Deportivo Cali won against Atlético Bucaramanga (1-0) and left the bottom of the table in the Betplay League 2024-II. Andrey Estupiñán scored the only goal of a match that It ended in controversy due to the goal being annulled by the leopards’ goalkeeper, Aldair Quintana.
In a desperate measure due to the result against, Quintana went up to the corner kick taken by Fabián Sambueza and dove into the center of the area to declare the agonizing tie.
Unfortunately for him, the VAR called the referee and asked him to review a foul by Carlos Henao seconds before the goalkeeper headed into the back of the net.
Carlos Márquez went to the monitor and determined that there was a hold on the Bucaramanga defender, which is why he annulled Aldair Quintana’s goal, which had been wildly celebrated on the Bumangués bench.
As a result of that decision, Deportivo Cali took the victory and added three vital points in the fight for permanence.
In the official broadcast, the goalkeeper’s reaction was seen when the central referee annulled the goal. Quintana laughed and applauded in an ironic way for the decision that once again put Deportivo Cali ahead on the scoreboard.
In more than a decade as a professional, Aldair had never scored a goal beyond penalty shootouts, which became evident when seeing how he celebrated it in an effusive hug with his teammates.
The great header goal could have been the perfect ending to a night of football in Palmaseca, but the VAR intervened so that the three points were painted green and white.
Cali salt del abismo
The accounts are clear: of the 12 points left at stake, Bucaramanga needs to add at least seven to fight for the spot or nine to cross the barrier of 30 on which Once Caldas, Santa Fe and Atlético Nacional are planted.
The battle will be closed against Fortaleza, who also lost this weekend, in addition to Tolima, Junior and Deportivo Pasto, who aspire to be at the end of the year party in Colombian professional soccer.
Those who did go home happy were the Deportivo Cali fans, who see salvation practically sentenced. The sugar team has no mathematical possibility of entering the home run, but it can now begin to plan what will be next year with the peace of mind that relegation will not be a concern between November and December.
Alfredo Arias has made a radical change inside the locker room. The Uruguayan strategist has not lost in his first two games in charge of Cali, tying last Wednesday against América in the quarterfinal second leg of the Betplay Cup and carrying out a difficult match against the current FPC champion.
At the moment the decision is that Herrera acts as coach during the game, while during the week the one who manages the training sessions and makes the decisions is Arias, who is completing his second cycle in the Valle del Cauca team.
