Independiente Medellin are the first team to qualify for the final of the 2009 Copa Mustang II, thanks to a 1-2 victory at Atletico Junior on Wednesday.
Junior were the only team that could still threaten Medellin’s lead in Group A but needed a win to surpass their rivals and move into first place with just one round of games to go.
But Luis Mosquera put Medellin ahead after 57 minutes and although John Jaramillo levelled ten minutes later, Mosquera had the final say in the 75th minute, 1-2.
By the time the match ended, Junior were two men down as both Jorge Casanova and Carlos Bacca had been sent off in the second half.
Medellin now have 13 points from five games, and as second-placed Junior have only eight, they are no longer in contention in this group.
The match between Pereira and Real Cartagena, who are both already eliminated ended in a 2-1 home win which allows Pereira to move into third place.
In Group B, Atletico Huila jumped to the top thanks to an impressive 0-1 win at Nacional while previous leaders Santa Fe crashed 0-2 to Deportes Tolima.
Gonzalo Martinez put Huila ahead from the penalty spot after only 14 minutes at Medellin’s Atanasio Girardot, and his goal would be the only one of the match.
In the other Group B game, Santa Fe could have taken the lead on 58 minutes but Argentinian Omar Perez failed to convert a penalty.
Instead, Tolima went ahead through a free kick from Dario Bustos in the 66th minute. Rodrigo Marangoni could have doubled the lead five minutes later but he as well missed a spot kick.
But Tolima secured the victory anyhow as Christian Marrugo made it 0-2 with two minutes to go in regular time.
Next weekend, Huila defend a one-point leader over Santa Fe, who will now need a win in Neiva to reconquer first place in advance.
Should Huila and Santa Fe draw, Nacional could be the laughing third if they beat Tolima in Ibague.
