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.