2012 Copa Argentina Final

The 2012 Copa Argentina Final was the 185th and final match of the 2011–12 Copa Argentina, the first edition of the national cup relaunched by AFA in 2011.^[1][2] It was played in single match between Boca Juniors and Racing Club, on August 8, 2012 at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario. The winner qualified to play the 2012 Copa Sudamericana.

Boca Juniors won the match 2–1 with goals by strikers Santiago Silva and Lucas Viatri, achieving their 2nd. Copa Argentina title.^[3][4][5]

Bold indicates winning years

In the first half, Luis Zubeldía's men started stronger. More precise and incisive than Julio Falcioni's side, they managed to threaten Oscar Ustari's goal. By the 18th minute, José Sand had already had two clear chances to score. The first was a ball he took too long and ended up shooting wide of the goalkeeper's right post. The other was a ball from the center of the penalty area that went inches wide of the top right goal post.^[6]

Boca hadn't threatened and needed only one chance to take the lead. In the 22nd minute, a long ball from Ustari and a defensive error by Racing left the ball perfectly placed for Santiago Silva. The Uruguayan looked up and shot over the onrushing goalkeeper Sebastián Saja to score the first goal of the match.^[6]

From that moment on, Boca evened the game and made better use of the spaces Racing were leaving at the back. Zubeldía's defense was pressing too high up the pitch, leaving gaps. Silva again got behind the center-backs, but Saja made the save to prevent what would have been a 2–0 lead.^[6]

In the opening minutes of the second half, not much happened until Boca Juniors put together a good attacking move. Juan Sánchez Miño (who had replaced Walter Ervitti) and Clemente Rodríguez combined down the left flank, and forward Lucas Viatri finished with his left foot in the center to take a 2–0 lead in the 18th minute.^[6]

At their lowest point, Racing found the equalizer when a corner kick fell to Matías Martínez, whose shot hit the post and then Ustari's back, leaving it perfectly placed for Valentín Viola to score his last goal in the Avellaneda team's shirt before moving to Portugal.^[6]

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Zubeldía's team pressed forward with more desire than skill in their search for the equalizer, which never came. In fact, in the final minutes, Boca Juniors had the clearest chances. Viatri's header hit the crossbar, Silva couldn't beat Saja, and Matías Cahais cleared Cristian Chávez's shot off the line. Midfielder Pablo Ledesma had another opportunity but couldn't convert, and Boca also squandered several counter-attacks that ended poorly.^[6]