Atlético Nacional secured a 2-0 victory over Águilas Doradas in the tenth round of the Colombian league at the Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín, a match highlighted by the official presentation of James Rodríguez to thousands of home supporters, according to match reports.
The fixture on September 13 brought together a packed stadium in Medellín. Thousands of verdolaga fans turned out not just for the league encounter, but to witness the return of the Colombia national team captain to domestic club football. While Rodríguez did not feature in the matchday squad, he watched from the tribunes as his new teammates broke down a stubborn Águilas side in the second half.
How Nacional Broke the Deadlock Against Águilas Doradas
After a tightly contested and scoreless opening 45 minutes where the visitors successfully deployed a disciplined defensive block, the breakthrough arrived via a penalty kick. Following a VAR review that confirmed a foul inside the area on Ian Poveda, veteran midfielder Edwin Cardona stepped up to convert from the spot in the 68th minute, giving Nacional a 1-0 advantage.
Águilas Doradas attempted to find an equalizer in the closing stages, keeping pressure on the home defense. However, Nacional sealed the three points in the 83rd minute. Argentine player Elías Cabrera launched a long pass from the defensive half that found Ian Poveda, who finished cleanly to make it 2-0 and secure the final scoreline.
Standings Impact and League Context
With the home win, Atlético Nacional climbed to fourth place in the Liga BetPlay standings with 15 points. The Medellín club sits five points behind league leaders América de Cali, though Nacional retains two matches in hand on the table-toppers.
The round featured several other notable results across Colombian football. On Friday, Jaguares and Fortaleza played to a 2-2 draw, while Santa Fe edged Deportes Tolima 1-0. Saturday action saw Internacional de Bogotá defeat Llaneros 3-2, Boyacá Chicó overcome Independiente Medellín 2-1, and Alianza deepen Junior’s ongoing struggles with a 1-0 victory.
James Rodríguez Arrives in Medellín
The centerpiece of the matchday occurred before kickoff when Atlético Nacional formally presented James Rodríguez to the Atanasio Girardot crowd. The midfielder walked onto the pitch accompanied by his children, Salomé and Samuel, amid an ovation from the thousands in attendance.
During the ceremony, Rodríguez shared an embrace with goalkeeper David Ospina, who also received a club tribute honoring his career with the institution. Rodríguez was handed his new jersey bearing the number 23, a choice necessitated by league rules prohibiting squad numbering changes mid-tournament, leaving the iconic number 10 shirt with Edwin Cardona.
“De corazón, muchas gracias, espero que podamos tener muchas alegrías juntos y sobre todo muchos títulos. Porque este es un club muy ganador y yo también lo soy,” Rodríguez told the supporters during his presentation.
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