Nacional and Santa Fe renew their fierce rivalry

Liga Postobon - Round 11

The first live game of Colombian league football I saw was back in July 2005 the day after I had arrived in Bogota to study a TOEFL teaching course. It was a Sunday and there was a buzz about the capital. People crowded round televisions in street bars, some decked out in red and white and others dressed in green and white. It turned out to be the 2nd leg of the final of Colombia's Apertura season.

The team playing in red and white that day was Independiente Santa Fe, a local team historically smaller than their Bogota rivals Millonarios (who were at the time, as they are now, struggling to maintain their top flight status).

Their opponents in green and white were Atletico Nacional of Medellin.

Like many capital cities the opportunities offered by Bogota attract people from all over Colombia. The sizeable population of Paisas (people hailng from Medellin) living in Bogota also means a sizeable population of Atletico Nacional supporters.

Back in the late 80s and 90s when the likes of Leonel Alvarez, Faustino Asprilla and Rene Aguita and many others thrilled spectators with their exciting brand of passing football they earned Atletico Nacional the reputation of "Colombia's team" with a large portion of the national side being made up of Nacional players. This turned Nacional into the best supported team in the country with large numbers of fans in every town and city in the country, including Bogota.

The 1st leg finished in a 0-0 stalemate at the El Campin stadium in Bogota with roughly 40% of the fans inside the ground that day cheering on the away side Atletico Nacional.

The 2nd leg of the final to be played at the Atanasio Giradot stadium in Medellin would be very different.

99% of the stadium that day was adorned with the green and white of Atletico Nacional, with just a few hundred Santa Fe fans squeezed into a corner of the northern terrace.

The game remained goalless until the 80th minute when two goals in two minutes handed Atletico Nacional their first championship in six years.

     


Fast forward to September 2010 and Santa Fe and Nacional are once again riding high in the Colombian league. And on Sunday afternoon the two old enemies once again faced off at the Atanasio Giradot stadium in Medellin.

There was just a small splattering of Santa Fe supporters who had made the 12 hour journey down off the Eastern Andes mountain range upon which Bogota sits at 2,600m, across the hot lowlands and the Magdalena River, and then up the Central Andes mountain range to Medellin. It is a beautiful, but energy sapping journey, especially when you're only going to be spending around 90 minutes at your destination before embarking on the return journey. But with their team sitting 6 points clear at the top of the Colombian league they at least had cause for optimism that the journey home would be a happy one.

The first half lived up to its billing with Santa Fe retaining more of the possession, but with both teams creating dangerous chances.

Santa Fe enjoyed most of the possession in the first half

Independiente Santa Fe were gifted a golden opportunity as the first half drew to a close when Jair Iglesias brought down Oscar Rodas. But Yulian Anchico saw his resulting penalty saved by Nacional keeper Gaston Pezzutti. The half-time whistle blew shortly after.

Due to renovation work on the main stand at the Atanasio Giradot stadium the players exited through temporary tunnels constructed behind each goal. The Santa Fe players and management were forced to run a gauntlet of missiles hurled from the northern terrace before reaching the safety of the tunnel. Riot police were brought over to escort the players out for the second half.

Riot police shelter the Santa Fe players as they run out for the second half

The second half started the way the first had finished, with Santa Fe pressing and Nacional attempting to hit on the break.

The game was still locked at 0-0 when Santa Fe won a free kick on the left. The ball was swung into the box and met by Luis Seijas who powered a header past Nacional keeper Pezzutti. The hundred or so Santa Fe fans went wild.

Despite a couple of half chances late on Atletico Nacional fizzled out and the match ended with a 1-0 victory for Independiente Santa Fe.

The Bogota side currently lie 6 points ahead of their closest rivals Tolima and judging by their performance on Sunday evening look every bit like champion material.

The Santa Fe fans celebrated their 8th victory from 11 games. Sadly for many of those fans a long, arduous journey back to Bogota was barely an hour under way when a their bus was ambushed by around 200 Nacional fans at a town called Guarne south of Medellin. About a dozen Santa Fe supporters were rushed to hospital after being attacked with knives and rocks. Riot police were rushed to the scene and arrested a total of 110 Nacional fans in connection with the attack.

