Tag Archives: Lanus

Mara Gomez Joins Argentina’s Estudiantes de La Plata Club

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Mara Gomez is switching sides…

The 24-year-old Argentine soccer player, the first transgender footballer to play in Argentina’s professional women’s league, has joined Estudiantes de La Plata for the new season, leaving Villa San Carlos, the club that first gave her a pro contract.

Mara Gomez

Gomez made history in December 2020 when she made her debut in the Primera Division against Lanus, and is one of very few out trans players in professional football or any sports league.

Gomez, who also qualified as a nurse this month in a double career boost, posted on her Instagram about the move to her new club, writing: “Today I can say I’m happy.

“The joy of being in a very beautiful environment, where I can laugh and enjoy again this beautiful sport football that you know is half of me, it’s what keeps me walking through life.

“Today I’m part of the Pincha family, of a big club such as @edelpoficial @edelpfutbolfeme, the club of my dear city La Plata.

“Thanks for opening the doors, receiving me with so much affection, and today being one more club that sets an example of inclusion, that understands that passion doesn’t have gender or sex, that passion is for all.

“I promise to give my all as a player and fight for every point that takes us to the highest possible point in this tournament.”

The move allows Gomez, who must take hormones to suppress her testosterone levels in order to compete, to remain in the top flight. Estudiantes, who lost in their season debut on Monday to Platense, 3-1, finished well above the top half of the table after last season, while Villa San Carlos now plays in the third division, the Primera B Metropolitana.

Aside from advancing her football career, Gomez also celebrated her nursing qualification in the past week, which she had been working toward while training and playing football.

She posted on Saturday: “In my youth I was very afraid, thinking that I was not going to have a future, that I was not going to be able to complete my dreams and objectives.

“One day I decided to transform that fear into possibilities, I put strength and will into changing my life. I never gave up despite the adversities that life gave me.

“Today I complete my second life objective, today I’m a PROFESSIONAL NURSE.

“Thanks to my family and everyone that supported me to make this possible. Today is another time I demonstrate that I can, no matter how difficult the roads are, nothing is impossible.”

Gomez is set to make her debut for her new side on Monday, when the Primera Division’s new season kicks off.

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.