Patriotas Boyacá beat Barranquilla 3-1 in the third round of the Clausura phase of Colombia's Primera B on Thursday evening. The home side took all three points at their own ground, extending a run that has seen them win two of their last five matches. 23: K. Alvarez opened the scoring for the hosts with a clinical finish. 36: The academy graduate marked his first start with a goal, doubling the advantage before half-time.
And here's the thing about that opening period — two goals in twenty-three minutes left Barranquilla chasing the game from the outset. K. Alvarez ended a barren spell, and by then the visitors had already switched off at a set piece. Patriotas kept their side in it through the first half, but the balance had shifted.
After the break S. E. Bello Vivas pulled one back for the visitors. 50: The goal gave Barranquilla hope, but the momentum had already swung. J. Navia and J. Sanchez both picked up bookings in quick succession, a sign of frustration building on the away bench. Then P. Oviedo restored the two-goal cushion. 60: We had called a home win at 52 per cent confidence, and that prediction looked increasingly sound.
The yellow cards kept coming. 56: J. Navia received his second booking. 57: J. Sanchez followed moments later. 70: F. Figueroa was cautioned in the second half. Patriotas made several changes, bringing on L. Gomez and K. Alvarez in the closing stages. The home side managed the game well after taking the lead.
Patriotas registered 97 attacks to Barranquilla's 79, with both sides winning eight corners between them. The hosts had six shots on target and six off, while the visitors could only manage one on target from seven attempts off target. Possession was nearly even at 49-51, but the shots tell a different story. Barranquilla kept knocking on the door, but they ended up with nothing to show for it.
The result leaves Patriotas Boyacá ten points off the top with 28 points from 21 games. Barranquilla sit sixth with 34 points after 27 matches. The gap between them remains significant, and this defeat does little to help the visitors close the distance. By then, the home side had already secured what they needed from this fixture.
