MANIZALES, COLOMBIA — Jefry Zapata and Michael Barrios delivered the goals that mattered as Once Caldas claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Atlético Junior at Estadio Palogrande, ending a frustrating sequence of draws for the home side. Despite Junior enjoying the majority of possession at 55.8%, it was Once Caldas who proved more clinical when opportunities arose, converting two of their 16 shots to secure all three points in this Colombian Primera A encounter.
The hosts wasted no time stamping their authority on proceedings. Just six minutes had elapsed when Zapata opened the scoring, latching onto Joan Parra's assist and firing a left-footed effort from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner. The early breakthrough sent the Palogrande faithful into raptures and set the tone for an aggressive Once Caldas approach that would test Junior's resolve throughout the opening period.
Junior's response demonstrated their championship pedigree. Twelve minutes after falling behind, Joel Canchimbo restored parity with a composed right-footed finish from the right side of the box, beating Parra to make it 1-1. The goal injected fresh belief into the visitors, who began to assert themselves through midfield with Yimmi Chará and Luis Muriel orchestrating attacks. Yet for all their territorial dominance, Junior would soon find themselves chasing the game once more.
The decisive moment arrived in the 35th minute when Michael Barrios produced a moment of individual brilliance. Receiving Zapata's clever pass on the left side of the box, Barrios unleashed a right-footed strike that arrowed into the top right corner, leaving Mauro Silveira with no chance. The quality of the finish matched the importance of the goal, restoring Once Caldas' advantage at a crucial juncture and providing the platform for what would ultimately be a match-winning performance.
The second half evolved into a tactical chess match, with Junior pressing for an equalizer while Once Caldas sought to protect their slender lead. Goalkeeper Joan Parra emerged as a pivotal figure for the hosts, making four saves throughout the contest including crucial interventions to deny Jermein Peña in the 53rd minute and Luis Muriel nine minutes later. At the opposite end, Silveira was equally busy for Junior, producing three saves including a fine stop to thwart Zapata's long-range effort in the 57th minute.
Junior's attacking threat remained potent despite their deficit. Yimmi Chará tested Parra with a header from the centre of the box in the 42nd minute, while the introduction of Teófilo Gutiérrez in the 64th minute signaled the visitors' intent to salvage something from the match. The veteran forward immediately made his presence felt, forcing Once Caldas deeper into their own half as the clock ticked toward full-time.
The statistics painted a picture of contrasting styles. While Junior controlled possession and matched Once Caldas with four corners apiece, the hosts proved more adventurous in attack, registering 16 shots to Junior's 13. Both teams managed five efforts on target, but Once Caldas demonstrated superior efficiency in front of goal. The physical nature of the contest was evident in the foul count, with Junior committing 15 infractions compared to Once Caldas' 11, while yellow cards were shown to Pipe Gómez and Iván Rojas for the hosts and Cristian Barrios for the visitors.
As the match entered its final stages, tension gripped Palogrande. Junior threw bodies forward in search of an equalizer, with Edwin Herrera attempting an audacious effort from more than 35 yards in the 81st minute that sailed high and wide. Once Caldas manager responded by introducing fresh legs, bringing on Deinner Quiñónes and Tomas García for Dayro Moreno and Zapata in the 80th minute to shore up the midfield and preserve the lead.
The closing minutes featured desperate Junior attacks met by resolute Once Caldas defending. Gutiérrez was flagged offside in the 90th minute as the visitors' frustration mounted, and his handball five minutes into stoppage time summed up Junior's inability to find a way through. When the final whistle sounded after six minutes of added time, Once Caldas had secured a victory that felt thoroughly deserved despite Junior's territorial superiority.
For Once Caldas, this result represents a significant step forward after a series of stalemates that had seen them draw four consecutive matches. The combination of Zapata's early predatory instinct and Barrios' moment of magic provided exactly the cutting edge that had been missing in recent weeks. Defensively, Jorge Cardona and Kevin Cuesta stood firm when it mattered most, while Parra's shot-stopping ensured Junior's attacking quality went unrewarded.
Junior will rue their inability to convert possession into goals. Despite controlling the ball for extended periods and creating opportunities through their talented attacking trio of Chará, Muriel, and Canchimbo, they lacked the clinical edge required to break down a determined Once Caldas rearguard. The defeat continues a concerning pattern for the visitors, who have now lost two of their last five matches.
The victory gives Once Caldas a platform to build momentum in the Colombian Primera A campaign, while Junior must quickly regroup and rediscover the winning formula that had served them well earlier in the season.