Nacional increases its advantage over Tolima and leads the group in the Libertadores By Jeronimo Santos
4 min read
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Nacional opened the scoring at the beginning of the second half and extended the lead in the 64th minute to beat Tolima 2-0. The game took place this Tuesday night at Estádio Gran Parque Central, at Montevidéu, for the second round of the Copa Libertadores group stage. The result puts the team Uruguayan with three points at Grupo B. Tolima continues with one point after the first round.
Argentine referee Yael Falcón Pérez commanded the match. Ele handed out several yellow cards during the match, which had high intensity from the opening minutes. Nacional pressed more in attack, while Tolima looked for counterattacks, but found it difficult to create clear chances.
Initial pressure and balance in the first half
Nacional started the match with initiative and created opportunities in the first minutes. Aos 3 minutes, Baltasar Barcia participated in a play that ended in a corner. Pouco later, the Uruguayan team had another corner, with a header from Agustin Rogel that went close to the crossbar.
Tolima responded with firm entries in the marking. The referee called fouls for both sides in the first 20 minutes. Aos 24 minutes, Baltasar Barcia came face to face with the goalkeeper Neto, but the low shot was saved in the center of the goal. The first half ended goalless, with the score at 0-0.
The players took advantage of the hydration break around the 25th minute due to the intense heat in Montevidéu. Tolima had corners and attempted deep passes, but Nacional’s defense warded off the dangers. The referee added three minutes of added time. Brayan Rovira received a yellow card in the 45th + 3rd minute for an infraction.
🏆 | GOAL: SEBASTIÁN COATES DOUBLES THE LEAD FOR NACIONAL IN THE COPA LIBERTADORES!
— إبراهيم الوصابي (@alhjaj_abw10188)April 14, 2026
National 2-0 Deportes Tolima.pic.twitter.com/2aTji1svqC
Half-time substitutions and goal that opened the scoring
Coach Jorge Bava made a change at halftime. Maximiliano Joaquin Silvera Cabo replaced Paolo Calione. The match resumed with Nacional maintaining the pressure.
In the 48th minute, Nicolás López made a lateral pass into the area. Maximiliano Gomez He adjusted himself and finished low in the middle of the goal. Goalkeeper Neto was unable to save, and Nacional opened the score 1-0. Tolima tried to react with a shot from Adrian Parra Osorio, but the ball was blocked by the defense.
The game continued with interruptions due to fouls. Tolima made substitutions in the 62nd minute, with Juan Pablo Torres Patino and Edwar Lopez entering the field. Nacional continued to seek attack from the sides.
Expansion of the score and wasted chances
In the 63rd minute, Nacional had a corner. Nicolás López went up into the small area and headed hard, but the ball hit the right post and went out. Logo Then another corner was taken quickly.
In the 64th minute, Nicolás López made a beautiful high cross into the area. Sebastian Coates He went up and headed the ball into the left side of the goal. The score was increased to 2-0. The goal consolidated the home team’s advantage.
Maximiliano Joaquin Silvera Cabo had a chance in the 67th minute, but shot wide of the right post after a short pass. Tolima tried to respond with crosses and fouls, but was unable to close the gap. The referee stopped the game after 70 minutes to rehydrate the players.
- Maximiliano Gomez scored Nacional’s first goal in the 48th minute of the second half
- Sebastian Coates doubled the score in the 64th minute with a precise header
- Nicolás López participated directly in both goals, with a pass and cross
- Goalkeeper Neto from Tolima made an important save in the first half
- Yael Falcón Pérez distributed yellow cards to players on both teams
Defensive performance and match control
Nacional demonstrated good defensive performance throughout the second half. The defenders removed dangers from crosses and set pieces. The Uruguayan team managed the advantage without exposing themselves too much to counterattacks.
Tolima had difficulty finishing with danger. The substitutions tried to give more speed to the Colombian attack, but the blocking of the opposing defense prevailed. The heat influenced the pace, with breaks for hydration at both times.
The victory keeps Nacional in the fight for the leadership of the group. The Uruguayan team has three points in the continental competition. Tolima seeks recovery in the next round.
The match had a good attendance at Gran Parque Central. The fans celebrated the goals in the second half. The match continued without serious incidents outside the four lines.
Key matchup stats
Nacional finished more times and had more possession of the ball in the second half. Tolima concentrated his efforts on marking, but committed fouls that interrupted the flow of the game. The referee controlled the actions firmly and avoided escalating aggression.
Both teams showed physical commitment. Várias Hard entries led to cards and free kicks. Nacional made better use of set pieces, especially in the corners that preceded the second goal.
The 2-0 victory represents a good result for Nacional in this group stage. The team is now preparing for the next challenges at Libertadores. Tolima analyzes performance to adjust the strategy in the following rounds.
