La campagna di Conte (FIFA 23)

[Limasbravo]

Boca through to Semis

Boca do it again. Again, they find a way to come back and get through to the next round and spectacular fashion.

Again, they overturn a loss in the first leg to go through.

This time, it was an even bigger loss in the first leg, a 3-1 defeat at Corrinthians. And once again the home Bombonera was rocking and help them go through. In fact, there were no goals in the first half, keeping Corrinthians ahead on aggregate.

Boca got a great start to the 2nd half, Briaso scored at 55 minutes. It took 21 minutes, but Medina scored at the 76th minute.

Going yet again to penalty kicks seemed inevitable. The board said 3 minutes of stoppage time. A Boca shot was blocked and went out for a corner. They hurried to take it. The corner came in and Retegui locked onto it and headed it into the goal!

Boca go through to the next round on the very last kick of the match, at minute 90+3 in the match.

Possession
Boca Juniors 52
Corrinthians 48

Shots
Boca Juniors 12
Corrianthians 14

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Boca grab a double


Conte really has Boa working well this season. Boca now are double-winners, grabbing the Copa Libertadores title.

This one happened, like what has happened to Boca all this season in cup knockouts, they come back from a deficit. This time with just one match, instead of two legs, they allow the first goal but come back to win.

Which the result means a treble is still possible, with Boca being well in the hunt for the league cup trophy.

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Boca Treble Winners

Boca Juniors get it done!

This time there was no comeback needed, but it took some holding on. Boca win the Copa Primera with a 1-0 win over Rosario at home at the La Bombonera.

It was a close affair in final scoreline and also game play. Both squads couldn't score in the first half, with Rosario winning both possession and number of shots.

The breakthrough came just into the second half. Rossi claimed a cross pretty easily, although under pressure from Montoya. He then sent a throw down the left side to Luis Advincula. Rollheiser then preformed a give and go with front man Retegui, wich sent Rollheiser through alone on goal.

He made no mistake, hitting a low shot in the far corner, sending the Bombonera into pandemonium.

It took some doing for Boca to hold on, a Rosario through ball got through but Advincula got a foot in. Ball squirted out and then Garces played safety first and cleared the ball into touch.

Barreto handled a cross, knocking it out for a corner. Rosario got a chance for a last minute goal, getting a corner with the two minutes of stoppage time already gone. Conte was seen being nervous. Montoya drove it in near post, Garces was the one to get a head on it. Rollheiser headed the result and then Belmonte just cleared the ball to the middle of the pitch.

That was enough, the ref blew his whistle and Boca won the Copa Primera, capping off an incredible Treble.

The cup celebration happened, which is always special. Making it even more special, fan favorite Luis Advincula was installed as the captain and with this being the last match of his long wonderful career, he got to be the one hoisting the cup! He will most certainly be missed on the pitch and around the city.

Celebrations will no doubt go on all throughout the night and all through the offseason. As always in the Premera, there are concerns entering the transfer market. Clubs just can't keep players when the prestige and money of the European clubs come calling. With Boca's quality, it's certainly possible that they could be gutted during the window. Time will tell.

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Year-end and January Transfer Window update

January Transfer window update
The January Transfer window is closed and as expected, Boca lost quite a few starters to the prestige and money of Europe. And everyone was involved in defense:

Marcelo Weigandt, starting/backup RB, to Burnley
Facundo Garces, starting CB, to Benfica
Augustin Rossi, starting GK, to Galatasary
Sergio Barretto, starting CB, to Bergamo Calcio

That leaves Naheul Tenaglia as the only defensive starter remaining from last season. Agustin Sandez is capable to step into the starting LB role. Things just avoided being worse, as transfers fell through for starting ST Rettegui (to Real Sociedad), starting CM Tomas Belmonte (Napoli), and starting CM Christian Medina (Montpellier).

Incredibly Maximilano Gomez lasted yet another transfer window without leaving. During the summer he was injured but this time he had two clubs (Athletico Madrid & Sporting Club de Portugal) both pull out.

To plug the holes, GK Ignacio Chicco was bought from Colon and CB Javi Quiroga was recalled from his loan at Trabzonspor.

Winter League Champions update:
Argentina: Boca Juniors - take title from Racing
Australia: Melbourne
China: Shanghai Port - take title from Wuhan
India: ATK Mohun
Norway: Rosenborg - take title from Molde
South Korea: Jeonbuk - take title from Ulsan
Sweden: Malmo - take title from BK Hacken
Switzerland: BSC Young Boys
USA: Sounders - take title from LA FC

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Changes happening

Conte has started the new campaign in good form with Boca, currently #1 in the Primera, undefeated in the first five matches, with 15 scored and 5 against.

But a bomb dropped, Conte is headed back to Europe. He signed a contract with Ajax.

Ajax were looking for a coach with demonstrated winning and Conte certainly fits the bill. They were wanting a coach with only sitting #6 in the Eredivisie, 3 points out of any Europe qualification. With 9 matches left, getting back into Europe is still a possibility. With AZ as league leaders at 63 points, a full 10 points ahead of 2nd place Utrecht, winning the league isn't going to happen.

