San Jose win first Bolivian league title in 11 years

San Jose clinched the Bolivian league's 2018 Clausura football title with a 1-1 draw against Royal Pari on the final match day.

San Jose, who only needed to secure a tie to capture their fourth championship overall and first since 2007, got a goal in the 36th minute of Wednesday's match at Jesus Bermudez Stadium in Oruro from Colombian Jair Reinoso before allowing John Mosquera to score the equalizer about 10 minutes after the intermission, reports Efe.

Bolivia's four representatives in the 2019 Copa Libertadores have now been determined: Jorge Wilstermann (Apertura champion), San Jose (Clausura champion), The Strongest (runner-up in both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments) and Bolivar (fourth in the aggregate table).

Only Jorge Wilstermann and San Jose, however, have qualified directly into the group stage of South America's premier club soccer tournament.

Four other Bolivian league clubs - Royal Pari, Oriente Petrolero, Nacional Potosi and Guabira - will play next year in the Copa Sudamericana, South America's secondary club soccer competition.

San Jose finished first in the Clausura with 53 points (17 victories, two draws and seven losses), while Royal Pari came in third with 50 points.

The Strongest finished in second place with 50 points and wrapped up their season by clobbering Blooming 8-0 in what was the final game of Paraguayan-born star Pablo "Pajaro" Escobar's distinguished career.

The 39-year-old Escobar made a score of appearances for Bolivia's national side between 2008-2015.

--IANS

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