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With the aim of qualifying for the playoffs of the BetPlay League, Atlético Junior received Alianza Petrolera at the Romelio Martínez Olympic Stadium, in the match corresponding to date 18 of the Colombian championship, which ended in favor of the shark team by 2-1 .
In a busy and intense first half, Luis Amaranto Perea’s team warned very early that they wanted to keep the three points at home. In the 6th minute, Carmelo Valencia received a great assist between the lines from Teófilo Gutiérrez, to define before the departure of goalkeeper Juan Sebastián Serrano, who in a great way stopped the shot with his chest and avoided the first goal in his goal.
Junior continued insisting and minutes later he approached again with Fabián Viáfara. The winger took a shot from the right side in the direction of the goal, but it was well conceded by the visiting goalkeeper. Carmelo Valencia and Freddy Hinestroza kept insisting but the arc of the yellow machine was closing.
In the last stretch of the first half, finally, Junior got the long-awaited goal. Germán Mera, in a corner kick in favor, captured a rebound in the area to hit the ball with his right foot and put the first on the scoreboard.
However, in the second half, and without showing much, Alianza Petrolera got the tie in the same way as Junior: the ball still. In the 55th minute, Víctor Moreno headed a good cross from Macnelly Torres from the corner kick, to equalize the result at Romelio Martínez.
After the early draw, the shark team continued to attack and with Teófilo Gutiérrez and Carmelo Valencia turned on the alarms in the visiting porch. A great combination in the front of these two players almost gives the advantage to the rojiblanco team.
However, Amaranto Perea put all the meat on the grill and in minute 73 managed to score the superior goal. Miguel Ángel Borja, who had entered the field minutes ago, received a good cross from the right side to hit the ball with a header before the bad exit of goalkeeper Serrano and sent the ball to the back of the net.
With the advantage in the result, the Barranquilla team took shelter in their field and without further complication began to cool the game to stay with the three points. After 90 minutes, the referee of the contest pointed to the middle of the field and ended the match in the capital of the Atlantic.
With the victory, Junior reached 29 points and occupies the sixth position in the standings. Those of Amaranto Perea were very close to joining the select group of eight and must, at least, draw a draw in the next two games to ensure their place in the lot of eight.
