escobar. Capacity 13.550
Alternative stadium(s): none.
Rivalries: Caide (local), Defensores de Boca (local) (local)
Traditional colours: Light blue and white stripes

Last season: 2nd - were this close to winning their first
Nacional A titles: none
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Maximiliano Alesci, Hernando Lucero
Captain: Hernando Lucero
Key prospect: Lautaro Corti, Arturo Ahumada

Fan social class: Varied - imagine you picked half of the city at random.
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: none

Best eleven:

GK Eduardo Acciaio		(34)
LB Damián Africano		(31) CB
CB  Alonso Ortega		(31) DM		from  Alexandria City, $250k.
CB Eugenio Palencia		(30)
CB Renzo Salinas		(28)
RB Luís Abel			(27)
LM Felipe Oliveira		(25)		from Ferrocarriles Unidos, free.
CM Hernando Lucero (c)		(24) AM
RM Maximiliano Alesci		(26)
FW Andrés Roscalli		(28)
FW Mateo Portelli		(24) RW
MG Agustín Ibarra		(39) - 5-3-2 - 2nd season at club

Substitutes:

GK Lautaro Corti		(20)		from Gimnasia y Bala, free.
GK Fabricio Santa Cruz		(28)
LB Fernando Pica		(30)
CB Lucas Bernardi		(27) LB
CB Sebastián Mori		(19)		Promoted
RB Paulo Marini			(24)
DM Marcos Belizán		(26)
LM Alvaro Porra			(22)
CM Leonardo Faucheux		(31)
CM Paolo Guaymas		(17)		from Moncloa, free.
CM Arturo Ahumada		(18)		Promoted
RM Celso Tudisco		(19)
AM Miguel Gil			(31) CM
FW Franco Bengoechea		(25)
FW Claudio Voivoda		(36)

Departures:

LM Narciso Giovanni		(27)		to  Soldarian, $750k.
GK Esteban Roig			(26)		to Rosamonte, free.

Background
Sportivo Escobar are the other club in Escobar, usually being mocked by fans of Independiente as the "second club of the city" due to having won no titles as of now. The origin story isn't that interesting, it's more of the same; bunch of neighbours/friends found a sporting club in Escobar, the team starts doing well and quickly gets into a rivalry with Caide due to both of them fighting for the title of "best club in the city", as well as both clubs' headquarters being located half a block away in Smackbang in the Center, Escobar.

They were a founding club of the Primera A, and quickly settled themselves around the top of it, but they could never win it. Season 1965 would be the first time that they entered the top 2 in any season of the league, but they finished second to their rivals, Caide. From the decade of the "1970s" onwards, they'd finish inside the podium, but they'd never win a title, it was always runner-up or third place.

And to make matters worse, the early "1980s" wasn't a good period for football in Escobar in general. Caide had a serious lack of funds, debt, etc., which made them almost relegate to the second division. Sportivo Escobar had their own "showman", Jairo Coman, whose transfer strategy for the club involved signing the flashiest players and retiring legends. Obviously, that meant the club was hemorrhaging money, and by ATF season 1982, Coman was sent to jail due to money laundering, actually. The person who would succeed Coman was her wife, Magdalena Jerez. Jerez, as you might have expected, was only a figurehead for Coman, who ruled from prison. Inside this shenaniganry, Sportivo would still have tons of economic problems, which would cause their relegation in 1985 after having 15 points deducted, and a further step down in 1987 to the Primera C.

Eventually, a commission government was put in charge, headed by aspiring politician Miguel Britez. Britez would manage to get rid of the economic problems, but the club still ran on a very austere budget, which meant that the sporting results still weren't good. In 1988 they'd win promotion back to the second division, but fans would have to wait until 1993 to go back to the Nacional A, from which they were never relegated.

From then, they went back to the old ways; always being at the top, but never winning anything. In season 2024, they were very close to actually winning the championship, but that's the closest Sportivo have ever been.
The squad
Sportivo Escobar's squad looks like another one that can show plenty of promise this year. They've kept most of their key players, four out of the five players in manager Agustín Ibarra's midfield and forward line, Hernando Lucero, Maximiliano Alesci, Andrés Roscalli and Mateo Portelli are still playing in light blue and white stripes. However, the only one out of the five that has gone out was Narciso Giovanni, going to Vanorian top team Soldarian - arguably the best club to which a Terense players has gone this season.

Cashing on Ferrocarriles Unidos' exodus of players after relegation, Ferro's left-midfielder Felipe Oliveira, a tall player with plenty of stamina, has been brought in by Ibarra as Giovanni's replacement. If Oliveira hadn't been brought in from Ferro, then the one and only LM in the squad would be a young and inexperienced Alvaro Porra, so Ibarra had to look to improve the depth of the position.

But don't leave yet, because Sportivo do have a foreigner of their own: Xannerian Alonso Ortega, one of the few professional players to come from his country's "Hispanic" diaspora. Alexandria City, the club where he comes from, finished third-to-last in last season's Xannerian league, and with the team looking to switch up their formations for the coming season, he had been left out and had to go elsewhere - that's from what we were told about him, so we don't know about his abilities, but we still hope it all turns out good for him.

The last big transfer was Lautaro Corti, who had been playing second fiddle to Efraín Azzaro in Gimnasia y Bala, signing for Sportivo Escobar after Sportivo's own substitute goalkeeper, Esteban Roig, was sold to Rosamonte. It looks like Corti is going to be the second string to Eduardo Acciaio. Both goalkeepers have already been considered for the upcoming World Cup cycle, with Corti having one cap and Acciaio having won the Nacional A golden glove last year.

Tacurú

Full name: Club Atlético Tacurú
Nickname/other names: la Menta Granizada (the Minty Hail team), el Lechero (the Milkmen)
From: Tero al Disco Capital.
Stadium: Estadio Nacional, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 20.400
Alternative stadium(s): Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco Capital. Capacity 64.400
Rivalries: Rosamonte (local), Nacional Terense (local)
Traditional colours: Mint and brown stripes

Last season: 9th - fell off at the end of it all
Nacional A titles: 5 (1995, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2018)
Copa de la República titles: none*
Star man: Emiliano Lucas
Captain: Antonio Yáñez
Key prospect: Walter Loureiro

Fan social class: Middle class
Chance of getting into a hooligan fight: rarely

Best eleven:

GK Lázaro Espinoza		(25)
LB Roberto Russo		(25)
CB Emiliano Lucas (c)		(31) DM
RB Celso Armando		(32)
LM Antonio Yáñez		(27)		from Sionista, $150k.
CM Dante Agua			(25) AM
CM Marco Gil			(26) DM
RM Pablo Bautista		(30)
FW Franco Maroni		(24) LM LW AM
FW Marcos Coelho		(32)		from Solanet, $50k.
FW José Raza			(35)
MG Marco de la Cruz			(48) - 3-4-3 - 1st season at club, hired from Caide

[b]Substitutes:

GK Daniel Armenteros		(23)
GK Paulo Montalvan		(22)
LB Walter Loureiro		(18)		Promoted
CB Simón Berenger		(25)
CB Teodoro González		(33)		from Rosamonte, $20k.
CB Anselmo Noguera		(36) CM
CB Ian Armador			(24)
CB Rafael Cáceres		(20) RB		from Norteño, free.
RB Faustino Chiara		(21)		Promoted
LM Vicente Cretella		(27)
CM Kevin Fricke			(25)
RM Raúl Madrazo			(20)		Promoted
RW Ramiro Reinoso		(23)
FW Javier Gómez			(31)
FW Iván Laporte			(26)		from Caide, free.

Departures:

GK Braian Rico			(26)		to  Halpenley United, $1m.
RM Federico Cabral		(27)		to  Malabon, $500k.
CM Santiago Vaccaro		(29) DM		to Caide, $100k.
RB Miguel Schenck		(25)		to Norteño, free.

Background
Tacurú are a club that have historically been underdogs in the Terense football sphere, but who didn't rise until very recently, in comparison to the other clubs. But let's go back to the start: Tacurú were given their name thanks to having been founded by a group of friends in a bar named "El Tacurú"; they had struggled to find a name for the new team. The stadium which they called home (which has now been ditched in order to move to the bigger Estadio Nacional), Barrio Tacurú, makes reference to a newer, very small neighbourhood formed around it.

The friends' football teams was formed first, it competed in the amateur leagues and competitions independent of the ATF, where even competing in the last of three divisions made you a prestiged club back them, before joining the Primera C by season 1954. In 1957 they'd think to themselves "oh this is too hard", and dropped out of the association as a whole. But in 1963, they'd re-affiliate themselves into the ATF league system, and in 1966 they'd win their first promotion into the Primera B.

That first period in the second division had probably nothing special, but by season 1975, in shocking fashion, they'd win the Primera B and go up to the top flight for the first ever time. With the economic support of their president back then, a very wealthy milk businessman by the name of Sergio Silverio, he'd fund a squad that was capable of staying up for 13 seasons; until season 1988, when they went down. In 1990, they'd return to the top flight, after which they'd experience their golden age.

They struggled a bit in the top tier, but in 1995 they'd take the country by storm, winning their first title. The season 1997 would see them do it again, pipping Gimnasia y Bala to the title. In 2001 they'd return to the top of the league for a third time, over Sportivo Escobar. In 2004, they'd win their fourth title in ten seasons, something unprecedented for a team that had been associated with mid-table performances at best. On another note, one of the greatest matches Tacurú played was the same one which crowned them champions: it was an 8-0 at Sportivo Escobar's home (who were third at that moment)

After 2004, they'd slow down their title spree, but Tacurú were still a team that challenged at times. In the season 2011, fans almost saw the return to their title-winning days, as a last-day win forced a tiebreaker for the championship against Gimnasia y Bala; Gimnasia would beat them 2-0, but in season 2018 Tacurú would have another tiebreaker, this time winning it. It was a 2-0 win over Nacional Terense which saw them win their fifth and most recent title as of now.

The squad
Now, if there's one word to describe Tacurú's squad for this season, it's that it's toothless, it's got no bite against the other teams in the league; this year is going to be hard for Tacurú fans, in simpler terms.

In summary, the four players that have gone out of the club were some of the club's best. First, Braian Rico was signed by Sylestonean team Halpenley United for one million NSD, after beating a bidding competition with another Vanorian side, in this case Rolalas. Rico being out, as well as the Nacional A expanding clubs' senior rosters from 18 players to 26 players, meant that two young goalkeepers, Daniel Armenteros and Pablo Montalvan, two goalies with plenty of technique, have been fast-tracked from the reserves. Then Federico Cabral, after inexplicably getting put in the WCQ player pool but still a good midfielder for Tacurú, was sold to Fleftic side Malabon SC, who had actually won their country's Premier League last season. Meanwhile, Santiago Vaccaro was bought by Caide, and Miguel Schenck, after running down his contract, was snapped up by Norteño; the two being starters in the team.

