Bogota, Colombia— Facundo Boné emerged as the hero with a clinical finish five minutes into the second half, propelling Internacional de Bogotá to a vital 2-1 victory over Cúcuta Deportivo in a pulsating Colombian Primera A encounter at Estadio Metropolitano de Techo. The hard-fought win not only snapped a worrying three-match losing streak but also reignited the home side's season with a display of tactical resilience and attacking prowess.
The match erupted into life early when Luifer Hernández stunned the home crowd with a shock opener in the 19th minute. Positioning himself perfectly on the right side of the six-yard box, the Cúcuta forward met Eduar Arízalas's pinpoint cross with a precise right-footed finish that nestled into the bottom right corner. The early goal threatened to compound Inter Bogotá's recent struggles and cast a shadow over their hopes of a turnaround.
However, Inter Bogotá refused to capitulate. They responded with increasing urgency, launching a relentless assault on Federico Abadía's goal throughout the remainder of the first half. The Cúcuta goalkeeper was tested early, denying Boné's right-footed effort from outside the box in the first minute. The Argentine striker continued to probe, testing Abadía again in the 47th minute with a left-footed attempt that the keeper deftly parried.
Redemption arrived in first-half stoppage time when Dereck Moncada restored parity. The midfielder displayed remarkable composure, slotting home a right-footed effort from the center of the box in the 45+3rd minute. The goal was a just reward for Inter Bogotá's territorial dominance and unrelenting pressure, sending the teams into the interval locked at 1-1.
The second half began with Inter Bogotá maintaining their attacking intensity, and their persistence finally bore fruit just five minutes after the restart. Boné, who had been twice denied by Abadía, broke through in the 50th minute. Fabricio Sanguinetti provided the decisive assist, threading a perfectly weighted pass that allowed Boné to fire a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom right corner. The goal sparked jubilant celebrations and gave Inter Bogotá a lead they would not relinquish.
The match statistics underscored Inter Bogotá's comprehensive performance. The hosts launched an impressive 16 shots at goal compared to Cúcuta Deportivo's meager four, with five of Inter's efforts directly testing Abadía. While possession was nearly evenly split at 53.5%-46.5%, Inter Bogotá demonstrated superior ball utilization. Their sustained attacking pressure was evident in the eight corners they earned against Cúcuta's two, highlighting their dominance in the final third.
As the second half progressed, the encounter intensified, with the referee brandishing six yellow cards. Inter Bogotá collected five cautions, including bookings for Carlos Vivas in the 58th minute, Mateo Rodas in the 75th, and Boné himself in the 89th minute for a foul on Jhon Valencia. Cúcuta's Brayan Montaño also saw yellow in the 82nd minute as tensions escalated in the closing stages.
Inter Bogotá's manager made strategic substitutions to preserve their advantage. Mateo Rodas replaced Ronaldo Julio in the 59th minute, while Juan Valencia came on for Fabricio Sanguinetti shortly after. These changes helped maintain the team's shape and energy during a tense final half-hour.
Cúcuta Deportivo attempted to mount a comeback, introducing Diego Ceballos and Agustín Cano in the 63rd minute for Léider Berdugo and Sebastián Támara. Víctor Mejía also entered for Santiago Orozco in the 71st minute, but the visitors struggled to create meaningful chances against a resolute Inter Bogotá defense.
The home side had opportunities to extend their lead. Kevin Parra saw a right-footed effort from outside the box sail high and wide in the 72nd minute, while late substitute Johan Caballero fired wide from the left side of the box in the 88th minute. Despite these missed chances, Inter Bogotá managed the game professionally to secure the victory.
Midfield maestro Larry Vásquez was crucial in anchoring the team, winning critical free kicks and controlling the match's tempo during pivotal moments. His experience proved invaluable as Cúcuta pressed for a late equalizer, with the veteran effectively shielding the defense and disrupting opposition attacks.
The final whistle brought relief and celebration for Inter Bogotá, who desperately needed three points after their recent struggles. The victory demonstrated their resilience and attacking quality, with Boné's persistence finally paying off after multiple denials by the impressive Abadía.
For Cúcuta Deportivo, the defeat continued their inconsistent away form. Despite taking an early lead through Hernández's well-taken goal, they were ultimately outplayed and outshot by a more determined Inter Bogotá side. The visitors managed just one shot on target across the entire 90 minutes, revealing their struggles to create meaningful attacking opportunities.
The three points provide Inter Bogotá with a crucial platform to rebuild their season. The performance showcased their ability to respond to adversity, coming from behind to claim a victory that could prove transformative in their Colombian Primera A campaign. With Boné's heroics and a display of tactical maturity, the team demonstrated they remain a formidable force capable of turning their fortunes around.