Ketika Neymar Menjawab Kegundahan Sang Pelatih

Getty Images/Albert Salame

Liga Spanyol - Neymar menjawab kepercayaan Gerardo 'Tata' Martino dengan gemilang pada matchday VI Liga Champions. Pemain Brasil itu menerjemahkan pesan Gerardo “Tata” Martino dengan tri gol dan satuassist. 

Barca menutup fase grup Liga Champions dengan sangat meyakinkan.Los Cules mendapatkan kemenangan 6-1 di Camp Nou, Kamis (12/12/2013) dinihari tadi. Neymar menjadi faktor penentu dominasi tuan rumah dengan mencetak tiga gol. Tiga gol lain dibukukan Gerard Pique, Pedro Rodriguez dan Christian Tello. 

Bagi Neymar gol itu sangat istimewa lantaran menjadi hat-trick perdana bersama Blaugrana. Dia pun bergabung dengan empat pemain barca lain yang membuat hattrick di Liga Champions, yakni Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o dan Lionel Messi. Penampilan esk pemain Santos itu kian sempurna dengan satu assist kepada Pedro. 

Neymar tak hanya gembira dengan serangkaian torehan apik pribadi itu. Namun, dia juga bersuka cita lantaran bisa membuat Barcelona bisa kembali ke jalur kemenangan. 

Ya, setelah tak terkalahkan sepanjang musim ini, Barca merasakan kekalahan beruntun dari Ajax Amsterdam dan Athletic Bilbao. Tata pun sempat menyatakan ketidakpuasan kepada penampilan anak asuhnya meski Barca kemudian bisa menang atas atas Cartagena di Copa del Rey.

"Satu hal yang penting adalah kami bisa mengatasi situasi kurang menyenangkan dalam tim sekarang," kata Neymar kepada Sport.

"Sekarang kami akan fokus tentang liga," kata Neymar. 

Barcelona akan berhadapan dengan Villarreal dalam lanjutan Liga Spanyol di akhir pekan ini. Untuk sementara mereka masih bertengger di puncak klasemen dengan poin 40, unggul selisih gol atas Athletico Madrid yang punya jumlah poin sama.

Napoli Terpaksa Bermain di Liga Europa

Getty Images/Giuseppe Bellini

Naples - Jalan sudah digariskan: Napoli akan melanjutkan petualangan mereka di Liga Europa. Kendtai tidak menyangka akan berlaga di kompetisi tersebut, Presiden Napoli Aurelio De Laurentiis menyebut timnya bakal habis-habisan di Liga Europa.

Kendati menang 2-0 atas Arsenal pada laga terakhir Grup F Liga Champions, Napoli tetap gagal lolos ke fase berikutnya. Meski mengoleksi nilai sama dengan Borussia Dortmund dan Arsenal, yakni 12, Napoli kalah dalam urusan selisih gol.

Kegagalan di Liga Champions membuat Gonzalo Higuain menitikkan air mata. Sementara pelatih Rafael Benitez menyebut bahwa timnya sesungguhnya layak untuk lolos ke babak 16 besar.

De Laurentiis, di sisi lain, lebih diplomatis. Dia mengaku tidak kecewa, meski mengakui bahwa Liga Europa sempat tidak berada dalam hitungannya.

Sang presiden sudah cukup puas dengan pencapaian Napoli, mengingat mereka berada dalam grup yang tidak mudah.

"Tidak ada kekecewaan sama sekali," ujarnya seperti dilansir Soccerway.

"Kalian tahu saya tidak pernah menanggap penting Liga Europa, tapi kali ini kami bermain di sana setelah melalui grup maut dan itu berbeda.

"Grup ini benar-benar luar biasa dan kami punya pelatih hebat yang tahu bagaimana caranya menyalurkan ide-idenya," kata De Laurentiis.

Kini, Napoli akan fokus ke Serie A. Saat ini mereka berada di posisi ketiga klasemen dengan nilai 32, tertinggal delapan poin di belakang si pemuncak klasemen, Juventus.

"Liga Europa belum akan dimulai hingga Februari, jadi kami akan fokus ke Serie A saat ini," ucap Benitez.

Menanti Aksi Pemain Timnas U-23 "Alfian" Saat Kontra Thailand

Timnas U-23 - Salah satu bek andalan timnas Indonesia U-23, Alfin Tuasalamony, sempat dikhawatirkan tidak bisa tampil menghadapi Thailand lantaran cedera. Namun, kekhawatiran itu akhirnya sirna.

