Junior Barranquilla moves to the top of the Liga Postobon after they came out on top in a 5-goal thriller against Huila while rivals Itagui couldn’t hold on to a lead against Tolima and Quindio suffered a shock setback against Cartagena.
Luis Paez gave Junior an early lead after 21 minutes when he timed a late run perfectly to skip through two defenders and meet a right wing cross with a firm finish. Just three minutes later, Juan David Valencia made it two with a dipping long range free kick into the top corner.
Huila, however, went in at half time still hoping to claw their way back into the game after the Junior defense failed to clear and Ronaille Calheira Seara took advantage with a close range finish. The hope lasted little more than ten minutes into the second half when Luis Carlos Ruiz latched onto a threaded through ball and supplied a cool finish to make it three. Sebastian Hernandez Mejia ensured it wasn’t a comfortable finish for Junior when he lashed a shot into the far corner from just inside the area, but they held on to end their run of three draws in a row.
The result moved them two points ahead of Quindio, who drop down to sixth after a shock three – nil thrashing at the hands of strugglers Cartagena. Quindio were dead and buried at half time thanks to spectacular long range efforts from Juan Gonzalez and defender Yonni Hinestroza and a goal from David Silva.
Itagui remains in second place, one point behind Junior, after throwing away a two goal lead to draw with Tolimas. First half goals from David Camilo Cordoba and Cleider Alzate had left Itagui cruising. However, a second half fight back and goals from Rafael Castillo and Diego Cabrera meant Tolimas left with a share of the spoils.
Atletico Nacional’s recent slump in form continued with a 2-1 loss to Cali. Nacional took the lead with a thumping first half header from Roman Torres Morcillo. However two goals in five minutes in the second half was enough to give Cali the points. The first came from a superb long-range half volley from Gustavo Biscayzacu, the second when Carlos Lizarazo got the faintest of touches on a teasing free kick to glance the ball in at the far post. The defeat leaves Nacional in 8th – one point and one place behind Cali.
Santa Fe moves up to third after a swirling long range shot from Gerardo Bedoya was enough to give them three points against Cucuta, who now drop to last place. Santa Fe now has 18 points, equal to Tolima, Quindio, Cali and Chico, who couldn’t find a way past one of the leagues stingiest defences in a nil-nil draw against Envigado.
Envigado share tenth spot with Pereira, who were lucky to hold on for a nil-nil draw against Millonarios, who now find themselves one point and one place behind after wasting a series of chances to snatch the win.
Medellin’s troubled season continued with a 1-0 defeat away to La Equidad. A calm finish from Juan Nuñez after 28 minutes was enough to settle a scrappy game, giving La Equidad their first win in seven games and leaving Medellin just one point off bottom spot and without a win in seven.
The weekend’s other fixture, Once Caldas vs America de Cali was cancelled due to the continuing water crisis in Manizales.
