BetPlay Cup: the controversies in the final América vs Nacional

América de Cali plays an intense first half in the second final of the BetPlay Cup against Atlético Nacional and, for now, they draw without goals, which gives the title to the Medellín team. At 15 minutes, there was a handball that was not claimed by the visitors but could have been a penalty. At dawn, a Cardona kick could also have been reviewed.

Cardona and an early kick in the final

Just at minute 2 Edwin Cardona went with everything and committed a hard foul on Marcos Mina, however, referee José Ortiz barely showed the yellow card to the Nacional midfielder, who could have had worse luck if the play had been reviewed by the VAR, the intensity of the foul gave thought to many that it was for something more than a reprimand.

🟨 YELLOW: First minute of play and Edwin Cardona put this stomp, an entry that I see as reckless because of the point of contact and also because of the way he hits. He doesn’t take it fully but just passes by. For that reason I understand that it is only yellow #CopaBetPlay pic.twitter.com/YwUGPIe6Ze

— EL VAR CENTRAL (Andrés) (@ElVarCentral) December 15, 2024

Was it a penalty for Nacional for a handball inside the América area?

Nacional’s first clear situation came in the first quarter of an hour and through a corner kick, an action that America usually suffers a lot from.

Edwin Cardona raised the center quickly and found ‘Búfalo’ Morelos, who grazed the delivery with his head, demanding Soto’s cover.

Although at the time no Green player complained, upon seeing the replay of Win Sports It was seen that Morelos’ header hit the hand of a player from America before goalkeeper Soto’s save.

Judge Ortiz was not called to review the VAR and the action was not checked by the technology.