However though, all might be not lost, as Tacurú have also signed another WCQ pool player: Antonio Yáñez from a Sionista team that was the best in the Nacional B; too bad they didn't even reach the promotion playoffs, but Yáñez is a left-midfielder who has plenty of stamina within him and who's certainly led the Casuarinas side to that stage. Let's see how it goes for Tacurú...

by **Tero al Disco** » Sat Jul 13, 2024 4:44 pm

NACIONAL A 93 PART 1 - ROUNDS 1 to 15


ROUND 1
Solanet 1–0 Moncloa
Salto Athletic 0–0 Progreso
Gimnasia y Bala 4–1 Independiente (E)
Nacional Terense 6–2 Laureles
Comergás 0–0 Centauro
Tacurú 1–0 Palestino
Sportivo Escobar 0–1 Norteño
Rosamonte 0–1 Sportivo Caamaño

ROUND 2
Moncloa 0–0 Sportivo Caamaño
Norteño 3–1 Rosamonte
Palestino 1–0 Sportivo Escobar
Centauro 0–0 Tacurú
Laureles 2–0 Comergás
Independiente (E) 0–0 Nacional Terense
Progreso 2–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Solanet 2–0 Salto Athletic

ROUND 3
Salto Athletic 1–6 Moncloa
Gimnasia y Bala 0–0 Solanet
Nacional Terense 4–0 Progreso
Comergás 0–1 Independiente (E)
Tacurú 0–1 Laureles
Sportivo Escobar 1–0 Centauro
Rosamonte 1–0 Palestino
Sportivo Caamaño 1–2 Norteño

ROUND 4
Moncloa 1–2 Norteño
Palestino 2–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Centauro 0–1 Rosamonte
Laureles 1–0 Sportivo Escobar
Independiente (E) 0–1 Tacurú
Progreso 1–3 Comergás
Solanet 0–2 Nacional Terense
Salto Athletic 4–7 Gimnasia y Bala

ROUND 5
Gimnasia y Bala 0–2 Moncloa
Nacional Terense 0–0 Salto Athletic
Comergás 2–2 Solanet
Tacurú 0–0 Progreso
Sportivo Escobar 2–3 Independiente (E)
Rosamonte 0–1 Laureles
Sportivo Caamaño 1–1 Centauro
Norteño 1–0 Palestino

ROUND 6
Moncloa 1–0 Palestino
Centauro 1–1 Norteño
Laureles 2–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Independiente (E) 1–2 Rosamonte
Progreso 0–1 Sportivo Escobar
Solanet 2–2 Tacurú
Salto Athletic 0–1 Comergás
Gimnasia y Bala 0–1 Nacional Terense

ROUND 7
Nacional Terense 0–2 Moncloa
Comergás 1–0 Gimnasia y Bala
Tacurú 1–2 Salto Athletic
Sportivo Escobar 2–0 Solanet
Rosamonte 2–1 Progreso
Sportivo Caamaño 0–0 Independiente (E)
Norteño 0–0 Laureles
Palestino 0–1 Centauro

ROUND 8
Moncloa 3–2 Centauro
Laureles 3–1 Palestino
Independiente (E) 1–3 Norteño
Progreso 0–2 Sportivo Caamaño
Solanet 2–1 Rosamonte
Salto Athletic 0–2 Sportivo Escobar
Gimnasia y Bala 4–0 Tacurú
Nacional Terense 3–2 Comergás

ROUND 9
Comergás 3–1 Moncloa
Tacurú 4–1 Nacional Terense
Sportivo Escobar 1–2 Gimnasia y Bala
Rosamonte 2–0 Salto Athletic
Sportivo Caamaño 1–1 Solanet
Norteño 0–0 Progreso
Palestino 1–0 Independiente (E)
Centauro 2–0 Laureles

ROUND 10
Moncloa 0–1 Laureles
Independiente (E) 0–2 Centauro
Progreso 1–1 Palestino
Solanet 1–2 Norteño
Salto Athletic 3–3 Sportivo Caamaño
Gimnasia y Bala 1–1 Rosamonte
Nacional Terense 2–2 Sportivo Escobar
Comergás 1–0 Tacurú

ROUND 11
Tacurú 2–2 Moncloa
Sportivo Escobar 2–2 Comergás
Rosamonte 1–1 Nacional Terense
Sportivo Caamaño 1–0 Gimnasia y Bala
Norteño 5–1 Salto Athletic
Palestino 2–1 Solanet
Centauro 0–0 Progreso
Laureles 0–1 Independiente (E)

ROUND 12
Moncloa 0–1 Independiente (E)
Progreso 1–2 Laureles
Solanet 2–0 Centauro
Salto Athletic 3–0 Palestino
Gimnasia y Bala 0–0 Norteño
Nacional Terense 0–0 Sportivo Caamaño
Comergás 2–4 Rosamonte
Tacurú 2–3 Sportivo Escobar

ROUND 13
Sportivo Escobar 1–2 Moncloa
Rosamonte 4–2 Tacurú
Sportivo Caamaño 0–2 Comergás
Norteño 1–2 Nacional Terense
Palestino 0–2 Gimnasia y Bala
Centauro 2–1 Salto Athletic
Laureles 2–1 Solanet
Independiente (E) 1–0 Progreso

ROUND 14
Moncloa 1–1 Progreso
Solanet 1–1 Independiente (E)
Salto Athletic 1–1 Laureles
Gimnasia y Bala 4–0 Centauro
Nacional Terense 1–0 Palestino
Comergás 1–1 Norteño
Tacurú 0–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Sportivo Escobar 1–2 Rosamonte

ROUND 15
Rosamonte 3–2 Moncloa
Sportivo Caamaño 2–2 Sportivo Escobar
Norteño 1–1 Tacurú
Palestino 1–1 Comergás
Centauro 3–3 Nacional Terense
Laureles 0–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Independiente (E) 2–2 Salto Athletic
Progreso 1–0 Solanet
 # Nacional A            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
#1 Norteño                15    8   6   1    23   11  +12    30 WWWWW DDWDW WDLDD Champions League, League of Victors
#2 Rosamonte              15    9   2   4    25   18   +7    29 LLWWL WWLWD DWWWW Challengers Cup, League of Victors
#3 Laureles               15    9   2   4    18   15   +3    29 LWWWW WDWLW LWWDL Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Nacional Terense       15    7   6   2    26   17   +9    27 WDWWD WLWLD DDWWD Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Gimnasia y Bala        15    7   3   5    26   14  +12    24 WLDWL LLWWD LDWWW Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Comergás               15    6   5   4    21   18   +3    23 DLLWD WWLWW DLWDD Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Moncloa                15    6   3   6    23   18   +5    21 LDWLW WWWLL DLWDL Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Sportivo Caamaño       15    4   7   4    15   15    0    19 WDLLD LDWDD WDLWD Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Independiente (E)      15    5   4   6    13   18   −5    19 LDWLW LDLLL WWWDD
10 Sportivo Escobar       15    5   3   7    20   20    0    18 LLWLL WWWLD DWLLD
11 Centauro               15    4   6   5    14   17   −3    18 DDLLD DWLWW DLWLD
12 Solanet                15    4   5   6    16   18   −2    17 WWDLD DLWDL LWLDL
13 Tacurú                 15    3   5   7    16   22   −6    14 WDLWD DLLWL DLLLD Relegation playoff
14 Palestino              15    4   2   9     9   18   −9    14 LWLWL LLLWD WLLLD Relegation playoff
15 Progreso               15    2   6   7     8   18  −10    12 DWLLD LLLDD DLLDW Relegated
16 Salto Athletic         15    2   5   8    18   34  −16    11 DLLLD LWLLD LWLDD Relegated
# Player (club)				Goals
1 Benjamín Insfrán (Nacional Terense)	8
2 Juan José Leonardi (Gimnasia y Bala)	7
3 Fidel Cardozo (Moncloa)		6
  Pilypas Aldhard (Moncloa)		6
  Roberto Villar (Norteño)		6
  Felipe Carrizo (Centauro)		6

 # Top 5                 Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
#1 Norteño                15    8   6   1    23   11  +12    30 Champions League, League of Victors
#2 Rosamonte              15    9   2   4    25   18   +7    29 Challengers Cup, League of Victors
#3 Laureles               15    9   2   4    18   15   +3    29 Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Nacional Terense       15    7   6   2    26   17   +9    27 Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Gimnasia y Bala        15    7   3   5    26   14  +12    24 Confederations Trophy playoffs

The first half of the season started out with a more-than-healthy dose of upsets at the top and the middle of the table. The teams that were tipped as the favourites were either Gimnasia y Bala or Moncloa, having arguably the two best squads. But Gimnasia are fifth, their best position in a couple of rounds (as you'll see in one of the charts above this section); and Moncloa are down in seventh, but we'll see their respective cases later.

Norteño are the team who are at the top of the table. Ñeño weren't predicted to do that badly, mostly clinch a Challengers Cup spot like last season. However, they are, again, in first place after 15 matches. That place where they are now can be attributed to two factors: first, having an 11-match unbeaten streak. And second and more importantly, Cristian Rivero's back four have made Norteño the best defense in the league for the season. Salomón Forester is starting to adapt to playing as a more "modern" (by Terense standards) center-back, a CB that tends to go attacking more. Forester has started to take that role very fast, and has adapted excellently, being Norteño's second top-scorer, with 4 goals scored, most of them from headers. With Norteño's two CBs going on a more attacking role (as Rivero "doesn't trust an inexperienced Gamariel Arza" leading the defense himself, as is Terense custom not to trust youngsters to do anything), it's a strange tactic considering how defense has been the basis of Norteño's being where they are this year.

That point Rivero made about Arza may very well be done to Luke Sundvall, Norteño's 20-year-old Krytenian keeper, seeing as Sundvall has to do the goalkeeping all by himself. Fair, because Norteño's other two goalkeepers, Ernesto Farina and Manuel Saavedra were promoted academy players, but Sundvall's been one of the best players for Norteño. With him, Forester, Gamariel Arza, Emiliano Baldinotti and new signing Miguel Schenck being the five starting defense-men, Norteño have conceded the least goals - 11. So why hasn't Sundvall been sidelined by Rivero yet? Foreigner bias on the part of the manager? The Nacional A being to much of a farmers league for Luke? Because the other two GKs need more time to make a debut with the senior team, that reason being the most possible one, since O'Reilly and Braian Rico had been signed away from Norteño? We don't know.

And while I'm here rambling about Norteño, Esteban Hirsch. Apparently he's sticking from being a midfielder who routinely doubled as an attacker, he's now doing only the role of a traditional midfielder - with one goal (!) scored this season, in 12 matches. A statistical tragedy. He's gone from 9 goals in maybe under 30 matches, to just 1 in 12...And that kinda demostrates that new style of play of his?

