Coronvirus: Two keepers among just 7 starters as team then sees game abandoned with 6 players on pitch
Published:
Colombian top-flight club Aguilas Doradas started Sunday's home league game against Boyaca Chico with only seven players due to COVID-19 cases and injuries but ultimately lost, 3-0 as they finished the match with six.
The Colombian league, which had approved a rule at the start of the pandemic that forced clubs to play if they had at least seven players available, rejected the team's request to have the encounter in Rionegro postponed.
Fifteen Aguilas players tested positive for coronavirus while seven others are out injured. The players that were available held up two banners before kick-off that said: "First life. Fair Play."
With two goalkeepers among the seven that took the pitch, Aguilas held Boyaca Chico for 57 minutes before conceding three goals in the space of 20 minutes. The game was then suspended after the hosts lost Giovanny Martinez to injury in the 79th minute, which left Aguilas with just six players.
The club thanked the fans and posted a message that read: "Did we lose? No, sir. This group gave their all and earned respect."
Voted man of the match for his saves, Aguilas goalkeeper Carlos Bejarano said: "The health issue affected us a lot. We didn't want this game to go ahead but we had to. I want to congratulate everyone for their effort given.
"This was a call for fair play. If we showed with pride that we are the ninth best league in the world, we should also prove it that way and not showing what happened to us today."
Related News

Jaedyn Shaw scored the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute to give the United States women a 2-1 victory over China on Tuesday night in the Americans' final match of the year.

Canada legend Christine Sinclair bid an emotional farewell to international soccer on Tuesday with one final match that brought an end to a superlative career.

Declan Rice's header deep in stoppage time sealed an enthralling 4-3 victory for Arsenal over Luton Town to send them five points clear at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.25 billion investment in Manchester United will be confirmed next week and could be finalised as early as Monday, a source familiar with the sale process has told ESPN.

Mikel Arteta refused to play the blame game after goalkeeper David Raya's errors almost cost Arsenal dearly in a thrilling 4-3 victory at Luton Town in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi has been named Time Magazine's Athlete of the Year for 2023 after his move to the United States to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City's performances in the draws against Liverpool and Tottenham have convinced him that his team will win the league title this season.

England hammered Scotland 6-0 at Hampden Park on Thursday evening but it was not enough to overtake the Netherlands at the top of their Nations League group meaning Team GB will not play in the women's football competition at Paris 2024 Olympics