They also were knocked out of the Oranje Beker in the 2nd Round.

This season, Ajax were in Europe. They did finish top of Group A in the Conference League. They're currently scheduled against Munchengladbach in the Round of 16, away this week and home the following week.

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Conte Ajax underway

The Conte spell at Ajax is officially underway. Ajax come out with a 2-1 win at the ArenA. At 45 minutes it looked like it would be a rough start, with Volendam winning both possession and chances. Plus, leading on the scoreboard, thanks to a goal from Stroeykens in minute 24.

But happily for Ajax and sad for Volendam, that all was undone within fifteen minute of the second half. Ajax pulled even in minute 53 from a Tadic shot in the low right corner of the net. Then Brenner gave them the lead.

Ajax held on for the win. They did end up losing possession on a close 46-51 margin but ended up winning in shots attemped 10-8. Volendam had 3 of their shots blocked, with one from Ajax.

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Conference League - Round of 16 Leg 2

Ajax entered the second leg down a goal, but were hopeful since the second leg was back in Amsterdam. They couldn't score in Germany but only had allowed the one goal. So, the path through was clear, win by two goals.

And it couldn't have started better, Brenner scored before some people could get to their seats, just 3 minutes in.

And then it was time for the joy to go away quickly. Borussia scored just seven minutes later, making that the tie would not go to penalties. Dembele hit the bar and then minutes later hit the bar again. This time he finished the rebound himself, putting the tie 3-1 for Borussia.

Just before the break Ajax got within 1 goal with a goal from Taylor on the counter attack. Halftime had Borussia winning Leg 2 on possession (51 to 49%), shots (9 to 4) and expeted goals (2.5 to 1.5) and of course up 3-2 in the tie with the away goals making Ajax needing a big second half.

Ajax pulled the match level. Salah-Eddine beat his man on the left side. He took a few dribbles and laid it off to Tadic. A big first touch and then he sent it in the box to Brenner, who immediately one time passed it to all alone Taylor. Taylor grabbed his second of the match, just like his first, one timing the ball into the bottom right corner.

Minute 65, The Amsterdam crowd was very nervous when Sanchez sent a ball across the pitch which was easily intercepted Dembele. He was through on goal but didn't have an angle to shoot. He laid it off to Kone who made a great ground through ball but Haidara just couldn't get there and would have easily scored if he did. Sanchez no doubt breathed a sigh of relief, being able to usher the ball to Rulli to dive on.

Things weren't looking good for Ajax as there were four times they were caught offside.

But then a break-though. On the ensuing free kick from one of those offsides, Italiano's long ball went straight to sub Fitz-Jim. He had an easy header to Brenner who laid it off to Kudus. He made a run and made a great move past Aguilar, just keeping the ball from going over the touch line. He made a few touches to be just outside the box and held off Aguilar before cutting it back to Tadic. Tadic took one touch of the ball before hitting a powerful shot into the upper right corner that Omlin could do nothing about.

Five minute from stoppage, Haidara sent a brilliant through ball to sub Hofmann. In alone on goal but the Ajax defenders catching up, he shot but Rulli made a fantastic diving save and held it.

Last minute of regular time and Borussia earned a corner following a great long ball. Nothing came of it and after 3 minutes of stoppage time, Ajax are through to the next round!

Full time stats had Ajax ending up winning possession 53 to 47%. Borussia had far more shots, 15 to 6, and also 3.3 to 2.9 expected goals. Borussia's pressing gave Ajax fits, but it also lead to three Borussia players getting booked: Dembele in minute 12, Kone in minute 53, and Italiano in minute 68.

The draw for the quarter-finals is against AEK Athens, with the first leg being in Amsterdam. The other matchups are Lyon versus Sevilla, Ferencvarosi versus Hearts, and Latium versus Celtic.

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Conference League - Quarterfinals Leg 1

The first leg of the Conference League Quarter Finals took place in Amersterdam and it is the home team that will be behind going into the second leg in Athens.

Ajax lost 1-2 to AEK, despite being in front of their own fans. It started well for Ajax. Bass delivered a cross from the left side. Brenner met the cross at the near post and delivered a fantastic header into the low near net.

It didn't last long. Just six minutes later, AEK grabbed a road goal and leveled the match from a shot just outside the box from Fernandes.

That's how they went into the break and it looked like it may end that way. Then in the 75th minute, AEK grabbed a second and the last goal of the match. A through ball Ajax couldn't handle and Moukoudi made no mistake.

Ajax won possession 64 to 36% but it was mostly in midfield which shows in AEK dominating shots 13 to 3 and 2.22 to 0.5 in Expected Goals.

In the other quarter-finals, Lyon grabbed the only goal at home against Sevilla, Hearts and Ferenvarosi drew 1-1 headed back to Scotland for Leg 2, and Celtic grabbed a road win 2-1 at Latium.

The second legs will take place in a week.