With much attention in Colombia this week focussed on the killing of FARC rebel leader "Mono Jojoy", this incident serves as a reminder of another form of violent delinquency which plagues the country.

Atletico Nacional will now turn their attention to the local derby this Wednesday against Independiente Medellin.

Round 11 Results				Round 12 Fixtures
Cucuta	1-2	Medellin		America	vs	Nacional
Junior	2-2	Once Caldas		Santa Fe	vs	Cali
Millonarios	2-0	America		O Caldas	vs	Cucuta
Quindio	2-1	Chico		Medellin	vs	Pereira
Cali	0-0	Huila		Envigado	vs	Equidad
Nacional	0-1	Santa Fe		Cartagena	vs	Tolima
Tolima	3-0	Cortulua		Cortulua	vs	Millonarios
Equidad	2-1	Cartagena		Huila	vs	Quindio
Pereira	1-1	Envigado		Chico	vs	Junior

Santa Fe continue to dominate

Liga Postobon - Round 10

Arsenal weren't the only team bemoaning a last-minute injury time goal this weekend as the Colombian football league provided plenty of last gasp equalisers.

Independiente Medellin looked to have sealed all 3 points in the weekend's first game on Saturday afternoon, but were denied in injury time by local minnows Envigado, who claimed a vital point in their fight against relegation.

Atletico Nacional looked to move forward from Wednesday embarrassing 4-0 defeat in the Copa Postobon to part-timers Itagui. And it seemed like a formality as they entered the last 10 minutes with a 2 goal cushion. But it was not to be as their rivals Atletico Huila struck on 81 minutes and then 3 minutes into injury time to put the brakes of Nacional's surge up the league table.

Sunday's big game was a repeat of last sunday's derby match between the two Bogota giants of Millonarios and Santa Fe. Santa Fe had beaten Caracas during the week in the Copa Suramerica (South America's version of the Europa League) and continued their excellent form with a convincing 2-0 win over their local enemy.
Santa Fe stretch their lead at the top of the table to 5 points, whereas Millonarios remain in 16th spot with an end-of-season play off place seeming increasingly unlikely.

Round 10 Results				Round 11 Fixtures
Medellin	2-2	Envigado		Cucuta	vs	Medellin
America	1-0	Tolima		Junior	vs	Once Caldas
Huila	2-2	Nacional		Millonarios	vs	America
Cartagena	1-0	Pereira		Quindio	vs	Chico
Cortulua	2-2	Equidad		Cali	vs	Huila
Santa Fe	2-0	Millonarios		Nacional	vs	Santa Fe
Cucuta	3-3	Junior		Tolima	vs	Cortulua
Once Caldas	4-2	Quindio		Equidad	vs	Cartagena
Chico	1-0	Cali		Pereira	vs	Envigado

Derby excitement in Round 9

Liga Postobon - Round 9

Round 9 is known as the "round of derbies", a special round in which the majority of teams are involved in local derbies. The big 3 derbies are the Bogota derby between Millonarios and Independiente Santa Fe, the Medellin derby contested between Atletico Nacional and Deportivo Independiente Medellin, and the Cali derby between America de Calli and Deportivo Cali.

The Bogota derby produced an enthralling game between league leaders Santa Fe and Milloanrios who currently languish in 16th spot at the league's halfway stage. The game was played out in true derby spirit with both teams pushing forward in search of 3 points. Both teams had chances to win it, but it was Millonarios who were presented with a golden opportunity on 82 minutes after being awarded a slightly dubious penalty.

Up stepped Millonarios' leading goalscorer, Yovanny Arrechea. His kick was firmly struck, but at a nice height for Santa Fe keeper Camilo Vargas who parried the ball away to safety.

Santa Fe had two players sent off in the last 5 minutes as the game became increasingly niggly and ill-tempered, but they hung on for a point which sends them three points clear at the top of the Colombian football league.

