Real Cartagena successfully defended their lead in the Colombian Liga Postobon with a 1-0 win over America de Cali on Sunday.
Only one goal was needed for the leaders to add another impressive result to their season palmares, and it was scored just before the interval as Nestor Salazar converted a penalty after Luis Iriarte was brought down in the area.
America were handed a penalty themselves on the hour mark but the great opportunity was wasted by Sergio Galvan.
Newcomers Cortulua almost surprised against champions Independiente Medellin, but the latter went on to secure a 1-2 victory. Mario Gimenez put DIM ahead on eight minutes, only for Deivi Rodriguez to equalise in the 59th. The winning goal came with nine minutes to go and was scored by Medellin’s Nelson Barahona.
Layneker Zafra of Cortulua was sent off in the 51st minute.
La Equidad moved into third place thanks to a 2-1 win over Chico in Tunja. The visitors did take the lead through Diego Chica in the 53rd minute, but La Equidad turned things around within seven minutes with goals from Sherman Cardenas and Dahwling Leudo.
Envigado and Santa Fe held each other to a 1-1 draw at Polideportivo Sur stadium. Fernando Oliveira put Envigado in the lead on 21 minutes but Sergio Otalvaro levelled 11 minutes later. Santa Fe’s Julio Gutierrez was red-carded on 53 minutes.
Deportivo Cali earned a much-needed 2-0 win over Deportes Quindio. Jhon Jairo Charria scored the opener from the penalty spot in the 36th minute, and Wilmer Parra doubled the advantage ten minutes after the break. Quindio played most of the match with a man down as Antonio Otero, who caused the penalty, was sent off for the offense.
The match between Deportes Tolima and Once Caldas was postponed after an explosion occurred at Ibague’s main hospital and authorities felt that the hospital was in no state to receive any possibly emergencies.
As four teams advance to the play-offs at the end of the season, Cartagena, Medellin, La Equidad and Nacional are currently on course to make it to the next round.
