Barranquilla FC knocks out Millonarios on penalties in Copa BetPlay

Barranquilla FC, the reserve team of Junior, stunned Millonarios in the Copa BetPlay round of 16 at the Romelio Martínez stadium. The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Barranquilla winning the shootout 5-4 to reach the quarter-finals against América de Cali.

Barranquilla took an early lead in the 6th minute when Mohamed Bolívar converted a penalty awarded for an alleged handball by Sebastián del Castillo. Replays showed no handball, but VAR is not used in this stage of the competition.

“Today we all made a fool of ourselves; I come here to apologise to the whole Millonarios world”

Millonarios equalised in the 22nd minute through Mackalister Silva, who headed home after goalkeeper Sebastián Guerra failed to punch clear a cross. Neither side could find a winner in regulation time.

In the penalty shootout, misses by Sergio Mosquera and Carlos Darwin Quintero proved decisive for Millonarios. Goalkeeper Javier Burrai could not stop Barranquilla's spot-kicks as the underdogs advanced.

Coach Alberto Gamero apologised to fans after the match, stating the team had "made a fool of themselves" and that he felt "very hit" by the elimination. He ruled out resignation, saying the focus must shift to the Liga BetPlay.

Club directors have decided to retain Gamero for now, pending the team's performance in the league's all-against-all phase. The result intensifies fan criticism toward the board amid ongoing rumours of a club sale.

Sports journalist Antonio Casale described the defeat as "the biggest blunder in Millonarios' recent history," noting the team has now fallen to lower-division sides Real Cartagena, Envigado, and Barranquilla in recent years.