Deportes Tolima are the new leaders in the Colombian Liga Postobon after Santa Fe were held to a 1-1 draw at Cucuta Deportivo on Sunday.
Tolima increased pressure on Santa Fe after beating La Equidad 3-0 on Saturday, forcing the Bogota side to win their away match at Cucuta in order to reconquer the top spot.
Venezuelan striker Luis Manuel Seijas put Santa Fe in the lead just before the break at Cucuta, and things were looking even better for the away side after the home team had Jorge Bolaño sent off on the hour mark.
But Santa Fe conceded a penalty just a few minutes later and Wilson Carpintero made no mistake from the spot, 1-1.
As a result, Santa Fe remain in second place at one point from new leaders Tolima.
Once Caldas jumped to third place, at the expense of Atletico Nacional, following a 2-1 win over Atletico Huila.
Huila started well as Carlos Villagra handed the Neiva side the lead in the ninth minute, but Dayro Moreno leveled six minutes later and Jose Velez netted the winner in the dying seconds.
The race for a spot in the next round is starting to heat up as no less than four teams share the eighth position, with Deportivo Cali on top thanks to a better goal difference.
Cali beat Real Cartagena 3-1 on Saturday in order to climb to eighth position, at the expense of Cucuta.But Cali are closely followed by Millonarios, who beat Pereira 2-1, Cucuta and America de Cali. The latter earned a vital 0-2 win at Junior on Saturday.
Tolima and Santa Fe are the only two teams that are certain of a spot in the next round. Once Caldas, Nacional, Quindio, Huila, La Equidad and Cali are also on course.
