Deportes Tolima opened the Liga BetPlay 2026‑II season with a 2–1 victory over defending champions Junior at the Manuel Murillo Toro stadium in Ibagué. Jorge Cabezas Hurtado scored the first goal for Tolima and later assisted Kelvin Flórez, who added a second before halftime. Junior reduced the deficit in the second half when Guillermo Paiva headed in a corner in the 78th minute.
The win came in Sebastián Oliveros' first match as Tolima head coach; his high‑press, possession‑based tactics were praised by media outlets. In the same transfer window, midfielder Homer Martínez returned to Tolima on loan from FC Juárez (Mexico) until June 2027, providing additional experience for the squad.
Tolima’s win gave them three points and a strong statement ahead of the second half of the season, while Junior will look to recover after a disappointing start.
Entities: Deportes Tolima · Homer Martínez · Jorge Cabezas Hurtado · Junior · Junior Barranquilla · Kelvin Flórez · Sebastián Oliveros
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Deportes Tolima beat Junior 2-1 in the opening match of Liga BetPlay 2026-II. (Robot)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Jorge Cabezas Hurtado scored the opening goal for Tolima. (Robot)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Homer Martínez returned to Deportes Tolima on loan from FC Juárez until June 2027. (Robot)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Oliveros' tactical approach emphasized high pressing and possession. (Robot)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Kelvin Flórez scored Tolima's second goal, assisted by Jorge Cabezas Hurtado. (Robot)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Guillermo Paiva scored Junior's consolation goal in the 78th minute. (Robot)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sebastián Oliveros made his debut as Tolima head coach in the match. (Robot)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The match was played at the Manuel Murillo Toro stadium in Ibagué. (Robot)