Argentina Primera Division: Velez Sarsfield 1 Newell’s Old Boys 0

Velez Sarsfield have been crowned Super Champions of the Argentine Primera Division after defeating Newell’s Old Boys 1-0.

Velez Sarsfield have been crowned Super Champions of the Argentine Primera Division after defeating Newell’s Old Boys 1-0.

Lucas Pratto gave Velez an early lead and despite losing Fabian Cubero to a red card just before the half-hour mark, the Torneo Inicial champions held off Newell’s to claim Argentina’s overall league title.

Pratto scored the decisive goal in the ninth minute of the inaugural championship final on Saturday, receiving a cut-back at the top of the box before side-stepping an opponent and unleashing a rocket of a shot into the top corner of the net.

In the first season of a new format for the Primera Division, Velez qualified for the championship final after they won the Torneo Inicial, as the first half of the Argentine league season is known, while Newell’s, who suffered their third-straight defeat at Mendoza’s Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, had claimed the Torneo Final to reach the season-deciding match.

Newell’s were handed a huge opportunity to equalise around the half-hour mark when Cubero hauled down Maxi Rodriguez in the penalty area.

Referee Nestor Pitana pointed to the penalty spot and showed Cubero his second yellow card of the match, sending the 34-year-old defender off.

Ignacio Scocco stepped up to the spot for Newell’s but his low penalty was brilliantly saved by Velez’s Uruguayan goalkeeper Sebastian Sosa, denying the Torneo Final champions an equaliser.

Velez held on with one less player throughout the second half to claim the title of Super Champions, despite having finished 14th in the Torneo Final.

“We beat a good team,” Velez head coach Ricardo Gareca said.

“The heart of my team is incredible.”

Pratto argued Sosa’s penalty save was a crucial point in the match as it gave Velez the belief they could hold on against Newell’s, who were the most consistent team throughout the 2012/13 season, as they finished second in the Torneo Inicial.

“We wanted to prove that we could beat them,” Pratto said.

“They’re a great team and very good on the ball.

“After Sosa saved the penalty (we believed).”