Boca Juniors win Argentine annual table on stoppage-time goal as Rosario Central celebrate early

A late goal decides the annual table

Boca Juniors finished the annual table, which adds the points from the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, on 63 points, one ahead of Rosario Central on 62. The decider came on Saturday, 7 November, when Enner Valencia, who came on as a substitute, scored the only goal of Boca's 1-0 win over Defensa y Justicia at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Sources place the strike in stoppage time, with one giving the 90+6 minute. Boca needed only a win to take first place, while Rosario had to win and hope Boca dropped points. Fanpage describes it as Boca's first title in almost three and a half years and its first since Juan Román Riquelme became club president.

Boca Juniors63

Rosario Central62

Boca Juniors

63 points

Rosario Central

62 points

Data from the article text

Rosario celebrate while Boca's game is still goalless

Rosario Central beat Estudiantes de Río Cuarto 2-0 at the Gigante de Arroyito, with goals from Julián Fernández and Emanuel Coronel according to SAPO. With the game in Buenos Aires still 0-0, Rosario were effectively top of the table, and players and supporters began celebrating once their own match had finished. Several players, including Jáminton Campaz, Elías Verón, Juan Giménez and Ignacio Ovando, climbed the fences to celebrate with the fans, and chants claimed back-to-back titles, according to SAPO. Fanpage and 20 Minuten both report that fans ran onto the pitch. Telegraaf adds that Gastón Avila, on loan from Ajax, was sent off for Rosario in the win after a flying tackle on the opposing goalkeeper.

A false report that the goal was disallowed

An Argentine radio station reported after Boca's late goal that it had been ruled out, according to Fanpage, and the wrong information spread through the stadium. 20 Minuten says the false claim reached Rosario that the goal did not count, which kept the celebrations going. SAPO reports that the information showing Boca still level had not been updated, even though Valencia had already scored. The goal was then reviewed by VAR and validated, turning the euphoria into disbelief in Rosario. Ángel Di María, the best-known player at Rosario according to Telegraaf, was not part of the squad for the decisive match. SRF reports that coach Jorge Almiron later admitted the team had let itself be carried away by the euphoria in the stands.

What comes next

With the annual table settled, attention turns to the knockout phase of the Clausura, in which the top eight teams in each group will contest the second-half title, according to SAPO. Boca's 63 points are the most of any side in the annual table, and Rosario's 62 leave them second. Telegraaf frames the day as a bitter pill for a provincial club that had already lifted the trophy in its own minds.