Boyaca Chico beats Bucaramanga, Junior wins as Liga BetPlay round 16 shakes table

Boyaca Chico defeated Atletico Bucaramanga 1-0 at La Independencia stadium in Tunja on Friday, October 23, ending the Santander side's unbeaten streak of 13 matches without defeat. Alejandro Maya scored the only goal in the 64th minute, giving Chicó three vital points in its fight to avoid relegation to the second division.

Junior de Barranquilla also claimed a 1-0 victory, beating Aguilas Doradas at the Romelio Martinez stadium in Barranquilla. Deiber Caicedo scored the lone goal in the 45th minute after taking advantage of a rebound inside the visitors' area, lifting Junior to 15 points in 14th place with 12 points still available.

“It would only be a matter of time before Boyaca Chico would be relegated to the second division.”

Elsewhere on matchday 16, Atletico Nacional came from behind to beat Independiente Medellin in the Paisa classic and retake the league lead. Deportivo Pasto won away at Deportes Tolima, while America de Cali defeated Cucuta Deportivo 3-1 at the Pascual Guerrero stadium. Yeison Guzman, Luis Quinones and Jan Lucumi scored for America, with Dayan Perez replying for Cucuta, which finished with ten men after Leider Berdugo was sent off.

Round 16 began on Friday and runs through Monday, when Jaguares faces Llaneros. The Bogota derby between Independiente Santa Fe and Millonarios was moved earlier because of problems at El Campin stadium and is not part of this schedule.

Bucaramanga must now win its next away game, against Santa Fe at El Campin, to keep its hopes of reaching the semifinals alive. Chicó remains deep in the relegation zone, with only a miracle seen as capable of keeping it in the top flight.