Boca win Argentine championship with a win (Reuters) Updated: 2005-12-15 09:15
BUENOS AIRES, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Boca Juniors came from behind to beat
mid-table Olimpo 2-1 away on Wednesday and win the Argentine Apertura
championship.
Boca, coached by former Argentina trainer Alfio Basile, finished three points
ahead of Gimnasia-La Plata, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Banfield.
Gimnasia, who have never won the title, led the race before last weekend but
were overtaken when they drew 0-0 with Newell's Old Boys and Boca beat
Independiente on Sunday.
Boca, who claim to be Argentina's most popular club, took a one-point lead to
Bahia Blanca but were stunned in the seventh minute when striker Ismael Blanco
fired Olimpo in front from just inside the penalty area.
Boca replied within two minutes when defender Christian Diaz outjumped the
Olimpo defence at the near post to head the equaliser from a corner.
Federico Insua, who has been an inspiration throughout the championship, put
Boca ahead in the 41st minute when he scored direct from a free kick which
wrong-footed former international goalkeeper Carlos Roa.
The halftime interval lasted nearly half an hour as police tried to persuade
Boca fans to climb down from the fences around the pitch.
Boca coasted through most of the second half with one eye on the other game
in Buenos Aires, where Banfield had an excellent chance to bury Gimnasia's
challenge when they were awarded a second-half penalty but Jose Sand fired wide
of the goal.
Gimnasia's frustration boiled over when defender Andres San Martin was sent
off in the 78th minute for an ugly challenge.
Alejandro Delorte gave Gimnasia a glimmer of hope when he put them in front
in the 85th minute but Sand atoned for his penalty miss when he equalised three
minutes later.
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