Roberto Villar has been Norteño's top-scorer so far, with six goals scored. Norteño have three forwards that they can rely upon, to bring Hirsch as a fourth man up front: Villar already with...some amount of caps with him, Fulgencio Llop and lately Walter Nevin. Llop's scored three goals, and that's fair, because he isn't known for being a goal-scoring machine. Nevin, meanwhile, despite not even being listed in Norteño's preview article, has only had six appearances, and scored four goals, many of those of the bench. Although Américo Alonso was brought in from Manuel Rodríguez to fill the missing slab left from Cervantes' departure to Sylestone, Alonso didn't score a goal. He assisted five times (the most), but bringing in one of last season's worst attacks' leader proved to be a bit useless if you wanted to score goals.

Moving on...Rosamonte are the team most likely to pull off a Cinderella performance. Last season, they've mostly relied on the Orlando Abbiati-Esteban Belloni to end up struggling at the back of the table, never going over the midtable. This time, they did start out rocky, but they would gradually get better until reaching the second place where they are now, only one point away from Norteño's lead. Even though it may seem that, from the first sentence of this paragraph, Abbiati and Belloni are bad forwards and that Rosamonte is much better off without them, it's actually Belloni being the team's top scorer this season, with 5 goals. On the other hand, Abbiati hasn't made an impact on el Decano. A combination of his old age and bad performances that may have been caused by his limitations at 34 years old, made him miss a couple of matches due to injury and score only once.

Faustino Pagano, being named as the captain for the first time, has been a tremendous player for hisi side.‫With his ability to exploit gaps formed in the right-hand side of the pitch, he's proved deadly with his crossing, as well as having chances for himself from inside the area. In 12 matches, he's scored four goals, as well as six assists for his side. Meanwhile, at the defense, Emir Álvarez has proved to be a top-class left-back for Rosamonte, very tough for the other team's attackers. They're going to miss when he eventually goes to Valanora for the Di Bradini Cup.

In third place are Laureles. Despite having a mixed start (having lost one of their first 2 matches), Laure eventually transformed into the second-place team for most of the first half. Despite Norteño having conceded the least amount of goals, it is Laureles who can claim to have the best defense; 6 of their 15 goals conceded in 15 matches came from a round one clobbering at the hands of Nacional Terense, losing 6-2. No one expected Vdaran manager Sotirios Ikonomou to end up with a team that played mostly defensively and didn't do that well up front, by themselves, with Vdaran football philosophy being (very allegedly, sorta maybe kinda) more attacking than the defensive Terense system. Gaspar Bustos was the one who controlled his team's defense, and Carmelo Rivero, signed from Sportivo Caamaño, was the big man, eventually getting sent off twice, something that was really criticised by the fans, but nonetheless all is going well.

This season is proving to be one of hope for Nacional Terense. Even though Qusma manager Evela-Dwada Inu doesn't make their teams play very attacking, Nacional have scored the highest number of goals this season. Benjamín Insfrán is Nacional's key player, being not only the team's highest scorer, but the top scorer in the league as a whole, scoring 8 goals in the 14 matches in which he has started. Nacional have stayed inside the top four for the entirety of the first half, mostly relying on big wins at the start, like the aforementioned 6-2 win over Laureles, and later a 4-0 defeat of Progreso. The defense have also done a decent job; Cristian Riese is a classic sweeper, and while he may not be physically imposing, but rather tall but lean, he can still pull off great slide tackles. Riese had the added advantage of having his partner in crime to his right, the Farf Pâb Rügreráterrhé. Nacional fans were promised a lightning-quick defender, and Pâb delivered, cementing himself as one of el Bombero's main playmakers, being able to quickly get the ball forward.

Rounding up the top-of-the-table review, a dissapointing Gimnasia y Bala. With a stacked squad featuring Juan José Leonardi, Martín Kuchler, Efraín Azzaro, Reinaldo Perrín, Alexander Cornelli, Hernán Beaufort, Lew Anton, Wanyonyi Lawal and Ronaldinho Caicedo, everybody thought that they would live at the top of the table. However, shocks and other sloppy losses like a 2-1 loss at Progreso and a defeat at home in the Clásico de Clásicos versus Nacional Terense made Gimnasia drop many points. JJ Leonardi is the second top scorer in this year's Nacional A, with 7 goals, something expected from him. Ismael Colombera and Ronaldinho Caicedo were the two other players who were expected to score plenty, but didn't: Colombera because of his unexpected "promotion" from a reserve to Iker Ibarra, to being a starter, and Caicedo because of his role as a right-midfielder, instead of a CM or an AM where he is most comfortable at. Nevertheless, what the Huayramarcan didn't do in goals, he made up for with plenty of assists, and key forward passes that led to goals from Leonardi or Colombera. For the Zenicians: although Anton and Lawal were expected to play at the same line, it eventually turned into Anton staying up, closer to an AM, and Lawal staying further down. Despite Wanyonyi Lawal tending to play as an attacking midfielder, he was actually quite good when defending, and Lew Anton scored four goals.
Although Gimnasia y Bala have got whatever things wrong, they could overtake the other four at any moment, just like last season (when they didn't).

 # Middle 7              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
#6 Comergás               15    6   5   4    21   18   +3    23 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Moncloa                15    6   3   6    23   18   +5    21 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Sportivo Caamaño       15    4   7   4    15   15    0    19 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Independiente (E)      15    5   4   6    13   18   −5    19
10 Sportivo Escobar       15    5   3   7    20   20    0    18
11 Centauro               15    4   6   5    14   17   −3    18
12 Solanet                15    4   5   6    16   18   −2    17

Someone should make Mateo Rey a statue in Arias, huh... Comergás don't seem to believe in that false conspiracy theory of "second-season syndrome" as of now, because they're still going strong in sixth place. They could heal a rocky start to the season with more shock defeats, including defeating Gimnasia 1-0 and Moncloa 3-1, both coming at home. The oldies are seeing a resurgence up front, with Marcelo Leiva, one of Comergás' best players, but also José Luis Ortiz, being their top two scorers. The spotlight needs to be put on Ortiz especially. After having a half-decent season where he didn't do much, this time round he's transformed himself into Comergás' top scorer, with five goals. It's all nearly smooth not-being-relegated-ing sailing for San Miguel's only team in the Nacional A, even though Arias is more aligned with Independencia than San Miguel.

We jump from "second season syndrome" to "title defense syndrome" with Moncloa. Alvaro Biaggi's departure has definitely affected the Maroons here, but that's been made up for with Fidel Cardozo and Pilypas Aldhard being the joint-third top-scorers in the league, each one with 6 goals. Pilypas Aldhard specifically has turned out to be a solid replacement for Biaggi after he left for the Polar Islandstates, with (yes, we already said this, take a guess) six goals scored and four assists, being a key piece anywhere in Moncloa's offensive third. The defense wasn't a problem either. Facundo Grosso and Néstor Martelli were decent enough when defending, and Andrés Castillo would show off his NT-level goalkeeping...sometimes..., but Moncloa dropping points is probably the real problems. The team had a very promising start, being as high as 4th by rounds 6-9, but in round 10 they'd lose the Moncloa derby by 0-1, and from rounds 10-15 they'd lose 3/6 games. It isn't looking that comfy for manager Rubén Lima.

Sportivo Caamaño are definitely better than last year, when they spent the season fighting relegation, but the fans are demanding more. Rufino Rosales' main weapon are draws and not scoring that much, the latter yielding mixed results last year at Solanet. Caamaño have mostly relied on three players as their source of goals: Saterun's Ibrahim Fases (5 goals), who has evidently adapted well to life in Tero al Disco, the young midfielder Jacinto Coutinho (4), whose speed and agility has contributed to him being a menace up the pitch, and Ismael Monte (3), another midfielder, as well as the captain (but that's just a minor detail). Ariel Salomón and Isidro Contreras, as the wingers, haven't done much to add to that tally. Anyhow, Caamaño's executives are probably still satisfied with Rosales' job.

With Sportivo Caamaño having rounded up the FFI playoff spots, Independiente and Sportivo Escobar's seasons have both been letdowns. On one hand, Caide never went above mid-table, spending a few rounds solidly inside the relegation playoff spots. Caide's key problem is its attack, with a measly 13 goals being scored, the worst in the league after Palestino and Progreso. Denis Pereyra tore his ACL in the middle of a round 2 match with Comergás (which would be later won by Caide 1-0), and that has left him out for several months, and that has arguably been the start of Caide's attacking decline. Weak performances from Ramiro Sava and Joaquín Marconi haven't made them a favour. The defense is mostly fine; Santiago O'Reilly has been the one who has held the team together with his flying-save-making ability, and Ginés Ferro, Elmyian signing Peter Bracknell, and Lautaro Cárdenas have provided a complement for O'Reilly. The problem is at the front.

Sportivo Escobar have been okay? -ish? They didn't have considerable problems when attacking and defending. Well, no, on the defending part, they are also the third team with the highest amount of goals conceded, which is weird considering that Eduardo Acciaio, last year's Nacional A Golden Glove winner, is still at Sportivo. And now he's out there conceding. But it is generally accepted by the media that Sportivo are doing well at the back. They've got Acciaio, they've got Lautaro Corti in the bench, Alonso Ortega, Luís Abel, Eugenio Palencia, etc. Alonso Ortega in particular has had a decent performance. He's now turning his sights into being a playmaker, being able to play as a defensive midfielder sometimes. Time is running out for Agustín Ibarra; they've got to get better.

Closing the midtable, and before heading to the relegation playoffs (which have been very subtly expanded to two), there's Centauro and Solanet. Centauro have certainly overachieved, with Felipe Carrizo scoring a marvellous six goals (joint-third highest), as well as Alejandro Domínguez continuing last season's form by adding an extra four to Centauro's tally. Despite this looking all roses for Centauro, they're still four points above the relegation playoff line, fearing that this could end like last season or worse for them. Meanwhile, Solanet might end up like last season; fighting to survive. Joaquín Leguizamón has probably done all he's could for Sola...well he scored only five goals, he didn't leave it all on the pitch, but it's clear that he's worthy of leaving to another bigger club, instead of fighting for survival.

 # Bottom 4              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
13 Tacurú                 15    3   5   7    16   22   −6    14 Relegation playoff
14 Palestino              15    4   2   9     9   18   −9    14 Relegation playoff
15 Progreso               15    2   6   7     8   18  −10    12 Relegation
16 Salto Athletic         15    2   5   8    18   34  −16    11 Relegation

As predicted, Tacurú aren't having it easy this time. Yes, they may have one of the best players from one of the best second-division squads in ex-Sionista Antonio Yáñez, but their best players departing, as predicted, has affected them. Franco Maroni and Marcos Coelho pushed them forwards, scoring 4 and 3 goals respectively, but that's not enough, it looks like.

