Jaime Morón was a party and Real Cartagena achieved the heroic victory against Huila and eliminated them from the Betplay Dimayor Cup in the penalty shootout after tying the aggregate score 3-3, with Cristian Arroyave saving a penalty and Teófilo Gutiérrez scoring the ultimate. In Real Cartagena’s best performance so far in 2024, Darwin Palomeque, Yhonier López and Teo himself scored the goals in the Auriverde’s 3-1 victory.
From the opening whistle, Real Cartagena came out determined to turn the score around with high pressure in the opposite field. Christian Marrugo, a reference for the auriverde team, took the ball and pulled the strings for Real Cartagena for much of the first half.
In 16 minutes of the first half, Real Cartagena opened the scoring at the feet of Darwin Palomeque, in a set-piece action that Juan Camilo Marrugo raised on the left side of the field, the ball bounced off an Atlético Huila defender and Darwin Palomeque scored the opening of the scoreboard.
One minute after the first score, Real Cartagena expanded the score by two goals in a burst of intensity and good football, the second score was the work of Yhonier López in a recovery in the rival area by Juan Camilo Angulo, Yhonier López received the ball and finished to make it 2-0 partial.
Real Cartagena continued to dominate the actions in the first half and was the owner of the clear approaches to goal.
Once the actions began in the second half, Atlético Huila took control of the ball and worried Real Cartagena’s goal, the entry of Sebastián Hernández and Vicente Jaime in the visiting team was vital for the Opita team to raise its level on the field of play. In 6 minutes of the second half, Atlético Huila scored at the feet of Lucas Farías in a confusing exit by goalkeeper Cristian Arroyave.
After the visiting team, Real Cartagena once again controlled the match and approached the rival goal. Alberto Suárez sent Luis Sandoval, Cristian Florez and Carlos Franco to the field, instead of Yhonier López, Diego Osio and Jhon Valencia. The heroic team found the third goal of the match in a header from Teófilo Gutiérrez preceded by an aerial ball from Brayan Lucumí. Teo scored the third goal of the game and made the score 3-3 overall.
The match ended in an accident in the final minutes due to Brayan Lucumí being sent off for pushing an opponent in the referee’s eyes. For its part, the visiting team also received two expulsions for fouls near the area against Real Cartagena.
In the penalty shootout, Real Cartagena won 4-3. Arroyave saved a charge, and Germán Gutiérrez del Huila sent his over the top. For Real, “El Chino” Sandoval failed, but Marrugo, Juan Camilo Angulo, Cristian Flórez, and Teo Gutiérrez in the last penalty, gave the victory to Los Heroicos who now await a rival in phase 3.
