Boca Juniors put an end to a three-year wait for the Argentine championship after hammering Banfield 3-0 on Sunday.
Boca Juniors put an end to a three-year wait for a title, by clinching the Argentine Apertura championship after thrashing Banfield 3-0 at the Bombonera stadium on Sunday.

Boca only needed a point to clinch the title, but were never going to settle for that as they brushed aside bottom-team Banfield thanks to two goals from striker Dario Cvitanich and another from midfielder Diego Rivero.

Widely regarded as the most popular club in Argentina, Boca received a rousing reception as they entered the field of play of the Bombonera stadium. The home fans that packed the stadium to its capacity, were hoping for a clear victory and this is exactly what they got.

Cvitanich put Boca ahead in the 10th minute when he slotted the ball home from close-range after a goalmouth scramble in the Banfield area. He doubled Boca's advantage on the stroke of half-time when he met a free-kick with a superb right-footed volley.

Within three minutes of the second half Boca went three-up, when Rivero fired a spectacular 25-metre looping shot into the back of the net for his first ever goal when wearing the Boca shirt.

From then on it was all one-way traffic, as Boca slowed down the pace of the game with dominant one-touch soccer. Captain Juan Roman Riquelme, who entered the field in the second half due to not being at his one-hundred percent, pulled the strings in the midfield. He was at the centre of most of Boca's opportunities to further extend their lead, but like the rest of his team-mates seemed happy to play the ball around and listen to the applause of the Boca faithful.

Banfield had a couple of decent opportunities to score a consolation goal, but were kept out by Boca goalkeeper Agustin Orion, who was always on his alert.

Boca, with 39 points from 17 matches, were well-worth their championship and will hope to finish the Apertura unbeaten. Boca face Arsenal de Sarandi and All Boys in their last two matches of the season. They are followed by Racing with 28 points, Tigre with 27 points and Atletico Rafaela with 26 points.

Meanwhile, Lanus will join Boca, Arsenal and Velez Sarsfield in the 2012 Copa Libertadores, after fighting out a goalless draw with Olimpo on Saturday.

Godoy Cruz are the final team in line to qualify for South America's maximum club competition, however, they risk missing out at the hands of relegation candidates Tigre, after they could only afford a 1-1 draw with Belgrano de Cordoba on Sunday. Tigre have the opportunity to steal the place from Godoy Cruz when they lock horns with San Lorenzo on Monday.

Argentine Apertura - Round 17 Results

December 2

Estudiantes 3 - 0 All Boys
Argentinos Juniors 2 - 1 Arsenal

December 3

Lanus 0 - 0 Olimpo
Colon 0 - 2 Racing Club
Atl. Rafaela 2 - 0 Velez Sarsfield
San Martin San Juan 2 - 0 Union

December 4

Independiente 1 - 1 Newell's Old Boys
Belgrano 1 - 1 Godoy Cruz
Boca Juniors 3 - 0 Banfield