BUENOS AIRES, Dec 13 (SW) - After a last-day meltdown by Boca Juniors forced a playoff, Estudiantes de La Plata capitalized on the opportunity snatching a 2-1 victory over the Argentine giants to claim the 2006 Apertura title.

The match at Estádio José Amalfitani, home of Racing Club, was set up by Boca's loss against Lanús on Sunday combined with Estudiantes' win over Arsenal de Sarandí, leaving both sides level on 44 points, forcing the one-off match for the title.

It seemed like Boca would be in line to claim the title they had in hand until the final day when Martin Palermo grabbed the lead in the third minute.

But both sides were dealt a setback in the 39th minute when Boca's Pablo Ledesma and Estudiantes' Pablo Álvarez were both dismissed for kicking out at each other, leaving both teams with 10 players.

Diego Simeone's Estudiantes side were determined to get a title in the season that marked the return to Estudiantes of Juan Sebastián Verón, and in the 64th minute they began their comeback as José Sosa dispatched the equalizer.

The drama then reached a peak when the red-and-white clad Estudiantes supporters went wild on 80 minutes when Mariano Pavone headed home the goal that put Estudiantes in front for good.

Boca goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla twice had to save point-blank shots in the dying minutes to keep Estudiantes from closing the door, but his team could never put together the attack needed to force an equalizer

The title was Estudiantes' first in Argentina since winning the 1983 Torneo Nacional while Boca missed out on winning their third straight tournament.