Boca claim Copa Sudamericana

Boca Juniors overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit to clinch the Copa Sudamericana with a 2-1 aggregate win against Bolivian side Bolivar.

Hosts Boca made their intentions clear from the outset and pushed forward at every opportunity, Carlos Tevez and Andres Guglielminpietro shooting wide when well-placed before Martin Palermo headed home Guglielminpietro’s cross in the 13th minute to level the aggregate score.

And it didn’t take long for the Argentinian giants to edge ahead in the tie.

Tevez, playing his last match for the club before heading to Brazilian side Corinthians, added his name to the scoresheet after 26 minutes.

Bolivar – looking for their first international honour – showed much more promise after the interval but were unable to break down the Boca defence.

The hosts sat back and opted to play on the counter-attack, but could still have stretched their lead when Tevez twice found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Mauro Machado, only to be denied on both occasions.

Ruben Tufino came within a whisker of sending the tie to a penalty shoot-out in the closing minutes, but saw his shot come back off the crossbar.

The triumph marks a 13th international title for Boca. They won the Intercontinental Cup in 1977, 2000 and 2003, the Copa Libertadores in 1977, 1978, 2000, 2001 and 2003, the Copa de Oro in 1993, the Copa Masters in 1992, the Recopa in 1989 and the Supercopa in 1989.

This Copa Sudamericana is their first honour since coach Carlos Bianchi left the club.