The passionate crowd at Estadio Manuel Murillo Toro witnessed a tightly contested affair as Deportes Tolima secured a 1-0 victory over visiting Fortaleza CEIF in Colombian Primera A action. The home faithful had plenty to celebrate early on, but endured a nervy finish as their side held firm against sustained pressure from the visitors.
Juan Torres emerged as the match-winner with a clinical finish in the 22nd minute that would prove decisive. The striker found himself perfectly positioned in the centre of the box before drilling a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner, sending the Ibagué faithful into raptures. The goal capped off a promising opening period for Tolima, who had started brightly before Torres provided the breakthrough moment.
The tactical battle shifted dramatically after the interval, with Fortaleza seizing control of proceedings and testing Tolima's resolve. Neto Volpi stood tall between the posts for the hosts, producing a crucial save in the 82nd minute when he tipped Yesid Díaz's long-range effort over the crossbar. The visitors' attacking intent was evident through Jonathan Marulanda and Kelvin Flórez, who consistently probed for weaknesses in Tolima's defensive structure, while Marlon Torres marshalled the home backline with authority.
Despite Fortaleza's territorial dominance with 50.8% possession and nine shots to Tolima's eight, the visitors struggled to convert their superiority into clear-cut opportunities. The away side registered three shots on target compared to Tolima's solitary effort, yet lacked the cutting edge to breach a well-organized defensive unit. Fortaleza's frustration was compounded by 13 fouls compared to Tolima's four, disrupting their rhythm at crucial moments.
The turning point arrived in the 73rd minute when Fortaleza introduced fresh legs through Andrés Amaya and Jhonier Salas, signaling their desperate push for an equalizer. However, Tolima's defensive discipline and Volpi's shot-stopping ability proved insurmountable during a tense final quarter-hour that saw the visitors earn six corners without reward.
Deportes Tolima will now play Junior for the Clausura Championship and Fortaleza ends its season.