Once Caldas fans are riding a wave of excitement after their team, under the guidance of coach Hernán Darío Herrera, pulled off a stunning 0-2 away victory against Independiente del Valle in Ecuador. With both goals expertly netted by Dayro Moreno, the Colombian side now stands tantalizingly close to the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana—a feat not many would have predicted at the start of the campaign.
This triumph marks a significant milestone in the recent history of Once Caldas. The win wasn’t just another tick in the victory column; it was a statement to the continent that the club from Manizales is a force to be reckoned with. For Herrera, who took the reins of Once Caldas in October 2023, this result is the latest in a string of notable achievements. Since his appointment, Herrera has managed 107 matches, securing 48 wins, 25 draws, and suffering 34 losses. That’s a win rate hovering around 45% of the possible points—a respectable figure, though critics argue it isn’t quite enough for a team with championship ambitions.
But let’s not overlook the man of the hour: Dayro Moreno. His brace in Ecuador didn’t just seal the victory; it cemented his status as a one-in-a-million talent. Former teammate José Heriberto Izquierdo, who began his own career at Deportivo Pereira before joining Once Caldas and later making waves in Europe, recently reflected on Moreno’s unique qualities. In an interview, Izquierdo stated, “The only one who has those habits and is a crack is Dayro, and what he does is one in a million.” Izquierdo’s candid admission about his own struggles adapting to European football—citing poor habits off the pitch—only served to highlight Moreno’s exceptional ability to deliver results regardless of lifestyle choices.
Izquierdo’s journey is a story of perseverance and transformation. After transferring to Belgian side Brujas for the 2014/2015 season, he spent three frustrating months without playing. “I was the most expensive transfer, and after a month I called my agent and said I wanted to leave,” he recalled. The adaptation was grueling, with Izquierdo admitting, “I thought I was training three times harder than my teammates, but they made it look easy.” Yet, it wasn’t until a pivotal Europa League night—when he was left on the bench against Copenhagen—that Izquierdo experienced a breakthrough. “I went home, put on some Christian music, and cried for two hours. That’s when I realized that if I get five minutes, I have to make it count,” he said. The change in mindset paid off: by 2016, Izquierdo was the top scorer and best player at Brujas, having finally found his groove.
Back in Colombia, Once Caldas’ current campaign has been a rollercoaster. In the 2024-25 Liga BetPlay Apertura, the team under Herrera’s command notched up five wins and three losses in eight matches, averaging an impressive 1.88 points per game during that stretch. However, not everything has been rosy. In the Liga BetPlay I-2025 quadrangulars, Once Caldas finished at the bottom of Group B, unable to secure crucial results against heavyweights Santa Fe, Nacional, and Millonarios. The team’s struggles to convert opportunities in high-stakes matches have not gone unnoticed, with critics calling for greater offensive consistency.
Despite these ups and downs, Herrera’s leadership has injected new energy into the squad. The recent Sudamericana win is perhaps the clearest indicator yet that Once Caldas can rise to the occasion on the continental stage. The coach himself, affectionately known as “El Arriero,” has become a focal point of speculation and hope—not just in Manizales, but also among fans of América de Cali. In an interview with journalist Jaime Dinas, Herrera openly expressed his desire to one day manage América de Cali, a comment that quickly sparked a flurry of reactions on social media. Some América fans welcomed the idea, especially given their dissatisfaction with the current coach, David González, who replaced the outgoing Diego Gabriel Raimondi.
“If Alexa, Lucas, and Raimondi got a chance, why not him? He’s shown he can work,” read one comment. Another chimed in, “Welcome, my coach.” The possibility of Herrera making the move—and perhaps bringing Dayro Moreno along—has certainly added an extra layer of intrigue to the already heated atmosphere in Colombian football.
But there’s no time for Herrera or his squad to rest on their laurels. The team had to quickly shift focus, traveling to Cali to prepare for their next league fixture against América de Cali. Scheduled for Friday, September 19, 2025, at the iconic Pascual Guerrero stadium, this match is set to be a pivotal clash in the twelfth round of Liga BetPlay. With both teams under the microscope—América for their managerial uncertainty and Once Caldas for their continental exploits—the stakes couldn’t be higher.
As the match approaches, fans and pundits alike are eager to see whether Once Caldas can translate their international form into domestic success. Will Dayro Moreno continue his goal-scoring heroics? Can Herrera outmaneuver his opposite number and further enhance his reputation as one of Colombia’s top coaches? The questions are many, and the answers will come only when the whistle blows in Cali.
Meanwhile, the Colombian football landscape remains as lively and unpredictable as ever. From Izquierdo’s reflections on the challenges of playing abroad, to the ongoing debates about coaching appointments and player performances, there’s never a dull moment. For Once Caldas, the journey is far from over. With a place in the Copa Sudamericana semifinals within reach and a crucial league match looming, the next few days could define the trajectory of their season—and perhaps shape the future of their coach.
As anticipation builds for the showdown at Pascual Guerrero, one thing is clear: Once Caldas, under Herrera’s steady hand and powered by the mercurial talents of Dayro Moreno, are a team to watch. Whether they can sustain this momentum on both fronts remains to be seen, but for now, optimism reigns in Manizales.
