SANTIAGO DE CALI (Interstat) — America De Cali erased a second-half deficit and defeated visiting Fortaleza 2-1 on Thursday at Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero. Fortaleza struck first after a scoreless opening half, but America De Cali answered with two goals in an eight-minute span to take control. The home side improved to 2-1-1 in the competition and 3-1-1 across all competitions. Fortaleza dropped to 0-2-2 in the competition and 0-3-2 across all competitions.

The first half was scoreless, but it was not without incident. Fortaleza’s Jordan Garcia received a yellow card in the 33rd minute, a booking that became part of a busy performance for him. America De Cali made two substitutions at the start of the second half, sending on Tortolero E. and Cavadia J. in the 46th minute. Fortaleza held its shape and found the opening goal in the 52nd minute when Garcia scored. The goal gave the visitors a 1-0 lead and briefly shifted the match in their favor. The opening 45 minutes ended without a goal, and the teams went to the break level. The tempo increased after halftime as both sides made changes and pushed for the opening goal.

America De Cali needed only three minutes to respond. Yeison Guzman scored in the 55th minute to pull the home side level. Jhon Palacios was involved in the attacking push and finished the match with one goal and one assist, while Jhon Murillo also recorded an assist. Palacios then scored in the 63rd minute to put America De Cali ahead for good. The two goals in eight minutes turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead, and Fortaleza was left chasing the match over the final half-hour. Guzman’s finish was the first of two America De Cali goals in quick succession, and the home side kept the pressure on after drawing level. Palacios’ goal gave the hosts a lead they did not relinquish.

Garcia was substituted in the 58th minute after scoring and being booked earlier. America De Cali made further changes when Torres M. entered in the 59th minute and Angel T. came on in the 70th. Fortaleza used Pulicastro F. and Vivas S. in the 76th minute, while America De Cali replaced Palacios in the 76th minute. Fortaleza also brought on Vazquez M. and Cuero S. in the 85th minute. Palacios played 76 minutes and recorded one goal and one assist. Guzman played the full match and scored once. Garcia played 58 minutes and finished with one goal and a yellow card. Murillo played 44 minutes and recorded one assist.

Fortaleza could not produce a second equalizer after Palacios’ goal, and America De Cali saw out the closing stages at Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero. The result gave America De Cali its second competition win of the season and its third win across all competitions. Fortaleza remained without a win in the competition and without a win across all competitions. The visitors had earlier drawn with Dep. Cali and Millonarios while losing to Inter Bogota and Santa Fe in their previous four matches. America De Cali entered after wins over Cucuta and Barranquilla, a draw with Bucaramanga and a loss to Ind. Medellin. Fortaleza pushed for a late equalizer but could not break through as America De Cali held on for the win.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of America De Cali 1, Fortaleza 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected America De Cali with a 75.7 percent probability to win. America De Cali had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.75, and the total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.