In their latest outing on the 8th matchday of the Apertura, Nacional showcased their home advantage by overpowering Cerro Largo with a decisive 3-0 win at Gran Parque Central. It was Tomás Verón Lupi who sparked the scoring early on, netting the first goal in the 14th minute with a well-executed play that left the opposing goalkeeper no chance.
As the second half progressed, specifically at the 69th minute, Juan Cruz De Los Santos doubled the lead for Nacional, marking the score at 2-0 after a solid team effort. The final blow came shortly thereafter when Baltasar Barcia secured the victory with another goal in the 77th minute.
Tomás Verón Lupi’s performance stood out, as he not only scored once but also attempted three shots on target, contributing significantly to his team’s attack. Baltasar Barcia also shone with a goal and two attempts to score.
One of the highlights of the match was Verón Lupi’s impressive skill, as he nutmegged Cerro Largo defender Matías Fracchia just 16 minutes into the game.
Nacional’s coach, Jorge Bava, employed a 4-5-1 tactical setup. Ignacio Suárez was in goal, supported by a defensive line of Emiliano Ancheta, Agustín Rogel, Tomás Viera, and Camilo Cándido. The midfield featured Nicolás Lodeiro, Lúcas Rodríguez, Luciano Boggio, Tomás Verón Lupi, and Gonzalo Carneiro, with Maxi Gómez leading the attack.
On the other side, the visiting coach Danielo Nuñez opted for a similar 4-5-1 formation, with Pedro González guarding the net and a defense composed of Alexander Hernandez, Alexis Piegas, Matías Fracchia, and Santiago Franca. The midfield included Lucas Correa, Gustavo Viera, Mario García, Axel Pandiani, and Maximiliano Añasco, while Tiziano Correa was the forward.
Leodán González Cabrera officiated the match at Gran Parque Central.
Looking ahead, Nacional is set to visit MC Torque in their next match, while Cerro Largo will play at home against Danubio.
With this victory, Nacional moves up to fifth place in the standings with 13 points, whereas Cerro Largo remains in 11th place with 9 points.
Substitutions for Nacional
39’ 1T – Camilo Cándido was replaced by Federico Bais
66’ 2T – Tomás Verón Lupi made way for Baltasar Barcia and Gonzalo Carneiro was substituted by Juan Cruz De Los Santos
84’ 2T – Nicolás Lodeiro was replaced by Mauricio Vera and Pavel Nuñez came in for another player
Yellow Cards for Nacional:
34’ 2T – Nicolás Lodeiro (Unsporting behavior)
Substitutions for Cerro Largo
60’ 2T – Gustavo Viera was substituted by Nicolás Bertocchi and Maximiliano Añasco was replaced by Bruno Hernández
75’ 2T – Santiago Franca made way for Julian Pou and Mario García was substituted by Diego Daguerre
Yellow Cards for Cerro Largo:
7’ 2T – Alexis Piegas (Unsporting behavior), 19’ 2T – Bruno Hernández (Holding the opponent to prevent advancement), 36’ 2T – Nicolás Bertocchi (Unsporting behavior), 42’ 2T – Julian Pou (Unsporting behavior)