Atlético Nacional was a practical team, which managed to overcome a downpour from their rival in the first half and a downpour in the second. And with that he was enough to beat a Junior 2-1 who made him sweat and get back into the League final after four years of absence.
Nacional did not have an easy way to solve these 90 minutes. Junior played a good game, he demanded it in defense, he put goalkeeper Kevin Mier to work and he also hit first: At 15 minutes, Freddy Hinestroza scored the 0-1, with a shot from outside the area that deflected on Emanuel Olivera to leave the green goalkeeper without options.
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With the away advantage, Nacional did not look comfortable. Junior, far from defending the goal and knowing that only victory gave him a chance to be a finalist, went on top looking for the second.
The National hierarchy to turn the game around
However, in an isolated play, Dorlan Pabón launched a cross into the visiting area, where he found a teammate that the fans criticize a lot, but who usually scores many goals at key moments in green campaigns: Jéfferson Duque put his head in and scored the tie, which put Nacional back in the League final.
The 1-1 gave Nacional some peace of mind and then gave a lesson in effectiveness: in the second arrival of the game with danger from the green side, another cross, this time by Danovis Banguero from the left, fell into the visiting area in looking for one of the two Dukes: Jéfferson passed by, but Jhon did not: he headed it in and made 43,230 green fans celebrate at the Atanasio Girardot stadium.
The rain, protagonist in the second stage
In the second half another protagonist appeared: the rain. The Atanasio field could not withstand the amount of water and puddles began to appear. But neither on the side of Nacional nor on the side of the junior denied any effort: they gave everything.
The field of play ruined Junior’s idea to turn the game around, because all the good they had achieved in the first half, touching the ball and opening the game on the wings, he could not do with the same precision.
Thus, Junior, who had demanded Mier on several occasions and made him a figure, could not get back easily and appealed to the frontal ball to try to do damage. What he achieved was to highlight the work of the Nacional centrals.
The match, which had been played fairly, came to an ugly end: Hinestroza made an ugly tackle on Jarlan Barrera and ended up being sent off. And after that action, soccer went on to slaps and anger, which left another red card as balance, this time for Nelson Palacio, from the local.
He may not be the most brilliant Nacional in history and many flaws can be found in his game. But it is a practical team that knows how to hit at the right moments. For this reason, Hernán Darío Herrera and his boys celebrate a new final. On Thursday his rival will be known.
Jose Orlando Ascension
Sports Sub-Editor
@josasc
