The Palogrande stadium in Manizales was the scene of heartbreak and high drama on October 25, 2025, as Unión Magdalena’s hopes of staying in Colombia’s top football division were dashed with a 1-0 defeat to Once Caldas. The lone goal of the evening came courtesy of Dayro Moreno, a name synonymous with goals and grit, who broke his own month-and-a-half scoring drought to seal the fate of the visiting side. For Unión Magdalena, the final whistle didn’t just mark the end of a match—it confirmed their relegation to the second division for the 2026 season, a bitter milestone that now ties them with Cúcuta Deportivo for the most relegations in Colombian football history.
Dayro Moreno’s strike in the 43rd minute was more than just another notch on his already impressive tally. The veteran forward, reinserted into the starting lineup after a spell on the sidelines due to technical and disciplinary decisions, delivered under pressure when his team needed it most. According to LA PATRIA, “Dayro Moreno scored the winning goal for Once Caldas, ending a goal drought of about one and a half months.” That goal marked his 373rd career strike and his 166th for Once Caldas—a testament to his enduring quality and knack for rising to big occasions.
Unión Magdalena, affectionately known as the Ciclón Bananero, fought valiantly on the field, but the odds were stacked against them. Their relegation, now official, is the club’s fifth—joining similar demotions in 1999, 2005, 2019, and 2023. This sequence of setbacks matches the dubious record held by Cúcuta Deportivo, though there’s a crucial distinction: while Cúcuta suffered one relegation due to administrative sanctions, all of Unión Magdalena’s demotions have come strictly due to on-field performance. That’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who have seen their team battle through thick and thin, only to come up short once more.
“With five relegations, Unión Magdalena equals Cúcuta Deportivo as the teams with the most relegations in Colombian football, although Cúcuta lost one category due to administrative sanctions, while all Unión Magdalena relegations were for sporting reasons,” reported El Espectador. The club now sits at the bottom of the relegation table with a coefficient of 0.78, a statistic that starkly illustrates their struggles over the season. They will be joined in the second division next year by Envigado, who are second-last with a coefficient of 0.83, despite still being alive in the Copa BetPlay semifinals.
The journey to this low point has been arduous. Unión Magdalena’s remaining fixtures—home games against Tolima and Fortaleza, and an away clash with América de Cali—are now little more than formalities, as their fate is sealed. For their fans, it’s a time of reflection, frustration, and perhaps a glimmer of hope for a swift return to the top flight. The club’s history is punctuated by these cycles of relegation and promotion, each chapter adding to the legend and the longing for stability.
Meanwhile, the win provides a much-needed boost for Once Caldas, who have endured a rocky campaign themselves. The Manizales side had been reeling from a string of poor results, including eliminations from both the Copa Sudamericana and Copa Colombia at the quarterfinal stage. The home crowd at Palogrande had grown restless, their patience tested by the team’s inconsistent form. Heading into the match, Once Caldas sat 13th in the league with 19 points, knowing that only a flawless run through their final four games would give them any chance of sneaking into the season-ending quadrangular playoff stage.
“The match was critical for Once Caldas to keep their hopes alive for the playoffs,” LA PATRIA noted. And with the three points secured, Once Caldas climbed to 22 points and 12th place in the Liga BetPlay standings, just one point ahead of Millonarios, whom they are set to face next in a high-stakes encounter at El Campín in Bogotá. The upcoming clash, scheduled for October 29 at 8:20 p.m., is shaping up to be a do-or-die showdown—whoever loses will see their playoff dreams evaporate. The pressure is on, and the drama is far from over.
Dayro Moreno’s return to the starting eleven was a significant talking point ahead of the match. The prolific striker had been left out of recent lineups due to what were described as technical decisions, reportedly stemming from disciplinary issues. But with everything on the line, coach Hernán Darío Herrera turned to his experienced captain, and Moreno delivered in trademark fashion. It’s moments like these that define careers and seasons—Moreno’s ability to set aside off-field distractions and focus on the task at hand proved invaluable for Once Caldas.
The broader context of the Liga BetPlay Dimayor 2025-2 season only adds to the intrigue. Around the league, results have been anything but predictable. On the same weekend, Alianza F.C. bested La Equidad 2-0, Fortaleza overcame Deportivo Pasto by the same scoreline, and Águilas Doradas stunned Deportivo Pereira with a 5-1 thrashing. América de Cali edged Junior de Barranquilla 2-1, while Boyacá Chicó dispatched Envigado 2-0. Deportes Tolima secured a 2-1 win over Deportivo Cali, and Millonarios kept their hopes alive with a 1-0 victory against Independiente Santa Fe. The league table remains tight, and every match carries major implications for playoff positioning and relegation battles alike.
For Envigado, relegation is a bitter pill, but their campaign isn’t quite over—they remain in the hunt for Copa BetPlay glory, with upcoming fixtures against Águilas Doradas, Millonarios, and Llaneros. Their fate in the league is sealed, but there’s still silverware to chase, and perhaps a chance to salvage pride before the curtain falls on the season.
As the dust settles on a dramatic weekend in Colombian football, the storylines are as compelling as ever. Unión Magdalena faces another stint in the second division, their fans left to ponder what might have been and what the future holds. Once Caldas, buoyed by Dayro Moreno’s timely heroics, keeps their playoff ambitions alive, knowing that every game from here on out is a final in its own right. And for the league as a whole, the twists and turns show no sign of slowing down.
With crucial matches still to come and playoff spots up for grabs, the excitement in Colombian football is reaching fever pitch. As teams battle for glory, survival, and redemption, one thing’s for sure—the beautiful game never fails to deliver unforgettable moments, heartbreak, and hope in equal measure.
