Tolima Players “Collect” on Coach รlvarez’s Challenge, Takeโฃ Match Ball After Securing Final Berth
BUCARAMANGA, Colombia – In a bizarre post-match โขscene following their โ0-0 draw โwith Atlรฉtico Bucaramanga on December 4, 2025,โ Deportes Tolima players celebrated their qualification โfor the Betplay League grand finalโฃ by seizing the officialโค match ball. The unusual act โwas a โdirect response to a comment made by former Tolimaโค coach Leonel รlvarez three dates prior.
The incident stems from a match between Tolima and Bucaramanga in Ibaguรฉ,โ where รlvarez, despite a draw, stated, “They โคhad the ball more, but that doesn’t tell me anything, โthey can โtake it home if they want.” Tolima players apparently took the remark to heart,โ and upon securing their place in the final with the โscoreless draw in Bucaramanga, made good on รlvarez’s โฃoffer. The result,โ combined with other โขmatch outcomes, also secured Tolima the advantage of โthe so-called “invisible point” – an 11-point tiebreaker favoring the Group B leader.
Coach lucas Gonzรกlezโ downplayed the incident when questioned, stating, “They probably didn’t likeโค it, heโ made the โขcomment defending โฃhis โขteam, Iโ don’tโ give muchโ thought to that.” However, photos circulating on social media show Gonzรกlez posing withโ the ball in โtheโฃ dressingโ room, โsuggesting a โdegree of satisfaction with the playful “settling of accounts.”
The win sends Tolima to theโข Betplay League final, while รlvarez, now with Bucaramanga, is left to reflect on a challenge unexpectedly claimed by his former team.
