Atletico Junior entered the top eight of the Colombian Copa Mustang II on the final day of the regular season, in order to secure a spot in the group phase.
Millonarios of Bogota defended the eighth position on the last day but were held to a 1-1 draw at America de Cali. As Junior beat Tolima 2-1, the Barranquilla outfit move into the top eight.
After an uneventful first half at Cali’s Pascual Guerrero stadium, Millonarios applied more pressure in the second and scored the opener through Omar Vasquez in the 66th minute. This goal would have been enough for Millonarios to advance, if it wasn’t for Paulo Arango’s equaliser, heading home from a free kick five minutes later.
Things didn’t start well for Junior in their home match with Deportes Tolima, conceding a goal from Jorge Perlaza in the 23rd minute. Freddy Grisalez leveled ten minutes later though, and club icon Giovanni Hernandez netted the winner in minute 71. Toma played most of the second half with a man less, following Christian Marrugo’s red card in the 47th minute.
Santa Fe did themselves a great favor with a 4-1 win over Deportivo Cali. Not only did the ‘Cardinals’ secure qualification, their second place allows them to be group leader in the next phase. Yulian Anchico (2), Cristian Nazarit and Luis Seijas scored for Santa Fe, while Cali’s only goal came from Sergio Herrera.
Atletico Huila had to give up their second place as result of a goalless draw with Deportes Quindio. Even a red card to Quindio’s Dany Santoya in the 27th minute could not help Huila.
Deportivo Pereira and Atletico Nacional finish in fourth and seventh place respectively following their scoreless draw. It was an exceptionally uneventful match, with only two early substitutions and no cards.
Real Cartagena lost 4-0 to Boyaca Chico but end up on the right side of the red line. Yhonny Ramirez, Anthony Tapia, Charles Monsalvo and Miguel Caneo scored at Tunja’s La Independencia.
In Sunday’s remaining match, Deportivo Pasto earned a 3-4 win at Envigado.
On Saturday, La Equidad and Cucuta drew 1-1 while round 1 winners Medellin and Once Caldas kept it at 2-2.
The teams that advance to the next round are Medellin and Santa Fe as group leaders, joined by Huila, Pereira, Tolima, Junior, Nacional and Cartagena.