La Equidad vs Once Caldas Match Recap

Jerson Malagón’s Strike Lifts Once Caldas Past La Equidad in Contentious Clash at Techo

BOGOTÁ — On a chilly Tuesday night inside Estadio Metropolitano de Techo, Once Caldas defied the odds—and an early disadvantage—to grind out a resilient 1-0 victory over La Equidad, breathing life into their Primera A campaign and deepening the home side’s crisis at the foot of the table.

A Night of Early Fury and Turning Points

The match’s narrative was set ablaze just 14 minutes in, when Robert Mejía—a key figure in Once Caldas’ recent upturn—was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge near the halfway line. What should have tilted the balance decisively in La Equidad’s favor instead galvanized the visitors, who displayed a tenacious defensive posture and a willingness to absorb pressure.

Just eight minutes after being reduced to ten men, Once Caldas delivered the night’s defining blow. Capitalizing on a rare first-half foray into the opposition’s box, Jerson Malagón met a whipped corner with authority, glancing a header past La Equidad’s rooted goalkeeper in the 22nd minute. The goal was as much about timing and courage as it was about technique—a testament to Malagón’s knack for rising to occasion in critical moments.

La Equidad’s Toothless Pursuit

From there, the contest evolved into a familiar script for La Equidad—a side whose recent struggles have been as much mental as tactical. Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession for the next 75 minutes and launching wave after wave of attack, the Bogotá-based club found itself continually thwarted by a compact Once Caldas back line. Crosses flashed harmlessly across the box; speculative shots found only the traveling fans behind the goal.

In truth, the home crowd has grown accustomed to frustration. La Equidad’s last five league matches have yielded just two goals, with their last home win feeling like a distant memory. The introduction of Jovanny Bolívar and other attacking reinforcements late in the second half brought energy but no end product.

As the final whistle loomed, desperation crept in. Tempers frayed. In the 90th minute, the referee dealt La Equidad a final humiliation, showing a straight red card to an unidentified home defender after a cynical foul denied a late Once Caldas break.

Context: Once Caldas Surging, La Equidad Deepening Crisis

For Once Caldas, this win extends the momentum they’ve quietly built over recent weeks. After dismantling Deportivo Pasto 4-0 in the Copa Colombia and putting five past Chico in their last league outing, head coach Hernán Darío Herrera’s side now sits 11th in the table, their 16 points from 13 matches putting them within striking distance of the playoff positions. It is a remarkable turnaround for a side that, just two weeks ago, looked to be slipping into mid-table obscurity.

La Equidad, by contrast, are mired in a crisis. With just two wins all season and a paltry 11 points from 13 matches, they languish in 20th place—bottom of the Primera A standings. Their recent form paints a grim picture: back-to-back heavy defeats (0-3 at Santa Fe, 0-4 at home to Deportivo Cali), a limp draw against Deportivo Pasto, and now five matches without a win. The defensive solidity that once defined this club has evaporated, and the goals have dried up, leaving manager Alexis García searching for answers.

Tactical Chess and Stubborn Resistance

What will linger longest from this contest is the tactical bravery of Once Caldas. Forced to defend a slender lead for more than an hour with ten men, Herrera’s side packed the defensive third, inviting La Equidad to break them down. Veteran center back Andrés Correa led by example, marshaling a youthful defense that refused to wilt under pressure.

La Equidad, for all their huffing and puffing, rarely manufactured clear chances. Their most dangerous moments came, ironically, on the counter—more so after being reduced to ten men themselves at the death.

What’s Next: Pressure and Possibility

As the league campaign barrels toward its decisive final third, Once Caldas have thrust themselves back into the conversation. Their blend of grit and opportunism has them just outside the playoff places, with a lighter fixture list ahead providing both opportunity and expectation.

La Equidad, meanwhile, are staring down the barrel of relegation pressure. The weeks ahead will test the club’s mettle; a reshuffling in the attack seems inevitable, and every match now carries added weight. The question facing them is not just about tactics, but whether this squad can summon the resilience needed to change its trajectory.

The drama at Techo was not just about three points, but about the starkly divergent paths these two clubs now face. For Once Caldas, belief is on the rise. For La Equidad, time is running short.