Millonarios are back in the top eight of the Copa Mustang following a 2-0 win over La Equidad, while Atletico Junior are on the wrong side of the red line after a 1-0 defeat at Quindio.
Real Cartagena are another team that did themselves a great favor in Sunday’s Colombian league action, climbing to fifth place thanks to a 4-3 win over Atletico Huila.
Jose Najera put Cartagena in the lead after 13 minutes, but Huila turned things around through Carlos Renteria and Frank Pacheco with goals in minute 27 and 31 respectively. Cartagena then performed a turn-around themselves through Edwards Jimenez (61st) and Nestor Salazar (64th), followed by an equalizer from Victor Guaza on 87 minutes.
The home side had the final say however, as Juan Garcia netted the winning goal in the second minute of added time.
Deportivo Pereira earned a 0-1 win at Cucuta Deportivo. The only goal of the match was scored by Fernando Uribe in the 44th minute.
Santa Fe climbed to sixth place thanks to a 0-1 victory at Deportivo Pasto, with whom they are also set to play the 2009 Copa Colombia final. Carlos Valdes scored the winning goal after just three minutes. In their hunt for the equaliser that never came, Pasto lost German Centurion and Andres Mosquera to red cards.
Millonarios found their way back into the top eight, beating La Equidad 2-0 in a Bogota derby. Ruben Dario Bustos scored the opening goal in the 23rd minute and Ricardo Ciciliano converted a penalty in minute 82.
Junior dropped from the top eight as result of a 1-0 defeat at Quindio, where Ivan Trujillo scored the only goal of the match in the 77th minute. At this point, Junior had already lost John Hinestroza to a red card.
Deportivo Cali may still hope for a spot in the next round following a 4-2 win over Boyaca Chico. Diego Alvarez scored three goals for the hosts, the other coming from Wilmer Parra. Chico’s goals were scored by Anthony Tapia and Charles Monsalvo respectively.
In the remaining match, Once Caldas and Envigado held each other to a 3-3 draw.
With just one match to play, Medellin, Huila, Tolima and Pereira are certain of a spot in the group phase. Cartagena, Santa Fe, Nacional and Millonarios have their fate in their own hands while Junior, Pasto and Cali still have a chance of ending up in the top eight.
Chico, Quindio, Cucut, La Equidad, Once Caldas, America and Envigado are out of contention.