For the blue half of Bogota it was a well-earned point, but they will need more than well-earned points if they are to seriously mount a challenge for the end of season playoffs with just 9 more matches still to play.

Millonarios and Santa Fe played out an exciting 0-0 draw

On Sunday afternoon Atletico Nacional defeated local rivals Independiente Medellin 1-0 after the unfortunate Medellin defender Hernan Pertuz deflected in a Nacional cross early in the second half. Independiente Medellin pressed for much of the second half, but could not find a way past a resolute Nacional defence.

Atletico Nacional have now won 5 out of 7 this season and sit in 6th place in the Liga Postobon having 2 games in hand over most of their rivals.

In the final match of the weekend America de Cali were defeated 2-1 at home to Deportivo Cali who leapfrog their rivals into 8th place.

Round 9 Results				Round 10 Fixtures
Cortulua	2-1	Quindio		Medellin	vs	Envigado
Tolima	3-0	Huila		America	vs	Tolima
Cartagena	1-1	Junior		Huila	vs	Nacional
Millonarios	0-0	Santa Fe		Cartagena	vs	Pereira
America	1-2	Cali		Cortulua	vs	Equidad
Envigado	1-1	Cucuta		Santa Fe	vs	Millonarios
Pereira	0-0	Once Caldas		Cucuta	vs	Junior
Equidad	1-1	Chico		Once Caldas	vs	Quindio
Nacional	1-0	Medellin		Chico	vs	Cali

Obelar mistake gifts Huila victory

Liga Postobon - Round 8

A Juan Obelar mistake gifted Huila a 2-1 victory

A last minute goalkeeping error cost Millonarios a point on a rainy evening in the capital on Sunday night. Huila had taken a first half lead after a fine finish from Jeison Quinones. Millonarios drew level early in the second half, Yovanny Arrechea smashing home from close range.

And the match look to be heading for a point when Millonarios' keeper Juan Obelar weakly punched a free kick straight to Huila's Victor Guaza who lobbed the ball back over the despairing Obelar to clinch the three points for the visiting team.

The win moves Atletico Huila into second place in the Liga Postobon, while Millonarios remain down in 16th place on just 4 points.

Elsewhere in Round 8 Nacional made it four wins out of four after a 2-0 home victory over Chico. And Independiente Santa Fe overcame Deportes Tolima 2-1 to stay top on 19 points as the Colombian League nears the halway point.

Next weekend is "Clasico" weekend (the weekend of derby matches). The three standout matches are Millonarios vs Santa Fe, America vs Cali and Nacional vs Medellin.

Round 8 Results				Round 9 Fixtures
Equidad	0-2	America		Cortulua	vs	Quindio
Tolima	1-2	Santa Fe		Tolima	vs	Huila
Nacional	2-0	Chico		Cartagena	vs	Junior
Junior	1-1	Medellin		Millonarios	vs	Santa Fe
Quindio	1-0	Cucuta		America	vs	Cali
Cali	5-3	Once Caldas		Envigado	vs	Cucuta
Pereira	0-0	Cortulua		Pereira	vs	Once Caldas
Envigado	2-1	Cartagena		Equidad	vs	Chico
Millonarios	1-2	Huila		Nacional	vs	Medellin

Santa Fe and Tolima extend unbeaten runs

Liga Postobon - Round 6

22 August 2010

Independiente Santa Fe and Deportes Tolima extended their unbeaten runs with wins over Pereira and Chico respectively.

Santa Fe will be pleased to get back to winning ways after a 2-0 defeat to venezuelan side Deportivo Lara in the Copa Suramericana on Thursday night. The return leg will be played this Thursday in Estadio El Campin (photo, right).

Elsewhere in Round 6 Nacional left it until the 93rd minute to beat high flying Deportivo Cucuta with a strike from Dorlan Pabon.

On Saturday evening Cali and Junior played out an exciting 2-2 draw which featured two terrific goals from Atletico Junior. Junior and Cali lie 12th and 14th in the table respectively, but on the basis on their fine performances at the weekend both will consider themselves still well in contention for an end of season play off place.

