Buenos Aires, Dec 02: Fans applaud Boca Juniors during their first game after winning the Apertura Cup.
A 1-1 tie with Olimpo did not dampen the spirits of Boca Juniors fans who cheered wildly on Sunday (November 30) for their team during Boca's first game since winning Argentina's Apertura Cup. Boca sealed the championship with a 2-1 win over Arsenal on Thursday (November 27). Fans showered their team with confetti and offered a loud ovation on Sunday as Boca entered the stadium festooned in the club's blue and yellow. The crowd continued cheering for one of Boca's star players, mid-fielder Sebastian Battaglia, who received an achievement award for his many years with the team. Battaglia will leave Boca after December 14 to play with Villarreal of Spain.
Olimpo opened the scoring at Sunday's game in the 39th minute with a goal by Mauricio Hanuch. Boca evened things up in the 48th minute when Javier Villarreal scored. The rest of the game consisted of chances for both sides being saved by the goalkeepers or shots sent wide of the target.


The Apertura victory was Boca's eighth major title under coach Carlos Biachi, who took over in June 1998, left at the end of 2001 and returned at the start of this year.


It was Boca's 20th domestic title since Argentine soccer turned professional in 1931, but they are still eleven short of their arch rivals River Plate. Since 1991, two championships have been played every year in Argentina.


LINE-UPS: Boca: Roberto Abbondanzieri; Pablo Jerez, Rolando Schiavi, Nicols Burdisso, Jos Mara Calvo; Javier Villarreal, Ral Cascini, Sebastin Battaglia, Diego Cagna; Guillermo Barros Schelotto y Roberto Colautti. Coach: Carlos Bianchi.


Olimpo: Jorge Vivaldo; Cristian Manfredi, Oscar Mena, Javier Pez, Fernando Clementz; Pablo Mannara, Rogelio Martnez; Mauricio Hanuch, Leonardo Mas; Carlos Dur y Javier Mazzoni. Coach: Roberto Saporiti.


Bureau Report