Result takes the winning time out of Fluminense’s way in Libertadores. Tricolor will face Millonarios
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Tolima and Desportivo Cali clashed once more and the visitors got the better of them. At Manuel Murillo Toro Stadium, Tolima did not do their homework and were defeated 2-1.
With the victory, Desportivo Cali won the Colombian championship for the tenth time, the last title had been in 2015.
The score was opened by Tolima in the 13th minute of the first half with Quinhones, who rose more than the opposing defense to score. The tie came halfway through the second half, in a move that Deportivo Cali tried the entire game: experienced Teo Gutierrez’s pivot for someone to come hitting from behind. This time, Vasquez scored the tie. Minutes later, a penalty for Cali and Preciado charged to turn around and take the title.
The achievement took the team straight to the group stage and put Millonarios on the tricolor path for the best campaign in the overall sum.
In the Colombian Championship, Millonarios was eliminated in the Clausura semifinals for Tolima. In June, it went to Apertura’s decision, but fell in the final to the same opponent. In the overall standings, it was the second best-scoring team in the country – it was third in the Apertura (33 points) and second in the Clausura (36 points).
For Pré-Libertadores, Millonarios will have important embezzlements. Forward Fernando Uribe, formerly of Flamengo, who was the competition’s top scorer, and Daniel Giraldo, a Colombian national midfielder, were sold to Junior Barranquilla. But the Colombian club is targeting reinforcements.
According to Conmebol, Fluminense will open the match on February 22, at 9:30 pm (Brasilia time), at El Campín, Colombia, and will decide the spot at home on March 1, at the same time. The location, however, has not yet been defined: the tricolor board wants to send the game to São Januário, but Vasca has not yet hammered out the use.
