COLOMBIA: Liga Postobon Apertura – Week 8 Round-up

Colombia

Article courtesy of Colo Futbol

In our first Liga Postobon round-up here at Colo Futbol…

Deportivo Pasto kept up their good home form with a win over Medellín.
Deportivo Cali grabbed their first win in five games in good style.
Huila and Millonarios held each other to a goal-less draw.
Nacional remain undefeated.
And a vicious dog interrupts play at Cucata and much, much more…

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Saturday 30th March 2013

Itagüí 0

Deportivo Cali 3 (Cabezas 38,Droguett 74, Marín 77)

After failing to win a game since week two, Deportivo Cali thumped a 3-0 victory away to Itagüí on Saturday evening. Juan Cabezas, Hugo Droguett and Vladimir Marín hit the goals at the Estadio Metropolitano de Ditaires. Itagüí were not helped by the sending off of Gerardo Vallejo, just two minutes on the pitch after being brought on as a substitute.

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Deportivo Pasto 1 (Páez 2)

Medellín 0

Deportivo Pasto coming off a great win in midweek against Millonairos, notched up another three points at home to Medellín. It was a hard fought victory in a close game that could have went either away but Pasto got off to the perfect start with a second minute goal which turned out to be the winner. Goalscorer Luis Páez (pictured above) used his great speed to chase a long ball from defence and smashed a left foot shot past goalkeeper Leandro Castellanos in emphatic fashion with great technique, Castellanos stood no chance.

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Atlético Huila 0

Millonarios 0

After tasting defeat in midweek, Millionarios fulfilled one of their goals in Saturday’s match in Neiva, they improved on the defensive end, but they could not score any goals. El Embajadores failed to raise their game but one of the pluses that came out of the game was the successful debut of 34 year-old goalkeeper Róbinson Zapata since his move from Itagüí. The best chance of the game fell to Fredy Montero in the 13th minute a shot inside the area, but the ball went wide of the goal. It was a match filled with emotion but unfortunately for the spectators a goal-less draw, but both team will be happy with the point.

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Sunday 31st March 2013

Boyacá Chico 2 (Mostasilia 42, Mahecha 68)

Envigado 0

Boyacá midfielder Juan Alejandro Mahecha hit one of the goals of the season so far to clinch a win for his side against Envigado on Saturday night. The 35 yard strike that flew like a rocket towards the goal will be replayed over and over this week even though Envigado ‘keeper Víctor Soto should have stopped it, but instead the ball flew through his hands. Boyacá had took the lead from defender Johnny Mostasilla’s header from a free kick just before half-time. Envigado never looked like gettting back into the game.

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Alianza Petrolera 1 (Rangel 76)

Once Caldas 1 (Romero 24)

Michael Rangel showed the world his excellent technique with a 76th minute Bicycle-kick equaliser on Sunday night, this was also his first goal in the Colombian top flight. But unfortunately for Alianza Petrolera it was not enough to take the maximum three points. In a hard fought battle, Once Caldas took a 24th minute lead with a Sergio Romero.

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Cúcuta Deportivo 0

La Equidad 1 (Motta 67)

Early in the game around six minutes (unfortunately we cannot find any video footage of this) a dog invaded the pitch, and as Cúcuta defender Rivas attempted to take it off the pitch it snacked on his hand. It was relatively quiet in the stadium, due to the Easter holidays, until the 67th minute when we saw an unbelievable Stalin Motta strike from 35 yards out stunned the Cúcuta crowd.

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Atlético Nacional 2 (Torres 22, Ángel 34)

Junior 1 (Toloza 53)

Goals from Macnelly Torres and Juan Pablo Ángel gave Nacional their third win of the season and they are still undefeated in eight games of the season so far. Junior on the other hand have just 5 points from 8 games and look a real contender to be relegated.

Colombian international Macnelly Torres opened the scoring on 22 minutes with an excellent swerving long range effort from outside the box that beat Sebastián Viera in the Junior goal. Torres turned provider for former Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Ángel on 34 minutes. Torres split the defence with a tremendous through ball and Ángel hit the ball first time to smash it home for his fourth goal of the season. Junior were given a lifeline when a penalty was given when Nacional’s Oscar Murillo brought down Edison Toloza. Toloza stepped up and slotted home the penalty on 53 minutes. Things got worse for Junior when defender Harold Macías recieved his second booking and given his marching orders on 73 minutes. Junior look to be in big trouble this season and they need to turn it around quick.

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Monday 1st April 2013

Deportes Quindío 0

Patriotas Boyacá 0

Ten man Quindio held on for a goal-less draw against Patriotas Boyacá mostly thanks to a tremendous display from goalkeeper Julián Viáfara. The 34-year old held the goal strong and saved a sixth minute penalty from Jonathan Estrada Campillo.

His task was not helped when teammate Hernando Patiño was dismissed just after half-time but they defended well, had their own chances which opposition goalie Uruguayuan Nicolás Vikonis had to pull out some saves of his own. Both clubs lay bottom of the Apertura, Quindio on four points and Boyacá above them on five.

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