The team of Sagebrush became this Saturday the new champion of the cuban soccer. He achieved it by dethroning Santiago de Cuba in the final of the Closing Tournament of the 106th National League of that sport, whose definition was held amid the euphoria of the world Cup.
The eleven from Artemisa defeated the Diablos Rojos from Santiago in the second leg of the final of the tournament, which required the definition in a penalty shootout, on the same day that the quarterfinal clashes are over in Qatar.
In the defining match, held at its headquarters, Artemisa took the lead on the scoreboard thanks to the target of striker Yasnai Rivero, who reached 21 in the entire tournament to finish as top scorer, according to review the sports portal Hit.
#Sagebrushnew champion of #soccer in #Cuba
Dethrones Santiago de Cuba in a penalty shootout.https://t.co/ZvCdQDsxFl pic.twitter.com/wmfSJlIkLx— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) December 11, 2022
The score of the game did not move further until minute 90, nor in extra time, so it was necessary to define the title from the penalty spot, since the Santiago team had dominated the first leg, also 1-0.
In that instance, local goalkeeper Diosvelis Guerra dressed as a hero by stopping the shot of the indomitable Yasmani Feraud, and Artemisa thus celebrated his first national title on the eve of the Football Day celebrations on the island.
This day, today, recalls the first official soccer match in Cuba, on December 11, 1911, when the Hatuey team, made up of Cubans and Spaniards, faced Roberts, made up of British soccer players. The game was held in the Palatino grounds, in Havana, and the second team won it 1-0.
Cuban and world celebration
The party of fans from Artemisa and the entire island takes on greater dimensions because it happens in the midst of the current soccer World Cup, which this Saturday defined its semifinalists with historic matches that left behind several controversies.
Many were happy with the unprecedented classification of an African team to the prelude to the final, a merit carried out by Morocco by defeating Portugal 1-0, but many others lamented the fate of ace Cristiano Ronaldo, who has thousands of faithful Cuban fans. .
The substitution of the Lusitanian star in the two most recent games generated a cascade of opinions, including that of his wife Georgina Rodríguez, who questioned the decisions of the Portuguese coach Fernando Santos.
“Today your friend and coach decided badly. That friend for whom you have so many words of admiration and respect. The same one who, when you got into the game, saw how everything changed, but it was too late, ”said the model and influencer on her social networks.
Along the same lines, CR7 said that winning a World Cup with Portugal, which lost the opportunity to face the current monarchs of France in the semifinals after falling, was the greatest of his dreams and he thanked all his followers for the support received.
“Sadly, yesterday the dream ended. It is not worth reacting hot. I just want everyone to know that a lot has been said, a lot has been written, a lot has been speculated, but my dedication to Portugal has not changed at any time. I always fought for everyone’s goal and I would never turn my back on my colleagues and my country,” wrote the iconic player.
Messi’s Argentina also raised controversy, which the day before had left the Netherlands team out —to meet in semis with Modric’s Croatia, the victimizer of Brazil—, after a rough game in which 16 cards were shown, and that was only unlocked thanks to the defining penalty shootout.
The questions about the behavior of the players of both teams reached the FIFAwhose Disciplinary Commission opened a procedure against the Argentine Football Association for possible violations of articles 12 (Improper conduct of players and officials) and 16 (Order and security in matches) of its Disciplinary Code.
In addition, the FIFA regulatory body has opened proceedings against the Dutch Football Association for possible infringements of article 12.
Several media agree that the two federations can be punished with a financial fine for what happened during the match and subsequent statements. However, the aforementioned articles also provide for sanctions of between one game and six months of suspension for the most serious cases.