And also as expected, Palestino and Progreso are in lots of problems, especially in attacking. None of them have scored double digits of goals up until now, no one from their forwards have made an impact, but both team's defenses have been alright, quite alright. In Palestino's case, Joaquín Idoeta, after turning himself into one of second-division Parque Rodó's best defenders, has, let's say, defended his pride, his prestige, in the top circuit, being the big, burly 24-year-old he is.

A good defense is definitely not what Salto Athletic has got. Their new manager, Fabio Aranda, has been a key proponent of offensive, pressing, high-line football, and has even gone on record lambasting "Terense football traditions" for being too boring, too cold, etc. In turn, Salto has lost by illogical scores: 1-6 at home against Moncloa, then 7-4, 7-4, against Gimnasia at the Lara Burton the week later, and 5-1 at Norteño's in round 11. Obviously that's what he gets for criticising immaculate football like the one played by the Terenses, there's no doubt about that. 34 goals conceded in 15 matches, 12 more than the next worst defense (Tacurú's). Like think about it, if Salto scored one more goal against Gimnasia y Bala, that 1-6 then 5-7 wouldn't be football, that's a tennis match! That's an NSTT Tier 2 tournament scoreline right here lads. That's what Aranda is, if he didn't receive such punishments, he was going to ruin Terense football as we know it.

NACIONAL B 93 - ROUNDS 1 to 15

 # Nacional B            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
#1 Camioneros                 15    9   2   4    17   13   +4    29 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#2 Unión Ferroviaria          15    6   8   1    20   11   +9    26 Promotion, Liga B Champions Trophy
#3 Sionista                   15    6   6   3    15   10   +5    24 Promotion playoff, Liga B Champions Trophy
#4 Villa Vallier              15    6   6   3    19   15   +4    24 Promotion playoff
 5 Camino Real                15    6   5   4    17   17    0    23
 6 Parque Rodó                15    5   7   3    17   13   +4    22
 7 Carpincho Atropellado      15    4  10   1    12    9   +3    22
 8 Colmena                    15    6   3   6    15   13   +2    21
 9 Sportivo Terense           15    4   8   3    12   12    0    20
10 Plaza Cura Cortez          15    4   6   5    13   13    0    18
11 Manuel Rodríguez           15    4   5   6    11   13   −2    17
12 Ciudad Cerutti             15    4   5   6    14   18   −4    17
13 Yaguareté                  15    4   3   8    11   15   −4    15 Relegation playoff
14 Ferrocarriles Unidos       15    4   3   8    13   18   −5    15 Relegation playoff
15 Defensores de Boca         15    3   4   8    12   21   −9    13 Relegation
16 Nacional Inticuneño        15    3   3   9     8   15   −7    12 Relegation

Nacional B result grid	   CAM  UNF  SIO  VIV  CAR  PRO  CAT  COL  CST  PCC  MRO  CIC  YAG  FER  DBO  NAI
 1 Camioneros               —   1–0   —    —    —    —   1–2  3–2  0–2   —   1–0  1–0   —    —    —   1–0
 2 Unión Ferroviaria        —    —   1–1   —    —    —    —   1–0  0–0   —    —   1–1  2–1  1–0  5–2  2–2
 3 Sionista                1–1   —    —   0–1  0–1  1–1   —    —    —   3–2  0–1   —    —    —   0–0   — 
 4 Villa Vallier           1–2  1–1   —    —    —    —   0–0  1–3  0–0   —   1–0  3–4  2–0   —    —    — 
 5 Camino Real             1–1  1–1   —   1–3   —   2–2  0–0   —    —   1–0  3–2   —   0–0   —    —    — 
 6 Parque Rodó             1–0  0–0   —   0–1   —    —   0–0  1–0   —   1–1  0–1   —   2–3   —    —    — 
 7 Carpincho Atropellado    —   0–3  1–1   —    —    —    —   0–0  1–1   —    —   1–0   —   2–2   —   1–0
 8 Colmena                  —    —   1–1   —   0–1   —    —    —   3–1   —    —   2–0  1–0  0–1  1–1  1–0
 9 Sportivo Terense         —    —   0–2   —   3–2  0–1   —    —    —    —    —   1–1  1–1  1–1  1–0  1–0
10 Plaza Cura Cortez       2–1  1–2   —   0–0   —    —   0–0  2–0  0–0   —   1–1   —   0–1   —    —    — 
11 Manuel Rodríguez         —   0–0   —    —    —    —   1–1  0–1  0–0   —    —   1–1   —   1–2   —   0–2
12 Ciudad Cerutti           —    —   0–1   —   2–0  2–2   —    —    —   0–2   —    —   0–2  1–0  1–1  1–0
13 Yaguareté               0–1   —   0–1   —    —    —   0–0   —    —    —   0–2   —    —   1–2  0–1  2–0
14 Ferrocarriles Unidos    0–1   —   0–1  1–2  2–0  1–4   —    —    —   1–1   —    —    —    —   0–1   — 
15 Defensores de Boca      1–2   —    —   1–1  1–3  1–2  0–3   —    —   2–0  0–1   —    —    —    —    — 
16 Nacional Inticuneño      —    —   0–2  2–2  0–1  0–0   —    —    —   0–1   —    —    —   1–0  1–0   —

by **Tero al Disco** » Fri Jul 19, 2024 12:47 pm

NACIONAL A 93 PART 2 - ROUNDS 16 to 24

ROUND 16
Moncloa 1–4 Solanet
Progreso 1–0 Salto Athletic
Independiente (E) 0–0 Gimnasia y Bala
Laureles 0–2 Nacional Terense
Centauro 2–2 Comergás
Palestino 0–1 Tacurú
Norteño 0–0 Sportivo Escobar
Sportivo Caamaño 0–0 Rosamonte

ROUND 17
Sportivo Caamaño 0–1 Moncloa
Rosamonte 0–1 Norteño
Sportivo Escobar 1–3 Palestino
Tacurú 1–0 Centauro
Comergás 1–1 Laureles
Nacional Terense 1–2 Independiente (E)
Gimnasia y Bala 1–0 Progreso
Salto Athletic 3–4 Solanet

ROUND 18
Moncloa 2–1 Salto Athletic
Solanet 1–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Progreso 2–0 Nacional Terense
Independiente (E) 2–1 Comergás
Laureles 2–1 Tacurú
Centauro 1–3 Sportivo Escobar
Palestino 0–0 Rosamonte
Norteño 1–1 Sportivo Caamaño

ROUND 19
Norteño 0–2 Moncloa
Sportivo Caamaño 2–0 Palestino
Rosamonte 2–1 Centauro
Sportivo Escobar 1–2 Laureles
Tacurú 2–2 Independiente (E)
Comergás 0–2 Progreso
Nacional Terense 1–0 Solanet
Gimnasia y Bala 2–3 Salto Athletic

ROUND 20
Moncloa 2–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Salto Athletic 4–2 Nacional Terense
Solanet 1–0 Comergás
Progreso 0–1 Tacurú
Independiente (E) 0–0 Sportivo Escobar
Laureles 1–0 Rosamonte
Centauro 1–0 Sportivo Caamaño
Palestino 2–2 Norteño

ROUND 21
Palestino 0–2 Moncloa
Norteño 2–0 Centauro
Sportivo Caamaño 1–1 Laureles
Rosamonte 3–1 Independiente (E)
Sportivo Escobar 10–1 Progreso
Tacurú 0–3 Solanet
Comergás 2–2 Salto Athletic
Nacional Terense 1–3 Gimnasia y Bala

ROUND 22
Moncloa 0–0 Nacional Terense
Gimnasia y Bala 2–3 Comergás
Salto Athletic 0–1 Tacurú
Solanet 0–2 Sportivo Escobar
Progreso 1–1 Rosamonte
Independiente (E) 0–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Laureles 2–0 Norteño
Centauro 3–3 Palestino

ROUND 23
Centauro 0–1 Moncloa
Palestino 2–4 Laureles
Norteño 1–2 Independiente (E)
Sportivo Caamaño 0–3 Progreso
Rosamonte 0–2 Solanet
Sportivo Escobar 4–0 Salto Athletic
Tacurú 0–6 Gimnasia y Bala
Comergás 0–1 Nacional Terense

ROUND 24
Moncloa 2–1 Comergás
Nacional Terense 1–1 Tacurú
Gimnasia y Bala 1–0 Sportivo Escobar
Salto Athletic 0–1 Rosamonte
Solanet 0–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Progreso 0–1 Norteño
Independiente (E) 1–2 Palestino
Laureles 1–0 Centauro

 # Nacional A            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
#1 Laureles               24   15   4   5    32   23   +9    49 LDWWWDWWW Champions League, League of Victors
#2 Moncloa                24   13   4   7    36   25  +11    43 LWWWWWDWW Challengers Cup, League of Victors
#3 Norteño                24   11   9   4    31   20  +11    42 DWDLDWLLW Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Rosamonte              24   12   5   7    32   25   +7    41 DLDWLWDLW Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Gimnasia y Bala        24   11   5   8    43   24  +19    38 DWDLLWLWW Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Nacional Terense       24   10   8   6    35   29   +6    38 WLLWLLDWD Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Solanet                24    9   6   9    31   27   +4    33 WWDLWWLWL Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Sportivo Escobar       24    9   5  10    41   28  +13    32 DLWLDWWWL Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Sportivo Caamaño       24    7  10   7    21   22   −1    31 DLDWLDWLW
10 Independiente (E)      24    8   7   9    23   29   −6    31 DWWDDLLWL
11 Comergás               24    7   8   9    31   33   −2    29 DDLLLDWLL
12 Tacurú                 24    7   7  10    24   36  −12    28 WWLDWLWLD
13 Progreso               24    6   7  11    18   32  −14    25 WLWWLLDWL Relegation playoff
14 Centauro               24    5   8  11    22   32  −10    23 DLLLWLDLL Relegation tiebreaker
15 Palestino              24    6   5  13    21   34  −13    23 LWDLDLDLW Relegation tiebreaker
16 Salto Athletic         24    4   6  14    31   53  −22    18 LLLWWDLLL Relegation

# Player (club)				Goals
1 Juan José Leonardi (Gimnasia y Bala)	13
2 Pilypas Aldhard (Moncloa)		9
  Benjamín Insfrán (Nacional Terense)	9
  Roberto Villar (Norteño)		9
5 Felipe Carrizo (Centauro)		8
6 José Luís Ortiz (Comergás)		7
  Lautaro Araujo (Laureles)		7
  León Siera (Laureles)			7
  Fidel Cardozo (Moncloa)		7
  Caleb Brennan (Nacional Terense)	7
  Joaquín Leguizamón (Solanet)		7
  Maximiliano Alesci (Sportivo Escobar)	7
  Mateo Portelli (Sportivo Escobar)	7

- X - X - X -

#1 Laureles               24   15   4   5    32   23   +9    49 Champions League, League of Victors
#2 Moncloa                24   13   4   7    36   25  +11    43 Challengers Cup, League of Victors
#3 Norteño                24   11   9   4    31   20  +11    42 Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs

Good morning (or afternoon or evening or night) and welcome back, as we have more Nacional A team summaries to show to you, the reader. We hope you have a wonderful time reviewing each team's season eh...

