Sunday, January 25, 2009

Vasco da Gama loses in first game of state tournament

In their first game of the Rio de Janeiro state tournament, the Vasco da Gama soccer team lost on Saturday to Americano by a score of 2-0.

Despite the negative result, the team's head coach, Dorival Junior believes that the game was full of positive results. Critics of the team say that the team will only begin to be competitive in the fourth or fifth round of the state competition.

"In my opinion, I saw more good things than bad things in today's game," said the head coach. "I was disappointed with the result, but I am happy with the team's performance.

"The players played to the best of their ability and made some great individual plays. We played much better in the second half. However, I want my players ready for a long and hard year, rather than a walk in the park."

The club is not distraught with their loss.

Dorival Junior considers the state tournament as a warm up for the 2009 season. He plans on having a great year and hopes to raise the team from the second division of the Brazilian soccer championship. They fell to the second division in 2008 after having placed among the worst four of the tournament.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/25/content_10716384.htm

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