Tolima suffered but beat O’Higgins and is already in the group stage of the Libertadores

Sports Tolima accomplished the task at the Manuel Murillo Toro stadium and, after winning 2-0 over O’Higginssealed their classification to the group stage of the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026. The pijao team managed to come back in the series after the 1-0 defeat suffered in Chile and celebrated with their people a night that ended with a big prize in Ibagué.

Since the beginning of the commitment, the Tolima team took center stageaware that he had to reverse the disadvantage of the first leg. With the support of their fans, Tolima monopolized possession of the ball and settled in the rival field against a Chilean team that opted for a cautious approach.

O’Higgins was ordered with two lines of four very close together, prioritizing defensive solidity and waiting for some option to surprise in a quick transition. However, the visiting team generated few clear approaches and spent long periods of the game resisting the attempts of the home team.

Tolima searched through different paths. They attacked on the wings, launched crosses into the area and also tried to filter balls through the middle to break the Chilean defensive block. The offensive volume was high, but the lack of precision in the last touch and the interventions of goalkeeper Omar Carabalí prevented the scoring from opening early.

The insistence of the pijao team had its reward at minute 40 of the first half. After a collective action in the rival field, the ball ended up on the left side of the area, where full-back Junior Hernández appeared to connect a powerful shot that hit the Chilean goalkeeper’s right corner, sparking celebration in the Murillo Toro stands.

At 1-0, Tolima tied the series and kept the pressure on during the second half. The local team continued to dominate the game and generate approaches, although the goal that gave them peace of mind seemed to be resisted.

Qualification was finally secured in the final stretch of the match. In the 87th minute, after a corner kick in favor of O’Higgins, Tolima recovered the ball and launched a lethal counterattack. Juan Pablo Torres led the action, entered the area and scored with great quality before Carabalí came out to score the final 2-0.

The goal sealed the tie and confirmed the comeback of the pijao team, which asserted its home field, dominated the match and ended up securing its place in the group stage of the continental tournament.

Tolima thus once again settles among the teams that will compete in the main phase of the Copa Libertadores, after a demanding series in which he knew how to respond in the key moment in front of his fans