Independiente Santa Fe have won their first major trophy in 20 years, beating Deportivo Pasto on penalties in a thrilling final.
Pasto had won the first match 2-1, allowing them to defend their lead in the return match played at Bogota’s El Campin stadium.
And things initially looked good for the visiting side, as Sante Fe lacked inspiration and easily gave away possession on many occasions.
Shortly before the break, Santa Fe goalkeeper and captain Agustin Julio failed to properly control a shot and allowed James Castro to score on the rebound. A minute later, Santa Fe also had Julio Gutierrez sent off with a second yellow card.
Despite being a man down, the second half showed a completely different Santa Fe side that played with much more urgency. Key players Mario Gomez and Omar Perez were brought on in an attempt to revitalize the home team, a move that appeared to pay off.
Nine minutes after the break, a Perez strike leveled the score and gave Santa Fe new energy for the remainder of the match.
Pasto went down a man in the 63rd minute, when Eduardo Villarreal refused to take distance at a free kick and was first booked, then red-carded.
But Santa Fe were again dealt a big blow ten minutes later, as Ricard Villaraga was sent off for a foul at the Pasto end-line.
Just when it looked like Pasto were going to take home the trophy, the referee called for a Santa Fe penalty for a German Centurion foul on Carlos Valdes in the 87th minute. Perez stepped up to take it and sent the ball right through the middle.
With an aggregate score of 3-3, a penalty shoot-out was needed to decide which team was to lift the 2009 Copa Colombia trophy.
In the regular series of five, penalties were missed by Valdes, Mario Gonzalez and Yulian Anchico of Santa Fe, and Hugo Centurion, Andres Mosquera and German Centurion of Pasto. The latter Centurion saw his potential cup-winning effort blocked by keeper Julio.
Both teams took three more penalties after that, Pasto’s Alberto Altamirano being the only one to have his shot saved by Julio.
As such, Santa Fe win their first trophy since their Copa Colombia victory in 1989.