Javier Rabanal, coach of Independiente del Valle, during the second leg between Once Caldas and Independiente del Valle.
Photo: EFE – Mauricio Dueñas Castañeda
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Independiente del Valle broke on Wednesday the illusion of the Manzileños fans. In Manizales, before a Palographic on, the Ecuadorian team was replaced from the blow suffered in Quito and eliminated Once Caldas in a dramatic definition from the white point (5-4).
The pass to the semifinals of the South American Cup was loaded with tension, but also left a message from the Spanish coach Javier Rabanal, who after achieving the classification did not overlook the previous atmosphere that surrounded the match.
Hours before the duel, a video that went viral circulated: several players from the eleven Caldas – among them Dayro Moreno, Michael Barrios and Jorge Cardona – got on the roof of the bus that took them to the stadium and sang with the fans.
The scene reflected an atmosphere of illusion but also trustworthy after the triumph achieved last week in Quito, where Dayro had marked a double that seemed to direct the classification of the eleven led by Hernán Darío Herrera to the next round.
However, in football there is nothing written until the final whistle sounds. In Palogrande, Independiente del Valle resisted the pressure and found in the Argentine Michael Hoyos the opportunity to overcome. His two goals put the series in balance and brought the outcome to the penalties.
After the first five releases, equality remained. In sudden death, goalkeeper James Aguirre assumed responsibility, but his shot was diverted. Layan Loor converted the final collection with some suspense and unleashed the Ecuadorian celebration.
Javier Rabanal, DT of Independiente, on the arrival of Once Caldas to the stadium:
– “They told me how Colombian players lived on the bus and I personally do not like to celebrate before things are achieved.
“I know they had been celebrating and in the end we have … pic.twitter.com/2L5kAe46os
– José Carlos Crespo (@JosecarlosCRESP) September 25, 2025
In a mixed area, when Javier Rabanal was asked about the bus video, the coach was direct: “In the end these things are like that. I personally do not like to celebrate before it is achieved. They told me that they had been celebrating and in the end we have taken it”.
Independiente del Valle, champion of this contest in 2019 and 2022, returned to settle in the semifinals of the South American Cup and will have as rival in the next round to Atlético Mineiro (Brazil), which comes from leaving the Bolívar Club (Bolivia) on the road.
Dayro Moreno was self -critical: “This is a failure, the truth. Disillusion, sadness with all the people who came to support us, with the fans of Once Caldas and all of Colombia that was in our favor. We entered decentralized, they charged us and so is football. We needed to be serious from the first minute, we had the score in favor and we trust.”
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