Despite not having been able to take advantage of the first leg, DIM keeps intact its hope of lifting its seventh Colombian league under the leadership of coach David González, the club’s idol as a footballer who is having a successful first experience as a coach.
“This is a worthy final, with two phenomenal teams. What stood out most about my cast was the conquest of many spaces on the pitch that are sometimes conquered by rivals,” said González, who added that “the chances of being champions are many.”
The main cards for victory as a visitor are striker Diber Cambindo, who has scored 11 goals in the Clausura Tournament, and Argentine Luciano Pons, who has accumulated seven goals.
The midfielders Andrés Ricaurte and Adrián Arregui will also appear as starters, as well as the experienced wingers Felipe Pardo and Vladimir Hernández.
The last time the DIM was champion was in the 2016 Opening Tournament, when they defeated Junior from Barranquilla in the final under the technical direction of Leonel Álvarez.
For its part, the Matecaña team, led by Alejandro Restrepo, is motivated by the good result achieved in the first match, in which the striker Leonardo Castro was featured. The gunner is precisely the top scorer in the championship with 15 goals.
“It’s a deserved draw for us for having been brave, it gives us the chance to have an international tournament and focus on fighting for a title,” Restrepo said after Sunday’s game in which the team secured, at least, participation in the 2023 South American Cup.
The Hernán Ramírez Villegas stadium is expected to be attended by a multitude of Pereira fans who will also see their team play their second final, after having lost the Copa Colombia in 2021 with Atlético Nacional.
Coach Restrepo will have for this match all the heavy artillery that allowed him to get rid of Millonarios, Santa Fe and Junior in the semifinals and among which goalkeeper Harlen Castillo appears; midfielder Léider Berrío, who assisted Castro against DIM, and young striker Brayan León.
Follow the minute by minute of this match here:
Minute 16: Brayan León del Pereira’s header that goes wide.
Minute 12: DIM begins to press up to shake off Pereira’s dominance.
Minute 6: Pereira started with impetus and puts DIM behind
Minute 1: The Colombian soccer final began.