Table of positions after the victory of the America of Cali and the defeat of Santa Fe: new leader

The second half of the BetPlay League’s first round continued on Sunday, July 26, with several teams making their debut matches. Among them was América de Cali, which returned to Estadio El Campín, the venue where it had previously faced Independiente Santa Fe in the previous tournament's knockout stage. The day saw key results that altered the league standings, with two games producing decisive outcomes. América de Cali opened the weekend with a 2-0 victory over Internacional de Bogotá, marking its return to the stadium after a long absence. Goals came from Jhon Tilman Palacios and Yeison Guzmán, who scored via a penalty in stoppage time. Goalkeeper Jean Fernandes made a crucial save during the match, preventing a potential equalizer. This win placed América de Cali at the top of the table, surpassing Deportivo Cali, which also secured a 2-0 victory against another team. However, América’s away win gave it an edge in the standings. Independiente Santa Fe, meanwhile, faced Águilas Doradas at Polideportivo Centenario. Coach Pablo Repetto opted for a lineup featuring substitutes, aiming to preserve his starting XI ahead of an upcoming international match in the Copa Sudamericana. Santa Fe managed a 2-1 win, with goals from Andrés Ricaurte and Frank Lozano late in the game. A goal for Águilas Doradas was disallowed after a review using video assistant referee technology. Despite this, Santa Fe held on to claim the three points, though they were defeated in the process. Other matches saw Alianza Valledupar secure a 1-1 draw against Fortaleza, with Jhon Solís scoring early for the hosts and Cristian Vergara leveling the score later. The final match of the day featured Once Caldas versus Cúcuta Deportivo at Estadio Palogrande in Manizales, concluding the day’s action with the last three points up for grabs. The results have already begun reshaping the league table, with América de Cali leading after its impressive performance. The other victories and draws have contributed to a more competitive landscape, setting the stage for further developments in the coming weeks. With just two matches remaining in the opening round, the race for the top spots is still very much open, and the next few days will likely see more dramatic shifts in the standings.