PMLF

Celsinho was indeed a great signing. And so was Ederson. :thup:

It's also important to tell you that América (MG), as like Atlético Mineiro, is a Cruzeiro rival. These 3 teams are the 3 big teams from Minas Gerais (acronym=MG). :thup:

-Xenon-

I'm finding it hard to bring myself to update this because I'm loving this game so much I've raced off into May already..........

February

With most of the transfers I had wanted wrapped up, the board unexpectedly made an extra 5 million pounds available. To be honest I felt the side was as strong as it could be although I did try to tempt Alex to re-join his old club from Fenerbahce. However the Turkish side told me in writing where I could put the 5.5 million pound bid.........charming. The main event of February would be the Copa Libertadores draw. I was reasonably satisfied with the draw:

Group G
Cruzeiro
Boca
Olimpia
Allianza Lima

After the disappointment of the Copa Sudamericana, the prospect of doing battle with another Argentinian legend didn't fill me with confidence, yet the home and away ties would be a spectacle and a treat for the fans. Our opener was on the second of March at home to Boca.

Transfers
N/A

Results
N/A

-Xenon-

March 2005

March opened with undoubtedly the biggest match of my diminuitive career, at home to Boca Juniors. The match started well enough and we had most of the early possesion, but disaster struck on 8 minutes as Fabio fumbled the ball into his own net. From then on we totally dominated the game and we hit back instantly on 11 minutes, a superb solo effort from Fred. The Boca midfield was being overrun by Wagner and Ederson, yet totally against the run of play Marcelo Delgado fired home from close range to put Boca back in front just before half time. The second half was incredible, we hit every post, had efforts cleared off the line, everything. We left our own stadium in defeat knowing we were the better side. A win against Olimpia in our next match would be crucial.

We left Paraguay with what we had wanted, a 2-0 victory. Fred looks set to best his record of 30 goals last season, he scored another trademark drive. Unexpectedly back-up defender Gladstone who was replacing Sandro at the back, curled home an effort from 30 yards. Now every time he even sets foot in the opponents half there is a buzz of expectancy. He hasn't managed to repeat it yet, not even in training.

Our last action of March would be to travel to the Peruvian capital to face Allianza Lima. The players were in buoyant mood yet in similiar fashion to the Boca game we found ourselves dejected on the team bus, having lost 1-0 despite controlling the game.

Transfers
N/A

Results
-Boca, (Copa Libertadores, Group G match) 1-2 L, (Fabio own goal, Fred, Marcelo Delgado)
-Olimpia, (Copa Libertadores, Group G match) 0-2 W, (Fred, Gladstone)
-Allianza Lima, (Copa Libertadores, Group G match) 1-0 L, (Rivelino Garcia)

-Xenon-

April 2005

By the end of April we would have not only rounded off our Copa Libertadores group but also kicked off our defense of the league. First we had to travel to Boca to try and exact revenge for the 2-1 defeat in Belo Horizonte. It wasn't a great start, Caludio Morel Rodriguez headed home on 23 minutes to give Boca yet another un-deserved lead. Fred scored one either side of half time however to settle nerves and give us a 2-1 lead. Wagner added to the lead on 77 minutes with a beautiful cushioned header. Then on 86 minutes, the 16 year old Celsinho picked up the ball and curled a vicious strike home from 35 yards for his first senior goal. 4-1 the final score, moving us back up to second place in Group G.

Next we had our First Division opener against Sao Caetano, we were lucky to come away with a 1-1 draw. The players were tired from returning from Argentina and it showed. We were run ragged for most of the game and Sao Caetano will be bitterly disappointed they didnt get the 3 points. Normal service was restored away to Flamengo, which was usually a lively encounter. I was surprised by the lack of resistance from Flamengo as we won 3-0, they had normally given us a tough time last season, most notably dumping us out of the cup ironically by a 3-0 scoreline.

Next we welcomed Paraguayans, Olimpia to Belo Horizonte. Wagner and Ederson ensured a repeat scoreline of 2-0 kepping us second in the group and ensuring qualification. Gremio were the next visitors to the Mineirao and they were whalloped 4-0 by great displays from Fred and Ederson. The last game of April was to play out the dead rubber between us and Allianza Lima. The Peruvians played well but eventually went down 2-0.

