Boyacá Chicó defeated Atlético Bucaramanga 1-0 on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Estadio La Independencia in Tunja, ending the visiting team’s 15-match unbeaten run in the Liga BetPlay II-2026 season. Alejandro Maya scored the game’s only goal in the 64th minute, lifting the hosts in their fight against relegation while halting Bucaramanga’s dominant run in the tournament, as reported by AS Colombia.
Alejandro Maya Breaks the Stalemate in Tunja
The breakthrough arrived midway through the second half after a tightly contested opening period. Estiven Sarria surged down the right flank, receiving a deep pass that pierced Bucaramanga’s defensive line before sending a precise cross into the area. Maya timed his run perfectly ahead of his marker to turn the ball past goalkeeper Diego Novoa.
Bucaramanga, en el partido que menos se esperaba, perdió su invicto en la Liga BetPlay al caer 1-0 ante Boyacá Chicó en Tunja. Alejandro Maya marcó el único gol del encuentro. El cuadro Leopardo suma 25 puntos en 14 partidos, mientras que el conjunto boyacense mantiene una… pic.twitter.com/eNsvbBrGXN
Both sides traded missed chances before and after the decisive strike. In the first half, Boyacá Chicó pressed high, forcing a 13th-minute shot from Maya that struck the goalframe. Daniel Polanco also rattled the crossbar for the hosts in the 21st minute. Bucaramanga struggled for rhythm in the final third, missing an early header from Emerson Batalla who found himself unmarked in front of goal. Fredy Hinestroza committed a 29th-minute foul on Estiven Sarria, prompting referee Carlos Betancur Gutiérrez to issue a yellow card.
Bucaramanga Loses Unbeaten Run and Slips in Standings
The defeat marked Atlético Bucaramanga’s first loss of the semester, ending a 15-game unbeaten streak. Head coach Pablo Peirano noted post-match that his side failed to convert their usual scoring opportunities and struggled with the altitude and pace of the game in Tunja. We had the scoring options we usually convert, but we couldn’t do it,
Peirano said in remarks covered by Caracol Radio.
Despite the setback, Bucaramanga retained fifth place in the league table with 25 points after 11 matches played. Boyacá Chicó moved to 15 points in 15th place, though their primary battle remains the relegation table, where they sit second to last with a 0.901 average, trailing Jaguares in the fight for top-flight survival.
Tactical Adjustments and Relegation Implications
Peirano introduced tactical shifts after halftime, bringing on Jhon Salazar and Omar Albornoz to create one-on-one mismatches on the flanks and relieve pressure from cautioned players. However, disciplined defending from Boyacá Chicó preserved the clean sheet, with goalkeeper David Agudelo and his backline neutralizing late threats from Fabián Sambueza, whose 79th-minute curling effort hit the left corner of the woodwork. Later in the half, Sebastián Viveros Lopez cleared a corner kick to avert danger, while Isaac Camargo received a yellow card from referee Carlos Betancur Gutiérrez for time-wasting in the final moments.
The victory provides a vital boost for Boyacá Chicó under manager Jhon Jairo Gómez to maintain hope in the relegation table, while the club remains in the battle alongside teams like Jaguares. Meanwhile, Bucaramanga turns its attention to its upcoming fixture against Santa Fe as the regular season enters its final stretch.
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