Round 6 Results				Round 7 Fixtures
Quindio	1-1	Medellin		Huila	vs	Tolima
Cali	2-2	Junior		America	vs	Pereira
Nacional	1-0	Cucuta		Once Caldas	vs	Nacional
Millonarios	1-2	Once Caldas		Medellin	vs	Cartagena
Tolima	3-1	Chico		Cortulua	vs	Envigado
Equidad	4-1	Huila		Santa Fe	vs	Equidad
Pereira	0-1	Santa Fe		Junior	vs	Quindio
Envigado	1-3	America		Cucuta	vs	Cali
Cartagena	1-0	Cortulua		Chico	vs	Millonarios

Santa Fe stretch lead at the top

Liga Postobon - Round 5
13 August 2010

Santa Fe beat Envigado 1-0 on Friday evening in the first game of round 5 to move 4 points clear at the top of the Liga Postobon.

Santa Fe held to draw but stay top

Liga Postobon - Round 4
7 August 2010

A last minute Cartagena goal denied Santa Fe of Bogota all three points, but a point was enough to stay at the op of the Liga Postobon after round 4.

Santa Fe and Cucuta continue 100% records

Liga Postobon - Round 3
1 August 2010

Santa Fe and Cucuta continued their perfect starts to the season with victories over Cortulua and Equidad respectively.

The match that attracted most interest, however, kicked off at 6:30 on Saturday evening. Atletico Nacional of Medellin began their campaign with an away trip to Deportivo Cali. It would be their first game without wonderkid Giovanni Moreno (photo, right) who recently signed for Argentian club Racing. Colombian football, as in all South American leagues, is subject to the effects of the globalisation of the game. The big clubs of world football have such huge scouting networks that many of the continents brightest stars leave their country of birth without so much as kicking a professional ball in their home league. Radamel Falcao, now with Portuguese side Porto, is a good example. He was plucked from the Millonarios youth team when he was just 15 years old by Argentinian giants River Plate. Argentina's Lionel Messi was playing youth football at Barcelona before his 14th birthday.

So when Giovanni Moreno's transfer was finally agreed in June there was no supporter resentment toward the young number 10, simply gratitude for the two years of fine service he had given.

Nacional will now have to wait until the next Giovanni Moreno comes along, but in the meantime they have to arm a league campaign to satisfy an increasingly frustrated fanbase at the Atanasio Giradot stadium.

It is now three years since they last claimed the title and haven't appeared in a final since then. Three years might not seem like a long time, but for "El Rey de Copas" (The King of Cups) it has seemed like an eternity.

Nacional post-Giovanni couldn't have got off to a worse start on Saturday evening away at Deportivo Cali. The local side hit the woodwork twice inside the first ten minutes and eventually ran out comfortable 3-1 winners, Nacional snatching a consolation in injury time.

Atletico Nacional will be boosted by the return of several players from injuries and under-20 international duty, but they will need three points next weekend at home to a Quindio side that are proving difficult to beat despite teetering on the edge of relegation.

Cali, will look to build on a fine display against Nacional, as they host Nacional's local rivals Independiente Medellin.

Cali's overall team performance at the weekend was excellent, but one player stood out from the crowd. Fabian Castillo tormented the Nacional defence all night with his mazy runs and trickery. And he rounded it all off with a second half wonder goal reminiscent of Ricky Villa's famous 1980 cup final goal.

A few more similar performances and Fabian Castillo may well be a name that attracts attention from across the Atlantic. For now though, Deportivo Cali will look to make the most of his impressive talents.

Bogota sides continue excellent start

Liga Postobon - Round 2
26 July 2010

It was a good weekend for the capital's three clubs as Millonarios, Santa Fe and La Equidad all claimed victories.

Millonarios, playing their first game of the season, beat Deportivo Cali 1-0 on Saturday evening courtesy of a 44th-minute Omar Vasquez goal.

Millonarios has been dogged by off-the-field financial problems for several years, but last month it was announced that the current board of directors had finally agreed to sell the club. The news was met with excitement and hope, particularly following the arrival of respected Venezuelan coach Richard Paez (photo, right).

