Month: December 2021

Venezuela FA First Division 1992-93

Final Table

Venezuela FA First Division 1992-93

PosTeamPWDLPts
1*Maritimo (CL)30169541
1*Minerven (CL)30169541
3Caracas FC30184840
4Union Tachira30175839
5Mineros Guyana30158738
6Trujillanos30138934
7Estudiantes30138934
8Anzoategui301210834
9Lara301112734
10Monagas301361132
11Llaneros308111127
12Universidad de Los Andes305101520
13Zamora30661818
14Italia30571817
15Galicia (R)30391815
16Portuguesa (R)30442212

Note: * Maritimo and Minerven were to playoff for title(CL) – Qualify for Copa Libertadores

Recap

Galicia, named after the Atlantic and Celtic region of North West Spain, finished second from bottom in the Venezuela First Division in 1992-93, and were relegated straight back down to the Second Division having being promoted the previous season [1]. Coincidentally they finished in the bottom three along with Italia and Portuguesa, two other teams named for regions in Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe from which the some of the settlers of South America and Venezuela came [1, 2]

About Galicia

Galicia is a Province of North West Spain, speaking Gallego, a language related to both Spanish and Portuguese, however, since 1981 there has been a movement in Galicia to link with the Atlantic and Celtic past of Galicia. Celtic Galicia compares itself not just in terms of weather to the Atlantic fringe of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, but also to the Celtic past which dates back to the 6th Century A.D. There is both a sporting and cultural heritage being revived, with Gaelic Football starting in the 2010s and the traditional instrument – a form of bagpipe being promoted by Celtic musicians [2].

The Galicia Football Club in Venezuela, like its counterparts Italia and Portuguesa, would be relating to the homeland of these Mediterranean and Atlantic peoples now transplanted to South America.

Close up of a soccer ball with Venezuela flag. 3D Rendering [Reference: 3][Text “Venezuela Futbol” added by Enda Mulcahy / Eirball]

Item ID: 1069680932 –

Photographic Contributor

Ink Drop

Ink Drop

References

[1] Anon. / Keir Radnedge (Ed.) (1993) “South America: Tables” World Soccer. August 1993. IPC Magazines, London, UK.

[2] Penn Museum (2021) The Modern Celts of Northern Spain [Internet] Available from: https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-modern-celts-of-northern-spain/#:~:text=The%20earliest%20known%20reference%20to%20the%20Celts%20in,even%20in%20Spain%E2%80%99s%20current%20climate%20of%20economic%20development. [Accessed 30 December 2021]

[3] Shutterstock / Ink Drop (2021) Close up of a soccer ball with Venezuela flag. 3D Rendering [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/close-soccer-ball-venezuela-flag-3d-1069680932 [Accessed 30 December 2021]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Nessa Mahon (TCD) and Dervla Mulcahy.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 30 December 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Argentina FA National A Division 1992-93

Apertura (Opening Championship) Table 1992-93

Argentina FA National A Division Apertura 1992-93

PosTeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Boca Juniors (C)19107224111327
2River Plate *18104428121624
3San Lorenzo1995524141023
4Ferro Carril Oeste1961031610622
5Huracan199462622422
6Velez Sarsfield198562315821
7Estudiantes197662014620
8Lanus198472221120
9Belgrano Cordoba197662120120
10Talleres Cordoba196851820-220
11Deportivo Espanol197571918119
12San Martin Tucuman196851814418
13Deportivo Mandiyu195862124-318
14Rosario197481929-1018
15Independiente195771522-717
16Racing Club194781420-615
17Gimnasia y Esgrima194781927-815
18Platense193881621-514
19Argentinos Juniors *183781624-813
20Newell's Old Boys1934121231-1910

Note: * River Plate v Argentinos Juniors abandoned at half-time with River Plate leading 1-0.

