In a gripping match for the fourth round of the first division, Once Caldas and Junior battled to a 2-2 draw on Saturday. Junior took a strong lead with goals from Jesús Rivas in the 65th minute with a header and a stunning strike from Fabián Ángel at the 76th minute, giving them a 2-0 advantage. However, Once Caldas was determined not to concede defeat. Jefry Zapata spearheaded the comeback, scoring twice with headers in the dying minutes of the match (80’ and 88’). Fabián Ángel’s goal was a standout moment, where he unleashed a powerful shot from the semicircle after a clever setup by Yimmi Chará, which flew into the bottom left corner.
Zapata’s exceptional performance earned him the title of man of the match, scoring two crucial goals and attempting three shots on target. Jesús Rivas also shined for Junior, contributing to their efforts with a goal and two shots.
Once Caldas coach Hernán Herrera fielded a 4-5-1 formation with James Aguirre in goal; the defensive line consisted of Juan David Cuesta, Jorge Cardona, Jaider Riquett, and Kevin Tamayo; while Iván Rojas, Mateo Zuleta, Luis Sánchez, Alejandro García, and Michael Barrios filled the midfield; Dayro Moreno led the attack.
On the other hand, Junior, led by Alfredo Arias, also employed a 4-5-1 setup with Mauro Silveira as the goalkeeper; the defense featured Jhomier Guerrero, Daniel Rivera, Javier Báez, and Yeison Suárez; Guillermo Celis, Jesús Rivas, John Salazar, Carlos Esparragoza, and Bryan Castrillón comprised the midfield; and Steven Rodríguez was the lone striker.
Referee Andrés Rojas Noguera officiated the match held at the Estadio Palogrande.
Looking ahead to the next round, Once Caldas will travel to Pereira, while Junior will host Boyacá Chicó. The match will be pivotal for Once Caldas, who are currently sitting in 17th place with just 1 point, compared to Junior’s 10 points, placing them at the top of the table.
Substitutions for Once Caldas
56’ 2T – Mateo Zuleta replaced by Felipe Gomez, Alejandro García replaced by Andrés Ibargüen.
69’ 2T – Luis Sánchez replaced by Déinner Quiñónes.
70’ 2T – Michael Barrios replaced by Jefry Zapata.
79’ 2T – Kevin Tamayo replaced by Luis Palacios.
Yellow Cards for Once Caldas
26’ 2T Jefry Zapata (Simulating a foul), 47’ 2T Jaider Riquett (Unsporting behavior), 48’ 2T Dayro Moreno (Insulting or disapproving of the referee) and 48’ 2T Hernán Herrera (Insulting or disapproving of the referee).
Substitutions for Junior
63’ 2T – Bryan Castrillón replaced by Yimmi Chará, John Salazar replaced by José Enamorado.
66’ 2T – Guillermo Celis replaced by Fabián Ángel.
80’ 2T – Jesús Rivas replaced by Lucas Monzón, Steven Rodríguez replaced by Stiwart Acuña.
Yellow Cards for Junior
25’ 1T Mauro Silveira (Delay of game), 34’ 1T Carlos Esparragoza (Unsporting behavior).