Independiente clinched the Argentine championship for the first time in eight years with a 3-0 win at San Lorenzo.

The win enabled Independiente to finish three clear of Boca Juniors who beat Rosario Central3-1.

The success marks a remarkable change of fortune for the club, who finished last season’s clausura bottom of the table. Matters were not helped by the club’s dire financial situation which was alleviated somewhat by the intervention of a local businessman.

Yet the Red Devils, coached by Argentina’s 1978 World Cup midfielder Americo Gallego, had started the competition under a cloud after finishing bottom in the previous tournament amid a dire financial crisis.

Fernando Insua put Indepediente ahead on 32 minutes. Andres Silvera added a second on the stroke of half-time, before midfielder Lucas Pusineri sealed the win and the title with a third after the interval.