Junior reaches Colombian Championship semifinals after dramatic finish. Junior secured a place in the semifinals of the Colombian Championship following a draw with Once Caldas. The key moment was a saved penalty in the 103rd minute. In the next round, the team will face Independiente Santa Fe.
Junior from Barranquilla reached the semifinals of the Colombian championship, drawing 2-2 at home with Once Caldas and winning 3-2 on aggregate. The key moment came with a saved penalty in the 103rd minute: goalkeeper Mauro Silveira denied Dayro Moreno a chance that could have swung the match in favor of the visitors. According to EFE, this episode proved decisive for the outcome of the tie.
In the first half, the hosts were forced to play catch-up: already in the 15th minute, Luis Felipe Gómez opened the scoring with a long-range shot, leaving Silveira with no chance. Junior managed to equalize only in the 41st minute—defender Lucas Monzón joined the attack, controlled the ball with his chest, and sent it into the Once Caldas net.
A tense finish
After the break, Junior took the lead thanks to Cristian Barrios, who outran the defender and scored with a precise shot. However, in the 85th minute, Monzón scored an own goal, and Once Caldas leveled again. In stoppage time, Monzón fouled Dayro Moreno in his own box, leading to a penalty and the sending off of Junior midfielder Jesús Rivas after a VAR review. But Silveira saved the penalty, ensuring his team’s place in the next round.
Semifinal opponents
In the semifinals, Junior will face Independiente Santa Fe, who confidently overcame América de Cali, thrashing their opponent 4-0 and clinching a 5-1 aggregate victory. Veteran striker Hugo Rodallega stood out with a hat-trick, as did Argentine midfielder Nahuel Bustos, who confirmed his reputation as one of the most striking newcomers of the season.
In the other match, Atlético Nacional dispelled all doubts about their form, crushing Internacional de Bogotá 7-1. Diego Arias's team, after a 2-1 win in the first leg, left no chance for their opponents, who had been considered one of the revelations of the tournament. Defender Simón García scored twice, while Matheus Uribe, Alfredo Morelos, Cristian Arango, Edwin Cardona, and Andrés Sarmiento also found the net. The visitors' only goal was scored by Juan Valencia.
Finalists are determined
In the semifinals, Atlético Nacional will face Deportes Tolima, who beat Deportivo Pasto 2-0 away and advanced with a 3-0 aggregate. Tolima's victory was secured by precise strikes from Jersson González and Juan Pablo 'Tatay' Torres. Pasto finished the match with ten men after Andrey Estupiñán, one of their key players this season, was sent off.
Football fever in Colombia continues to heat up: the battle for a place in the final promises to be no less thrilling than the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, important developments are taking place in Spanish football: Girona and Mallorca recently played a key survival match, with both teams refreshing their starting lineups — more details are available in the article on the battle to stay in LaLiga.