...*Clears throat* Yes, so the Nacional A is back; the second half of the season has just started, and as we're inching closer and reviewing ever closer to the final match of the final round, etc., er...I'm reminding you, and I promise you, that we've actually had some shocking, some surprising results, surprising changes in the table. So, let's look at them shall we- without further ado, whatever the heck you say to present a topic in particular...

And Laureles might actually achieve a league championship this season, for the first time ever. The Nacional A is looking competitive like never before, as you'll see in some of the other team's part-of-the-season reviews. At the start of the second half they didn't look like how they're doing now in any shape or form. After the small winter break between the first and second 15 matches, they had left the league with a mixed performance over the last couple of matches, winning 2 out of 5 matches. Now, starting the second half of the season, with a loss against Nacional and a draw against Comergás, that mixed streak turned more sour, now with 2/7 matches won. After the Comergás draw, in which Laureles scored their lone goal after an especially dubious penalty, the side managed by Sotirios Ikonomou suffered one hell of a change in the coming matches, winning six out of the next seven, and now holding a 7-point lead over their rivals, Moncloa - 7 points is definitely not a small margin of a lead, by Terense standards.

Lautaro Araujo and León Siera, Laureles' two starting forwards (with Héctor Sánchez having some sort of problem that has put him practically out of the team) have contributed a lot for the attack, as they have the fourth-highest amount of goals scored in the entire league, with 7 goals, something they share with a crapton of players. Lately, Ikonomou has now been somewhat permitted to make his team play the attacking style of football that Vdarans are said to have - still, I don't know yet. Miguel Ángel Palazo has had a very solid performance as the goalkeeper, even though his team's attacking style of play doesn't let him show his true abilities statiscally.

Then there's Moncloa- Well, see, Moncloa aren't out yet, they're safely in the title race, somewhat of one. Manager Rubén Lima has got his shit together for the team, and they're now in second place. Moncloa actually had the same sort of situation as Laureles going into the second half: Lima's el Bordó had only won one out of their last seven matches (as I'd probably referenced in Moncloa's part 1 review), and with his team solidly inside the Confederations Trophy playoffs, it's safe to say that he was on thin ice, only half a year after giving Moncloa their greatest joy in recent history. However, with Pilypas Aldhard and Fidel Cardozo still having the same impact as the team did before the winter break, they violently broke out of the CT barrier, including a 5-game win streak and wins against Norteño and Gimnasia y Bala for key matches at the top of the table on the way. The key talking point was that they didn't hemorrhage points like in the first half of the season, and they'd have a much better defensive record. In those matches were they didn't score much, Andrés Castillo was the star player, and the defense did mostly well.

Norteño are the ones who are bottling it here. Everybody would think that, well yes, they had it tight by round 15, and were at risk of throwing the lead away - The last thing is what happened. After a 1-1 draw with Sportivo Camaaño in round 18, they lost an important match against Moncloa the week later, as a Laureles defeat of Sportivo Escobar would see Laureles jump over them. In round 20 they dropped points against Palestino, in round 22 they'd lose a key game, precisely against Laureles, which really marked their decline from then on, as the team from Moncloa would extend the lead as the rounds went on. Their key strikers didn't show up when they were needed, and the defenders did a mostly good job, although when they lost, it was usually because of one or two errors that lead to them conceding goals, and then them not finding a way to get one back - Luke Sundvall did great, Salomón Forester was usually a commander of the penalty area, Miguel Schenck doing his usual playmaking, but it was down to those key errors that made them lose the points.

#4 Rosamonte              24   12   5   7    32   25   +7    41 Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Gimnasia y Bala        24   11   5   8    43   24  +19    38 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Nacional Terense       24   10   8   6    35   29   +6    38 Confederations Trophy playoffs

Rosamonte, unfortunately, also seem to be deflating from being second in the table, by the end of part 1 of the season; it seems like their underdog status has caught up to them. They've had the same record as Norteño over the start of the second half: 3 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses, which is clearly not enough if you want to stay at the top of the table. Still, Flavio Godoy, Orlando Abbiati, Esteban Belloni (who didn't keep the form that he used to have by the start of the season, scoring only 1 goal since round 14) and company are probably being revered in Tero al Disco city's neighbourhood of Rosamonte, now that they've brought their team back into the top.

Gimnasia y Bala is next, and they might have an explosive attack (especially Juan José Leonardi, who's accumulated 13 goals so far this season, 4 goals over second place), and one of the best defensive records in the league, but by God...they can't stop dropping points. They ended the first half more or less on a high note with a 3-match win streak, and we did say that they could go to the top in no time. With the Gimnasia y Bala board "having still not found a replacement manager" after Alfredo Felix got sacked last season, Faustino Allegretto was confirmed to be the official, the main manager of Gimnasia, despite the team not having performed to the fans' expectations during the first half. Anyway, they still struggled with form. Arguably, Allegretto got his butt saved after Gimnasia won the Clásico de Clásicos by a resounding 3-1 over Nacional in round 21, and then the team's morale and form would get better, including a six-star win at Tacurú's, and afterwards a 1-0 win over a Sportivo Escobar squad who still haven't fixed their problems.

Nacional Terense are next, and their fall (it isn't that tragic, because they're still three points off the Challengers Cup) must have felt really frustrating for their fans. Again, it's dropping points that has led to Evela-Dwada Inu's side going from fourth, 3 points off the lead the last time we left the table, to sixth as they are right now. After ending the first half as the top scorer, Benjamín Insfrán suffered an injury in the round 18 fixture against Caide, something which left him out for three weeks, and then definitely hampered his performance - he only scored 1 goal in the 6 matches he's started in the 2nd half of the season. Caleb Brennan, Myrtle Beach's "(second) most important player" up front hasn't turned out to be revolutionary for the firepower, and the Qusma manager's carefree style of football haven't resounded well with the result-ist Terense pundits (and in turn the fans). But still, it's said that Nacional's president is still optimistic about Evela-Dwada being at the club.

#7 Solanet                24    9   6   9    31   27   +4    33 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Sportivo Escobar       24    9   5  10    41   28  +13    32 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Sportivo Caamaño       24    7  10   7    21   22   −1    31
10 Independiente (E)      24    8   7   9    23   29   −6    31

Although the gap between 6th-placed Nacional and 7th-placed Solanet is wide, the last two Confederations Trophy spots are proving to be very competitive, with the 7th-10th places (Sola, Sportivo Escobar, Sportivo Caamaño and Caide) being separated by only two points, and Comergás and Tacurú being not that far out as well.

First of all, props to Solanet's manager Marcos Cáceres for being able to turn the ship around, at least for now. At the end of Part One with Solanet in 12th place, everybody thought that Cáceres' sacking would come at any moment, but in a season with an unusually low number of managers going out, the Solanet board decided to keep him in the club and that really paid off. With a 4-1 routing of cross-town rivals Moncloa at the Municipal which propelled them to 8th because of the mid-table being just so close, they would be set to keep themselves inside the Conf Trophy playoff spots, if they kept a decent enough form, which they're doing as of now. Their best strikers hasn't come in the usual suspects, Joaquín Leguizamón, but rather in FW Patricio Ojeda and RM Valerio Perro. Leguizamón is still the club's top scorer with 7 goals - he hasn't done that bad to be honest, but he hasn't appeared all that much compared to the previous rounds.

Sportivo Caamaño's form has mostly stayed the same, only that now in this time when we're reviewing the table, they're out of the Confederations Trophy playoff spots. The point is that they're still very close to 8th place; they can get inside the playoff spots at any moment.

Sportivo Escobar and Caide's situations are probably the worst, the weirdest, the most unexpected, etc. On one hand, Caide still can't sort out their problems. Although now they're doing better than at the start of the season, when they were in the relegation playoff places for some rounds, Marco de la Cruz still hasn't brought his side to within the fans expectations, mostly bouncing around the FFI playoff spots. In Sportivo's case, with the IFCF cycle being played out mostly during the first half of the season, it's inexplicable how a team like Sportivo, who reached the quarter-finals of the Associations Trophy (having upset teams such as Kelssek's Clayquot City, Ko-oren's Aminey, or Squornshelan side Sivolvia Central on the way through), now struggle to break past the low mid-table in the domestic scene, a year after Agustín Ibarra brought them to one of their best seasons in their history. Probably the only thing that saved them was that, when they were dangerously close from the relegation playoffs, they decided to put 10 past Progreso's net, which also propelled them out of a possible relegation (at least in the short term); more info in the fourth part of this U18WC RP.

11 Comergás               24    7   8   9    31   33   −2    29
12 Tacurú                 24    7   7  10    24   36  −12    28
13 Progreso               24    6   7  11    18   32  −14    25 Relegation playoff
14 Centauro               24    5   8  11    22   32  −10    23 Relegation playoff
15 Palestino              24    6   5  13    21   34  −13    23 Relegation
16 Salto Athletic         24    4   6  14    31   53  −22    18 Relegation

Despite Comergás and Tacurú being not that far out from the FFI playoff spots, as we mentioned earlier, they also have to be especially wary of relegation. Comergás have recently experienced a slump of their own, as they only won one game out of the last nine. Domingo Cuevas and Marcelo Leiva couldn't show off what it takes to be in the national team; they never had an injury nor a match where they didn't start, but they've been largely dissapointing. On the other hand, Tacurú have largely gotten out of the danger of direct relegation (again, only in the short term since they are five points of 15th place, not that much), but not far enough that their fans need not worry about it.

Outside of the 10-1 defeat against Sportivo Escobar, Progreso's defense have only let in 4 goals in the last 8 matches. Like Comergás, Centauro have had a considerable drop, with 1 out of the last 9 matches won making them be tied in points for the 2nd relegation spot, alongside Palestino. Not even Felipe Carrizo being one of the top goalscorers in the league has saved them. Palestino can't get out of the direct relegation trash can; and Salto Athletic, despite manager Fabio Aranda having been sacked, still insist in playing an ultra-attacking style of play which definitely hasn't helped them, either.

COPA DE LA REPÚBLICA 93 REVIEW PARTS 1 & 2 - UP TO THE QUARTER-FINALS

The Copa de la República (Cup of the Republic) is Tero al Disco's premier cup competition. Inaugurated around the same time as the Estadio de la República, the country's premier stadium, by ATF season 1962, its function was to serve as a tournament in which teams from all divisions participated in. The cup would conclude in a final, played at said stadium. The cup was played regularly between 1962 and 1973, but due to decreasing public interest, it started to be played irregularly since season 1974, with different formats. Sometimes teams from multiple divisions were present, and at times it was only teams from the first division. Though, since the season 2006, there have been no interruptions.

