Atlético Nacional and América de Cali, two of the most representative clubs in Colombian soccer, have a history full of rivalry and unforgettable episodes. One of the most remembered moments happened on December 20, 1981, when Nacional won the title after a controversial result by the Atanasio Girardot.
On that occasion, América, led by Gabriel Ochoa Uribe, left the field in protest after referee Efraín Otálora awarded a penalty in favor of Nacional in the final minutes. The goal that defined the score was scored by Pedro Juan Ibargüen, sealing the championship for the purslane team led by Osvaldo Juan Zubeldía.
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Both teams came to this commitment with options to become champions if they won, and despite not being in the final, due to the context of what was at stake, everyone involved accepted it as such.
Atlético Nacional’s victory meant not only a new title, but also the chance to deny América the second place and, therefore, the qualifying spot for the 1982 Copa Libertadores, according to versions of historians.
This was a milestone in the history of Colombian soccer, standing out for the intensity of the duel and the controversial finish that consolidated Nacional as the champion of the domestic competition.
Forty-three years later, this Sunday, December 15, 2024, the story had a similar echo in the Betplay Cup final played at the Pascual Guerrero stadium in Cali. In this case, Nacional once again faced América in a tense context.
The final could not be completed due to riots in the stands which forced the game to be suspended. Nacional was declared the champion, winning 3-1 in the first leg, creating an atmosphere of dissatisfaction among the local fans.
Able to offer guarantees, the Cali Police suggested to Dimayor that the new Cup champion would not be awarded at the Pascual field, a request accepted by the highest governing body of Colombian football.
“It is important to point out that the trophy could not be awarded on the pitch, as usual, due to a recommendation from the Police Colonel, the head of the stadium service. Although the center was already empty, the riots continued outside Pascual Guerrero, where various injuries were reported,” Dimayor reported in an official statement.
This new episode not only reaffirmed the historic rivalry between the two teams, but also recalled that result in 1981, where emotions were at the center of the ball.
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