Colombian giants relegated

Colombia’s top division will be without one of its biggest clubs next season.

America de Cali were demoted to the second tier of Colombian football for the first time in their 84-year history after losing the relegation playoff on penalties against minnows Patriotas de Tunja.

The score finished 1-1 and 4-3 after penalties, with US goalkeeper Diego Restrepo playing the full game for Ameica. New York-born goalkeeper Kevin Piedrahita was on the bench.

America has won the Colombian league 13 times and reached the final of the Copa Libertadores on four occasions.

The result puts Restrepo´s future at the club further in doubt, with the player recently telling Goal.com that his contract is about to end and that there is interest from MLS clubs such as the Philadelphia Union and Chivas USA.

In Mexico, Puebla´s DaMarcus Beasley scored in his team´s 5-3 victory over Cruz Azul Hidalgo in a preseason friendly on Saturday.

Beasley played 70 minutes of the game in preparation for the Clausura 2012 season starting on January 6.