Junior de Barranquilla concluded their Liga BetPlay 2026-II campaign with a 1-0 victory against Deportivo Pasto on Thursday, November 12, at the Estadio Departamental Libertad. Nineteen-year-old youth product Carlos Mario Pérez scored the decisive goal in the 59th minute, allowing the visiting side to break a lengthy winless run in Nariño territory.
Travel hurdles force schedule change
The División Mayor del Fútbol Colombiano announced that the match moved from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time after the visiting delegation failed to land in Pasto the previous day due to adverse weather conditions, according to Dimayor -.
The squad subsequently completed its transit during the early hours of Thursday morning at 5:00 a.m. Win Sports reported that journalist Sebastián Hurtado noted the logistical breakdown left the club scrambling to reorganize its itinerary.
Pérez and Muriel create early threats before García responds
Kevin Pérez initiated the first major threat in the seventh minute with a powerful strike that hit the side netting, as detailed by AS Colombia. Luis Fernando Muriel subsequently tested the local defense in a one-on-one opportunity that goalkeeper Mauro Silveira blocked with his body. Deportivo Pasto answered when Édgar García fired a right-footed shot from the center of the box that Silveira’s counterpart safely turned away.
Carlos Pérez breaks the deadlock
The breakthrough arrived just before the hour mark. Following a corner kick delivered by Kevin Pérez, Carlos Pérez collected the ball in the central area and unleashed a powerful volley in the 59th minute past the Pasto defense, as outlined in the Win Sports match logs.
The strike secured the sole goal of the fixture and rewarded the tactical trust placed in the teenager by manager Sebastián Viera.
Paiva red card forces formation changes as season ends
Junior played the final minutes with ten men after Guillermo Paiva received a straight red card in the 73rd minute for elbowing an opposing defender, forcing the bench to restructure its formation and drop deeper.
The victory elevated the team to 22 points from five wins, seven draws, and seven losses, concluding the regular season in 13th place. Deportivo Pasto also finalized their tournament schedule without securing a spot in the semifinal quadrangular phase.
Referee issues multiple cautions during physical encounter
Referee Diego Alejandro Ruíz Casas administered multiple cautions throughout the physical encounter at the Departamental Libertad. Junior collected four yellow cards through Carlos Pérez, Andrés Schmalbach, Guillermo Celis, and Fabián Ángel, alongside Paiva’s expulsion. Deportivo Pasto received a single booking for Juan Carlos Revollo in the 21st minute as the hosts wrapped up their domestic campaign in front of their home supporters.
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