Deportivo Cali showed dominance over their historic rivals Millonarios, securing a convincing 3-1 victory during their recent encounter at the Estadio Deportivo Cali. This much-anticipated match, part of the Liga BetPlay 2025-I, was not only significant for the points on the table but also marked Cali's much-needed respite from past struggles against the Bogotá side, ending a five-year winless streak.
The game got off to an explosive start when José Caldera netted the opening goal for Deportivo Cali just one minute after kick-off, setting the tone for the home side. His powerful shot following a low cross from Fabián Viáfara caught Millonarios’ goalkeeper Álvaro Montero off guard, sending the home crowd erupting with cheers.
From there, Millonarios attempted to regroup. Just minutes later, Jader Valencia came close to leveling the score, but his attempt was thwarted by Caldera, who made the necessary defensive play to maintain Cali’s lead. The visitors continued to struggle with their finishing, illustrating their inability to penetrate the solid defensive structure set up by the Azucareros.
The intensity of the game remained high, with both teams exchanging attempts on goal, but it was Deportivo Cali who found the back of the net again at the 22-minute mark. Emiliano Rodríguez demonstrated his skill by taking advantage of defensive lapses to double Cali’s lead, leaving Millonarios feeling the weight of their errors.
Despite conceding two early goals, Millonarios tried to push back with attempts from Valencia and unveiled their tactical changes to regain control. The closest the visitors came to scoring during the first half was once again through Valencia, who had his header narrowly miss the target after connecting with Daniel Ruiz’s corner.
After the break, it was clear who had the momentum. Deportivo Cali maintained their aggressive play, and at the 70th minute, Andrey Estupiñán added to the scoreboard, converting from close range after failing to connect initially with Jarlan Barrera’s set-piece delivery. The home team now led 3-0, leaving Millonarios struggling to devise any comeback plan.
Millonarios would not be without consolation, as Santiago Giordana, who came on as a substitute, snatched a last-minute goal at the 90+3 minute to mitigate what would otherwise have been a heavy defeat. His goal provided the faintest glimmer of hope for the visitors, but it did little to overshadow the commanding performance from Deportivo Cali.
This victory thrust Deportivo Cali up to third place on the league table with 11 points, within reach of the top spots, proving their continued resurgence this season. Coach Alfredo Arias praised his team's performance and expressed optimism, saying, "We showed our character and dominance today. It’s important to continue this momentum as we look forward to our next games." Meanwhile, Millonarios, now sitting sixth with 10 points, needs to regroup quickly after this setback. Coach David González must address the team's defensive vulnerabilities if they wish to avoid falling out of contention for playoffs.
Looking forward, Deportivo Cali will visit Unión Magdalena next, followed by hosting Boyacá Chicó, matches which they expect to capitalize on to build their points as the season progresses. Millonarios, on the other hand, has tough fixtures against Deportes Tolima and Junior de Barranquilla, and they must find their footing soon to stay relevant as the league continues.
All eyes are now on both teams as they navigate through the upcoming fixtures, hoping to either maintain or regain their competitive standings within the Liga BetPlay.