For this edition there will be 128 teams, rather than the 64 that played last year's edition: the 32 teams in Nacional A and Nacional B, the 24 teams from the Torneo Federal (3rd tier), the 40 teams from the 4th tier, as well as 32 teams from the 5th division of Terense football. The 128 teams will start in the same round of the unseeded competition; anyone can be drawn with anyone.

As a sidenote, matches go inmediately into penalty shoot-outs when drawn.

ROUND OF 128

Nacional Inticuneño 3-0 Provincial (M)
         Los Halcones 1-0 Lawn Tennis
          Olimpia (T) 0-3 Rumbo (SM)
            Macedonia 0-4 Tacurú
    Atlético Carreras 1-2 Capiibary
Carpincho Atropellado 0-1 Municipalidad de Caamaño
         Náutico (YS) 0-2 Aeronáutica
           Camioneros 2-0 Central (I)
       Provincial (M) 0-1 Candil Alegre
          Barrial (B) 1-0 San Miguel
    Unión Ferroviaria 1-0 Delta Baja
          Parque Rodó 2-1 Universo
   Defensores de Boca 6-2 Cri Cri
            Garnayrúe 2-1 Quemavillas
            Bedefuego 0-1 Sportivo Michimullen
        Banco Terense 3-1 Atlético Chapeletay
            Rosamonte 2-1 Progreso
 Sportivo Michimullen 0-2 Sociedad Carbonera
  Atlético Campanario 1-2 Rampas
     Sportivo Terense 1-1 Carshe del Sur 		(3-4 pen.)
            Brisqueño 0-0 Italiano (E) 			(7-6 pen.)
             Comergás 4-0 Montenuevo
          Santa María 1-1 Júpiter 			(4-3 pen.)
          Bahía Chata 0-2 Centauro
     Sportivo Caamaño 2-0 Liberación
     Atlético Londiha 2-3 Angliano
         Nacional (L) 0-2 Norteño
           Los Rengos 1-2 Michelin Linerson
         Moncloa Este 0-3 Sportivo Retiro
         Talleres (I) 1-2 Atlético Cazador
            Unión (G) 2-4 Navó
          Samaritanos 1-0 Independiente (Mich.)
            Cruz Siux 1-0 Old Patrician
      Villa Baliester 1-0 Shirley
         Sporting (N) 1-3 Salto Athletic
             Metaluña 0-1 Sportivo Central
         San Cipriano 1-3 Regatas Campanario
             Induyano 1-2 Águilas del Sur
      Atlético Brisco 1-1 Manuel Rodríguez 		(4-5 pen.)
             Puchaquí 0-3 Palestino
     Sportivo Blancor 0-2 Rodríguez (M)
              Colmena 3-1 Defensores de Salto
    Independiente (B) 1-0 Policía Caminera (A)
 Juventud Rushmoriana 0-1 Ciudad Cerutti
      Guacamayo Manco 1-1 Titana 			(3-4 pen.)
             Italiano 0-1 Terense (T)
              Solanet 3-1 Yaguareté
     Nacional Terense 3-0 Villa Vallier
    Plaza Cura Cortez 1-1 Sociedad de Fomento (S) 	(4-1 pen.)
      Ferroviario (I) 2-3 Camino Real
 Deportivo Tattersall 2-0 Llamballay
 Defensores de Olimpo 3-0 Independiente (Monc.)
       Miguelense (A) 0-0 Motocross Lavalle 		(3-5 pen.)
      Gimnasia y Bala 2-0 Hermanos del '38
             Laureles 3-0 Vigor
     Sportivo Escobar 3-0 Barrancas
  Deportivo Mondragón 2-0 Independiente (B)
 Ferrocarriles Unidos 4-0 Hermandad y Patria
        Gimnasia (BO) 2-0 La Unión
           Vecindario 1-1 Sociedad Hispana (M) 		(5-4 pen.)
          San Antonio 2-1 Moncloa
    Independiente (E) 3-0 Pablo Solá
                Manto 0-0 Sangüichiwitz (2-0 pen.)
          Rancho Azul 0-3 Sionista

There wasn't that much to talk about in terms of historic upsets; many of the Nacional A clubs got drawn with teams from the 4th or 5th division, and although the margins were close, in nearly every single one of the matchups the Nacional A team would prevail, in all but one: at their home stadium in the northern portion of the province of Independencia, San Antonio would have arguably the best day in its history as a club, as they would end up beating Moncloa 2-1 - that was the only giantkilling alert.

ROUND OF 64

Nacional Inticuneño 1-0 Los Halcones
           Rumbo (SM) 1-1 Tacurú 			(3-4 pen.)
            Capiibary 3-2 Municipalidad de Caamaño
          Aeronáutica 1-1 Camioneros 			(4-1 pen.)
        Candil Alegre 2-0 Barrial (B)
    Unión Ferroviaria 0-0 Parque Rodó 			(5-6 agg.)
   Defensores de Boca 6-1 Garnayrúe
 Sportivo Michimullen 2-0 Banco Terense
            Rosamonte 3-0 Sociedad Carbonera
               Rampas 2-4 Carshe del Sur
            Brisqueño 1-2 Comergás
          Santa María 0-3 Centauro
     Sportivo Caamaño 2-0 Angliano
              Norteño 0-0 Michelin Linerson 		(3-2 pen.)
      Sportivo Retiro 1-2 Atlético Cazador
                 Navó 1-0 Samaritanos
            Cruz Siux 1-1 Villa Baliester 		(4-5 pen.)
       Salto Athletic 0-1 Sportivo Central
   Regatas Campanario 1-2 Águilas del Sur
     Manuel Rodríguez 2-1 Palestino
        Rodríguez (M) 2-3 Colmena
    Independiente (B) 1-0 Ciudad Cerutti
               Titana 0-2 Terense (T)
              Solanet 2-1 Nacional Terense
    Plaza Cura Cortez 1-2 Camino Real
 Deportivo Tattersall 0-1 Defensores de Olimpo
    Motocross Lavalle 0-0 Gimnasia y Bala 		(3-5 pen.)
             Laureles 0-0 Sportivo Escobar 		(3-0 pen.)
  Deportivo Mondragón 1-3 Ferrocarriles Unidos
        Gimnasia (BO) 2-1 Vecindario
          San Antonio 0-2 Caide
                Manto 0-2 Sionista

In the second round it got very tight for the first division clubs; first of all, Norteño, Gimnasia and Tacurú advanced but only from the penalty spot, all of the shootouts ending up very tense...and some of the teams that they faced have the dumbest (or coolest) names possible. Just ask Michelin Linerson, or Motocross Lavalle, who were the two opponents Norteño and Gimnasia respectively struggled to knock out.

In an all-top flight fixture, Solanet would eliminate Nacional with two goals from the green-whites' right-back, Juan Manuel Melgarejo. Meanwhile, Salto Athletic would go out at home, against fourth-tier Sportivo Central, with Salto's loss being arguably the only giant getting killed in the second round. On another note, Defensores de Boca seemed like the weren't happy with being at the bottom of the Nacional B, defeating another team from Escobar, such as Cri Cri, by 6-2 in the round of 128, and then smashing Garnayrúe 6-1.

ROUND OF 32

Nacional Inticuneño 0-0 Tacurú 			(3-5 pen.)
            Capiibary 1-0 Aeronáutica
        Candil Alegre 1-1 Parque Rodó 			(6-7 pen.)
   Defensores de Boca 0-1 Sportivo Michimullen
            Rosamonte 0-1 Carshe del Sur
             Comergás 2-1 Centauro
     Sportivo Caamaño 1-1 Norteño 			(3-4 pen.)
     Atlético Cazador 1-2 Navó
      Villa Baliester 1-0 Sportivo Central
      Águilas del Sur 0-1 Manuel Rodríguez
              Colmena 2-0 Independiente (B)
          Terense (T) 2-1 Solanet
          Camino Real 2-1 Defensores de Olimpo
      Gimnasia y Bala 3-3 Laureles 			(7-8 pen.)
 Ferrocarriles Unidos 0-0 Gimnasia (BO) 		(4-2 pen.)
                Caide 1-1 Sionista 			(6-5 pen.)

In the round of 32 things got a little bit spicier. Gimnasia got knocked out after a thriller against Laureles, where the score went from 1-1 in the 70th minute to 3-3 by full-time; for Rosamonte, after having been at the top of the table, nobody expected them to get knocked at the hands of 3rd-tier Carshe del Sur; and Solanet went out against 4th-division Terense de Tatapirá.

The lowest ranked team still in the cup, Villa Baliester, defeated 4th-tier Sportivo Central to get a spot among the best 16 of the cup.

ROUND OF 16

Tacurú 2-1 Capiibary
          Parque Rodó 2-0 Sportivo Michimullen
       Carshe del Sur 0-4 Comergás
              Norteño 1-1 Navó 				(4-3 pen.)
      Villa Baliester 0-1 Manuel Rodríguez
              Colmena 1-0 Terense (T)
          Camino Real 1-1 Laureles 			(1-3 pen.)
 Ferrocarriles Unidos 2-3 Caide

Norteño and Laureles are basically becoming memes in the cup so far; out of 4 matches won to get to the quarter-finals, both of them had to face 3 penalty shoot-outs, most of them ending up in tight wins against amateur teams (expect Laureles, who knocked out Sportivo Escobar and Gimnasia y Bala, and who now have gotten rid of 2nd-tier Camino Real).

With only 5 out of 16 teams in the Nacional A actually being left, due to most of them going out in 1st tier vs. 1st tier matchups, not one of those five clubs got eliminated in the round of 16, although the only resounding was Comergás 4-0 put-down of Carshe del Sur, the team who had eliminated Rosamonte in the previous round. Meanwhile, Villa Baliester, despite having had a very easy road to the round of 16 compared to the rest of the bunch, were very well-supported as the Cinderella team of this Copa de la República. Their match against Manuel Rodríguez (Nacional B), broadcast in national television, was featured as one of the top 5 highest-rating broadcasts of a Copa match. Sadly for them, el Manu would knock them out by 1-0.