Transfers
N/A

Results
-Boca, (Copa Libertadores, Group G match) 1-4 W, (Claudio Morel Rodriguez, Fred (2), Wagner, Celsinho)
-Sao Caetano 1-1 D, (Edmundo, Sandro own goal)
-Flamengo 0-3 W, (Fred, Celsinho, Wagner)
-Olimpia, (Copa Libertadores, Group G match) 2-0 W, (Wagner, Ederson)
-Gremio 4-0 W, (Fred (2), Ederson, Tiago Prado own goal)
-Allianza Lima, (Copa Libertadores, Group G match) 2-0 W, (Fred, Celsinho)

PMLF

Great victories against Boca, Flamengo ( ) and Grêmio. :thup:

-Xenon-

Thanks PMLF! Obviously your a Flamengo fan, sorry about the 3-0!

May 2005

On the first of May we faced a tough visit to Ponte Preta, whose manager Vadao had boasted that his side had the quality to beat us. We won the game 1-0 after taking the lead in the opening minute, but it was tough as Ponte Preta spent the following 89 minutes pushing for an equaliser that never came. We drew fellow Brazilian side Sao Paulo in the second round of the Copa Libertadores and the first leg ended in a cagey 1-1 draw. Next we entertained the talented Corinthians and looked to be heading for 3 points until an 87th minute equaliser left us with just one after a 2-2 draw.

The second leg of the tie with Sao Paulo was identical to the first, cagey, fast paced and brutal. We took the lead through Celsinho, who is proving to be a great signing. Sao Paulo had the chance to equalise on 33 minutes but Falcao had his spotkick saved by our penalty saving expert Fabio. It took until the 78th minute for the equaliser to come, Luizao from outside the area. So the match went to penalties, an aspect of the game I was yet to be defeated in. Both our first penalties were comfortably scored, then disaster had seemingly struck for us, we missed our next three penalties. However Sao Paulo had only scored one of their next three, making it 2-1 with one penalty each. Anderson, the young winger scored for us and Fabao missed taking it to sudden death. Defensive midfielder Arthur cooly slotted home the penalty and unbelievably Fabio saved his 4th penalty in a row to give us the victory and passage into the quarter finals were we would face America (MEX).

Our elation was soon followed by despair as we slumped to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Paysandu, who were proving to be a bogey team for us. Just three days later was the Copa Libertadores quarter final first leg against America (MEX), it couldn't of gone better a thumping 3-0 victory. However they have a fearsome home record and the team will have to not succumb to complacency. In preparation for the second leg we comfortably overturned Goias 3-1. Then it was time for the second leg in Mexico, they came out fighting and got a quick early goal from legend, Blanco. I could see we were in for a torrid time as America pressed continually. On 24 minutes they had a second, which was quickly followed by a Celsinho effort to make it 2-1. Just before the break they added a third making it 4-3 on aggregate. I could see we were in real danger, but qualification seemed to be still on the cards as Fred made it 3-2 to give us a two goal cushion. However in the later stages we fell apart, and as the 4th official held up the board for 5 minutes of stoppage time we were 6-2 down and 6-5 down on aggregate. But with the clock at 94:56 unbelievably Fred levelled the tie at 6-6, 6-3 on the night. We went on to win 4-3 on penalties an unbelievable night. We finished off the month with 0-0 draw against Paulista.

Transfers
N/A

Results
-Ponte Preta 0-1 W, (Fred)
-Sao Paulo, (Copa Libertadores, Second Round, First Leg) 1-1 D, (Fred, Ailton)
-Corinthians 2-2 D, (Sandro, Luciano Bebe own goal, Maurinho sent off, Renato, Rosinei)
-Sao Paulo, (Copa Libertadores, Second Round, Second Leg) 1-1 W, (3-2 pens.) (Celsinho, Luizao)
-Paysandu 2-4 L, (Wagner pen., Athirson pen., Sandro pen., Leonardo, Bebeto Campos (2))
-America (MEX), (Copa Libertadores, Quarter Final, First Leg) 3-0 W, (Wagner (2), Celsinho)
-Goias 3-1 W, (Fred (2), Adriano, Viola)
-America (MEX), (Copa Libertadores, Quarter Final, Second Leg) 6-3 W, (4-3 pens.) (Celsinho, Fred (2), Navia (3), Blanco (2), Cuevas)
-Paulista 0-0 D

PMLF

Playing in Mexico against Mexican teams is really hard due to the altitude (whose effects are reproduced in FM2005). I am glad you reached te semifinals. And I`m indeed a Flamengo fan.

