A thrilling encounter unfolded at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium as At. Nacional faced Fortaleza FC, resulting in a compelling 2-2 draw on the seventh round of the first division.
At. Nacional’s goals came from Harold Balanta (own goal, 21’) and Marlos Moreno (35’), while Fortaleza FC responded with Emilio Aristizábal (36’) and Yesid Díaz (39’).
Marlos Moreno was undoubtedly the standout player, showcasing his talents with a goal and two attempts on goal. Similarly, Emilio Aristizábal shone brightly for Fortaleza, also netting once and making two attempts.
Head Coach Javier Gandolfi employed a 4-3-3 formation for At. Nacional, with Harlen Castillo in goal, Joan Castro, Simón García, César Haydar, and Andrés Salazar in defense. The midfield comprised Luis Landázuri, Elkin Rivero, and Matheus Uribe, while Andrés Sarmiento, Juan Bauzá, and Billy Arce led the attack.
On the flip side, Fortaleza’s manager Sebastián Oliveros opted for a 4-5-1 setup, featuring Jordan Garcia as the keeper, supported by Jonathan Marulanda, Yesid Díaz, Harold Balanta, and Sebastián Valencia in defense. Leonardo Pico, Kevin Balanta, Kelvin Flórez, Andrés Ricaurte, and Andrés Amaya constituted the midfield, with Emilio Aristizábal as the lone striker.
The match was officiated by Mauricio Mercado Palencia at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium.
Looking forward, At. Nacional will visit América de Cali in the next fixture, while Fortaleza FC will host Santa Fe. The upcoming clash for At. Nacional will be particularly exhilarating as they take on their fierce rivals in the ‘Clásico Popular’, igniting the passionate fanbases of both sides.
Currently, At. Nacional sits in second place in the league with 12 points, while Fortaleza FC follows closely in fourth place with 11 points.
Substitutions for At. Nacional
45’ 2T – Elkin Rivero out for Jorman Campuzano, Luis Landázuri out for Marlos Moreno, and Billy Arce out for Edwin Cardona.
58’ 2T – Andrés Sarmiento out for Alfredo Morelos.
87’ 2T – Juan Bauzá out for Juan Obando.
Yellow Cards for At. Nacional:
12’ 1T Billy Arce (Unsportsmanlike conduct), 40’ 1T Elkin Rivero (Unsportsmanlike conduct), and 12’ 2T Joan Castro (Unsportsmanlike conduct).
Substitutions for Fortaleza FC
68’ 2T – Andrés Amaya out for Santiago Cuero, and Andrés Ricaurte out for Andrés Arroyo.
69’ 2T – Jonathan Marulanda out for Edwin Cabezas.
84’ 2T – Kelvin Flórez out for Luis Escorcia.
97’ 2T – Emilio Aristizábal out for Santiago Córdoba.
Yellow Cards for Fortaleza FC:
7’ 2T Andrés Ricaurte (Unsportsmanlike conduct), 17’ 2T Jonathan Marulanda (Unsportsmanlike conduct), and 47’ 2T Kevin Balanta (Unsportsmanlike conduct).