Colombia Primera A Wrap: Santa Fe stay clear of the pack

Santa Fe have maintained their lead in Colombia’s Primera A with a stunning 4-3 victory over Boyaca Chico.

Wilder Medina scored a brace for Santa Fe as they cruised to a 4-1 lead in the 68th minute but two goals in the last quarter-of-an-hour to Boyaca Chico ensured a nervous finish for the league-leaders.

Saturday’s victory kept Santa Fe top of the Primera A standings, while Deportes Tolima and Atletico Nacional moved into second and third positions respectively, which saw Itagui, Once Caldas and Deportivo Pasto drop down the table.

In Colombia’s capital Bogota, Santa Fe hit the front after 15 minutes on their home turf when Argentine midfielder Omar Perez got ahead of his marker to side-foot a volley past Boyaca Chico goalkeeper Hector Landazuri following a brilliant cross from Gerardo Bedoya.

It was 2-0 in first-half stoppage time in the Bogota derby after a classy finish from Medina, who flicked Yulian Anchico’s cross behind his standing leg.

Medina completed his brace in the 62nd minute with a penalty and while a driving shot from visiting midfielder Juan Alejandro Mahecha made it 3-1 a minute later, Santa Fe regained their three-goal lead with 22 minutes remaining thanks to a thumping strike from Jefferson Cuero.

Luis Nunez gave Boyaca Chico some hope of a late comeback when he thrashed the ball home from 25 metres out with 15 minutes remaining before Edwin Movil slotted a penalty for the visitors in the 78th minute, but Santa Fe held on to move to 28 points on the Primera A table.

Santa Fe lead Colombia’s top tier of football by two points from Deportes Tolima, while Atletico Nacional (25 points) sit third, just one point clear of Itagui, Once Caldas and Deportivo Pasto.

Deportes Tolima won 2-1 away to Junior, while Atletico Nacional won the last game of the round, knocking off Once Caldas 2-1 on Monday.

Itagui slipped to fourth after being held to a 1-1 draw by Envigado, while Deportivo Pasto were annihilated 6-1 by Atletico Huila.

In other results in Colombia’s Primera A, Medellin won 2-0 away to bottom club Deportes Quindio, Deportivo Cali drew 2-2 with Millonarios, Cucuta Deportivo overcame Alianza Petrolera 3-2 and Patriotas Boyaca claimed a 1-1 stalemate against La Equidad.