National receives Cerrito this Saturday at the Gran Parque Central for the penultimate round of the Apertura, under pressure after Liverpool's 2-1 victory against Cerro Largo.
The negriazul team moved three points away from their pursuers (including Nacional), so the team of Pablo Repetto (suspended, on the field directed by Óscar Quagliatta) needs a victory to maintain the expectation until the last matchday.
Pumita Rodríguez came in for Alfonso Trezza, who was sent off against Albion.
Diego Zabala and Franco Martínez
The first deep play generated by Nacional was on the left side where Zabala and Cándido combined, with a pass into the area that Gigliotti couldn't control.
Nacional is controlling the ball after 25 minutes, the game is being played near Kevin Larrea's goal, but they lack depth to worry the goalkeeper.
Only at 28 minutes did the tricolor team have a very clear opportunity to score, this time from the right. Zabala and Pumita Rodríguez combined, with Rodríguez crossing and Gigliotti's left-footed shot going wide.
Emmanuel Gigliotti
As the first half was ending, Nacional managed to open the scoring through Emmanuel Gigliotti, after a quick attack that started with Cándido in the middle, passed to the Colombian Castro, who delivered to the Argentine.
Second half
Just at the beginning of the second half, the foreigners joined forces again: Castro crossed and Gigliotti headed. The ball grazed the post.
Nacional is more dangerous in the second half. Good play that ended with a strong shot from Alex Castro and the ball hit the outside of the net.
Diego Zabala and Maxi Calzada
Soon after, Cándido reached the end line, passed to José Luis Rodríguez and his soft shot was deflected by Kevin Larrea. At 56' Rodríguez scored a goal, but it was disallowed for offside.
Third consecutive chance for Puma Rodríguez at 65 minutes. Castro switched sides and Rodríguez shot wide from the left.
José Luis Rodríguez in action
And the fourth, also from the same player, this time with a shot from the left that went in front of the goal.
Franco Fagúndez, who came in for Gigliotti, and Alex Castro had two more opportunities to increase the score.
At 86 minutes, after a great collective play and a final pass from Fagúndez, Ignacio Ramírez scored the goal. Three minutes later, Colo scored his second goal after a pass from Cándido.
Match Details
Nacional: Sergio Rochet; Leandro Lozano, Leonardo Coelho, Nicolás Marichal, Camilo Cándido; Yonathan Rodríguez, Felipe Carballo; José Luis Rodríguez, Diego Zabala, Alex Castro and Emmanuel Gigliotti. Coach: Pablo Repetto. Substitutes: Martín Rodríguez, Mario Risso, Christian Almeida, Manuel Monzeglio, Santiago Ramírez.
Substitutions in Nacional: 64' Diego Rodríguez replaced Y. Rodríguez and Mathías Laborda replaced Marichal, 74' Franco Fagúndez replaced Gigliotti and Juan Ignacio Ramírez replaced Zabala, 88' Leandro Otormin replaced Castro
Cerrito: Kevin Larrea; Julian Perujo, Matías Soto, Matías Velázquez, Alejandro Villoldo; Franco Martínez, Maximiliano Calzada, Brian González, Esteban Da Silva, Owens Falconis and Facundo Rodríguez. Coach: Alberto Quintela. Substitutes: Santiago Amorin, Bryan Perea, Gabriel Acevedo, Enzo Siri and Ignacio Panzariello.
Substitutions in Cerrito: 45' Facundo Vega replaced Facundo Rodríguez, 63' Flavio Scarone replaced Esteban da Silva and Luis Rodríguez replaced Brian González, 76' Bruno Giménez replaced Falconis, 88' Michel Sosa replaced Calzada
Stadium: Gran Parque Central
Referee: Esteban Ostojich. VAR: Jonathan Fuentes
Goals: 45' Emmanuel Gigliotti (N), 86' and 89' Ignacio Ramírez (N)
Yellow cards: 10' Marichal (N), 68' Villoldo (C)