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Another crown for Boca's conquistadors

  • Story Highlights
  • Boca Juniors beat Gremio of Brazil 5-0 on aggregate to win Copa Libertadores
  • Argentinians are the world's most successful international club side with 17 titles
  • Next target is Argentine Apertura title and December's World Club Cup
  • Next Article in World Sport »
By Simon Hooper for CNN
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(CNN) -- They may be used to success in Argentina, but in Buenos Aires last week they celebrated Boca Juniors' Copa Libertadores victory as if it was 1978 or 1986 again.

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Boca captain Martin Palermo leads the celebrations following Boca Juniors' Copa Libertadores success.

Fans dressed in the blue and gold colors of the country's favorite and best known club poured into the streets as the final whistle blew in Porto Allegre, Brazil, where Boca's 2-0 victory over Gremio completed a 5-0 aggregate rout.

"This is a huge title for us, and for the history of Boca," said club captain Martin Palermo of a win that made the club South American champions for the sixth time -- and the fourth time since 2000.

Moreover, Boca's 17th official international honor (they also won the less prestigious Copa Sudamericana in 2004 and 2005) saw them reclaim the title of the world's most successful international club side, AC Milan having drawn level with them at 16 by winning last month's Champions League final. By any standards, Boca are currently enjoying a golden era.

The ease with which they beat Gremio, however, was not typical of the season Boca have had. They had to overcome a 3-1 away defeat in the first leg of the semifinal against unfancied Colombians Deportivo Cucuta.

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In earlier rounds they struggled past Paraguayans Libertad and Argentine rivals Velez Sarsfield and only squeezed out of the group stage because other results went their way.

Domestically, Ricardo Lavolpe was sacked as coach after finishing second in the 2006 Apertura championship (South American countries break their seasons into opening and closing championships running up to and after Christmas).

But his replacement, Miguel Ángel Russo could manage no better in the 2007 Clausura as Boca again finished second.

That failure should now have been overlooked by some of the least forgiving supporters in world football, the most famous of whom, Diego Maradona, can be regularly seen leading the cheers and chants from his box high up in the Bombanera stadium in Buenos Aires' tough docks district from where the club draws its hardcore fanbase.

Boca's achievement has been to build a dynasty in a country where economic imperatives mean the best talents are inevitably lost to European football before they reach their peak.

Part of the Boca's success owes to the club's habit of persuading former players to return when their careers flounder on the other side of the Atlantic.

Neither Palermo, a deeply flawed but often deadly striker, nor Juan Roman Riquelme, the gifted playmaker who was named man of the match after scoring both goals in the second leg against Gremio, ever settled properly during spells in Spain, yet both returned to Boca more determined than ever to prove themselves.

For Russo the next goal, in addition to the 2007 Apertura, will be December's World Club Cup -- the rebranded Intercontinental Cup which Boca won three times, most recently beating AC Milan in 2003.

The final this year ought to be a re-match between the same teams with the added spice that Milan will be playing to equal Boca's record of 17 titles.

"Another pre-season is coming up, a tour, the local championship, the world club tournament -- which is of paramount importance," says Rosso, summing up the challenges ahead. "That's what Boca is like, there is no respite, you must continue." E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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