Independiente Medellín, one of the football leaders in the region, did its part by beating Envigado with a penalty goal from Jhon Vásquez, demonstrating its quality and commitment on the field of play. However, the dependence on other people’s results worked against them, since they needed other teams such as Millonarios, Junior or Caldas to stumble in their respective matches.
Millonarios secured its place in the home run by beating Chicó 2-0, while Junior drew goalless with Cali, as did Once Caldas and América in their respective matches. These results defined the eight qualifiers for the semifinal quadrangles: Bucaramanga, Tolima, Pereira, Santa Fe, La Equidad, Millonarios, Junior and Once Caldas, leaving out the Antioquian teams on this occasion.
The last time that no Antioquia team qualified for the Colombian League home runs was in the 2003 Apertura Tournament. In that season, Independiente Medellín, Envigado and Atlético Nacional were eliminated prematurely, marking a moment similar to the current one, but that contrasts with the long history of Antioquia’s presence in the final phases of the tournament since then.
Since 2003, at least one Antioquian team was present uninterruptedly in the final phase of the Colombian tournament, a streak that extended for 21 years and 10 consecutive tournaments, highlighting the perseverance and competitiveness of the region’s teams in soccer. national. However, this year marks a break in that trend, highlighting the intense competition and unpredictability that characterize the sport.
The 2012 opening was the last time in which Nacional and Medellín did not qualify, with Itagüí being the only Antioquia representative in the eight qualifiers in that tournament. This fact highlights the exceptional nature of the current situation and the importance of reflecting on the changes and challenges facing football in the Antioquia region.
This milestone marks a new stage for the Antioquia teams, who will surely seek to vindicate themselves in future seasons and once again occupy a prominent place in the semifinal quadrangles of the Colombian League, keeping alive the passion and fervor for soccer in this region of the country.