Seperti dikatakan oleh Asisten Pelatih Aji Santoso, kondisi Alfin sudah fit. Aji juga mengatakan bahwa tidak ada pemain yang terbekap cedera dan semuanya bisa dimainkan.

"Alfin sudah membaik. Jadi sudah tidak ada pemain yang cedera dan siap diturunkan untuk nanti pertandingan melawan Thailand," ujar Aji.

Sebelumnya pelatih Rahmad Darmawan sempat khawatir terkait kondisi Alfin mengingat mantan pemain CS Vise itu menjadi satu-satu pemain yang selalu diandalkan timnas di posisi bek sayap kanan.

"Jujur saja cedera yang menimpa Alfin Tuasalamony terasa merisaukan. Saya tak memiliki banyak pemain yang bermain di posisi ini," kata RD kemarin.

Laga antara Indonesia vs Thailand akan dihelat pada Kamis (12/12) di Stadion Thuwuna, Yangon.

Timnas U-23 Berhasil Atasi Kamboja 1-0

Timnas U-23 - Timnas U-23 Indonesia membuka perjalanan di cabang olahraga sepakbola (cabor) SEA Games 2013 dengan kemenangan. Melawan Kamboja, 'Garuda Muda' menang tipis 1-0.

Satu-satunya gol tercipta di laga itu adalah dari Yandi Sofyan pada menit 52 dan bertahan hingga laga usai.

Dengan tiga poin ini, Indonesia sementara berada di posisi ketiga klasemen Grup B, di bawah Myanmar dan Thailand. Sementara Kamboja di posisi paling buncit.

Pertandingan selanjutnya Indonesia adalah tanggal 12 Desember melawan Thailand.

Jalannya Pertandingan

Pada laga yang dihelat di Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Senin (9/12/2013) sore WIB, Indonesia sudah dapat peluang di menit keempat lewat tembakan Alfin Tuasalamony tapi bola masih menghantam mistar gawang.

Usai peluang pertamanya itu, Indonesia terus menggempur pertahanan Kamboja tapi buruknya penyelesaian akhir dari pemain lini depan membuat gol tak kunjung tiba. Serangan-serangan dari sayap melalui Andik Vermansah dan Ramdani Lestaluhu pun kerap mentok di bek-bek Kamboja

Yandi Sofyan yang dipasang sebagai striker tunggal juga kurang mendapat pasokan bola dari lini tengah.

Sementara itu Kamboja dapat peluang emas di menit 33 ketika Chhin Chhoeun bebas berlari ke kotak penalti dan tinggal berhadapan dengan Kurnia Meiga, bola hasil tembakannya melayang di atas mistar.

Tak ada lagi peluang berbahaya tercipta dan skor tetap 0-0 hingga turun minum.

Masuk di babak kedua, Indonesia mampu memecah kebuntuan tepatnya di menit 52. Umpan terobosan Dendi Santoso membelah pertahanan Kamboja, Yandi yang lolos dari jebakan offside mampu meneruskannya jadi gol lewat sepakan terukur melewati hadangan Yaty Sou.

Di menit 70 Dendi mengancam gawang Kamboja tapi bola dari kaki kanannya masih tepat di jalur kiper dan Sou mampu menepisnya.

Di menit 84 Andik membuang-buang peluang ketika di dalam kotak penalti ia melepaskan tembakan tapi masih terhadang kiper. Bola rebound kembali disambarnya tapi kali ini tembakannya tak menemui bidang sasaran.

Menjelang laga tuntas, Andik berkesempatan memperlebar keunggulan ketika Ferdinand Pahabol memberikan umpan di ruang kosong depan gawang yang berhasil digapai Andik. Sayang bola yang disepaknya melebar dari sasaran.

