Liga de Futbol Profesional Boliviano Wrap: Champions lose

Liga de Futbol Profesional Boliviano champions Bolivar lost their season-ending clash with Oriente Petrolero 2-1 on Sunday.

The hosts at Santa Cruz took a 10th-minute lead courtesy of an own goal from Bolivar’s Juan Valverde, but the league leaders were level within 14 minutes when Juan Arce scored his 11th goal of the season.

But the supporters at the Estadio Ramon Aguilera Costas did not have to wait long for their team to regain the advantage, as Danilo Carando restored Oriente Petrolero’s lead – one they would maintain to the final whistle.

The result meant champions Bolivar finished the season on 50 points, three clear of their second-placed conquerors Oriente Petrolero on 47.

Those two clubs gain entry to next season’s Copa Libertadores tournament, while third-placed San Jose already had their Copa Sudamericana spot sewn up ahead of the final matchday.

Regardless, San Jose finished the season in fine fashion with a 4-0 win over Aurora, helped by a Carlos Saucedo hat-trick.

Real Potosi beat Universitario 2-1 to see the latter finish their campaign with four straight losses to fall into fourth, outside the continental places.

Universitario’s consolation goal in the 90th-minute was of some consequence, though, as goalscorer Juan Fierro joined Bolivar’s William Ferreira at the top of the golden boot standings with 17 goals. Saucedo’s treble for San Jose took him third on 15 goals.

Petrolero ended their dour campaign with back-to-back wins after thrashing eighth-placed Blooming 4-0, while The Strongest defeated Wilstermann 2-0 and Nacional Potosi crushed cellar dwellers La Paz 5-1 with Gaston Mealla netting a hat-trick.