Millonarios are the new leaders in the Colombian Liga Postobon following a 2-1 win at Deportivo Pereira, while Once Caldas crashed to a 2-1 defeat at America de Cali.
La Equidad started the 12th round of the regular season with an impressive 5-0 win over Independiente Medellin on Friday. With goals from Dager Palacios, Dawlin Leudo (2), Hugo Soto and Juan Nuñez, the Bogota side left Medellin without a chance to reply and as such jumped to fifth place in the league ranking.
On Saturday, then leaders Once Caldas played an away game to America de Cali and ended up losing 2-1. William’s Zapata early goal for America was cancelled out by Wason Renteria shortly before the break, but Zapata had the final say by scoring the winning goal in the 79th minute.
In the day’s other game, Santa Fe earned a 3-1 win over Cucuta Deportivo and are no longer in last place.
Millonarios had a chance to take the lead on Sunday, playing an away game to last-placed Deportivo Pereira. Things initially went well for the home side, as Carlos Villagra scored the opener from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute.
At this point, Millonarios were already a man down after an early red card to Rafael Robayo. In the 37th minute, Alejandro Cichero was sent off as well to leave the guests with just nine players on the pitch.
But Millonarios found the equaliser against all odds, with Edison Toloza scoring for 1-1 three minutes before the break. Luis Mosquera then netted the winner with five minutes to go in the second half. At this point, Pereira’s Andres Arroyave had been sent off as well.
Millonarios, Atletico Nacional and Envigado now share the top spot, but the Bogota outfit has the better goal record.
Atletico Nacional move to second place following a 2-1 win over Deportivo Cali. Macnelly Torres and Roman Torres gave Nacional an early 2-0 lead, which was later cut in half by Cali’s Diego Alvarez.
Envigado followed Millonarios’ and Nacional’s example, beating Boyaca Chico 2-1 with goals from Jorge Serna and Luis Mosquera. Boyaca’s only goal came from Pedro Pino in the second half.
Deportes Tolima dropped to sixth place after being held to a goalless draw in a home game with Itagüi Ditaires, which left the latter in seventh position themselves.
In other matches, Junior defeated Atletico Huila 3-0 while Deportes Quindio earned a 2-1 win over Real Cartagena.
With six rounds left to play in the regular season, Millonarios, Nacional, Envigado, Once Caldas, La Equidad, Tolima, Itagüi Ditaires and America are currently on course for a spot in the next round.