The Matecaña Fury triumphed over the Red Devils, collecting three vital points in a match that showcased intense competition. Juan Ríos opened the scoring for Pereira just after the halftime break with a goal in the 49th minute, setting the tone for the second half.
Shortly after, Samy Merheg extended the lead for the home side, finding the net in the 48th minute of the second half. América de Cali managed to pull one back in stoppage time, with Jan Lucumi scoring in the 49th minute, but it was not enough to salvage a point.
In a notable moment of the match, Yesus Cabrera nearly equalized for América after a powerful strike in the 74th minute, but his effort struck the post, leaving the crowd breathless.
Darwin Quintero was a standout performer for Pereira, successfully completing two key passes and taking two shots on goal. Juan Ríos also played a critical role, contributing one goal and multiple attempts at goal himself.
Coached by Rafael Dudamel, Pereira utilized a 4-5-1 formation, featuring Salvador Ichazo in goal and a solid backline composed of Walmer Pacheco, Santiago Aguilar, Edwin Velasco, and Omar Albornoz. The midfield boasted a mix of talent with Ríos, Kelvin Osorio, Jhon Largacha, Darwin Quintero, and Yuber Quiñones, while Samy Merheg led the attack.
Conversely, América de Cali, managed by Gabriel Raimondi, also fielded a 4-5-1 setup. Santiago Silva was stationed between the posts, backed by Brayan Correa, Daniel Bocanegra, Andrés Mosquera, and Omar Bertel in defense. The midfield included Luis Paz, José Cavadía, Jhon Palacios, Joel Romero, and Kener Gonzalez, with Rodrigo Holgado up front.
The match was officiated by Álvaro Meléndez Panneflek at the Hernán Ramírez Villegas Stadium. Following this result, Pereira climbed to fourth place with 11 points, while América de Cali remained at the bottom of the table with just 4 points.
Pereira’s next challenge will see them travel to face Envigado, whereas América will host their fierce rivals Atlético Nacional in what promises to be an exciting clash in the classic popular.
Pereira Substitutions
45’ 2T – Juan Ríos for Yesus Cabrera, Joel Romero for Yojan Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado for Jerónimo López, Jhon Palacios for Manuel Caicedo
60’ 2T – Samy Merheg for Marco Pérez, Brayan Correa for Jan Lucumi
78’ 2T – Darwin Quintero for Adrián Estacio
79’ 2T – Walmer Pacheco for Jordy Monroy
83’ 2T – Omar Albornoz for Víctor Mejía
Yellow Cards for Pereira:
13’ 1T Juan Ríos (Unsporting behavior), 11’ 2T Samy Merheg (Unsporting behavior), 33’ 2T Walmer Pacheco (Unsporting behavior), 37’ 2T Salvador Ichazo (Unsporting behavior)
América de Cali Substitutions
80’ 2T – Andrés Mosquera for Jhon Murillo
Yellow Cards for América de Cali:
19’ 1T Joel Romero (Unsporting behavior), 30’ 1T Daniel Bocanegra (Unsporting behavior), 42’ 1T Rodrigo Holgado (Unsporting behavior), 16’ 2T Omar Bertel (Unsporting behavior)
Red Cards for América de Cali:
44’ 1T José Cavadía (Direct red)