Vélez Sarsfield have emerged as Argentina’s 2024 domestic champions after a dramatic final-day win over title rivals Huracán.
The Fortín’s 2-0 home win, thanks to goals from Claudio Aquino and Damián Fernández, clinched them the 2024 Liga Profesional de Fútbol title, ending a decade-long drought in the 30th anniversary of their greatest ever achievement, the 1994 Intercontinental Cup.
It’s a return to the top for Vélez, which capitalised on poor campaigns by the nation’s two footballing giants Boca Juniors and River Plate to take the title in the league’s 27th and final matchday.
Aquino scored in the 30th minute and Fernández at the 41st to seal the victory for Vélez, which led the league table for several rounds of fixtures but stumbled towards the end of the campaign, allowing Talleres de Córdoba to make up ground and set up a three-way showdown.
In a tense final day decider, Vélez – who had the advantage of a better goal difference – secured the crucial win over Huracán, while Talleres slumped 3-1 at home to Newell's Old Boys.
This is Vélez’s 17th trophy in their club’s history and the 11th domestic league title.
The triumph also earns them a place in the group stage of the 2025 Copa Libertadores, a tournament they last won in 1994 under the management of Carlos Bianchi, with legendary Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert in their ranks.
Quinteros talks
Managed by experienced Argentine-Bolivian coach Gustavo Quinteros, Vélez put their disastrous 2023 campaign – in which they narrowly avoided relegation on the final matchday – behind them. As well as the league title, they reached the finals of the Copa de la Liga and Copa Argentina.
"Last year, they fought to stay in the top division, to keep Vélez in Primera, and today they are champions," Quinteros said, praising his players. "They had an extraordinary season, which maybe tapered off a bit at the end due to the amount of matches, but we could have taken a bigger lead earlier."
Quinteros joined Vélez at the end of last year after they narrowly avoided relegation. He has turned around the side, making them contenders in all competitions.
"This is a credit to the development of each player,” said the coach.
Now a champion in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile, this is Quinteros’ first title in his homeland. "Being Argentine and after working 18 years abroad, I really wanted to return and win a title. It happened in my first year and I’m very happy," he said.
Dominant performance
Vélez dominated proceedings from the off on Sunday, determined to seize the chance and touch glory. The two-goal first-half lead the side had at the break put the Buenos Aires side in an even stronger position.
Huracán, who needed to win to have a chance of the title, were overly cautious, playing very defensively. After scoring their two goals, Vélez maintained control and could have extended their lead even further.
"We had to crown ourselves, everyone remembers you for a title, and we came from a tough blow [last season]. We’re very happy. We were fighting relegation, we went through many ups and downs, and I’m happy to finish like this," said Braian Romero, the team’s top scorer with 12 goals.
'El Fortín' showed resilience – just four days earlier, the side had lost the Copa Argentina final to unfaced Central Córdoba de Santiago del Estero by a single goal.
"This is a reward for what we did all year. Today we showed why we played every match we did, we showed how this team plays football, that we are a very tough team," said Aquino, another key player.
In a festive atmosphere, Vélez’s coronation was witnessed by prominent figures in the stands, including Carlos Bianchi, Chilavert, and former goalkeeper and manager Julio César Falcioni.
– TIMES/AFP
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