Junior defeated Nacional 3-1, for the second date in League II-2022. The Barranquilla team was forceful against the purslane, who are still hungover after the championship. With goals from Luis González, Carlos Esparragoza and Edwuin Cetré from a penalty, the rojiblancos celebrated the return of Carlos Bacca. On the part of the Antioquia team, many shortcomings in defense and attack, they failed to improve in the second half and ended without their goalkeeper Kevin Mier, sent off in the complement.
At minute 7, a foul by Freddy Hinestroza on Sebastián Gómez took Sebastián Gómez off the field for a few minutes, due to a blow to his right ankle. Junior had possession of the ball, tried to advance, but lacked precision, while Nacional withstood the rival attack and came out on the wing.
At minute 15, after a counterattack, Junior opened the scoring through Luis González, who with a cross shot from the left sector and outside the area, beat Kevin Mier’s goal, who tried to get the ball, but that had an effect with the vertical right entering the ball entered the back of the net.
After the goal, Nacional tried to quickly recover the ball and advance their lines, at minute 22, Andrés Andrade took advantage of a pass from Danovis Banguero, but his shot was rejected by the Barranquilla team. At minute 32, Dorlan Pabón tried from mid-range, but his shot was rejected by the local defense.
Nacional continued to stalk the local goal, until at minute 36 they equalized through Jefferson Duque, who took advantage of a center from a corner kick by Danovis Banguero, the green ‘9’ arrived at the far post and with a header against the floor, he overcame the resistance of Sebastián Viera. This was the 94th goal in 221 games with the purslane shirt.
Junior managed to recover from the good moment of Nacional and before the end of the first half he returned to lead the scoreboard through Carlos Esparragoza, who took advantage of a center from the right sector of Nilson Castrillón and on the far post, with his right leg, the steering wheel defined with solvency the departure of Kevin Mier.
In the complementary stage, Fabián Sambueza entered Junior instead of Carlos Esparragoza. In National there were no changes. At minute 4, Freddy Hinestroza made a shot outside the area, which went high and deflected to the right.
About the 11th minute, Nacional made two variations: Alexander Mejía instead of Jhon Duque and Yeison Guzmán by Andrés Andrade. Junior made another change, Edwuin Cetré entered instead of Carmelo Valencia. At 14, a foul by Emmanuel Olivera on Cetré caused a series of annoyances and warnings by referee Edilson Ariza, the visit ended with Olivera, Jefferson Duque and Sebastián Gómez receiving a yellow card.
Junior had been left with 10 players due to a violent foul by Freddy Hinestroza on Daniel Mantilla at minute 19, the central judge did not hesitate to expel the midfielder who emerged from the Nacional quarry. However, the referee was called by the VAR to determine if he is well sent off or it was just a yellow card. Two minutes later, the referee changed the red to a yellow.
Around minute 24, Nacional made two other changes: Álvaro Angulo in place of Danovis Banguero and Nelson Palacio in place of Daniel Mantilla. Five minutes later, he entered Junior Gabriel Fuentes instead of Freddy Hinestroza.
At minute 32, Kevin Mier made a dangerous play on Didier Moreno, who after stopping the ball wanted to serve quickly and when trying to get away from Moreno, he hit the rival. The referee expelled Mier and sanctioned a penalty. However, the VAR calls the referee, who annulled the penalty, but kept the expulsion on Mier, due to the violent behavior of the Barranqueño goalkeeper on the Junior player. For Luis Marquínez to enter, Yerson Candelo went to Nacional. Junior took advantage of the stoppage in the game, with two changes: José Ortiz for Nilson Castrillón and Nelson Deossa for Luis González.
At minute 38, an offensive incursion by Sambueza almost ended in Junior’s third goal, but he managed to reduce Marquínez well, making it difficult for the Argentine midfielder to shoot. At minute 43, a shot by Walmer Pacheco hit Álvaro Angulo’s hand, despite not seeing the central referee, the VAR called him and after a minute of analysis, he decided to sanction the penalty in favor of Junior.
At minute 45, Edwuin Cetré changed the foul for the third goal in favor of Junior, with an accurate shot to the post from Luis Marquínez’s right hand.
With the advantage on the scoreboard, Junior tried to handle the ball, while Nacional tried to discount the score, with more desire than precision. In the end, the local achieved its first victory in the championship, passing over the current champion, with a very serious game. Nacional, for its part, will have to improve a lot in order not to give up more points, just one point out of a possible six, and with Millonarios just around the corner, it will be an important challenge for those led by Hernán Darío Herrera.
On the next date, Junior will face La Equidad in Bogotá, while Atlético Nacional receives Millonarios at Atanasio.
Juan Camilo Alvarez Serrano
FUTBOLRED correspondent
Medellín
En Twitter: @juanchoserran8