Santa Fe and Cucuta Deportivo continue to share their lead in the Liga Postobon, while Independiente Medellin beat America de Cali to earn their first points of the season.
Joint leaders Santa Fe had a tough first half against Cortulua on Saturday but made the difference in the second with Mario Gonzalez netting the opener in the 50th minute. Oscar Perez converted a penalty in the 80th and Julio Gutierrez made it 3-0 another two minutes later.
In the day’s only other game, Deportivo Cali beat Atletico Nacional with second-half goals from Jonathan Alvarez, Fabian Castillo and Diego Alvarez. Marcos Mondaini got a late consolation goal for Nacional.
On Sunday, Cucuta Deportivo earned a 2-0 win over La Equidad with Wilson Carpintero scoring one goal in each half. La Equidad went a man down in the 74th minute as Carlos Renteria was sent off. Just like Santa Fe, Cucuta maintain their perfect record after three matches although the Bogota side now do have a slightly better goal record.
Boyaca Chico moved into third place wit a 2-1 win over Envigado. Antonhy Tapia put the Tunja side ahead after less than two minutes but had his effort canceled out by Neider Morantes four minutes before the break. The winning goal came with six minutes to go and was scored by Chico’s Winston Giron.
Deportes Quindio beat Millonarios in a highly entertaining match, in which the away side took the lead in the 25th minute when Yovanny Arrechea scored from the penalty spot. Carlos rodas then converted a penalty for Quindio seven minutes later to restore the balance. In the second half, Pablo Salinas even put Quindio in the lead but Carlos Saa made it 2-2 a minute later. The winning goal came in added time, as Rodas netted from yet another penalty kick.
Defending champions Junior were on their way to victory over Tolima following a fourth-minute goal from Giovanni Hernandez, but Dario Bustos leveled the score in the 75th. Both Mike Campaz of Tolima and Hernandez of Junior were sent off in the second half.
Independiente Medellin bounced back from last week’s defeat with a small win over America, achieved thanks to a 43rd-minute goal from Luis Arias.
In Sunday’s remaining game, Atletico Huila beat Real Cartagena 2-1 to move into seventh place.
Although only three games have been played, Santa Fe, Cucuta, Chico, Once Caldas, Quindio, Tolima, Huila and Cali are on course for the next round.
