Tag Archives: Defensa y Justicia

River Plate’s Héctor David Martínez Joins Inter Miami CF on One-Year Loan

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Héctor David Martínez is headed to South Florida.

Inter Miami CF has signed the 26-year-old Argentine professional footballer and River Plate defender ahead of the 2024 Leagues Cup, including him in the official roster for the competition.

Héctor David Martínez,He joins the team on a one-year loan from the Argentine side until July 2025, with an option to make the transfer permanent at the conclusion of the spell.

Martínez joins after making just five appearances in all competitions for the Argentinian giants, racking up 182 minutes of action.

“I’m really happy and excited to join Inter Miami. I was thrilled about the opportunity to come here. Finally, it’s happened, and I’m really happy to get this new chapter in my career started,” said Martínez.

“The goal here is to help the team, keep growing, and hopefully, win some titles.”

The centerback kicked off a professional career with River Plate, working his way through the youth system before debuting in the first-team under Marcelo Gallardo in December 2018.

The player also saw time with Defensa y Justicia, recording two goals in over a year before returning to River Plate initially on loan and then permanently.

Internationally, he’s appeared for the Paraguay national team on 11 occasions.

Now, he is set to play a starting role alongside Inter Miami defenders Jordi Alba, Tomás Avilés and Marcelo Weigandt given the team’s current injuries to the backline. Key centerback Serhiy Kryvtsov picked up an ankle injury during the match against Toronto on July 17, forcing head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino to play midfielder Sergio Busquets in that position for the time being.

The former Barcelona player can now be expected to return to his normal placement as Martínez joins the team.

Reigning champion Inter Miami kicks off the 2024 edition of Leagues Cup on Saturday when hosting Puebla at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Unlike last year, the Herons enter the competition in a great position as leaders of the MLS Eastern Conference with 53 points in 25 games.

The team will then face Tigres UANL at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, in the hope of advancing to the knockout round.

Hernan Crespo Earns First Coaching Title with Defensa y Justicia’s Copa Sudamericana Win

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Hernan Crespo has earned a special first as a coach…

The 45-year-old Argentine professional football coach and former player’s team Defensa y Justicia won their first continental title on Saturday after a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow Argentine side Lanus secured them the Copa Sudamericana trophy.

Hernan Crespo

It’s the first coaching title for the former Chelsea, Inter, Parma and Argentina star.

The unstoried club took the title, South America’s equivalent of the Europa League, without losing any of their nine games in the competition to become only the fifth team in history to lift the trophy undefeated.

“Not many teams have won the title this way, undefeated,” said goalkeeper Luis Unsain. “We were extraordinary in defense, Lanus had no chances at goal and we scored three. I think we really deserved our win.”

The searing temperatures of the southern hemisphere’s summer meant the game was played at a slower pace than normal but the team coached by Crespo dominated proceedings from the start.

Braian Romero shot just wide early on before Defensa y Justicia took the lead after 33 minutes when Adonis Frias fired a low shot through a packed defense following a nice back heel from Francisco Pizzini.

Romero got the goal his play deserved 17 minutes into the second half when he seized on a short pass back and finished with a cheeky chip.

His 10th goal made him the competition’s top goalscorer.

Lanus, who won the competition in 2013, lost their way soon after, picking up three yellow cards in the final 20 minutes and rarely threatening a comeback.

Washington Camacho scored a third for Defensa y Justicia in the final minute when he finished off a rapid counter-attack.

“It was a fair result,” said Lanus veteran striker Jose Sand. “They were worthy winners.”

Although both clubs are based just south of Buenos Aires, the final was held behind closed doors in Cordoba, 700km away.

It was the first time the Copa Sudamericana has been contested by two teams from the same country.