Atletico Nacional

Not brilliant, basically most of the team played a defensive game with counter attacks because we played 83 minutes with 10 men. Macnelly had a solid game, not something special, but the whole team real gave 200% effort. It's very tough stadium to play in and especially with a man down almost the whole game.

 

So we saw a different game, him and me. I cannot say that he wasn't good, but surely not brilliant because we didn't attack much so Macnelly couldn't bring his qualities. Solid performance of him and the res tof the guys. Our best player was Cristian Bonilla, who saved us several times and if I'm Osorio I will continue to play with him, even though Pezzuti is a great keeper but out of form. By the way, Macnelly won't play today vs. Envigado due to bookings and the replacement should be J. Alvarez who plays well recently. The rest will remain except for Jherson Cordoba who will replace Bernal due to his red card vs. Pasto.

starting XI- Bonilla; Calle, Medina, Henriqez, Diaz; Mejia, Cordoba; Pajoy, Alvarez, Aviles; Mosquera

 

Baal, I wasn't impress from the match. It had good rythem, but in general it wasn't a goodperformance from neither. Envigado had couple of good chances in the first half, then we had many chances that the guys weren't concentrate enough to get the win until Mosquera came in the 73rd minute. In the past 10 minutes, Envigado had many chances as well that Bonilla saved time after time (Bonilla seleccion!!) but I was ashamed as a fan of Nacional, that vs. Envigado at home we need to bunker in the last 10 minute in order to get the win. I really don't understand what happens to us this tournament with the matches at Atanasio. We are nervious or something but the players don't function in Medellin. I'm glad for the win, but in this form we cannot sell anything vs. Junior, Millos or even Itagui.

 

Since Carlos Renteria during the 2011 Apertura we don't have normal strikers. I mean we have "big names" who don't do shit and until we found Duque in the second division, he got injured. For our defense we played yesterday without Macnelly, without Uribe, Medina & Aviles who entered at the 70th minute, but it's not excuse. I must say that Micolta surprise me for good so far, while Pajoy is an unpleasent surprise until now.

 

Pepino, Mosquera made a mistake but 6 matches suspention is way too much for his act in my opinion. It reminds me when Carlos Sanchez made a strong tackle last year in Valenciennes and got suspended for 9 matches...The FPC was hursh on Mosquera in this case, but he is paying for his mistakes.

Anyway, easy game for us so far in Tunja, 0-3 at the break vs. Patriotas and it was the score after the first 20 minutes. Pajoy is excellent with 2 goals and an assist (include golezo from FK) but I really feel bad for Uribe who missed couple of chances but besides that didn't do nothing. Macnelly is hurt and I hope that it's not serious not only for us but only for the NT. Hopefully we'll move one place up after tonight.

 

I really don't understand this team. We played very well in the first half, could score like 6 goals, but the second half was a torture to the fans or anyone who likes football. Both teams absolutly stand on the field!! If it was Patriotas ability yesterday I can understand (they didn't do nothing) but why we decrease our form into their level?!? Instead of keep pushing them and improve our goal differance, we simply walk on the field, pass the ball, barely created chances in the second half. It's amazing that even when we won 0-3 away from home, the players received booing from the crowd but after their horrible second hald they deserved it. On Sunday vs. Santa Fe but at Atanasio, where usually we play like crap this tournament...

 

I agree Baal, and don't forget Carlos Renteria who is on Junior's bench & Angello Rodriguez who was good last tournament with Cartagena, Orlando Berrio from Patriotas...But to we were F*** up with Duque's injury and Uribe & D. Alvarez are in bad form, it's not like we don't have good strikers. Hopefully they'll start to score and soon.

 

6th home match in this tournament that we cannot win this is incredible! Yesterday at least we played well and only excellent performance by Camilo Vargas prevented from us to take the 3 points but then again we were goal down twice in the match and managed to equalise. We still in good situation, two wins out of the remaining 5 matches and we're in. but without home wins we cannot go anywhere. It was a very good match with an amazing olimpic goal of Omar Perez. As for us, we really miss a "9" and it's strange to wright this when in our team plays Fernando Uribe. Where's the scorer of Caldas? Nada de nada. Yesterday two great chances but couldn't beat Camilo Vargas and Diego Alvarez in the second half exactly the same. Aviles & Pajoy with normal match also couldn't beat Vargas in two good chances and the defense wasn't in a good game as well, Elkin Calle with a horrible blame in Santa Fe's second goal...Hopefully we'll return much better after the NT break.

 

Disappointing result in neiva vs. a weak opponent, Buenaños & Bonilla kept their goals empty. We played with such short squad, Mac in the NT, Pajoy, Mosquera & Duque are injured and aviles left early also due to an injury. We still are in a good position, I hope we'll beat La Equidad on Sunday, although it's dia del hincha and we never play well in this day. Hopefully we'll get our players back to finally qualify before the last match, but we have a serious problem with our strikers, who cannot finish propertly. I know that I'm being a smartass by saying it now, but maybe it was a huge mistake to release Carlos Renteria to Junior, especially when he doesn't play there.

 

Unfortunately I have to agree with you here. It's simply impossible to win anything when every game we have 2-3 injury players.

 

Bonilla right now is the starter, Pezzuti sat on the bench vs. Huila and I agree with Osorio. Bonilla is playing wonderful so far and deserves his spot.

 

Nice victory tonight over Chico 0-1 in the Copa Postobon 1st leg which should be enough for us (since we like to tie so much this year). it's unbelievable our squad: even Julio Mora played yesterday. On the bench we didn't have any sub striker, just Guisao. Aviles, Duque, Uribe, Mosquera, Pajoy - all are injured!! Carlos Abella, Chico's keeper, saved them from a bigger defeat and gave them a chance for the 2nd leg. Pezzuti was good as well and I expect from us to qualify next week. On Sunday we have dia del hincha and then a match vs. La Equidad (5:30 p.m.), hopefully to grab 3 pts and getting closer to the playoff. By the way, this time the homenaje will be for Luis Herrera. GRA/NDE CHONTO!