Hugo Rodallega dramatically delivered a tenth Colombian title for Independiente Santa Fe overnight overcoming age, injury, self-doubt and the scoreboard to beat Medellin in the second leg of the final at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium.

The former Fulham forward, now 40, was in tears when it looked like his race was run after he suffered a muscle spasm that looked set to see him substituted with fifteen minutes to go. The striker showed the grit that has characterised his career in opting to continue and scored a wonderful winner less than three minutes later, firing in Edwar López’s fine cross with his right foot

The skipper’s sixteenth goal of the season was enough to win the title – and there was further emotion after the final whistle when he was asked about hanging up his boots. Rodallega, with tears in his eyes again, smiled at the idea of calling it a day in the aftermath of such an epic achievement. He sad:

“I said I would step aside so the young players could have more opportunities, but my son tells me to keep fighting. I said if I became champion I would retire, but everyone will tell me not to!”

The immediate future is full of promise for Santa Fe, who will enter the group stage of the Copa Copa Libertadores, where Rodallega and his team-mates will look to write more history.