Clausura (Closing Championship) Table 1992-93

Argentina FA National A Division Clausura 1992-93

PosTeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Velez Sarsfield (C)1910722371627
2Independiente1961212314924
3San Lorenzo198652719822
4Deportivo Espanol199462418622
5River Plate $1893631211021
6Boca Juniors196942418621
7Racing Club199372217521
8Rosario186842317620
9Huracan187652221120
10Argentinos Juniors1931331212019
11Deportivo Mandiyu195951922-319
12Estudiantes195862320318
13Belgrano Cordoba1941051322-918
14Gimnasia y Esgrima194961316-317
15Ferro Carril Oeste195681521-616
15Lanus195681521-616
17Talleres Cordoba $184771527-1215
18Platense193881426-1214
19Newell's Old Boys193791229-1713
20San Martin Tucuman1944111730-1312

Note: $ Game between River Plate v Talleres Cordoba in the matter of the courts – The Referee sent of 5 Talleres players and the result and the effect the subsequent player suspensions had on Talleres Cordoba’s season was so great that they were relegated. Talleres brought the matter to court, and were banned for doing so by the Argentina FA, but the judge ruled that the FIFA statutes barring teams from going to court was unconstitutional, and the matter was going through the court system in Argentina at the cessation of the Championship.

Relegation Averages (Points Per Game Over Past 3 Seasons)

Argentina FA National A Division Relegation Averages 1992-93

PosTeamPts
1Lanus0.973
2Belgrano Cordoba0.960
3Deportivo Mandiyu0.947
4Estudiantes0.929
4Gimnasia y Esgrima0.929
6Platense0.921
7Talleres Cordoba (R)0.893
8San Martin Tucuman (R)0.789

Legend / Key

P – Played, W- Won, D – Drew, L – Lost, F – Goals For, A – Goals Against, GD – Goal Difference, Pts – Points, (C) Champions and Copa Libertadores Qualifiers (R) Relegated by lowest average points over last three seasons.

Season Recap

Velez Sarsfield finished sixth of 20 teams in the Apertura (Opening Championship) and then won the Clausura (Closing Championship) in the Argentina Football Association National A Division in 1992-93 [1, 2]. It was only the fourth Championship victory for the traditionally Irish-Argentine Soccer team, and the first in 46 years [2]. With no playoff between the Apertura and Clausura Champions unlike in other South American Championships at the time, there was no Overall Champion for the 1992-93 season [2], and both Boca Juniors (Apertura Champions) and Velez Sarsfield (Clausura Champions) qualified for the Copa Libertadores – the South American Champions League [2].

About Velez Sarsfield

Velez Sarsfield are named after Dalmacio Velez Sarsfield, whose Grandfather George Sarsfield left Ireland in the early 1700s [4]. Dalmacio is a hugely important figure in Argentina, having written the country’s civil code in 1856 [4]. The Code remained in use until 2015. Velez Sarsfield are a multi-sport club based in the Capital Buenos Aires, and are most famous for their successful Soccer team.

VELEZ SARSFIELD

Velez Sarsfield Stamp
ARGENTINA – CIRCA 1977: a stamp printed in the Argentina shows Dalmacio Velez Sarsfield, Argentine Lawyer and Politician, Author of Argentine Civil Code, circa 1977

References

[1] Anon. / Keir Radnedge (Ed.) “South America: Tables” World Soccer. February 1993 pg. 51. IPC Magazines, London, UK.

[2] Anon. / Keir Radnedge (Ed.) “South America: Tables” World Soccer. September 1993 pg. 49. IPC Magazines, London, UK.

[3] Maynooth University (2021) Viva Irlanda! Remembering the history of the Irish in Argentina [Internet] Available from: http://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/spotlight-research/viva-irlanda-remembering-history-irish-argentina [Accessed 31 January 2021][Last Accessed 29 December 2021]

PHOTO REFERENCES

[4] ©boris15/123RF.COM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Rose McCabe, Gabriel McCloyne, Gerry Tully, Paul Leech, Peter Lemass, Ciaran Simms, Cathal Gallagher, Paul Foley (TCD).

