Nacional win
Nacional are champions of the Intermediate round after they beat Montevideo Wanderers 4-1 on penalties after a goalless draw in 120 minutes. Guillermo Centurion was the hero as he saved two penalties to help his side win their third Intermediate title in four years.
Levantar una copa para empezar el año.
¡Buenos días campeones! 🏆
En el fútbol uruguayo, lo más grande es Nacional#DaleBolso 🔵⚪️🔴#NacionalNacional pic.twitter.com/90AuSu77wE— Nacional (@Nacional) January 15, 2021
Penalties
Gonzalo Bergessio stepped up first and slotted his penalty into the corner to put Nacional ahead.
Ignacio Maria Gonzalez then passed his penalty right into the hands of Guillermo Centurion. He went down the middle but the goalkeeper read his intentions and saved easily.
Guzman Curujo finished with aplomb to put Nacional 2-0 up, then Darwin Torres sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-1.
Substitute Brian Ocampo scored the third for Nacional to restore the two penalty lead, before Wanderers’ dream died as Centurion dived to his right to save from Gaston Bueno.
Emiliano Martinez powered his penalty into the net to spark wild celebrations from the Nacional team.
The match
Nacional came close to scoring in the first half but were denied by saves from goalkeeper Ignacio De Arruabarrena.
Wanderers then nearly scored a freak goal when Hernan Rivero’s deflected cross was heading goalwards until goalkeeper Guillermo Centurion dived on the ball just before it crossed the line.
In the second half, the Whites had their biggest chance of the game when Bergessio’s knockdown set up Emiliano Villar, who hit a shot straight at the goalkeeper from close range.
Bergession then had a header tipped over by De Arruabarrena as Nacional pressurised for the winner.
Chances were at a premium in extra time as the match headed to penalties.
