Junior secured a hard-fought victory against América de Cali on Thursday, winning 2-1 in a gripping match that was part of the fifth round of Group A in the first division. After trailing for much of the second half, Junior rallied to score two late goals, with Jermein Peña finding the net in the 73rd minute and Didier Moreno sealing the win in the 81st minute. Earlier, Josen Escobar had given América de Cali the lead with a goal in the 68th minute.
The standout player for Junior was Didier Moreno, who not only scored but also posed a threat to the opposition with his aggressive plays, attempting two shots on goal throughout the match. Jermein Peña also made a significant impact, contributing defensively with three crucial clearances alongside his goal.
Junior’s manager Alfredo Arias opted for a 4-3-3 formation, which featured Mauro Silveira in goal, supported by defenders Jhomier Guerrero, Lucas Monzón, Jermein Peña, and Yeison Suárez. The midfield trio comprised Didier Moreno, Guillermo Celis, and Yimmi Chará, while the attacking front included José Enamorado, Guillermo Paiva, and Bryan Castrillón.
América de Cali, under the guidance of Alexander Escobar, also lined up in a 4-3-3 setup. Their formation included Jorge Soto as the goalkeeper, with Mateo Castillo, Andrés Mosquera, Nicolás Hernández, and Omar Bertel forming the backline. Josen Escobar, Rafael Carrascal, and Jan Lucumi played in the midfield, while Cristian Barrios, Yojan Garcés, and Jhon Palacios led the attack.
The referee for this closely contested match at the Estadio Metropolitano was Jairo Mayorga Londoño.
Looking ahead, Junior will face Independiente Medellín in their next match, while América de Cali prepares to take on their arch-rival Atlético Nacional in what promises to be an exciting clasico.
Junior Substitutions
29’ 1T – Guillermo Celis out for Joel Canchimbo
45’ 2T – Bryan Castrillón out for Fabián Ángel
68’ 2T – Joel Canchimbo out for Teófilo Gutiérrez
79’ 2T – Guillermo Paiva out for Steven Rodríguez, Jhomier Guerrero out for Edwin Herrera
Yellow Cards for Junior:
21’ 2T Jermein Peña (Unsporting behavior), 29’ 2T Teófilo Gutiérrez (Unsporting behavior), 44’ 2T Fabián Ángel (Unsporting behavior)
América de Cali Substitutions
78’ 2T – Jhon Palacios out for Marcos Mina
84’ 2T – Yojan Garcés out for Kevin Angulo
90’ 2T – Omar Bertel out for Adrián Ramos
Yellow Cards for América de Cali:
11’ 1T Josen Escobar (Unsporting behavior), 42’ 1T Jhon Palacios (Unsporting behavior), 2’ 2T Andrés Mosquera (Unsporting behavior), 26’ 2T Nicolás Hernández (Unsporting behavior), 39’ 2T Yojan Garcés (Unsporting behavior), 49’ 2T Mateo Castillo (Unsporting behavior)