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 29 December 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

6th World Youth Championship for the FIFA/Coca-Cola Cup 1991

1st Round Group Tables

6th World Youth Championship 1st Round Group A 1991

PosTeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Portugal00000006
2South Korea00000003
3Republic of Ireland00000002
4Argentina00000001

6th World Youth Championship 1st Round Group B 1991

PosTeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Brazil00000005
2Mexico00000004
3Sweden00000002
4Ivory Coast00000001

6th World Youth Championship 1st Round Group C 1991

PosTeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Australia00000006
2USSR00000004
3Egypt00000002
4Trinidad & Tobago00000000

6th World Youth Championship 1st Round Group D 1991

PosTeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Spain00000005
2Syria00000004
3England00000002
4Uruguay00000001

Knockout Rounds Results

Group A Results

Group B Results

Group C Results

Group D Results

Please Click on the Republic of Ireland matches in the lists above to see full match reports and Republic of Ireland Line-ups.

Recap

Republic of Ireland went into their first Major World Soccer Tournament in the 6th World Youth Cup for the FIFA / Coca-Cola Cup in Portugal 1991 with seemingly little chance of reaching the Quarter-Finals having been drawn in the “Group of Death” with hosts Portugal, Argentina and South Korea, the best team in Asia, or from outside Europe and Latin America for that matter.

It looked even bleaker for the Irish after a lacklustre opening match against hosts Portugal with Ireland losing 2-0. However, Coach Maurice Setters voiced some hope after an ill-tempered match between Argentina and South Korea was won by a last minute Korean goal.

Ireland played Korea next and despite controlling the match, and keeping the Koreans pinned in their own half for most of the match they were only able to score the one goal from Paul McCarthy. Korea then produced another escape with a late equaliser by Choi-Choi with the last kick of the game.

With Portugal defeating Argentina 3-0 in another ill-tempered match which left the possibility of Argentina facing a World ban, Ireland now needed to beat Argentina in their last match and hope Portugal did them favours against Korea.

Ireland battled hard against Argentina going 1-0 up through Barry O’Connor in the first half. Argentina survived several goal mouth scares towards the end of the first half and came out with more intent in the second, netting through Delgado in the 55th minute and then going ahead from the penalty spot in the 59th minute.

Coach Setters had already criticised the Refereeing in the tournament and was seething at what was a harsh decision. It changed the nature of the game and although Ireland equalised three minutes later through Brian Byrne’s individual effort, a goal which was candidate for goal of the tournament, Ireland were chasing the game from the penalty decision. Despite firing in shot after shot in the dying minutes they could not find a breakthrough and with Portugal defeating Korea 1-0 those two teams qualified for the Quarter-Finals. Ireland received a standing ovation from the Portuguese home crowd after the Final whistle.

Portugal went on to win the Tournament, their golden generation which would form the backbone of the Senior Team for a decade to come with names like Luis Figo, Silva, Rui Costa, Torres and Pinto gracing the World Stage. Brazil were the team they beat on penalties to claim their first major Trophy.

It was also a first Major World Soccer Tournament for Trinidad & Tobago, and a last for the USSR before the breakup of that country. Australia and Syria were surprise packets, Australia winning all three group games including a defeat of USSR and eventually finished fourth. Syria too created a surprise in reaching the quarter-Finals ahead of England, the two teams 3-3 draw being one of the most exciting goal-wise in the entire tournament.

References

[1] (1991) “6th World Youth Championship for the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Cup 1991” World Soccer. August 1991. pg. 19.

[2] Paul Hyland (1991) “Irish hopes high after sparks fly in Lisbon” Irish Independent. Monday June 17th, 1991. pg. 23 [Past Copies of the Irish Independent are Available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ][Accessed 4 December 2021]

[3] Paul Hyland (1991) “Argentina face World ban” Irish Independent. Wednesday June 19th, 1991. pg. 12 [Past Copies of the Irish Independent are Available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ][Accessed 4 December 2021]

[4] Paul Hyland (1991) “Heartbreak for Ireland” Irish Independent. Tuesday June 18th, 1991. pg. 14 [Past Copies of the Irish Independent are Available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ][Accessed 4 December 2021]

[5] Paul Hyland (1991) “Lights go out for Irish” Irish Independent. Friday June 21st, 1991. pg. 13 [Past Copies of the Irish Independent are Available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ][Accessed 4 December 2021]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Paul Foley, Jason Caldwell and Rose McCabe.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, Compiled and Written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 4 December 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.