Atlético Nacional qualified for the semifinals of the Copa Colombia 2021. After beating Santa Fe 1-0 in regulation time and pulling the shots from the penalty spot, where the verdolagas were effective and won 3-1, with a great performance by Aldair Quintana, who cut one of the penalties.
Initially, Atlético Nacional went out to look for the opposite arc. Not only because of the offensive payroll that coach Alejandro Restrepo had on the field of play, but because in 8 minutes of play, the locals had had three goal approaches on the portico of Leandro Castellanos.
Santa Fe were able to mount several counterattacks, but the shot went wide. After 17 minutes, Dorlan Pabón sent the corner kick right to Castellanos who headed it sharply past the keeper. 1 – 0!
So much for Nacional’s insistence that in the 28th minute, a collective play from the right sector between Yerson Candelo and Dorlan Pabón, the latter had the patience to elude two rivals and send a cross for Jefferson Duc to head, open the scoring on this Athanasius spring afternoon. In this way, the verdolagas equalized the global marker 2-2 and until that moment, the first semifinalist of the Glass was defined, by launchings from the penal point.
After the goal, Santa Fe advanced its lines and tried to look for to arrive at the opposite arc, with more desire than aim. Nacional had lowered its intensity, but did not cease its attacks. Dorlan Pabón was, after 37 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors’ lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the center, but home side’s keeper made the save. The game had no news at the end of the first half.
In the complementary stage, National left to put pressure on its rival and to use shutdowns of average distance. Dorlan Pabón had a great opportunity to score following a counterattack after 2 minutes, but ‘s shot from the left sailed high over the bar. Three minutes later and after a free kick, the green ‘8’ came close, but his shot was not accurate and the ball passed near the post of the right hand Castellanos.
In the 16th minute, Nacional made their first variant, entering Yeison Guzmán, instead of Jarlan Barrera. The home side worked hard to get through the middle and as a result, had a good chance of getting one back as tried lifting the ball over keeper Ronaldo Dinolis. Unfortunately, the ball went just over the bar. deflected from the arch guarded by Aldair Quintana.
In the 29th minute, Nacional made two changes, entering Bryan Rovira and Alex Castro, instead of Baldomero Perlaza and Andrés Andrade. Santa Fe made variations thinking about the throws from the penalty spot. The game in the second half became heavy, it did not have the versatility of the first. Although in the final minutes, the spirits rose, but the precision did not appear.
In stoppage time, a brawl between players from both teams increased the drama of a match. The referee Edison Ariza decided to warn Alexander Mejía of Santa Fe and Emmanuel Olivera of Nacional. Without much else, the game ended in a green victory and the series was tied 2-2, so it had to be defined in shots from the penalty spot.
In the draw he started Independent Santa Fe through Neyder Moreno, scoring the goal and putting the capital ahead in the series of shots from the penalty spot.
What followed the series was Dorlan Pabón for National. Writing down his collection in a big way, far from the reach of Leandro Castellanos.
Matías Castro was the second collector for Santa Fe. The Argentine kicked the post of Aldair Quintana’s left hand and the ball was cut by the Tolimense.
For Nacional, the second collector was Danovis Banguero, the winger scored, although Castellanos guessed the stick. 2-1 was the series in favor of the local.
Kelvin Osorio was the third Santa Fe collector and sent the ball into the clouds. For National, the third executor was Geisson Perea, marking the third for the verdolagas and forcing the cardinals to mark the next collection.
Juan Sebastián Pedroza executed the fourth cardinal charge, but crashed the ball into the post, marking the elimination for the capital team and Nacional will now face Deportivo Cali or America in the semifinals next month. The trip to the Valley, the return to Atanasi, next month.
Juan Camilo Álvarez Serrano
Futbolred correspondent
Medellin
On Twitter: @ juanchoserran8