The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Buenos Aires

Boca Juniors won the Argentine Apertura championship on Tuesday, finishing top of a three-way play-off by the slimmest of margins after losing 1-0 to rank outsiders Tigre in the final match.

Boca, Tigre and San Lorenzo all finished the mini-league with three points from two games but Boca took the title on goal difference.

Boca had a goal difference of one, compared to zero for Tigre and minus one for San Lorenzo.

The play-off was held after the three teams finished level on points after the regular championship, where goal difference is not used to decide the title.

It was Boca's 23rd title under the various formats used since Argentine football turned professional in 1931 but they are still 10 titles behind their arch-rivals River.