Deportivo Cali seized a hard-fought 1-0 win over Deportivo Pereira on a tempestuous Friday night at Estadio Deportivo Cali, leapfrogging their rivals in the Clausura standings and reigniting their playoff ambitions.

The lone goal arrived in the ninth minute, as Johan Martínez latched onto a clever through ball, dispatching a low drive past Salvador Ichazo to give the hosts a dream start. Deportivo Pereira, despite dominating possession with 61%, struggled to transform their superior ball retention into clear chances, registering just a single shot on target across 90 minutes.

Cali, organized and resolute under Alberto Gamero, weathered several waves of Pereira pressure, with goalkeeper Alejandro Rodríguez called upon for three crucial saves. Pereira’s attack, led by the veteran Darwin Quintero and the lively Yesus Cabrera, could not unpick a home defense marshaled by Andres Correa and Joaquin Varela. As time ticked away, frustration grew: the visitors racked up 18 fouls and a remarkable eight yellow cards, losing their composure in the closing stages.

Key flashpoints defined the contest’s narrative. In the 76th minute, Cali thought they’d secured a second goal through Michael Orozco, only for the assistant’s flag to curtail celebrations—Orozco was adjudged offside. Pereira’s discipline disintegrated late on: José Moya, already booked, was shown a straight red in stoppage time for dissent, capping a torrid night for Rafael Dudamel’s side.

The intensity of the fixture was palpable throughout, as evidenced by 11 cards brandished by the referee. Midfield battles were fierce, with Yani Quintero and Andres Colorado anchoring Cali’s engine room and Pereira rotating their midfield in search of a breakthrough. None arrived.

Cali’s victory, grounded more in grit than guile, was reflected in the statistics: outshot Pereira 14 to 10 overall, put five attempts on target, and won six corners despite having just 39% possession. Pereira’s inability to turn territorial dominance into genuine threat ultimately sealed their fate.

This result jars open the playoff race. Cali’s defence delivered under pressure, and Martínez’s early precision remains the night’s defining moment.

Video highlights and extended match recap are available from reputable sources, including the official Liga BetPlay Dimayor YouTube channel (over 500,000 subscribers), which provides authenticated match footage and post-match analysis. These highlights chronicle Martínez’s composed finish, Orozco’s disallowed goal, and the frenetic late stages in which tempers and cards flared.

With this win, Deportivo Cali signal their intent as the Clausura approaches its dramatic denouement—while Pereira must regroup, refocus, and rediscover their attacking edge if they hope to keep their postseason dreams alive.