QUARTER-FINAL MATCHUPS

Tacurú vs. Parque Rodó			(1st vs 2nd)
             Comergás vs. Norteño			(1st vs 1st)
     Manuel Rodríguez vs. Colmena			(2nd vs 2nd)
             Laureles vs. Caide				(1st vs 1st)

There are 3 Nacional B clubs representing the lowest division that has a team in the quarter-finals: Parque Rodó, Manuel Rodríguez, and Colmena. There will be one guaranteed team from the second division in the semi-finals, specifically in the match between the last two, to be played in Manuel Rodríguez's hometown of Inticuna.

by **Tero al Disco** » Sun Jul 21, 2024 6:34 pm

NACIONAL A 93 PART 3 - ROUNDS 25 to 29

ROUND 25
Laureles 2–0 Moncloa
Centauro 1–2 Independiente (E)
Palestino 2–1 Progreso
Norteño 2–1 Solanet
Sportivo Caamaño 1–1 Salto Athletic
Rosamonte 1–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Sportivo Escobar 0–1 Nacional Terense
Tacurú 1–1 Comergás

 # The title race        Pld   GD   Pts
#1 Laureles               25  +11    52 C/CL LOV
#2 Norteño                25  +12    45 CC   LOV
#3 Moncloa                25   +9    43 CC   CT PO
#4 Rosamonte              25   +7    42 CC   CT "
#5 Nacional Terense       25   +7    41      CT "

MATCH OF THE WEEK: LAURELES 2 - MONCLOA 0 (G. Bustos 42', L. Siera 90+2')
We start off Part Three with the last significant rivalry of the season; after Moncloa were beaten by Laureles in round 10, at home (which is something ambiguous to say for Laureles and Moncloa, as the Estadio Municipal is really both teams' main stadium), now it was time for them to face again...and it would mean another key match in the title race, since Laureles needed to win to potentially extend their gap in first place.

The match was one that promised a lot for fans and neutrals alike, as both Laureles and Moncloa had the best recent forms going into this Clásico de Moncloa; if one team won, they would break the other team's nine-win streak. What would really happen is that Moncloa wouldn't come even close to playing like they did in Part Two. Laureles easily took control of the match, as well as Moncloa's errors heading, clearing the ball out, marking, playmaking, etc. Miguel Napoliello was injured early on, which made him miss next week's fixture versus Tacurú, and get subbed off for substitute left midfielder José Villaverde. Before even the first half ended, Villaverde would get sent off for trying to stomp on Ulises Fabbiani's knee, a classic in this type of rivalries.

Despite Moncloa's defense being dog poo, Laureles would struggle to get one in, as Gaspar Bustos would score the first only in 42nd minute, off a tap-in. The match in on itself was very slow-paced, with lots of "confrontations" that in reality were shouting matches that resulted in nothing fun because let's be honest, who doesn't want to see fists flying? The Maroon defense recouped during the second half, whilst the Laureles attack still had issues to solve. Meanwhile, Laure couldn't escape the red card, as Héctor Sanchez got sent off after a double yellow. Anyway, in the last minutes Moncloa tried to launch a counter-attack, but as Laureles intercepted it, their defenders were badly positioned, and that allowed for León Siera to score a second, giving his team three key points.

ELSEWHERE:
• Norteño defeat Solanet, hoping that Laureles trips in the future: With any single point counting for Norteño to stay in the title race, and Solanet wishing to stay inside the Conf. Trophy playoff spots all costs, at last it would be Ñeño won an affair that had started easy for them, but with an ending that gave many a fan a big sigh of relief as the match came to a close. Fulgencio Llop would open the scoresheet with a 50-second goal, and with Norteño having dominated much of the first half, Roberto Villar scored another one by the minute 33. However, as the hosts slowed down and Cristian Rivero made some questionable substitutions, Solanet were able to fight back, scoring a 69th minute goal, and then going on to miss two very dangerous chances, as well as Juan Caballero having a volley saved by Norteño's Luke Sundvall in the 92nd minute.
• Evela-Dwada's Nacional defeats Sportivo Escobar, getting ever closer to IFCF spots: At Sportivo Escobar's stadium, it looked as if Nacional's Qusma manager made their side play more focused on...something, rather than their usual philosophy of "fun" and carefree football, almost a deliberate attempt at staying at the club. Nonetheless, Felipe Alberto won the man of the match award for delivering a 9th minute goal. Rosamonte's draw with Gimnasia y Bala means that in 4th place are the red-blues at 42 points, while Nacional is 5th with 41.

ROUND 26
Moncloa 0–1 Tacurú
Comergás 1–2 Sportivo Escobar
Nacional Terense 2–1 Rosamonte
Gimnasia y Bala 1–4 Sportivo Caamaño
Salto Athletic 0–0 Norteño
Solanet 1–2 Palestino
Progreso 0–2 Centauro
Independiente (E) 2–2 Laureles

 # The title race        Pld   GD   Pts
#1 Laureles               26  +11    53 C/CL LOV
#2 Norteño                26  +12    46 CC   LOV
#3 Nacional Terense       26   +8    44 CC   CT PO
#4 Moncloa                26   +8    43 CC   CT "
#5 Rosamonte              26   +6    42      CT "
#6 Gimnasia y Bala        26  +16    39      CT "
#8 Sportivo Caamaño       26   +2    35      CT "

MATCH OF THE WEEK: GIMNASIA Y BALA 1 - SPORTIVO CAAMAÑO 4 (I. Colombera 57' | I. Fases 25', I. Monte 31', M. Grimoldi 71', J. Coutinho 75')
...And yes, it seems like this isn't going to become one of Gimnasia's better seasons, out of the many they've had...With el Celeste having drawn with Rosamonte last week, Gimnasia (in 6th) were just three points away from a Challengers Cup spot - Rosamonte were still in fourth place. Meanwhile, with the last two Confederations Trophy spots still in a whirlpool, Caamaño were tenth, whilst Caide and Solanet occupied 7th and 8th place.

The match turned out disastrous from Gimnasia from the get-go. Only in the fourth minute, Caamaño would get their first key chance, as Martín Kuchler made a dodgy header which set up a volley from Isidro Contreras. It was only thanks to Efraín Azzaro's heroics that the ball didn't go in. In the 19th minute, Caamaño's Saternalian striker Ibrahim Fases missed a penalty that hit the post, and six minutes later he'd get his revenge on Azzaro, in which he headed the ball in into the top-right corner of the goal. The onslaught of Caamañense attacks would continue, as another 6 minutes later Ismael Monte would convert on a one-on-one. Martín Kuchler was having one of the worst game he ever had, and by half-time he had to be subbed off for Alejo Roux.

After Gimnasia managed to calm the opposition's defense down by the end of the first half, they didn't face any major inconveniences throughout the second 45 minutes. In fact, by the start of the second half they'd actually start to get chances. This was seen in Juan José Leonardi being allowed to have a chance from outside the area by the 54th minute, and then Ismael Colombera took one back for Gimnasia. It looked as if Gimnasia would manage a comeback with a 1-goal deficit, but risks of that were violently put down as Teófilo Clementini tripped Ronaldinho Caicedo as the Huayramarcan was running towards the area, something which made tempers flare, and which was capitalised by Rufino Rosales' team to slow down the match. Now the driver's seat was going back to Sportivo Caamaño. Substitute Milton Grimoldi, and later Jacinto Coutinho both scored from counter-attacks, and in quick succession, probably the last two nails in Faustino Allegretto's coffin.

ELSEWHERE:
• Laureles-Caide ends an entertaining 2-2 draw: Laureles still need every point they can to get their hands onto the league title as early as possible, and wanting to worry about it the least they can. Laure fans just can't wait, they can't wait to win their first title, they can't wait to be not mocked about "being the third team in Moncloa" by Solanet fans anymore, 'cause they haven't won anything. Their match with Caide was very entertaining to watch, with both teams being neck-on-neck and the match going from one team's goal to the other's. Walter Toledo would strike first blood for Caide with a 37th minute goal, but it wouldn't be until the 72nd minute when Ulises Fabbiani equalised it with a header. With 6 minutes to go, Joaquín Marconi made it 2-1 for the hosts, thereby getting his 8th goal of the season, but in the 89th Héctor Sánchez would makes scores level again, rounding up what was a very fun fixture, although the outcome didn't turn out that good for Laureles fans.
• Norteño drop points against a nigh-on relegated Salto: Earlier on, Norteño failed to get what could've been three easy key points at the Estadio Lara Burton in Salto. With ex-Sportivo Caamaño manager Gonzalo Sabella now coaching at Salto Athletic, Sabella tried to get his team to waste as much time as they could, probably to move on from Norteño and then defeat Palestino and Centauro in the next two weeks to have a leg to stand on in the relegation battle. Sabella's Salto managed to achieve this, mainly by time-wasting and inventing beef just to lose even more time, as Norteño got several chances to score, but wasted them.
• Nacional Terense beat Rosamonte in a key match for CC spots: Nacional fans had a lot to celebrate today, as Evela-Dwada Inu's team finally got inside the Challengers Cup spots. After round 25, like we said before, Rosamonte were 4th and Nacional were 5th with one point separating the two, so whoever won this one would be whoever were inside CC spots by the end of this round, round 26. It all started well for Nacional, as they'd score in the 10th and 42nd minute to get a two-goal lead into halftime. However, by the end Rosamonte would rally up but not enough; they'd get one back as Teófilo Clementini scored in the 88th minute, but Nacional's defense would ultimately persevere.

ROUND 27
Independiente (E) 2–0 Moncloa
Laureles 0–0 Progreso
Centauro 1–2 Solanet
Palestino 2–2 Salto Athletic
Norteño 2–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Sportivo Caamaño 0–3 Nacional Terense
Rosamonte 1–1 Comergás
Sportivo Escobar 1–0 Tacurú

 # The title race        Pld   GD   Pts
#1 Laureles               27  +11    54 C/CL LOV
#2 Norteño                27  +13    49 CC   LOV
#3 Nacional Terense       27  +11    47 CC   CT PO
#4 Moncloa                27   +6    43 CC   CT "
#5 Rosamonte              27   +6    43      CT "

11 Tacurú                 27  −12    32
12 Comergás               27   −3    31
13 Palestino              27  −11    30 RP
14 Centauro               27  −10    26 R Tiebreaker
15 Progreso               27  −17    26 R Tiebreaker
16 Salto Athletic         27  −22    21 R

MATCH OF THE WEEK: LAURELES 0 - PROGRESO 0
With only 3 matches to go, Laureles were inside the possibility of crowning themselves as champions by round 17 - all it had to take was for them to defeat a very weak Progreso, and then for Norteño to be beaten by Gimnasia y Bala, and Nacional to not win against Caamaño, so that Laureles could be 10 points away from second place and be mathematically guaranteed of the lead by matchday 30...It wouldn't turn out that easy for Laure, partly due to complacency, and partly due to Progreso getting together to put up a fight. It wasn't as if Laureles had a zillion shots and had missed them all for some reason; they actually did dissapoint, on the attack, and on the midfield mainly, as it seemed like everytime they got into the area, their chances of scoring magically vanished. Star man Lautaro Araujo had a bad performance, he couldn't shoot much - Progreso obviously depended on defense to survive, and that's what they went all in for.

