FPC Roundup: Cardinals regain command

By: Lugo | April 21st, 2008

The continuous tête-a-tête in which Independiente Santa Fe, D.I. Medellin and Seguros La Equidad have entangled themselves for the top spot continued last weekend leaving the Cardinals in first place after their confortable 2-0 win against Tolima while the highlanders lost at home against the giant-killer Envigado 0-1. Meanwhile, The Insurance sellers got a 1-1 draw in their visit to the All-whites of Once Caldas. At the Cardinals’ game, Leider Preciado put on his striking suit again while venezuelan Leonel Vielma sealed the deal with a free kick stunner. In Manizales, Equidad managed to draw by playing an entertaing game and had far more chances than the Whites, but somehow their forwards missed and Medellin struggled but could not get anything against an Acids side that was strappled in defense. I guess things are a bit harder when you don’t have one of your owners sitting on the opposing bench.

Outside of the top trio, teams continue tightly packed in the standings and no one seems to have their place clear apart from the aforementioned trio. Deportivo Cali, for example, lost 4-1 away at Bucaramanga. The green menace’s drop of form was not expected at all, since the team had been getting pretty decent results. And more than decent are the results of Boyacá Chicó, a team thad doesn’t know about scoring less than 3 goals per match in ages. The “Second Youth” of Victor Danilo Pacheco and the emergence of teen sensation Marco Perez are melting defenses apart like butter. This time it was Pereira’s: the Cane Cutters got a 3-0 pounding in store for them.

Meanwhile, Nacional and Junior, two bottom-dwellers with more history than present got revitalizing victories specially in the case of Junior beating America away 2-1. The greens of Medellin beat Quindio 1-0 not without a considerable amount of suffering. And in one of the most exciting matches of the day, the Ambassadors of Millonarios drew 3-3 aganist the Ricers of Huila in a match plagued by refereing mistakes (for boths sides), defensive errors and, as eveident as it seems, goals.

Also, the Derby of the Borders fell on the hands of Pasto who dispatched Cucuta with a 1-0. It seems that The Tribe is more focused on getting Libertadores’ Glory than anything else.

You can take a look at the standings here. And remember that in 4 more games, only the first 8 teams will advance to the next stage, making 2 groups of 4 where the top teams will meet for the Championship.