Copa Centenario de la AFA


The Copa Centenario de la AFA was an official Argentine football cup competition contested by teams playing in Primera División. The championship was organized by the Argentine Football Association in 1993 in order to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The winner of this tournament was the Gimnasia y Esgrima, who defeated River Plate in the final match.

History

Its model being based on the Coppa Italia, or the Spanish Copa del Rey, all the squads of Primera División who participated in the 1992–93 season, played home and away matches with their classic rivals during the first phase. Afterwards, teams played two other rounds, following a system of "double elimination".
Gimnasia y Esgrima 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 venue, Carmelo Zerillo Stadium. Gimnasia needed to win the match to become the champion, while River Plate had to defeat El Lobo in two opportunities, as River Plate 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-division competitions, the other one being the 1929 Primera División championship. These conquests are celebrated with the "two stars" often displayed on the team's jerseys.
As winners of the Copa Centenario, Gimnasia y Esgrima had the privilege to play the friendly Sanwa Bank Cup against the champion of 1994 Japanese League, the Verdy Kawasaki. That game finished in a 2–2 draw, and it was decided on penalties, Verdy Kawasaki being the winners.

First round

First Leg: between June 3 and July 3, 1993. Second leg: between July 2 and July 11, 1993.

Winners round

First winners round

Played on July 11, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Racing3–2Vélez Sársfield
Belgrano2–0Platense
Argentinos Juniors1–0San Lorenzo
Gimnasia y Esgrima 1–0Newell's Old Boys

Bye: River Plate
Played on July 18 & 25, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Argentinos Juniors1–2Gimnasia y Esgrima
Racing1–0River Plate

Bye: Belgrano
Played on August 1, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Belgrano3–2Racing

Bye: Gimnasia y Esgrima
Played on August 7, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Belgrano2–2 Gimnasia y Esgrima

First losers round

Played on July 11, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Independiente3–0Ferro Carril Oeste
Deportivo Mandiyú1–0Lanús
Deportivo Español2–1Huracán
Estudiantes 0–1Rosario Central

Bye: Boca Juniors

Second losers round

Played on July 18 & 25, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Independiente1–0Platense
Deportivo Español2–1Newell's Old Boys
San Lorenzo0–0 Rosario Central
Boca Juniors1–0Vélez Sársfield

Bye: Deportivo Mandiyú

Third losers round

Played between July 25 & August 8, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Deportivo Español1–0Deportivo Mandiyú
Argentinos Juniors1–0Boca Juniors
River Plate3–0Independiente

Bye: San Lorenzo

Fourth losers round

Played on August 14 & 16, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
River Plate3–2Deportivo Español
San Lorenzo2–1Racing

Bye: Argentinos Juniors

Fifth losers round

Played on August 27, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
River Plate2–1Argentinos Juniors

Bye: San Lorenzo

Sixth losers round

Played on December 21, 1993.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
River Plate3–2San Lorenzo

Losers round Final

Played on January 21, 1994.
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
River Plate2–1Belgrano

Final

Match details

Top goalscorer