And indeed Millonarios looked like a new team on Saturday night. Rather than the slow, aimless play of the previous seasons they looked much more organised. The midfield was compact with the solid central pairing of Omar Rodriguez and Elkin Blanco constantly being offered options. The long aimless and often inaccurate passes of ealier this year were replaced with some impressive one touch football and intricate passing. But more than anything Millonarios exuded confidence on Saturday evening. There was an almost tangible threat every time Millonarios surged forward and there was even some showboating that brought cries of "Ole! Ole!" from the some 15 thousand supporters on hand. If Richard Paez can keep Millonarios playing at this level they will be serious contenders for the title come December.

In a replay of the final of the Liga Postobon I, La Equidad took on Atletico Junior. Remarkably the only goal of the game was one of the quickest in Colombian football history coming after just 7 seconds from Argentine Ariel Carreno. On Sunday evening Independiente Santa Fe rounded off a perfect weekend for the capital with a 2-1 victory over America de Cali.

The pick of next weekend's games is the Saturday evening encounter between Deportivo Cali and Atletico Nacional who finally get their season under way after two postponed matches due to stadium improvements. It will be the first competitive game for Nacional since the sale of their star player Giovanny Moreno to Racing of Argentina.

Santa Fe off to winning start

Liga Postobon - Round 1
18 July 2010

Ind. Santa Fe 2 - 0 Ind. Medellin

Independiente Santa Fe were the first winners of the Liga Postobon II with a 2-0 victory over Independiente Medellin in front of a tiny crowd in the colombian capital.

Maybe it was a hangover from the recently concluded World Cup. Or maybe it was the cold wet weather that has been hanging over Colombia for the last month. Whatever the reason the Liga Postobon II season started with a whimper rather than a bang in front of appallingly low attendances.

Even a Bogota-Medellin encounter in the form of Santa Fe against Independiente Medellin didn't inspire more than just a few thousand supporters to make the trip to Estadio El Campin on Saturday evening.

With an eye on the Under-20 World Cup due to be staged in Colombia in 2011 many of the country's venues are currently undergoing renovation work. The largest stand at El Campin, La Occidental, was a mess of rubble and the majority of the displaced fans clearly decided to stay indoors rather than take up a position on one of the other terraces. As game kicked off with the derelict Occidental stand as the backdrop for the TV cameras the occasion felt more like a reserve game in an unsalubrious neighbourhood than the beginning of the second Liga Postobon season.

The game itself was only slightly more inspiring than the surroundings in which it was played. Both sides stuttered early on, but it was the home team, Santa Fe, who began to control the game with some slick moves which brought them close to opening the scoring.

In the second half the game opened up a little, but it wasn't until the 76th minute that the deadlock was finally broken when Medellin failed to deal with a corner that was was then hooked back into the box for defender Jhonnier Gonzalez to nod home.

Santa Fe then extended their lead on 84 minutes when Alejandro Bernal prodded the ball through defender and keeper from 6 yards out following an excellent cut back from substitute Sergio Otalvaro.

Medellin hit the post late on, but it was a deserved victory for Santa Fe who next month begin their Copa Suramerica campaign (South America's version of the Europa League).

Atletico Junior 2 - 1 Deportivo Pereira:

In Saturday's late game current champions Atletico Junior took on Deportivo Pereira in the city of Cartagena (due to remodelling of the Metropolitano stadium in Barranquilla). Financially-troubled Pereira had sold 16 players since the end of the Liga Postobon I. Despite their off-the-field troubles Pereira made a perfect start after being awarded a stonewall penalty on 4 minutes which Fabian Cuellar converted from the spot.

The lead would would last just 3 minute, however, when some poor defending allowed Atletico Junior talisman Giovanni Hernandez, known as "The Prince", (photo, above) to head into the net.

In the 82nd minute Hernandez turned provider as his chipped cross was met by the head of Carlos Bacca to give Atletico Junior all three points.

The first round also saw victories for Boyaca Chico, Deportivo Cucuta, Deportes Quindio and Once Caldas. Full results and next week's fixtures below.