Argentine football lacks talent and sensuality. It is dominated by nerves, tension, physicality, sloppiness and bizarre organizational decisions. And yet, the football of the country that gave the world Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi has a unique ability to captivate through its passion and its unexpected stories. Take, for example, the dramatic conclusion to the Annual Tournament, a finish so incredibly tight that the team that lost the title in the dying seconds actually celebrated for a brief moment, convinced it had been crowned champion…
The real champions were Boca Juniors, led by Leandro Paredes. A 96th-minute goal from Enner Valencia secured a 1-0 victory over Defensa y Justicia, enough to clinch the title. The team that mistakenly believed it had won, producing a moment of pure comedy that will be remembered for years, was Ángel Di María’s Rosario Central. They had beaten Estudiantes de Río Cuarto 2-0, but needed Boca not to win.
In the end, everything came down to a cross from Lautaro Blanco. It looked like a straightforward catch for the usually reliable Matías Borgogno, but this time the goalkeeper misjudged it and failed to get his hands on the ball. That left Valencia with the chance to finish calmly and slot home the 1-0 winner — a goal worth its weight in gold.
And so, inside La Bombonera, which had fallen strangely silent and almost frozen as Boca struggled to find a way through, an enormous celebration suddenly erupted. The release of emotion was even greater because the winning goal had come at the very last moment. Had Boca failed to lift the trophy, it would have been a devastating blow. But they won, and after nearly three and a half years, they were champions again.
It is the first title for Juan Román Riquelme as club president. The first for Leandro Paredes, the team's inspirational captain, since returning home. The first for the young starters who represent so much promise: Tomás Aranda, Leonel Flores, Jagger Herrera and Lautaro Di Lollo. It is a tremendous boost for the coach, Vasco Arruabarrena. And, above all, it is a moment of justice.
Boca were the best team throughout the year. They had the depth, the ambition, the footballing quality and the ability to show up when it mattered most. Against Defensa y Justicia, a team that plays attractive football without fear, they had a much harder time. The goal did not come early, and as the match wore on, the pressure began to take its toll.
Arruabarrena took off Sebastián Villa, one of Boca's most dangerous and unpredictable players. Then, with 15 minutes remaining, Paredes was substituted — partly because he was exhausted, partly because he was carrying a knock. Boca were running out of ideas and clarity. Had Borgogno claimed that cross, none of this would have mattered. But he didn't. And Boca finally received the reward they deserved.
In Rosario, meanwhile, confusion reigned. Central had won their match, but they still needed Boca to drop points. Suddenly, at the Gigante de Arroyito stadium, a roar went up through the crowd. The excitement spread like wildfire. Fans stormed onto the pitch, shouting into the television cameras, "We're back-to-back champions!" Rosario Central players embraced one another and began celebrating as well.
Then someone informed them of the mistake.
In an instant, all that euphoria turned into profound disappointment.
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