2014 Paulista League

Palmeiras
---Campeonato Paulista
We were able to relatively easily retain our São Paulo state championship. First, we tore through the league stage, winning all 19 matches and outscoring the opposition 55-7.

In the semifinal, we drew 1-1 at Corinthians but easily drubbed the rivals in the home leg 4-0, thanks to a Ciro hat trick.

We faced São Paulo in the final. The first leg was again away, and we were able to steal a hard fought 1-0 victory thanks to an 86th minute Ciro goal. In the home leg, Roni and Ciro each scored for a 2-1 win, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory and giving us the trophy.

Ciro was the Top Goalscorer with 19 goals, and also won his second Best Player Award in three years. His strike partner Adílson won the Young Player of the Year award, making him the third consecutive Palmeiras player to bring win it (Ciro in 2012, Marquinhos in 2013). Sandro Silva's strike against Guaratinguetá won the Goal of the Year. The following players were named to the Team of the Year:
GK: Renan Ribeiro
DC: Marício Ramos
MC: Neymar
ST: Ciro

---Copa Santander Libertadores
The group stage provided little challenge for us, winning 5 and drawing once to win the group with a 16-2 scoring differential. Our only blemish was a scoreless draw at rival Corinthians, who we beat 3-0 in the return fixture at home.

In the second round we were drawn against Peruvian club Alianza Lima. It looked like we were going to coast after leading 2-0 in the first leg away, but Alianza got one back in the 70th to make 2-1 coming home. All drama was removed from the tie in the first half, when we scored 4 goals in the first half hour and led 4-1 at the half. That score held up and we advanced 6-2 on aggregate.

Our quarterfinal opponent will be fellow Brazilian club Vitória.

Algeria
Not much to report on just yet. We did play a friendly at Norway, an easy 4-0 victory. Rafik Halliche bagged a brace, and Rafik Djebbour and Feham Bouazza each added goals in the warmup friendly. We'll play Uruguay in a friendly days before we open World Cup play against Paraguay.

We did occupy the #10 World Ranking for a couple of months before dropping down to #11, which is where we currently sit.