In a match full of emotions and defensive errors, América de Cali achieved an agonizing victory against La Equidad with a goal from Yohan Garcés in the 92nd minute. Envigado, in the early hours, surprised Tolima in Ibagué.
Photo: América de Cali, via
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América de Cali achieved an agonizing, but necessary, victory against La Equidad (3-2) at the Pascual Guerrero stadium, in a match on date 15 that had more drama than good football. In the midst of an irregular campaign and with qualification practically out of reach, David González's team found relief in the final minutes against a rival that still cannot raise its head in the table.
The duel was a kind of “final” between two beaten teams. La Equidad, last in the championship, traveled to Cali with the urgency of adding something that would take them out of last place; América, in 17th place, arrived wrapped in doubts, without collective answers and with the disenchantment of its fans. But the meeting, although it did not resolve the underlying problems, offered plenty of emotions.
The Bogotá team surprised first. At 19 minutes, Juan Valencia opened the scoring after an assist from Samir Mayo. The goal was reviewed by the VAR and validated, which reflected the good start of the visitors, who were more determined and focused. However, America reacted in time. Adrián Ramos, the captain and reference, equalized with a header in the 31st minute, and six minutes later Jean Pestaña made it 2-1, also with a header, taking advantage of a mistake in the capital's defense.
In the second half, the local team tried to control the pace and close out the result, while La Equidad lost order. Joider Micolta was sent off for an attack that left his team with ten men and accentuated the desperation of those led by Diego Merino. But America, despite the numerical superiority, failed to put the game to bed and once again showed its defensive gaps.
America vs. goals Equity
With nine minutes left, Eduard Banguero silenced the stadium with the score at 2-2, after a poorly defended play that showed the doubts of the scarlet background. La Equidad seemed to rescue a valuable point, but the drama was far from over. In added time (92nd minute), Yohan Garcés appeared opportunely in the area to hunt down a rebound and score the final 3-2, which unleashed the relief of América and its fans.
The result allowed the Cali team to rise to twelfth position with 17 points, still far from the top eight, but with some air for the closing of the tournament. La Equidad, on the other hand, remains at the bottom with 11 units and continues without finding football or emotional answers.
On the next day, América will face the Valle classic against Deportivo Cali, a match that can mark the emotional pulse of its closing semester.
Envigado surprised in Ibagué and postponed Tolima's classification
Deportes Tolima missed a key opportunity to seal their qualification for the semi-final home runs. At the Manuel Murillo Toro stadium, Lucas González's team fell 1-2 against an Envigado team already resigned to relegation, but which played with pride and efficiency to take an unexpected victory in Ibagué.
From the start, the script seemed clear: Tolima pressed high, handled the ball and sought to open spaces with speed on the sides. However, that offensive vocation cost him balance. Envigado, who arrived with nothing to lose, struck first in the 13th minute after a foul by Marlon Torres on Santiago Londoño. The judge ruled a penalty and Rubio España did not fail from the eleven steps, momentarily silencing Murillo Toro.
Goals from Tolima vs. Envigado
The local reaction was quick. At 26 minutes, Mario González caught a rebound in the area and, with a sharp left foot, tied the score at 1-1. The goal restored calm to those from Ibagué, who even celebrated a second goal through Gonzalo Lencina, but the action was invalidated due to offside. Tolima continued trying, although with more will than clarity, and the first half left with the feeling that the local team deserved more, but could not find a way to achieve it.
In the second part, the script was repeated: territorial dominance of Tolima, shallow depth and a patient Envigado, waiting for the error. Those in orange warned in the 55th minute with a shot by Gendry Cuervo after a mistake by Samuel Velásquez, but Neto Volpi prevented his goal from falling. The clearest of the local team came at 72 and 76, both by Mario González, without aim.
And when everything pointed to a tie, Envigado struck the final blow. At 87 minutes, in a play that seemed inconsequential, Dairon Valencia received a change of front in the area and assisted William Hurtado, who scored with a low shot for the final 1-2. Goal and silence in Ibagué: a punishment for Tolima's lack of efficiency and a reward for the courage of a team that, despite relegation, refuses to give up.
This is how the BetPlay League standings looked after America's victory
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