Independiente Medellin successfully defended their Copa Mustang II lead with a 1-0 win over La Equidad, while second-placed Atletico Huila earned a 2-1 win over Deportivo Pereira.
The match round was however marred by the news of two Huila players, Hernan Cordoba and Mario Beltran, having died in a car crash hours after their team played on Saturday.
Pereira had a good start at Huila, as Jose Ramirez scored the opening goal in the very first minutes. The hosts fought their way back though, and Hernan Cordoba levelled in the 79th minute with what unfortunately turned out to be his last goal.
Lewis Ochoa secured the victory, netting the winner two minutes into added time.
Santa Fe and Atletico Junior held each other to a 2-2 draw in the capital city. Teofilo Gutierrez’ ninth-minute goal was cancelled out by Yulian Anchico in the 64thth, and Giovanni Hernandez’ goal for 1-2 in the 70th minute wasn’t enough either as Mario Gomez made it 2-2 with four minutes to go. Santa Fe played the entire second half with a man less following Jose Valencia’s red card just before the break.
Defending champions Once Caldas suffered another defeat, this time to the hands of Atletico Nacional. Ezequiel Maggiolo put Nacional in the lead after 43 minutes, but Sebastian Hernandez equalised two minute before the hour. The winner, in Nacional’s favor, came from Marlon Piedrahita in minute 85.
Action continued on Sunday with Independiente Medellin beating La Equidad 1-0. The only goal of the match at Atanasio Girardot stadium, came in the 67th minute and was scored by Samuel Vanegas.
Deportivo Pasto earned three points from their match with Cucuta Deportivo, but needed until the 86th minute for Carlos Hidalgo to score the only goal of the game.
Deportivo Cali suffered a slightly surprising 0-1 defeat by Millonarios of Bogota, who scored the only goal of the match through Mauricio Casierra in the 62nd minute.
Deportes Tolima entered the top eight thanks to a 2-3 win at Real Cartagena. Milton Rodriguez, Rodrigo Marangoni and Juan Ramirez scored for the guests, Jose Najera netted twice for the home team.
Boyaca Chico kept hope alive with a 3-1 win over Deportes Quindio. Antonhy Tapias, Edilio Cardoso and Charles Monsalvo provided the home goal, and the only goal for Quindio came from Danny Santoya. Chico’s Hanyer Mosquera was sent off in the 78th minute.
Bottom-placed Envigado held America de Cali to an entertaining 3-3 draw. Dorlan Pablon scored two of the home team’s goals, the other came from Jorge Serna. Wilson Morelo and Edison Toloza (2) scored for the visitors.
The way things stand now, the following eight teams are on course to advance to the group phase: Medellin, Huila, Santa Fe, Pasto, Junior, Nacional, Cali, Tolima.