Dayro Moreno made headlines in the opening round of the Liga Betplay by scoring a stunning double, leading Once Caldas to a comeback victory against newly promoted Cúcuta Deportivo at the Estadio General Santander. This win not only concluded the first matchday but also set the stage for an intriguing season filled with surprises and some concerns for other clubs.
Cúcuta Deportivo initially took the lead with a penalty goal from Jaime Peralta in the 35th minute. However, Moreno took control in the second half, equalizing with a penalty of his own in the 62nd minute. He then secured the win with another goal in the 87th minute, marking his first double of the season and propelling Once Caldas to victory.
The opening round was less favorable for some of Colombia’s traditional teams. Independiente Santa Fe struggled at home, settling for a 1-1 draw against Águilas Doradas while keeping an eye on the upcoming Superliga. Junior de Barranquilla faced a disappointing 0-2 defeat against Deportes Tolima at the Metropolitano Stadium, further adding to the pressure as they prepare for the championship decider in Bogotá.
Another club experiencing a challenging start is Deportivo Cali, who fell 0-1 to Jaguares de Córdoba thanks to a spectacular goal from ‘Jopito’ Álvarez. Deportivo Pasto also earned a narrow victory against Independiente Medellín, setting up a promising matchup between DIM and Cali in the next round.
In a contrasting performance, Atlético Nacional emerged as the early leader of Liga Betplay, dominating Boyacá Chicó with a decisive 4-0 win at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium. Following closely behind is América de Cali, who secured a 3-0 victory over Internacional de Bogotá.
As the pressure mounts on underperforming teams like Junior, Deportivo Cali, and Medellín, Millonarios is also feeling the heat after a 2-1 defeat against Atlético Bucaramanga. The loss has led many fans to call for changes within the coaching staff led by Hernán Torres.
Looking ahead, the upcoming matches for the second round of Liga Betplay promise to be competitive:
– On Friday, January 23, Internacional de Bogotá will face Cúcuta Deportivo at 6:20 PM, followed by Deportes Tolima against Alianza FC at 8:30 PM.
– Saturday will see several fixtures, including Deportivo Pereira vs. Fortaleza FC and the highly anticipated Deportivo Cali vs. Independiente Medellín.
– Sunday’s lineup features Millonarios going head-to-head with Junior at 6:10 PM.
– The matchweek will conclude on Monday with Atlético Nacional facing Jaguares de Córdoba.
The season is just getting started, and with such a dynamic first round, fans can look forward to an exciting and unpredictable Liga Betplay campaign.