Atlético Nacional defeats Independiente Santa Fe 2-0 in Colombian league match

Independiente Santa Fe suffered a 2-0 defeat against Atlético Nacional at the Atanasio Girardot stadium during a postponed match of the fifth round of the Colombian soccer tournament. The home side secured the victory thanks to a first-half goal by Argentine player Elías Cabrera and an own goal by his compatriot Emanuel Olivera.

Following the match, Santa Fe head coach Pablo Repetto did not hide his dissatisfaction with his team's performance, particularly during the opening 45 minutes. The Uruguayan manager candidly acknowledged that the initial tactical plan failed because the squad dropped back too deep and allowed Nacional to dictate the pace.

“We are not satisfied with the first half. We imagined a different first half, we pictured the game more like the second one. In the first half they had the ball, we dropped too deep, that was not the idea, and they scored two goals on us. When we wanted to react, we were far behind on the scoreboard,” Repetto stated in the post-match press conference.

The coach openly admitted that the result was fair, noting that his squad woke up too late to change the outcome. “We are leaving with a deserved defeat, because they did things better, especially in a stretch of the first half. When we looked for it, it was already late, so now we think about what is coming,” he added.

Looking ahead to the second half, Repetto mentioned that Santa Fe enjoyed more possession and created a few half-chances, although it was not enough to trouble Nacional's lead significantly. He explained that tactical changes and player rotations were necessary due to the demanding fixture schedule and the short rest between recent matches.

Repetto also addressed squad management, revealing that physical fatigue and prior physical issues dictated some of his lineup choices. Despite the setback in Medellín, the manager emphasized that Santa Fe remains in a strong position in the league standings to face the upcoming quadrangular stage.

Looking forward, Santa Fe must quickly turn the page to prepare for crucial upcoming fixtures in both the domestic league and the domestic cup tournament, where they aim to advance further. Repetto stressed that the team will focus on correcting its mistakes as the competitive season enters its decisive phase.