For six second half minutes it looked as though Colón may overturn Junior’s slender first leg lead but no sooner had Matias Fritzler levelled the tie, Daniel Moreno slotted in an equaliser on the night and left El Sabalero heading out.

Defeat in Barranquilla last week had left Colón with plenty to do if they were to set up an all-Argentine quarter final against Defensa y Justicia but Eduardo Dominguez’s side certainly started the second leg back in Santa Fe with the necessary purpose.

A series of half chances had been scrambled clear by Junior and as the game got increasingly tetchy, tempers flared. A melee after one poor challenge saw both teams pushing and shoving and amid it all Jarlan Barrera and Leonardo Heredia were both sent off.

Ten against ten and Colón were still pushing forward in search of that vital goal. A little over fifteen minutes remained on the clock when the bloodied Matias Fritzler headed the home side ahead on the night. The one-goal lead would force the tie to penalties and another either way would likely win it.

Sadly for Colón it was scored by Junior. Former River Plate forward Teo Gutiérrez off the bench, released fellow substitute Daniel Moreno and the 23-year-old slid the ball through Leonardo Burián’s legs. The home side needing two goals in the remaining eight minutes proved too much of a mountain to climb and so it will be Junior lining up against Defensa y Justicia for a place in the semi finals.