Deportivo Cali was superior and defeated 1-0 this Saturday at National by date 18 of Liga I-2021 in the stage of Palmaseca, classifying itself the quarters of end, with a positive jump of the sixth to the second square with 31 points, the same of its rival of turn.
While it was not a vibrant match as expected, the most important thing is that those led by Alfredo Arias secured the ticket to the semifinals without depending on the result of the last day against Millionaires in Bogota.
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The ‘sugar’ box was what put the conditions in the beginning, thanks to the overflow of Jhon Vásquez on the right, beating Nicolás Hernández, which produced two approaches to the arc of Aldair Quintana. However, the good work of Jhojan Valencia and Andrés Colorado disconnected the circuits in Nacional, which in this meeting did not make a single shot in the arc of Guillem D’Amors.
Meanwhile, the oncio Antioquia presented an alternative formation in which Alexandre Guimaraes placed three central and only after 10 minutes was able to balance the actions in brand, but was wrong in an arrival with Michael Chacón.
2 minutes into the game, Emmanuel Olivera had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came John Hinestroza. John Vinestroza was the first to reach the corner kick, but his header was blocked by the keeper. Then Vásquez centered for Colorado, but the steering wheel failed to finish.
Jefferson Duc did not gravitate in the first half and only Tomás Ángel tried to go down in the middle to join Vladimir Hernández and Alex, who were also not in attack for the good mark of Jhojan Valencia and Andrés Colorado.
Ángelo Rodríguez came close to extending the visitors’ lead when he found himself completely unmarked in front of the goal after a pass through the middle. He tried to lift the ball over Gastón Rodríguez but overcooked it and hit the bar instead.
Gastón, another high-skilled player in the confrontation, soon became an important player to open the green defense, profiled on the left and put a cross on the second post that failed to finish off Ángelo with the Geisson Perea mark, about 25 minutes.
At 38, in a ball that took Guillem D’Amors direct to rival area, Ángelo entered the area and the Argentine Olivera unbalanced it, the referee Hinestroza this time did give penalty and Gastón Rodríguez charged on the left post to fool Quintana and turn it 0-1 at 40.
Coach Alfredo Arias entered at 43 to Eduard Caicedo by Jorge Arias, resentful again. The valduparense defender received a yellow card at the time of his departure and due to the accumulation of cards he will not be able to face Milionaris in Bogotá.
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For the beginning of the second half, Brayan Córdoba came in for Emmanuel Olivera, with a very weak performance and causing the maximum penalty that put the home side ahead.
A triple green-shot at 2 minutes did not end in Quintana’s net, evidencing that the lack of clarity in definition has yet to be overcome.
On the 10th, Valencia ran to the right, put the center in the area and Kevin Velasco could not connect in front of Quintana’s beard.
Andrés Balanta replaced Andrés Colorado, injured, at 19; while Andrés ‘el Rifle’ Andrade and Jarlan Barrera entered for Alex Castro and Vladimir Hernández at 24 in Nacional.
Arias moved his bench again and joined Yeison Tolosa and Andrés Arroyo by Ángelo Rodríguez and Gastón Rodríguez at 27. The last variant of the paisa box was the departure of Michael Chacón to give way to Sebastián Gómez at 38.
Without further offensive action time was consumed. Aldair Quintana saved Nacional from the second green goal – in a double shot in the agony of the match, facing Vásquez hand in hand.
Central defender Hernán Menosse received a yellow card in the 88th minute and will also miss the match of the next day.
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With the victory, the ‘sugarmen’ ratify their superiority over the ‘verdolagas’ in Palmaseca, as in 13 games they have won 8 times, lost 3 and drawn 2.
On the last date of the ‘all against all’, Cali will visit Millionaires and Nacional will host Patriots.
Marc Antoni Garcés
Futbolred Cali correspondent
On twitter: @marquitosgarces