2006 Torneo Apertura Final
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 Estudiantes de La Plata, champions | |||||||
| Event | 2006 Torneo Apertura | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 13 December 2006 | ||||||
| Venue | José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires | ||||||
| Referee | Sergio Pezzotta | ||||||
The 2006 Torneo Apertura final was the tiebreaker match to define the 2006 Torneo Apertura of Argentine Primera División. It was played between Estudiantes de La Plata and Boca Juniors after both teams finished tied on points at the end of the season.[1][2]
It was the 6th. league final contested by Boca Juniors after 1923 (won a four-matches series v Huracán[3]) and 1929 (lost v Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata),[4][5] 1970, 1976, and 1990–91.
On the other hand, this was the 4th. league final played by Estudiantes, after the 1967, 1968, and 1983 finals, all of them won by team from La Plata.
The match was held in the José Amalfitani Stadium, home venue of C.A. Vélez Sarsfield. Estudiantes de La Plata won their 5th. league title after defeating Boca Juniors 2–1.[1]
| Team | Previous finals app. |
|---|---|
| Estudiantes (LP) | 1967, 1968, 1983 |
| Boca Juniors | 1923, 1929, 1970, 1976, 1990–91 |
Bold indicates winning years
Venue
| Buenos Aires |
| José Amalfitani Stadium |
| Capacity: 49,540 |
 |
Background
Boca Juniors had won the two previous league championships under the coaching of Alfio Basile (one of the most successful tenures of a manager in the club, having won five titles within one year and a half).[6][7] Besides, some notable players such as Roberto Abbondanzieri and Federico Insúa had left the club after the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[8] Boca Juniors had a great start in the 2006 Apertura, winning their first five matches (including an outstanding win over San Lorenzo 7–0 at Nuevo Gasómetro[9]). Nevertheless, Basile left the club after that match, following a call from the AFA which requested him to become manager of the Argentina national team. Therefore, Basile started his second tenure on Argentina.[10] To replace him, Boca Juniors hired Ricardo La Volpe,[11] who debuted in the 7th. fixture.[8] La Volpe had managed several Mexican clubs, and even the Mexico national team.[12]
On the other hand, Estudiantes had started the tournament with some bad results, but the team coached by Diego Simeone and captained by idol Juan Sebastián Verón (who had returned to the club in June),[13][14] recovered and started from the 8th. fixture, achieved 10 consecutive victories (including wins over three of the "big five" (Independiente, San Lorenzo, and River Plate) and an overwhelming 7–0 over arch-rival Gimnasia y Esgrima).[15]
With only two fixtures remaining, Boca Juniors leaded the 2006 Apertura and only needed to earn one point (out of six) to win their ....th. league title. Nevertheless, Boca Juniors lost the remaining matches (0–1 vs Belgrano and 1–2 vs Lanús).[1][6] Estudiantes' last results (a 2–2 draw with Argentinos Juniors and a 2–0 win over Arsenal de Sarandí) caused both teams finished equalled on points (44) at the end of the tournament.[1][16]
Championship rules stated that a tiebreaker match had to be held in order to decide a champion. The match was scheduled to be played only 48 hours after the end of the season.[16]
