The Long Wait Is Over

In a perfect microcosm of Boca Juniors' season, they took the lead and then ran out of gas. The match had a little bit of everything in it today: an early goal, shot off the post, red cards, a late winner, etc. Estudiantes de La Plata, winning their first Argentine title in 23 years, made up tons of ground in the last two rounds of the Apertura to get to this match. And of course Boca fell apart.

Ex-Argentina international Diego Simeone, into only his second year as a top-flight coach, got emotional after the game. He seemed drained by the last couple of weeks, but elated as well. Standing in the stadium where he got his professional start, he had this to say:

"I feel strange, there are a lot of images going through my head right now. In the stadium where I got my start, to be standing here after winning my first championship as a coach, it's hard to find the words right now. In life you have to keep believing, that's something this team has always done. I'm very happy right now, I can just imagine what's in store for us when we get home. It's going to be a little difficult to sleep tonight, but hey, it's been a long time [since the team has won]. I'm very happy for the club and it's supporters, they had confidence in me, as a coach without much experience. After we went out of the Libertadores [Cup], I sat down with the players and told them that we were going to come out champions. I'm so happy for them."

Other comments after the game:

• Juan Sebastian Veron: "The team deserved this, more than I did personally. This group proved how good they are today. We're aware of what it took to win today, luck played it's part too. Sometimes, without luck, all the preparation and sheer will aren't enough. Today, everything came together."
• Mariano Pavone: "We never let ourselves get down. When things weren't looking good, we dug deep and showed the confidence we have in each other. It seemed like our supporters did the same, they we great today. It was easily the most important goal I've every scored."
• Ricardo La Volpe: "These things happen in soccer. We didn't achieve what we had set out to. We got to this final but I have to present my resignation because we didn't reach our target."

What to make of all of this, well a few things come to mind. First, I have to agree with Max Bretos and say that the lack of a real playmaker really hurt Boca down the stretch. They were able to mask the inadequacy in the early and middle parts of the season, but the loss of Federico Insua last summer to Borussia Monchengladbach has left a gaping hole in the middle of the field. Guillermo Marino was never really an able replacement, and I think it was very telling that he wasn't in the starting XI this afternoon.

Secondly, and to a lesser extent, Boca miss Roberto Abbondanzieri. While he got a lot of stick in Argentina for being named the starter during the World Cup, the guy was very sure-handed for Boca before leaving over the summer for Getafe CF. Like Marino, Paraguayan keeper Aldo Bobadilla failed to show up for the big matches this season. While it can't all be laid at his feet, today's game was surely one of his worst.

The Argentine Futbol Highlights Show on FSC will have a wrap up of all of today's action tomorrow at 4pm ET.

Estudiantes clinch Argentine title [CNN]
Quotes taken from TyC Sports, Ole and La Nacion.

-ac