-Xenon-

Bugger! I've drawn a Mexican team in the semi-finals!

-Xenon-

June 2005

This month would decide our Copa Libertadores fate, with both the semi finals and the final being held in June. There were so many positives to come out of winning the competition, the extra finances, the reputation and most of all a shot at the European Champions, Milan. June also saw a league clash with last years runners up Santos, who hadn't made the best of starts to their league campaign. We kicked off June with away match against Atletico Paranaense, who we comfortably dispatched 2-0. Then we travelled to Sao Paulo to play Santos without Fred and Fabio who had been called up to the Brazil squad for a World Cup Qualifier. Without our star striker and goalkeeper, I was expecting to suffer a defeat yet we held on for a 0-0 draw and were possibly unlucky not to win.

We had drawn Pumas in the Semi's of the Copa Libertadores and after our last encounter with a Mexican team, a trip to Mexico for the first leg filled me with dread. It was a Brazilian that won the game but it was not for us, Ailton giving the Mexicans a lead into the second leg with a 1-0 victory. We jetted home to begin our 6 game stretch of not having goalkeeper Fabio, who was in Germany for the Confederations Cup. We beat Figueirense 1-0, a tough game against a team that had surprised everyone by rising to 3rd and keeping pace with the bigger teams.

The second leg against Pumas went a lot more smoothly than the first as we cruised to a 2-0 victory to book our place in the final. We would face Boca in the final, a team we had already played twice this season in the group stages. Boca had overcome a 2-0 defecit to beat River in the other Semi on penalties. A 1-0 win over Fluminense was the only preparation before the final, leaving us second in the league behind Internacional. The first leg of the final would be played in Argentina, where we had beaten Boca 4-1 in the Alberto J. Armando stadium earlier this season. Things were going well after the hour mark with a Fred strike putting us 1-0 up. We dominated most of the game and when the late equaliser came from Neri Cardozo, it was totally against the run of play. Final score 1-1 which put us in a reasonably good position for the home leg.

26,000 fans, the largest amount seen at the Mineirao since I had taken charge, turned up to see their team try and add to its trophy cabinet. The stadium was awash with white and blue and the atmosphere was astonishing. "The biggest game of my career" was a phrase I had found myself using a lot recently, yet with every month there seemed to be a bigger challenge thrown my way. I was full of confidence as it seemed that fate had decided it was our year, what with all the scrapes we had come through victorious. Within 10 minutes of kick-off the dream start I had hoped for happened. Fred with a typically powerful finish gave us a 2-1 aggregate lead. However like so many times before in thins competetion, I found myself waiting for the equaliser. It came sure enough on 71 minutes, a 30 yard strike from Martin Palermo. In the second minute of stoppage time yet again I was bracing myself for penalties. However, Celsinho latched on to a monster diagonal ball from Wagner, beat a defender and buried the finish past the keeper. The 16 year old had just won us the biggest club competition in South America yet he seemed pretty calm afterwards. June ended with my second career trophy and 1.7 million entering the club bank account.

Transfers
N/A

Results
-Atletico Paranaense 2-0 W, (Arthur, Wagner)
-Santos 0-0 D
-Pumas, (Copa Libertadores, Semi Final, First Leg) 1-0 L, (Ailton)
-Figueirense 0-1 W, (Fred)
-Pumas, (Copa Libertadores, Semi Final, Second Leg) 2-0 W (2-1 agg.), (Maldonado, Adriano)
-Fluminense 1-0 W, (Wagner)
-Boca, (Copa Libertadores, Final, First Leg) 1-1 D, (Fred, Cardozo)
-Boca, (Copa Libertadores, Final, Second Leg) 2-1 W (3-2 agg.), (Fred, Celsinho, Palermo)

PMLF

Congratulations for this great title. :thup:


I am looking forward to reading the next update.