ELSEWHERE:
• Norteño finally capitalise off a Laureles setback and defeat Gimnasia y Bala: Although it's very unlikely that they actually manage to clinch the league title, the climate inside the Estadio de la República was of a triumphant one for Norteño fans, as their team beat an already shellshocked Gimnasia y Bala by 2-1. They didn't have to wait long for the first goal, with Fulgencio Llop heading it in from a free kick in only the 3rd minute. Meanwhile, in the second half young right-back Gamariel Arza (now officially part of the disgraced (?) Terito DBC squad) extended the lead to two with only 2 minutes gone since the match resumed. Gimnasia would rapidly get one back via Martín Kuchler in the 53rd minute, but Rivero made the classic Terense tactical move of closing down the match, with Norteño trying to conserve the lead at all costs. With this result, Norteño are five points away from Laureles.
• With a 0-2 defeat at Caide, Moncloa now have a 3-loss streak: Moncloa fans have probably gone down a rollercoaster of emotions this season. Mind you, it wasn't like they just started rock-bottom, then got the lead, then choked spectacularly and so forth, but after that run of results by the end of Part Two - a 7-1-0 record, everything has now decided to go against Rubén Lima's side. After having reached the Challengers Cup spots some rounds away from the end of the season, as we're getting closer it looks like that is vanishing for Lima: the Moncloa derby defeat, a 0-1 tripping from Tacurú, and now a 2-0 loss in Escobar now make the manager, Pilypas Aldhard, Miguel Napoliello, Andrés Castillo, etc., need to turn the direction of the ship urgently.
• What looked like a would-be happy ending is turning sour for Mateo Rey's Comergás: I guess second-season syndrome is what is happening to Comergás, as a 1-1 draw with Rosamonte now means that el Azzurro have won only 1 out of their last 14 matches. It's a "would-be happy ending" because while they had started out promising to end up as good as last season (in 6th by round 15), now they are only 1 point over relegation playoffs. Faustino Pagano opened up the scoring with a first-minute goal for Rosamonte, as José Luis Ortiz would equalise it in the second half. That draw was dissapointing for Rosamonte as well; Moncloa and el Decano are separated by one (1) goal scored.

ROUND 28
Moncloa 3–0 Sportivo Escobar
Tacurú 0–3 Rosamonte
Comergás 0–1 Sportivo Caamaño
Nacional Terense 2–2 Norteño
Gimnasia y Bala 1–0 Palestino
Salto Athletic 2–2 Centauro
Solanet 4–3 Laureles
Progreso 1–4 Independiente (E)

 # The title race        Pld   GD   Pts
#1 Laureles               28  +10    54 C/CL LOV
#2 Norteño                28  +13    50 CC   LOV
#3 Nacional Terense       28  +11    48 CC   CT PO
#4 Moncloa                28   +9    46 CC   CT "
#5 Rosamonte              28   +9    46      CT "
#8 Solanet                28   +4    39      CT "

MATCH OF THE WEEK: SOLANET 4 - LAURELES 3 (A. Montero 45+3', Z. Oursler 47', R. Sandoval 88', J. Caballero 90+3' | R. Fabrón 24', M. Gallina 52', J. Bonfils 63')
Oh, Laureles...so we've gone from them not being able to beat a team at the bottom, to now throwing away a match in the dying minutes. Are Laureles choking? That's what everyone was talking about when Rodolfo Sandoval and then Juan Caballero scored for Solanet, in succession, inside the last 5 minutes of the Laureles-Solanet fixture. It was definitely a crazy match. Although the first half had ended 1-1, with goals from Montero in one side, and Fabrón in the other, the second half would get more exciting. With Oursler temporarily turning it around for el Callejero, Gallina and Bonfils shortly followed for Laureles to take a 3-2 lead only in the 63rd minute, with many people predicting that more goals would come later. Sotirios Ikonomou decided to try and seal the match, to go for a fourth goal, but after Bonfils' 3-2 goal, the game would calm down. It wasn't until a fateful corner kick from Valerio Perro, landed in center-back Rodolfo Sandoval's head, and went in the goal; 3-3. The balance of the match had tumbled in favour of Solanet, and Laureles would come down in the 93rd minute with what Terenses call the "last-minute nerves", as Juan Caballero made Callejero fans celebrate in ecstasy. Again, are Laureles choking this one? Only time well tell...the classic excuse...

ELSEWHERE:
• Norteño slip up! Again!: Nacional had a tough schedule just before the end of the season: in round 25 it was Sportivo Escobar, then Rosamonte, then Sportivo Caamaño, and now Norteño. Round 28 was certainly a very entertaining round, full of goals wherever you looked, and this match would certainly be no expection to that. Before even the 10th minute of the game, Marcos Monyor and Roberto Villar had already scored for Bomberos and Canguros respectively, and although there were plenty of shots and chances and whatnot, Mantovano and Sundvall would be excellent between the posts, from then on. In the second half it was a more defensive match, but there was a short window between minutes 63 and 67, when both teams scored another goal each, and it was 2-2. For Norteño, Nacional's defense proved again to be too overwhelming, especially down the right flank where Pâb Rügreráterrhé was the commander.

With Laureles' bottlejob, the Norteño-Nacional draw, and Moncloa and Rosamonte both winning 3-0 respectively. The gap between first and second is at 4 points, with Moncloa and Rosamonte out of contention, and Nacional only being able to win the title via tiebreaker.
• Salto Athletic really close to be the first relegated: Sabella's apparent plan that he utilised against Norteño backfired, as in the next round Salto Athletic could only scrape out of Casuarinas with a draw vs. Palestino. Now, it was time to face Centauro, in a fixture that was equally as key for the relegation battle as Palestino's. Centauro were able to escape the home advantage (Salto fans were packed like sardines in the Lara Burton stadium, and even more so now that the east stand is being renovated to add more seats), mainly thanks to their most trusty weapon, Felipe Carrizo (who was now in a goalscoring spell). Carrizo first assisted Centauro's other star forward, Alejandro Domínguez, in the 23rd minute, and then proceeded to score himself only two minutes later. With that 0-2 deficit, it seemed like all was gone for el Orito, but they rallied back to get back with two goals by the early second half, so that the match would end 2-2.

Now, Salto's only feasible way to get out of relegation is that they win their next two matches (vs. Laureles..., and Caide), and that Centauro (vs. Gimnasia y Bala, then Nacional) and Progreso (Moncloa, then Solanet) both lose their last two matches. Salto is last with 22, Progreso with 26 and Centauro with 27.

ROUND 29
Progreso 1–2 Moncloa
Independiente (E) 2–0 Solanet
Laureles 3–1 Salto Athletic
Centauro 2–1 Gimnasia y Bala
Palestino 0–3 Nacional Terense
Norteño 1–1 Comergás
Sportivo Caamaño 0–0 Tacurú
Rosamonte 1–0 Sportivo Escobar

 # The title race        Pld   GD   Pts
#1 Laureles               29  +12    57 C/CL LOV
#2 Nacional Terense       29  +14    51 CC   LOV
#3 Norteño                29  +13    51 CC   CT PO
#4 Moncloa                29  +10    49 CC   CT "
#5 Rosamonte              29  +10    49      CT "

11 Tacurú                 29  −15     33
12 Comergás               29   −4     32
13 Centauro               29   −9    30 RP
14 Palestino              29  −15    30 RP
15 Progreso               29  −21    26 R
16 Salto Athletic         29  −24    22 R

MATCH OF THE WEEK: LAURELES 3 - SALTO ATHLETIC 1 (U. Fabbiani 6', I. Savich 13', L. Araujo 62' | M. Ontiveros 15')
Ladieeees and genetlemen...presenting to you, the champions of the Nacional A season 93, season year 2025, ATF whatever etc etc...Laureles!

They've finally done it, they've finally effing done it...The first ever Terense top flight title in the history of the club. After already being heavy favourites to defeat Salto Athletic, in a first-versus-last match (although no one ruled out the possibility of Laureles losing), they started out with a bang following two goals from Ulises Fabbiani and Isidro Savich, so as to put them up by 2-0 before a quarter of an hour went. Actually no, because Salto also took the time to get one back, by a counter-attack concocted by Domingo Torres and Marcos Ontiveros. However, the stage was basically set for Laureles to get a win, and therefore the championship with one match to go. While in the match, Ikonomou decided to get a third one to seal the deal, but that wouldn't come until Lautaro Araujo scored in the 62nd minute. By then Salto desperately tried to score three more goals, as they needed to win to stay alive in the battle for relegation, but none of those would come. The players let the time pass, and luckily, without any major scares from Salto Athletic. By the 96th minute, the referee blew for full-time, and now the other half of Moncloa went nuts.

ELSEWHERE:
• Centauro shock Gimnasia; Allegretto is basically out, like everyone expected: It's not a result you'd often see - a team desperately needing points to stay out of the relegation zone, beating one of the best clubs in the country, but that's what happened with Centauro-Gimnasia. Even worse for Faustino Allegretto was that Gimnasia would bottle it in the dying minutes. After Juan José Leonardi scored his 14th goal of the season just after the start of the second half, it'd all calm down, until Teófilo Luna in the 84th minute, and then Alejandro Domínguez in the 94th, made Centauro do a comeback. After this result, Gimnasia management announced that they would be hiring a foreign manager next season due to a lack of Terense managers available for the job.
• Progreso and Salto Athletic relegated: Salto Athletic needed to win, and they lost. Then Centauro made a spectacular turnaround, which now affected Progreso, who needed to at least end their tough fixture with Moncloa in a draw, so that they could stay in the battle for survival. After a goalless deadlock for much of the game, it was ultimately decided inside the last 15 minutes, with Pilypas Aldhard opening it up, and then South Newlandian youth Micheal Basile scoring his 3rd goal in only 5 appearances for the first team, as Pablo Casanova got one back in the 91st minute.

 # Nacional A            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
#1 Laureles               29   17   6   6    42   30  +12    57 Champions, Champions League, League of Victors
#2 Nacional Terense       29   14   9   6    46   32  +14    51 Challengers Cup, League of Victors
#3 Norteño                29   13  12   4    38   25  +13    51 Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs
#4 Moncloa                29   15   4  10    41   31  +10    49 Challengers Cup, Confederations Trophy playoffs
#5 Rosamonte              29   14   7   8    39   29  +10    49 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#6 Independiente (E)      29   12   8   9    35   33   +2    44 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#7 Gimnasia y Bala        29   12   6  11    48   33  +15    42 Confederations Trophy playoffs
#8 Solanet                29   11   6  12    39   37   +2    39 Confederations Trophy playoffs
 9 Sportivo Caamaño       29    9  12   8    27   27    0    39
10 Sportivo Escobar       29   11   5  13    44   34  +10    38
11 Tacurú                 29    8   9  12    26   41  −15    33
12 Comergás               29    7  11  11    35   39   −4    32
13 Centauro               29    7   9  13    30   39   −9    30 Relegation playoff
14 Palestino              29    8   6  15    27   42  −15    30 Relegation playoff
15 Progreso               29    6   8  15    21   42  −21    26 Relegated
16 Salto Athletic         29    4  10  15    37   61  −24    22 Relegated

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