Boca, Tigre and San Lorenzo to play off for Apertura title

• by Ian Plenderleith  @PlenderleithIan, Dec 15, 2008

[ARGENTINA] The Argentine Apertura (opening championship) finished with three teams level on points after Boca Juniors, Tigre and San Lorenzo all won their final games. As goal difference is not used to decided the championship, the three teams will play off this coming week to decide who takes the title.
 
Boca beat Colon de Santa, 3-2, but had to sweat out the last 37 minutes after its 3-0 first-half lead on goals from Luciano Figueroa (twice) and Juan Roman Riquelme was narrowed down to just one shortly after the interval. San Lorenzo won 1-0 at Argentinos Juniors on an early goal from Gonzalo Bergessio, while Tigre beat Banfield at home by the same margin, its goal coming courtesy of Martin Morel's 13th of the season.
 
River Plate gets to keep the moniker 'reigning champions' for a few days more, despite finishing bottom when it could only tie 1-1 at Estudiantes.
 
Apertura Playoff Schedule
Dec. 17: Tigre vs San Lorenzo (at Velez Sarsfield Stadium)
Dec. 20: San Lorenzo vs Boca Juniors (at Racing Club Stadium)
Dec. 23 (if necessary): Boca Juniors vs Tigre (at Racing Club Stadium)
 
Goals scored Dec. 13-14: 22 in 10 games (2.2 per game)
Goals scored in 2008 Apertura: 470 in 190 games (2.47 per game)