02/05/2023

True to their history, Nacional and Olimpia, both Copa Libertadores champions, played a great game and drew a 2-2 draw at the Atanasio Girardot stadium.

Despite the tie, this version of Nacional, similar to that of the triumph in the classic once morest DIM, is more liked by the fans. And it is that this has been the claim of a wide sector of his fans and those directed by Paulo Autuori are responding.

The match began with a Nacional determined to seek victory and reach 9 points in their group to be close to ensuring their qualification to the round of 16. That goal seemed possible following 25 minutes in, a powerful shot by Dorlan Pabón from outside the area put the local team ahead.

With that great goal, Dorlan adjusted 6 goals in 3 games and already has 13 in total for this tournament, remaining 8 behind the all-time green scorer in the Libertadores, Víctor Aristizábal.

Until then, Nacional was superior and a fair winner. This would close the first part of the commitment. In the second half, the objective was to increase the score, but very quickly Olimpia showed that she was not going to back down and that she was going to stand up to the Paisa team. At minute 47, Fernando Cardozo would make it 1-1.

After the partial tie, Nacional would retake control of the game, but in Olimpia the figure of its goalkeeper Gastón Olveira was enlarged, who drowned out the green’s goal cries over and over once more. However, Cristian Castro was going to put purslane back up on the scoreboard with a header following a corner kick (64′).

That score would restore hope to the green fans, who were excited regarding the three consecutive victories in the continental tournament, something they had not achieved since 2016 when they were champions.

But the Paraguayans were going to be very effective and at minute 77, following a rebound in the area, Facundo Bruera made it 2-2 on the scoreboard.

The 77th minute was running and that goal fell like a bucket of cold water for Nacional who, in any case, kept looking for victory, but once more found a brilliant night from goalkeeper Olveira who prevented Andrés Román and Dorlan Pabón, who had the clearest options to score the third, will not succeed.

Finally, the commitment ended 2-2 and, beyond not achieving victory, the Paisa club remains the leader of its group with 7 units. The next green game in the tournament will be visiting Melgar on May 24.

At the end of the commitment, Dorlan assured that the group ended sad because Nacional was more and deserved the victory. “The truth is that we had everything to win, close this first round at home with a win and go 9 out of 9. It didn’t happen to us and we have to continue, we already know that these mistakes cannot be made and even more so in the Copa Libertadores.”

The defender Cristian Castro also spoke, who said that with rivals of Olimpia’s category, advantages cannot be given. “That’s where victory escaped us, but all that remains is to work and think regarding what is coming to us.”

Nacional will play this Friday the postponed game it had once morest América de Cali for the Betplay-1 League, starting at 8:15 pm at the Atanasio Girardot stadium.

Relive here the minute by minute of this commitment:

Minutes 90+8: The match ends 2-2, but Nacional continues as the leader of their group.