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Once Caldas vs Junior Report

Gregory Sica, December 22 2011,
Uruguayan goalkeeper Sebastian Viera is the hero as Junior defeat Once Caldas on penalties to win their seventh Colombian championship.
Atletico Junior, with a spectacular display from goalkeeper Sebastian Viera, won their seventh Colombian championship after beating Once Caldas 4-2 on penalty kicks at the Palogrande stadium in Manizales on Wednesday.

Junior, who had beaten Once Caldas 3-2 in Barranquilla on Sunday, came into the title decider with a slight advantage, but right at the conclusion of a hotly contested first half striker John Pajoy appeared to level the series for Once Caldas.

Once Caldas, winners of the 2004 Copa Libertadores, came into the second period looking to double their advantage but although they piled heavy pressure on the Junior defense, they were continually kept out by Viera.

They were made to pay for their lack of finishing, when in the 57th minute Carlos Bacca equalised for Junior. It was Bacca's twelfth goal of the season, making him the league's highest scorer.

But their joy lasted shortly, as eleven minutes later Guillermo Beltran put Once Caldas ahead for the second time. The Paraguayan striker connected to a cross with a bullet header that went in off the right post.

Both sides went in search of a late goal in order to clinch the title without having to depend on a penalty shootout, but neither could find the back of the net.

Junior ended up winning the proceeding penalty shootout 4-2, with Viera being the standout. The former Villarreal goalkeeper saved Pajoy's spot-kick and saw Beltran's effort come off the post.

Giovanni Hernandez, the captain of Junior, put his side ahead in the shootout, while Juan David Valencia, Sherman Cardenas and Luis Paez also converted spot-kicks against veteran goalkeepers Juan Carlos Henao, who was the star as Once Caldas lifted the Copa Libertadores in 2004, following a penalty shootout victory over Boca Juniors of Argentina.

Paraguayan midfielder Jorge Nunez and Ayron del Valle made assertions from the spot, while Pajoy and Beltran failed to find the back of the net for Once Caldas.

Junior won the Colombian championship for the seventh time. Their other title triumphs came in 1977, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2004 and 2010. In winning the title they qualified for the 2012 Copa Libertadores, along with Once Caldas and Apertura champions Atletico Nacional.

Once Caldas vs Junior

Date: Wednesday, 21 Dec 2011
Time: 19:10 ( US/Eastern )
Competition: Colombia Copa Mustang
Live/Repeat: Live
Venue: Estadio Palogrande (Manizales)

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