VALLEDUPAR, COLOMBIA — Jesús Muñoz's early strike wasn't enough as Alianza FC were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Cúcuta Deportivo at Armando Maestre Pavajeau on Saturday. Léider Berdugo's penalty six minutes after Muñoz's opener ensured the spoils were shared in a fiercely contested Colombian Primera A encounter that saw 10 yellow cards brandished.
The hosts burst out of the blocks with intent, and their early pressure paid dividends in the 13th minute. Felipe Pardo delivered a dangerous cross from a set piece situation, and Muñoz was perfectly positioned to guide his right-footed effort into the centre of the goal, giving Alianza the dream start. The Armando Maestre Pavajeau faithful erupted as their side seized the initiative, and for a brief moment, it appeared the home team might finally snap their dismal run of form.
But Cúcuta's response was swift and decisive. Just six minutes after falling behind, the visitors were awarded a penalty, and Berdugo stepped up with confidence. The midfielder made no mistake, drilling his left-footed strike into the top right corner beyond the reach of Juan Chaverra to restore parity. The goal shifted the momentum, and what followed was a tactical chess match between two sides desperate for three points.
Alianza enjoyed the majority of possession at 54.2% and created more opportunities, registering 14 shots to Cúcuta's 10. However, the visitors proved more clinical when it mattered, putting six of their attempts on target compared to Alianza's four. Juan Ramírez in the Cúcuta goal was called into action on multiple occasions, making four saves to preserve the point for his side. At the other end, Chaverra was equally busy, pulling off three crucial stops as both goalkeepers earned their keep.
The match grew increasingly fractious as the second half wore on, with referee keeping his cards close at hand. The official brandished 10 yellow cards in total—four to Alianza and six to Cúcuta—as challenges flew in and tempers flared. Wiston Fernández, Pedro Franco, Kevin Londoño, and Breyner Rodríguez all found their names in the book as the contest threatened to boil over in the closing stages.
Alianza pushed hard for a winner in the final half-hour, winning seven corners to Cúcuta's four as they pinned the visitors back. In the 65th minute, Jeison Osorio came agonizingly close to restoring the lead when his right-footed effort from close range crashed against the crossbar, with Wiston Fernández having delivered a teasing cross. The woodwork denied the hosts what would have been a dramatic go-ahead goal.
The introduction of Yeiner Londoño for Felipe Pardo in the 63rd minute injected fresh energy into Alianza's attack, and the substitute nearly made an immediate impact. In the 83rd minute, Londoño turned provider, setting up Osorio for another attempt from the centre of the box, but Ramírez was equal to the task, smothering the right-footed shot to keep the scores level.
Cúcuta manager made tactical adjustments of his own, bringing on Hassler Beltrán and Agustín Cano in the 59th minute, with Sebastián Támara and Brayan Montaño entering the fray later to shore up the defensive structure. The visitors absorbed wave after wave of Alianza pressure, with Mauricio Duarte and Víctor Mejía standing firm in the heart of the defense.
The statistics painted a picture of Alianza's territorial dominance but also highlighted their lack of cutting edge in the final third. Despite creating more chances and enjoying more of the ball, they managed just four shots on target from their 14 attempts—a conversion rate that ultimately cost them all three points. Cúcuta, meanwhile, demonstrated the kind of efficiency that earns results on the road, making their limited possession count when opportunities arose.
As the match entered stoppage time, with six additional minutes announced, both sides had chances to snatch victory. Támara tested Chaverra with a left-footed effort from distance in the 79th minute that sailed wide, while Muñoz nearly grabbed his second with a header in the 72nd minute that just missed the target. The final whistle brought groans from the home supporters, who watched their team extend a troubling winless streak to five matches across all competitions.
For Alianza, the draw does little to ease the pressure mounting on the coaching staff. Their recent form—five consecutive matches without victory including heavy defeats to Bucaramanga and Deportes Tolima—has left them searching for answers. The inability to convert territorial dominance into goals remains a persistent issue, and the dropped points at home will feel like two lost rather than one gained.
Cúcuta, meanwhile, will view the point as a hard-earned reward for their defensive resilience and clinical finishing when presented with their lone clear opportunity from the penalty spot. Their away record has been inconsistent, but Berdugo's composure from 12 yards and Ramírez's shot-stopping heroics provided the foundation for a valuable result on the road.
The tactical battle in midfield was particularly intense, with both teams committing 17 and 12 fouls respectively as they sought to disrupt each other's rhythm. The physical nature of the contest suited Cúcuta's game plan, allowing them to break up play and prevent Alianza from establishing any sustained attacking momentum despite their possession advantage.
Neither side could land the knockout blow; both now prepare for new battles as they seek to climb the Colombian Primera A standings and rediscover the winning formula that has eluded them in recent weeks.