“Tenemos una dificultad grande: jugamos hace tres días un partido muy importante y ahora tenemos partido en tres días otra vez de visitante,” said Atlético Nacional manager Lucas González regarding his squad selection.

Atlético Nacional secured a 4-1 victory over Boyacá Chicó on Saturday at Estadio La Independencia in Tunja, climbing to second place in the Liga BetPlay standings with 26 points from 12 matches, according to El Colombiano. The fixture was a rescheduled clash from the first matchday of the tournament, played before approximately 12,000 spectators in the boyacense capital, as reported by El Colombiano. With the win, the team moved within four points of securing qualification for the semifinal cuadrangulares.

Edwin Cardona Leads Rotation in Tunja

Operating with a mixed lineup featuring several youth academy players, Nacional left James Rodríguez out of the matchday squad entirely. SOURCE 4 mentioned that González described using the same starters from their recent Copa BetPlay clásico against Independiente Medellín as an impossibility due to physical fatigue and an impending fixture congestion. In Rodríguez’s absence, veteran midfielder Edwin Cardona orchestrated the attack. SOURCE 2 noted that Cardona was selected as the match’s top performer after contributing a goal and an assist.

The visiting side broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when Cardona drove down his flank and delivered a cross into the penalty area for 18-year-old forward Emanuel Benítez. The youth player finished cleanly to record his first professional goal. Early in the second half, substitute Nicolás Rodríguez slipped a deep pass to Cardona, who calmly doubled the lead in the 50th minute to make it 2-0.

Atlético Nacional’s absence of key players extended beyond James Rodríguez. SOURCE 4 revealed that Andrés Felipe Román and Samuel Velásquez were also omitted, with Velásquez serving as a substitute in Tunja. The team’s challenges were compounded by injuries to star strikers Alfredo Morelos, Marlos Moreno, Ian Carlo Poveda, and William Tesillo, as noted in SOURCE 4. Despite these setbacks, González emphasized the strength of the club’s youth academy, stating, “tenemos la mejor cantera del país y creo que aquí nos hemos juntado dos cosas fundamentales: un club que trabaja muy bien sus divisiones menores y un entrenador que ama el fútbol formativo.”

Late Penalties and Sarmiento Braces

Boyacá Chicó pressed to find a way back into the fixture during the closing stages. In the 81st minute, the video assistant referee confirmed a foul inside the box by Milton Casco against Isaac Camargo, resulting in a penalty kick. Juan Carlos Díaz converted the spot-kick with a powerful shot that Nacional goalkeeper Franco Armani managed to touch but could not keep out, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Nacional immediately restored their two-goal cushion. Seventeen-year-old substitute José Escorcia launched an individual run through the defense before laying the ball off to Andrés Sarmiento, who tapped in the third goal in the 84th minute. Moments later, Kevin Parra sent a deep pass on a counterattack to Sarmiento, who struck with his right foot from the center of the area to seal his brace and finalize the 4-1 scoreline in the 90th minute.

Fixture Congestion and Upcoming Travels

González emphasized after the final whistle that heavy squad rotation remains necessary due to upcoming commitments, pointing to a schedule that includes a league fixture against Cúcuta Deportivo on Tuesday, October 20, followed by matches against Deportivo Pasto and Independiente Medellín.

“El miércoles regresamos de Cúcuta directo a concentrar y el jueves volveremos a jugar,” González explained in SOURCE 4, highlighting the grueling pace of the schedule. The team faces a “maratón de partidos” in the coming weeks, with the next matches set for October 20, 22, and 25, as detailed in SOURCE 4.

Jorge Luis Pinto’s Criticism

Despite the win, former Nacional manager Jorge Luis Pinto voiced his concerns about the squad’s rotation strategy. SOURCE 4 quotes him as saying, “Y me siento con Lucas y le explico,” followed by his assertion that “Es imposible que nosotros hagamos que todos los minutos los jueguen los mismos jugadores.” This critique reflects the broader debate over managing player workloads in a packed schedule.

Injured Players and Youth Development

The match highlighted the challenges posed by injuries, with several key players sidelined. SOURCE 4 lists Alfredo Morelos, Marlos Moreno, Ian Carlo Poveda, and William Tesillo among those unavailable. González acknowledged the necessity of relying on youth talent, stating, “Siempre que yo veo señales positivas en estos chicos, intento acercarlos, elevar niveles de exigencia.” This approach has allowed the club to maintain competitiveness despite the absence of senior stars.