Independiente Medellin wasted their chance to take the lead in the
Colombian Copa Mustang II, as they lost 1-0 at Pereira on Sunday.
Following Atletico Huila’s draw with Nacional a day earlier, Medellin needed a win to move into first place. It wasn’t meant to be however, as Pereira’s Fernando Uribe scored the only goal of the match after 22 minutes.
Santa Fe were very close to a win at America de Cali, but were eventually held to a 1-1 draw. Julio Gutierrez put the Bogota side ahead in the 55th minute, but Anthony De Avila equalised one minute into added time.
Deportivo Cali impressed with a 0-3 victory at Deportes Tolima. Pablo Escobar scored in the 24th minute, Luis Valencia in the 76th and Diego Alvarez added the third with four minutes to go at Manuel Murillo Toro stadium.
Teofilo Gutierrez was of great importance to Junior in their 5-2 win over Boyaca Chico, scoring three of the home side’s goals. The forward did so in the 45th, 57th and 89th minutes. The other two Junior goals came from Giovanni Hernandez (67th and 73rd) while Anthony Tapia scored both goals for the away side (21st and 28th).
La Equidad and Envigado played out a 2-2 draw in Bogota, where the away side twice took the lead, through Rodrigo Saraz and Neider Morantes respectively, but then had their goals cancelled out by Jhersson Cordoba and Herly Alcazar. Cordoba was sent off for the hosts in the 90th minute.
Defending champions Once Caldas lost 2-0 at Cucuta Deportivo. Both goals came from Roberto Polo, who scored in the 10th and 65th minutes. Once Caldas star Johan Fano was sent off in the 13th minute.
Based on the current standings, the following teams would advance to the group stage at the end of this round: Huila, Medellin, Santa Fe, Nacional, Cali, Pasto, Junior and Pereira.