Copa Centenario de la AFA
Encyclopedia
The Copa Centenario was an official tournament among Argentina's First Division Football clubs, organized by AFA (Argentine Football Association
) in 1993/1994 in order to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The winner of this tournament was the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
, who defeated River Plate
in the final match.
Modeled on the Italian Cup, or the Spanish Copa del Rey
, all the squads of Argentine First Division who participated in the 92-93 season (except for Talleres
and San Martín de Tucumán), played home and away matches with their classic rivals ('derby matches') during the first phase. Afterwards, teams played two other rounds (Winners' and Losers' bracket
), following a system of "double elimination
".
Gimnasia was the winner on the Winners' bracket, while River Plate
won the Losers' bracket. The final match was played on January 1994 at Gimnasia's Stadium. Gimnasia needed to win the match to become the champion, while River Plate had to defeat "The Wolf" in two opportunities, as River had accessed to the final by winning the Losers' Round. However, an additional match became unnecessary, as Gimnasia defeated River by 3-1, thereby winning the only edition of the Copa Centenario. This Cup constitutes until today one of the two official titles that Gimnasia y Esgrima has won in the Argentine top-tier competitions, the other one being the 1929 First Division Championship. These conquests are celebrated with the "two stars" often displayed on the team's jerseys.
As winners of the Centenario Cup, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata had the privilege to play the Sanwa Bank Cup
against the First Division Champion of Japan, the Verdy Kawasaki. That game finished in a 2-2 draw, and it was decided on penalties, Verdy Kawasaki being the winners.
Argentine Football Association
The Argentine Football Association is the governing body of football in Argentina. It organises the Argentine football league and the Argentina national football team. It is based in Buenos Aires...
) in 1993/1994 in order to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The winner of this tournament was the Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata Gimnasia y Esgrima was promoted to the first division after becoming champions of the División Intermedia of Argentine football in 1915. Later, in 1929, the club would become champions of the Primera División...
, who defeated River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
in the final match.
Modeled on the Italian Cup, or the Spanish Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
, all the squads of Argentine First Division who participated in the 92-93 season (except for Talleres
Talleres de Córdoba
Club Atlético Talleres is a sports club from the city of Córdoba, Argentina, mostly known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the regionalised third division, the Torneo Argentino A...
and San Martín de Tucumán), played home and away matches with their classic rivals ('derby matches') during the first phase. Afterwards, teams played two other rounds (Winners' and Losers' bracket
Bracket (tournament)
A bracket is a tree diagram that represents the series of games played during a tournament, named as such because it appears to be a large number of interconnected brackets....
), following a system of "double elimination
Double-elimination tournament
A double-elimination tournament is a type of elimination tournament competition in which a participant ceases to be eligible to win the tournament's championship upon having lost two games or matches...
".
Gimnasia was the winner on the Winners' bracket, while River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
won the Losers' bracket. The final match was played on January 1994 at Gimnasia's Stadium. Gimnasia needed to win the match to become the champion, while River Plate had to defeat "The Wolf" in two opportunities, as River had accessed to the final by winning the Losers' Round. However, an additional match became unnecessary, as Gimnasia defeated River by 3-1, thereby winning the only edition of the Copa Centenario. This Cup constitutes until today one of the two official titles that Gimnasia y Esgrima has won in the Argentine top-tier competitions, the other one being the 1929 First Division Championship. These conquests are celebrated with the "two stars" often displayed on the team's jerseys.
As winners of the Centenario Cup, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata had the privilege to play the Sanwa Bank Cup
Sanwa Bank Cup
The Sanwa Bank Cup was a one-match friendly competition officially organised by J. League and sponsored by Sanwa Bank . The competition was held between 1994 and 1997 and played two weeks before the opening of J. League . The teams invited were the J...
against the First Division Champion of Japan, the Verdy Kawasaki. That game finished in a 2-2 draw, and it was decided on penalties, Verdy Kawasaki being the winners.