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Copa Sudamericana: Rosario Central 0, Internacional de Porto Alegre 1 [Sat Sep 17th, 2005]
In a so-so game, nevertheless a breath of fresh air after the anti-football played by Corinthians and River Plate, the Brazilian Gaúchos came off best in front of a packed Gigante de Arroyito stadium. The Colorado face the second leg at their Beira Rio feud with the comforting buffer of an away goal.
During a balanced first half that saw the locals batter Inter’s rocky defence – although strangely enough, almost all of their shots went over the Inter crossbar, not wide – the local crowd lived up their reputation as a sight to be seen, and commendably avoided any outbreaks of violence.
Inter gave palpitations to Rosario fans with their whiplash wing counter-attacks. Élder Granja almost lobbed local goalie Ojeda and would later prove to be the keystone in Inter’s win. Rosario tried to take advantage of Inter’s shaky passing, but were betrayed by blunderbuss finishing.
In an acrobatic fall – and accompanying primal scream – home boy Villa looked like he’d bought the farm in the Inter box after an aerial battle with Granja. His wild gesticulations, however, were ignored by Chilean referee Ruben Selman.
Before the end of the first half, the stalemate was fraying tempers and Inter’s hulking centre-forward tank Fernandão had to be taken off for Gustavo. Striking partner Rafael Sóbis came close fifteen minutes from half-time, but his aim was off and it was nil-nil at the break.
Rosario came back with Leonforte in place of a rather ineffective Moreyra. Coach Ariel Cuffaro Russo continued depositing blind faith in Ruben and Monges who responded with tunnel vision attacks that needed a miracle to find the net.
It was to be Rafael Sóbis (69th min) who broke the deadlock – his half-volley meeting a Granja cross and catching a deflection off the pitch to bury itself in the Rosario net. This was a coup de grace that left Rosario reeling; unable to level the score the Argentineans face a tough Brazilian match in a fortnight’s time.
ROSARIO CENTRAL (ARG) v INTERNACIONAL (BRA)
Venue: Gigante de Arroyito Stadium, Argentina
Referee: Ruben Selman (Chile)
Linesmen: Eduardo Ponce (Chile) and Mario Vargas (Chile)
Yellow Card: Edinho (Internacional)
Goal: Rafael Sóbis, 69th min
ROSARIO CENTRAL: Ojeda; Moreyra (Leonforte), Raldes, Fassi and Roman DÃÂaz (Monges); Ferrari, Andrez DÃÂaz, Calgaro, Papa; Alemanno (Ruben) and Villa.
Coach: Ariel Cuffaro Russo.
INTERNACIONAL: Clemer; BolÃÂvar; Wilson and Edinho; Élder Granja, Gavilán, Perdigão, Tinga (Wellington) and Jorge Wagner; Fernandão (Gustavo) and Rafael Sóbis.
Coach: Muricy Ramalho.
Aaron Marcus
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