Godoy Cruz grabbed Argentina's final Copa Libertadores berth after defeating Atletico Rafaela on Monday. Racing, Independiente and Tigre missed out at their expense.
Godoy Cruz of Mendoza grabbed Argentina's final Copa Libertadores spot after cruising to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atletico Rafaela in the 19th and final round of the Apertura championship on Monday.
Independiente, Racing Club and Tigre had all hoped for a Godoy Cruz slip-up, in order to stay in the hunt for a Libertadores berth, but El Tomba maintained their composure and will feature in the competition for a second consecutive year.
Had Godoy Cruz dropped points against Rafaela, Independiente would have qualified instead, after they came from behind to defeat Tigre 2-1 in Avellaneda.
Meanwhile, Racing Club were beaten 1-0 by Velez Sarsfield in Liniers, but still finished in second-place with 31 points, twelve points behind Apertura champions Boca Juniors.
Lanus, who had already assured their place in the Copa Libertadores next year, fought out a 2-2 draw with Newell's Old Boys at the Cuidad de Lanus stadium, to end the Apertura in sixth-place.
Silvio Romero put Lanus ahead in the 19th minute, but the visitors reacted with goals from Diego Mateo, 38th minute, and Pablo Javier Perez, 43rd minute, to take a narrow lead into the break.
Uruguayan striker Mario Regueiro drew Lanus level in the 53rd minute when he fired home a superb half-volley, for his fifth goal of the season.
Independiente rallied to defeat Tigre 2-1 at the Libertadores de America stadium, but despite doing their part missed out on qualification for the Copa Libertadores with Godoy Cruz's victory over Atletico Rafaela.
Tigre, who had an outside chance of reaching the competition, went ahead in the 11th minute when Diego Morales converted a penalty kick.
But Independiente turned the game around in the second half with another penalty from Facundo Parra in the 56th minute and a well-placed shot from the edge of the area from Hernan Fredes ten minutes later.
Godoy Cruz of Mendoza snatched Argentina's final Copa Libertadores berth, with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atletico Rafaela in Santa Fe.
Knowing that a victory would assure them of a spot in South America's biggest club competition, without having to depend on other results, Godoy Cruz took the game to their opponents, with dominant possession-based soccer.
They went ahead in the 40th minute through Ariel Rojas, and sealed the result and passage into the Copa Libertadores in the 72nd minute thanks to a strike from Ruben Ramirez, who ended the Apertura as the league's highest scorer, with twelve goals.
A second-half strike from David Ramirez was the difference as Velez Sarsfield edged Racing Club 1-0 at the Jose Amalfitani stadium in Liniers.
Racing, who needed to claim the three points and pray for a Godoy Cruz loss to Atletico Rafaela in order to qualify for the Copa Libertadores, searched for a goal early on, but as the half progressed they faded and Velez was the stronger of the two sides in all aspects.
Midfielder Ramirez handed Velez the three points in the 54th minute, when he took advantage of a defensive error from Matias Cahais before rifling the ball into the centre of the goal, leaving Racing goalkeeper Sebastian Saja with no chance.
Apertura championship - Final standings
Boca Juniors 43 pts
Racing Club 31 pts
Velez Sarsfield 31 pts
Belgrano 31 pts
Colon 31 pts
Lanus 29 pts
Tigre 27 pts
Independiente 27 pts
San Martin 26 pts
Atl. Rafaela 26 pts
Union 25 pts
Godoy Cruz 24 pts
Arsenal 24 pts
Argentinos 22 pts
All Boys 21 pts
Estudiantes 20 pts
San Lorenzo 19 pts
Newell's 16 pts
Olimpo 16 pts
Banfield 11 pts
Independiente, Racing Club and Tigre had all hoped for a Godoy Cruz slip-up, in order to stay in the hunt for a Libertadores berth, but El Tomba maintained their composure and will feature in the competition for a second consecutive year.
Had Godoy Cruz dropped points against Rafaela, Independiente would have qualified instead, after they came from behind to defeat Tigre 2-1 in Avellaneda.
Meanwhile, Racing Club were beaten 1-0 by Velez Sarsfield in Liniers, but still finished in second-place with 31 points, twelve points behind Apertura champions Boca Juniors.
Lanus, who had already assured their place in the Copa Libertadores next year, fought out a 2-2 draw with Newell's Old Boys at the Cuidad de Lanus stadium, to end the Apertura in sixth-place.
Silvio Romero put Lanus ahead in the 19th minute, but the visitors reacted with goals from Diego Mateo, 38th minute, and Pablo Javier Perez, 43rd minute, to take a narrow lead into the break.
Uruguayan striker Mario Regueiro drew Lanus level in the 53rd minute when he fired home a superb half-volley, for his fifth goal of the season.
Independiente rallied to defeat Tigre 2-1 at the Libertadores de America stadium, but despite doing their part missed out on qualification for the Copa Libertadores with Godoy Cruz's victory over Atletico Rafaela.
Tigre, who had an outside chance of reaching the competition, went ahead in the 11th minute when Diego Morales converted a penalty kick.
But Independiente turned the game around in the second half with another penalty from Facundo Parra in the 56th minute and a well-placed shot from the edge of the area from Hernan Fredes ten minutes later.
Godoy Cruz of Mendoza snatched Argentina's final Copa Libertadores berth, with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atletico Rafaela in Santa Fe.
Knowing that a victory would assure them of a spot in South America's biggest club competition, without having to depend on other results, Godoy Cruz took the game to their opponents, with dominant possession-based soccer.
They went ahead in the 40th minute through Ariel Rojas, and sealed the result and passage into the Copa Libertadores in the 72nd minute thanks to a strike from Ruben Ramirez, who ended the Apertura as the league's highest scorer, with twelve goals.
A second-half strike from David Ramirez was the difference as Velez Sarsfield edged Racing Club 1-0 at the Jose Amalfitani stadium in Liniers.
Racing, who needed to claim the three points and pray for a Godoy Cruz loss to Atletico Rafaela in order to qualify for the Copa Libertadores, searched for a goal early on, but as the half progressed they faded and Velez was the stronger of the two sides in all aspects.
Midfielder Ramirez handed Velez the three points in the 54th minute, when he took advantage of a defensive error from Matias Cahais before rifling the ball into the centre of the goal, leaving Racing goalkeeper Sebastian Saja with no chance.
Apertura championship - Final standings
Boca Juniors 43 pts
Racing Club 31 pts
Velez Sarsfield 31 pts
Belgrano 31 pts
Colon 31 pts
Lanus 29 pts
Tigre 27 pts
Independiente 27 pts
San Martin 26 pts
Atl. Rafaela 26 pts
Union 25 pts
Godoy Cruz 24 pts
Arsenal 24 pts
Argentinos 22 pts
All Boys 21 pts
Estudiantes 20 pts
San Lorenzo 19 pts
Newell's 16 pts
Olimpo 16 pts
Banfield 11 pts
