A single goal was enough for At. Nacional to clinch a 1-0 victory over América de Cali at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot, marking the start of Group A in the top division. The match’s decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when Matheus Uribe found the back of the net.
After a well-placed pass from Marlos Moreno, Uribe succeeded in directing a header past the goalkeeper, sealing the win for his team.
Matheus Uribe stood out as the game’s standout player, scoring one goal and attempting three shots on target.
Simón García also drew attention for his robust defensive performance, successfully clearing three dangerous balls to maintain a clean sheet.
Head coach Diego Arias opted for a 4-3-3 formation with Harlen Castillo in goal, supported by a defensive line of Andrés Román, Simón García, William Tesillo, and Camilo Cándido. The midfield was anchored by Jorman Campuzano, Edwin Cardona, and Matheus Uribe, while Marino Hinestroza, Alfredo Morelos, and Juan Rengifo led the attacking front.
On the opposite side, América de Cali’s Alexander Escobar deployed a 5-4-1 setup, featuring Jorge Soto as the goalkeeper, surrounded by defenders Jan Lucumi, Jean Pestaña, Andrés Mosquera, Nicolás Hernández, and Marcos Mina. Their midfield included Cristian Barrios, Josen Escobar, Rafael Carrascal, and Jhon Palacios, with Adrián Ramos spearheading the attack.
The match was officiated by referee Carlos Ortega Jaimes.
In their upcoming fixture, At. Nacional will face Independiente Medellín away from home, while América de Cali will host Junior. The victory sets the stage for a thrilling classic paisa as At. Nacional prepares to take on their historic rival.
Substitutions for At. Nacional
59’ 2T – Juan Rengifo for Juan Bauzá
71’ 2T – Edwin Cardona for Marlos Moreno
87’ 2T – Marino Hinestroza for Dairon Asprilla and Alfredo Morelos for Facundo Batista
Yellow Cards for At. Nacional:
23’ 1T – William Tesillo (Unsporting behavior)
37’ 1T – Alfredo Morelos (Unsporting behavior)
Substitutions for América de Cali
68’ 2T – Adrián Ramos for Yojan Garcés
83’ 2T – Josen Escobar for José Cavadía and Nicolás Hernández for Cristian Tovar
88’ 2T – Jhon Palacios for Kevin Angulo and Cristian Barrios for Mateo Castillo
Yellow Cards for América de Cali:
37’ 1T – Jean Pestaña (Unsporting behavior)
26’ 2T – Jorge Soto (Unsporting behavior)