Vélez Sarsfield fans have something to celebrate, at long last. The Liniers team beat Huracán 2-0 on Sunday to secure the 2024 Liga Profesional title, the top-tier league title in Argentine football.

Coming into the season decider, the team coached by Gustavo Quinteros was the favorite. Tied on points with Córdoba’s Talleres but ahead by goal difference, and two points ahead of rivals Huracán, all Vélez needed was a win to secure the title. 

After its Copa Argentina final disappointment ended in clashes between the fans and the players, many feared the team would crumble at another high-stakes game. 

However, Vélez hit first, and fast. In the 29th minute, a counter saw forward Maher Carrizo receive the ball and slip past two defenders to set up the ball for midfielder Claudio Aquino’s shot. His first effort was saved by Huracán goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez, but Aquino was able to put it in after the rebound for the 1-0.

Eleven minutes later, forward Francisco Pizzini received on the left from a set play and put in a cross that defender Valentín Gómez deflected to the goal. Once again, Galíndez saved the first shot, but was unable to do it again as defender Damián Fernández tapped the ball in for 2-0.

Pushed forward by the roar of a José Amalfitani stadium filled to the brink, Quinteros’ team was able to keep control of the game for most of the 90 minutes, and saw Huracán off without conceding a single shot on target, securing the title.

An indescribable feeling

It was a rollercoaster year for Vélez. Having narrowly staved off relegation in 2023, the season started with fans simply hoping to avoid another close call. A hesitant start and a 5-0 defeat to River in February led to calls to fire Quinteros. 

In March, the club was rocked as four players were accused of sexual assault following a match in Tucumán. The four were eventually sacked in April after an internal investigation found the players had committed “gross work misconduct,” allowing the club to terminate their contracts.

The team eventually turned the first half of the season around and made a push all the way to the Copa de la Liga final, but lost to Estudiantes on penalties.

Vélez started the Liga Profesional, the second half of the 2024 Argentine football season, in poor shape once again. However, a run of form that saw it win 10 out of 12 games between July and October rocketed it to the top of the league, a position it never relinquished.

Dreams of a league and cup double bore no fruit last Thursday, with the 1-0 loss to Central Córdoba prompting players to climb into the stands to brawl with fans who insulted them after the loss. Quinteros’ side proved doubters wrong on Sunday with the win.

“I think Vélez was the best team of the year,” said young defender Valentín Gómez, who was seen crying after the Copa Argentina loss. “We played football at a high level, and even if we were unable to crown it with a the Copa de la Liga and Copa Argentina, we were the best.”

Starting goalkeeper Tomás Marchiori, who tried out for the club as a young player, said the joy of winning the title was “indescribable” after failing before.

“It would’ve been very unfair for Vélez if we didn’t get the title,” said Quinteros. “We played every game in the Argentine football calendar, so I’m glad we could do it.”

Quinteros, who was born in Argentina but earned Bolivian citizenship in 1993 and represented that country in the 1994 World Cup, added he was “eager to return to Argentina and win a title,” after a successful coaching career that has seen him lift trophies in Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile.

More finals on the way

Vélez will now play against Estudiantes de La Plata in the Trofeo de Campeones, the supercup matching the Copa de la Liga winners against the Liga Profesional champions. The game is set to kick-off on Saturday at Santiago del Estero’s Madre de Ciudades stadium.

It will also face Central Córdoba at the Supercopa Argentina, the trophy disputed between the cup and league winners, and the Supercopa Internacional, played between the league winners and either Trofeo de Campeones winner (if Estudiantes wins it) or the best-placed team in the annual table (Talleres, as Vélez tops the table).

The Fortín will also take part in the 2025 Copa Libertadores.