Estudiantes win title

Striker Mariano Pavone headed the winner nine minutes from time as Estudiantes completed a remarkable homecoming for midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron and gave Diego Simeone a major title less than one year into his coaching career.

Boca, aiming for their third successive title, took a fourth-minute lead through Martin Palermo but then sat back and Jose Sosa equalised in the 65th minute.

Both teams finished with 10 men after Boca forward Pablo Ledesma and Estudiantes defender Pablo Alvarez kicked each other and were sent off in the 39th minute.

The game went to a playoff after the two teams finished the regular campaign in the Apertura championship with 44 points from 19 games.

Defeat was a bitter blow for Boca and coach Ricardo La Volpe who, needing a point from their last two regular games to win the title, lost them both before falling in the playoff as well.

La Volpe, who coached Mexico at the World Cup, took over in September and inherited a team that had won all before it under predecessor Alfio Basile.

Estudiantes's campaign, which included a run of 10 straight wins, was inspired by former Manchester United, Lazio and Inter Milan midfielder Veron, who returned home in July to play for the club he supported as a boy.

Simeone also took over in July, having ended his playing career with Racing Club in February where he coached briefly.

Simeone, Argentina's most capped international, once said he played with a knife between his teeth and his team showed the same never-say-die spirit, winning several matches with late goals.

Boca went ahead after only four minutes when Palermo met Pablo Ledesma's cross at the far post to scored his 11th goal of the competition.

But La Volpe's team fell back into defence and handed the initiative to their opponents who, with Veron pulling the strings in midfield, created a hatful of chances.

Pavone was denied three times by Boca goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla, with one of his shots being deflected on to the post.

Fernando Ortiz headed wide with the goal at his mercy after Bobadilla missed Veron's inswinging corner and Veron himself saw a low 25-metre shot saved early in the second half.

Estudiantes finally levelled in the 65th minute when Sosa chipped a free kick over the wall into the top corner from 20 metres.

The winner came with nine minutes to play following a long ball out of the Estudiantes defence.

Boca hesitated, Pavone nipped in to flick the ball over Bobadilla and then headed into the net for his 11th goal of the campaign as he was rewarded for persistence.

It was a dramatic finale for a tournament which has been blighted by crowd riots and intimidation off the field.