Alianza FC has marked their entry within the Liga BetPlay 2025-I with a dramatic comeback victory against Once Caldas, triumphing 2-1 at the Estadio Palogrande on March 2, 2025. This win not only serves as their first victory of the season but also infused life back to their campaign aimed at evading the relegation zone.
Once Caldas entered the match with two victories under their belt, aiming to reclaim leadership within the league. They fielded several rotating players, as coach Hernán Darío Herrera chose to rest key assets for their upcoming Copa Sudamericana clash against Millonarios. This decision, unfortunately, proved costly.
The match kicked off slowly, with both teams engaged primarily in midfield battles. The game saw extremely limited scoring chances until the 44th minute, when Luis Palacios struck first for Once Caldas. His impressive goal from outside the box stunned Alianza’s defense, firing his team to what seemed like victory.
But the joy for the home side was short-lived. Just moments later, Alianza turned the tides as Pipe Pardo equalized with finesse, executing a brilliant play inside the area, receiving a measured pass from Jesús Muñoz before deftly slotting it past once-hopeful goalkeeper Juan Chaverra. "Pipe Pardo equalized with a great individual play inside the area before the end of the first half," noted Diario AS.
Emerging from halftime, the visitors maintained their momentum and pressed forward. Alianza's Edwin Torres created several opportunities, showcasing their attacking intent. The pivotal moment came at the 67-minute mark, with Wiston Fernández sealing the win. Skillfully maneuvering outside the box, he launched a precise left-footed shot thumping it past the defense and Chaverra, putting Alianza on top 2-1. "Wiston Fernández scored the winning goal with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area," according to Diario AS.
This victory propelled Alianza FC to 11th place on the league table with 9 points. They are now poised to confront Unión Magdalena on March 8. Meanwhile, Once Caldas remains third with 12 points and will next see action against Deportes Tolima, hoping to bounce back quickly and regain their form on the pitch after the unexpected loss.
The match not only showcased the resilience of the Alianza players but also highlighted the challenges Once Caldas faced, with key players absent due to roster rotations. Their performance was far from their best, especially with aspirations of higher standings within the league.
Alianza FC has successfully ignited hope among their supporters for improving their season after this much-needed victory, whilst Once Caldas must reassess their strategies going forward to maintain competitive footing.