Deportivo Cali secured a dramatic 3-1 victory over Alianza FC at Palmaseca Stadium on Friday, October 2, 2026, extending their winning streak to five matches in the Liga BetPlay II-2026. Rafael Dudamel’s squad overcame a second-half deficit through goals from Juan Dinenno, José Caldera, and Alexis Castillo Manyoma, moving into a provisional collead with América de Cali at the top of the standings.
How Deportivo Cali Overcame Alianza at Palmaseca
Deportivo Cali extended their remarkable run in the second semester of the Colombian top flight under manager Rafael Dudamel, claiming three crucial points on home turf. The tactical reliance on aerial play ultimately broke open a stubborn defensive performance from the visitors. Despite controlling significant stretches of possession, the hosts found themselves stymied during a tense opening 45 minutes.
Alianza nearly broke the deadlock before halftime when a dangerous effort from Kevin Moreno forced a sharp reaction save out of Deportivo Cali goalkeeper Alejandro Rodríguez. Moments earlier, Jair Castillo rattled the crossbar with a ferocious long-range strike from outside the penalty area, signaling clear warning signs for the home defense. El País noted that the fixture proved exceptionally demanding for the caleños, who struggled to unlock the opposition block early on.
Leyner Palacios Breaks the Deadlock Before Cali Responds
The visiting side capitalized on their momentum shortly after the interval. Alianza jumped ahead in the 61st minute when Leyner Palacios collected a pass from Wiston Fernández, cut inside his marker, and curled a precise shot into the top right corner of the net. The breakthrough stunned the home crowd in Palmira, but the deficit served as an immediate catalyst for the home side’s tactical adjustments.
The advantage lasted only eight minutes. In the 69th minute, Juan Dinenno restored parity for Deportivo Cali by rising above his defender at the near post to powerfully head home a corner kick. The equalizer completely shifted the psychological momentum of the match, forcing Alianza onto the defensive as the contest entered its final quarter.
Caldera Scores Header Before Cuéllar Receives Red Card
Deportivo Cali completed the turnaround utilizing the exact same formula ten minutes after the equalizer. José Caldera met another well-delivered corner kick in the 79th minute, powering a header past the Alianza defense to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. The sequence immediately preceded a volatile flashpoint on the pitch.
A heated physical altercation broke out between Deportivo Cali midfielder Gustavo Cuéllar and Alianza goalkeeper Eduar Esteban. The confrontation resulted in a straight red card for Cuéllar after he forcefully confronted the opposing shot-stopper, leaving the hosts to manage the closing stages with ten men. Nevertheless, Alexis Castillo Manyoma sealed the result in stoppage time, latching onto a knockdown from Stiven Rodríguez following a long clearance to fire home the third and final goal.
The disciplinary report issued alongside the fixture also noted caution cards shown to several players across both squads, including bookings for José Caldera, Emanuel Reynoso, Juan Viveros, Ever Meza, Eduar Esteban, Juan Dinenno, Jair Castillo, and Leyner Palacios.
Standings Implications and the Race for the Quadrangulars
The 3-1 triumph lifts Deportivo Cali to 24 points with a goal differential of +11, matching the points total of league leaders América de Cali while retaining a game in hand. El País highlighted that this strong run secures the club’s position comfortably inside the top eight qualification places, bringing them closer to a return to the semifinal cuadrangulars—an achievement the club has missed for six tournaments.
Alianza FC remains anchored in the lower half of the table with 11 points after 13 rounds of the tournament. The Valledupar-based side entered the fixture missing several key personnel due to injuries, including Felipe Pardo, Johan Wallens, and Carlos Esparragoza, leaving manager Flabio Torres with a depleted rotation.
Next Fixtures in the Liga BetPlay
Deportivo Cali returns to action on Sunday, October 11, 2026, traveling to face Deportivo Pereira at the Estadio Santiago de las Atalayas in Yopal for a 2:00 p.m. local kickoff. Alianza FC will look to recover in the domestic campaign when they host Águilas Doradas in their next scheduled league fixture.
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