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