Bogota Millonarios crushed their inter-city rivals and number one ranked, Santa Fe, in one of the highlight matches of Colombia’s premier Postobon soccer league.
The highly anticipated match known as the Capital Classic featured a strong Millonarios team that sat only a win behind Santa Fe, who was at the top of the standings.
After an evenly played start, Millonarios took a 1-0 lead before the half, following a score by their talented forward, Wason Renteria.
A 3-0 lead quickly ensued early in the second half after veteran midfielder Mayer Candelo reached a career milestone with the 100th goal of his career. The goal came after a quick pass from the recently added forward Fredy Montero, who spends most of the year playing soccer in the United States, which set him up for an easy score. Minutes later Renteria scored again for his second goal of the match.
Another hotly contested classic took place in Colombia’s second largest city of Medellin between Atletico Nacional and Independiente Medellin. Tensions between these two teams often run high and, as a result, extra security measures were taken in order to establish a relatively safe environment both inside and outside the stadium.
In somewhat of an anticlimax however, the match resulted in a scoreless draw, with no real security issues. Nacional played a stronger first half while Medellin stepped up in the second and prevented striker Juan Pablo Angel from becoming a threat.
Nacional remains without a loss on the season but has now tied six times and only won three. They currently have 15 points which is two points behind the leaders, Millonarios, Itagui, Santa Fe, and Pasto.
More: Atletico Nacional knocks of Junior, remains only team with no losses
Deportivo Pasto, who has remained one of the top teams throughout the season, lost 1-2 to Deportivo Cali in the country’s southern regional showdown. Cali remains two points behind the leading teams, tied with Nacional and Once Caldas.
Itagui also achieved victory over their cross-river rivals, Envigado Futbol Club, to earn them a first place spot, but with one more game played then all the other top teams.
Sources
- Liga Postobon Website
- El clasico paisa 275 se fue en blanco con el 0-0 entre DIM y Nacional (Futbol Red)
- Millionarios volvio a meterse en la lucha, vencio 1-3 a Santa Fe (El Tiempo)
- Millos goleo a Santa Fe (El Meridiano)
- The Reign of Escobar (St. Johns University, History of Inter-American relations)