Celebration time for Newell’s Old Boys in the Argentine league.
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On Wednesday they won their sixth national title, but this their first time in front of their home fans in Rosario as they entertained bottom club Argentinos Juniors.
And it was the visitors, who were still in with a chance of avoiding relegation, who had the first clear chance, courstesy of a slack piece of defending by Milton Casco in the 17th minute.
But Argentinos striker Rodrigo Gomez couldn’t take the opportunity and put his shot wide.
And that was as good as it got in the first half.
The home side tried to raise the tempo after the interval and Maximiliano Urruti’s 50th minute shot forced a fine save out of Argentinos keeper Nereo Fernandez.
However, just as in the opening period, the best opportunities fell the visitors’ way.
Juan Anangono ought to have scored in the 65th minute but fluffed his volley and nine minutes later Rodrigo Gomez flashed a right foot shot narrowly wide.
Then, with less than four minutes to go, Gomez swung over a corner and substitute Pablo Hernandez’s near post header beat Nahuel Guzman.
Newell’s strove for an equaliser and Fabian Munoz’s deflected shot struck the crossbar in stoppage time, but Argentinos held on for 1-0 win.
It’s just their fourth in the Torneo Final but saved them from relegation, securing them another season in the top flight, just three years after winning the 2010 Clausura.
Still Newell’s fans were happy to toast their first league title title since 2004.