Susunan Pemain

Indonesia: Meiga; Alfin, Andri Ibo, Manahati, Diego; Risky P, Dedi K; Andik, Dendi Santoso (Egi Melgiansyah 85'), Ramdani (Bayu Gatra 78'); Yandi Sofyan (Ferdinand Pahabol 65')

Kamboja: Yaty Sou; Sovan Sok, Pancharong Touch, Prak Mony Udom, Chanthatheary Bin; Suhana Sos (Sok Pheng 80'), Samoeun Rous, Sothearath Chhun (Chan Vathanaka 61'),Chhin Chhoeun; Khemrin Shek, Soksana Phourng

Profil Timnas Ekuador : Máximo Banguera

Máximo Banguera

Personal information
Full name	Máximo Orlando Banguera Valdivieso
Date of birth	December 16, 1985 (age 27)
Place of birth	Guayaquil, Ecuador
Height	1.83 m
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Barcelona
Number	1
Youth career
2003 - 2004	ESPOLI
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004-2008	ESPOLI	107	(0)
2009-	Barcelona	153	(2)
National team‡
2008-	Ecuador	22	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 July 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2013

Máximo Banguera (born December 16, 1985 in Guayaquil, Ecuador) is a goalkeeper that plays for Barcelona Sporting Club . He is also the goalkeeper for the Ecuadorian national team.

International career

He is the starting goalkeeper for the Ecuadorian national team. Banguera was called up to play against Mexico on November 2008. He played all of the ninety minutes and performed well.

Profil Timnas Ekuador : Alexander Domínguez

Alexander Domínguez

Personal information
Full name	Alexander Domníguez Carabalí
Date of birth	June 5, 1987 (age 26)
Place of birth	Tachina, Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	LDU Quito
Number	22
Youth career
2006	Esmeraldas
2006–2009	LDU Quito
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006–	LDU Quito	213	(0)
National team‡
2011–	Ecuador	17	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of December 1, 2013. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of November 15, 2013

Alexander Domínguez Carabalí (born June 5, 1987 in Tachina, Esmeraldas) is an Ecuadorian football goalkeeper who plays for LDU Quito.

Club career

LDU Quito

Dominguez plays for LDU Quito, and has been the squad's starting goalie since taking over for the legendary José Francisco Cevallos.

Domínguez is one of the top 300 goalkeepers in the world, the third highest ranked Ecuadorian, and the highest ranked active Ecuadorian in terms of time spent without conceding a goal. From September 2, 2007 to October 28, 2007, he went 719 minutes without conceding a goal.^[2]

International career

Domínguez received his first call-ups for the national team in May 2010 for friendlies against Mexico and Korea Republic. However, he remained an unused substitute. Because of club-related commitments, he would not receive another call-up until February 2011 for a friendly against Honduras. Again, he was an unused substitute. Manager Reinaldo Rueda finally gave Domínguez his first cap on March 26, 2011 in a friendly against Colombia. Ecuador lost the match 2–0

Profil Timnas Ekuador : Jorge Guagua

Jorge Guagua

Personal information
Full name	Jorge Daniel Guagua Tamayo
Date of birth	September 28, 1981 (age 32)
Place of birth	Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Centre Back
Club information
Current club	Deportivo Quito
Number	6
Youth career
1998–1999	Naval
1999–2000	El Nacional
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2006	El Nacional	193	(13)
2006–2007	Colón	18	(0)
2007	Emelec	10	(0)
2008	Barcelona SC	27	(2)
2009	El Nacional	30	(1)
2010–2011	LDU Quito	63	(3)
2012	Atlante	32	(1)
2013–	Deportivo Quito	37	(3)
National team‡
2001–	Ecuador	55	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of December 1, 2013. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 15, 2013

Jorge Daniel Guagua Tamayo (born September 28, 1981 in Esmeraldas) is an Ecuador international football defender who plays for Deportivo Quito.

A central defender, Guagua had a promising start to his career. His quick, technical abilities meant he was included in Ecuador’s squad for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. In the same year, he made his debut for Ecuador’s senior side and he was named in his country’s squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He also played in the 2007 Copa America held in Venezuela.

However, Guagua, who captained Club Deportivo El Nacional to the 2005 league championship, is generally used as a substitute behind record appearance maker Ivan Hurtado in Ecuador’s current side. He has 16 international caps and one goal as at May 19, 2006 against Mexico. He was transferred to Colón de Santa Fe of Argentina right after the 2006 FIFA World Cup. After a year of steady performances there he returned to Ecuador to play for Club Sport Emelec. In December 2007 Guagua agreed to join Emelec's city rivals Barcelona SC^[1] For the 2009 season he will make his return to the team that made him famous, El Nacional.

On December 1, 2011 his transfer to Mexican club Atlante FC was confirmed.

Profil Timnas Ekuador : Fricson Rafael Erazo

Frickson Erazo

Frickson Erazo

Personal information
Full name	Frickson Rafael Erazo Vivero
Date of birth	5 May 1988 (age 25)
Place of birth	Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Barcelona SC
Number	3
Youth career
2005–2007	El Nacional
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2011	El Nacional	68	(2)
2007	→ Técnico Universitario (loan)	3	(0)
2012–	Barcelona SC	40	(2)
National team
2011–	Ecuador	35	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

.

Frickson Rafael Erazo Vivero (born 5 May 1988 in Esmeraldas) is an Ecuadorian football defender who plays for Barcelona SC and theEcuadorian national team.

Club career

El Nacional

2006-2011

Erazo joined El Nacional's youth ranks in 2005, and became an important, mature defender by 2011, played 68 games and scored two goals. In January 2012, he was transferred to Barcelona SC.

Barcelona SC

2012 season

Erazo's début for Barcelona SC came on 2 February 2012 in a 3–1 win over Deportivo Cuenca. Erazo scored two goals in Barcelona's first half of the season, against teams LDU Quito on 29 April in a 2–2 draw and against his former club El Nacional on 17 June in a 2–1 loss. After 22 games, Erazo helped Barcelona reach the finals stages of the league and qualifying for the 2013 Copa Libertadores and the2012 Copa Sudamericana. On 28 November, Erazo became 2012 Ecuadorian Serie A champion after Deportivo Quito defeated Emelec 2–0, which helped Barcelona secure their first Ecuadorian league title since 1997, their 14th title in their history, and Erazo's first career club title.

2013 season

His first game of the 2013 season was a 1–1 away draw versus Deportivo Quevedo. By May 2013, Erazo's impressive performances in the international stage has gained him interest from foreign clubs likeSouthampton F.C., C.F. Pachuca and Toluca

Profil Timnas Ekuador : Walter Ayoví

Walter Ayoví

Personal information
Full name	Walter Orlando Ayoví Corozo
Date of birth	11 August 1979 (age 34)
Place of birth	Camarones, Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Left Midfielder, Leftback
Club information
Current club	Pachuca
Number	11
Youth career
2000–2001	Rocafuerte
	Emelec
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2002	Emelec	87	(8)
2003–2005	Barcelona SC	102	(17)
2004–2005	→ Al Wasl (loan)	14	(7)
2006–2008	El Nacional	94	(12)
2009–2013	Monterrey	174	(13)
2013–	Pachuca	4	(1)
National team‡
2001–	Ecuador[1]	89	(7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 August 2013. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2013

.

Walter Orlando Ayoví Corozo, nicknamed Macaco (born 11 August 1979 in Camarones, Esmeraldas) is an Ecuadorian footballer. He currently plays forPachuca of the Liga MX. He previously played left wing midfielder for Club Deportivo El Nacional in the Ecuadorian league as and plays in the Ecuadorian national team.

Club career

Emelec

Ayovi was transferred to Barcelona Sporting Club from Emelec on 23 January 2002, for an undisclosed amount. Despite rumours linking him to several European club sides, including Arminia Bielefeld and Mainz 05 of the German Bundesliga, Ayoví remained on Barcelona's squad until 2006.

El Nacional

When he was transferred to El Nacional. In between contracts he has also played for the Al Wasl Club in Dubai, the UAE.

Monterrey

On 7 January 2009 rumors said that Club de Futbol Monterrey were interested in signing him. He was loaned to CF Monterrey shortly after, then made his debut on 6 February 2009 scoring his first goal on the 4th Week match against Estudiantes Tecos.

On 29 March 2009 CF Monterrey took their option to purchase Ayoví after a spectacular game between Ecuador and Brazil. He renewed his Monterrey contract December 2011, with his future firmly set on the club.

International career

Walter was called up to the final squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in Korea and Japan. Being one of the youngest members in that Ecuador team, he did not make an appearance in that tournament. He was a regular in the Ecuadorian national team that qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany but this time, surprisingly, he was not included in the final World Cup squad.

He was, however, called up to participate in the 2007 Copa America. He scored a beautiful free kick against Colombia in a preparatory friendly for the Copa America. His two appearances in the 2007 Copa America came as a substitute against Mexico and as a starter against Brazil.

Ayovi has, of late, become an important fixture in the Ecuador side that is competing in the CONMEBOL 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He solidified his starting position with a double against neighbors Peru in a 5–1 victory. He scored an absolutely outstanding goal in a crucial win against powerhouse Argentina on 11 June 2009, leading them in a 2–0 win