América de Cali edge Atlético Nacional 1-0 to stay perfect and top of Liga BetPlay
América de Cali beat Atlético Nacional 1-0 at the Pascual Guerrero to make it four wins from four in the 2026 clausura and secure top spot in the Liga BetPlay standings.
América de Cali beat Atlético Nacional 1-0 on August 9, 2026, at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali. The fourth-round Liga BetPlay win, with Yeison Guzmán credited with the goal, gave América four straight victories to open the 2026 clausura and secured top spot in the standings.
América de Cali defeated Atlético Nacional 1-0 at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali on Sunday, August 9, 2026, winning the fourth-round clásico of the Liga BetPlay second semester. According to reports, Yeison Guzmán scored the only goal of the match, which kicked off at 8:15 p.m. local time and featured late drama involving a VAR decision. The fixture pitted two of Colombia's biggest clubs against each other early in the clausura campaign. América went into the match with a perfect record of three wins from three in the second semester, according to reports, though one of their new signings was temporarily ruled out with a gastrointestinal virus. The round had opened with Santa Fe facing Boyacá Chicó, with the clásico among its featured fixtures. The victory gave América a fourth consecutive win to start the semester and secured them top spot in the Liga BetPlay standings with a perfect record. For Atlético Nacional, the defeat extends a difficult run against a rival they have repeatedly crossed paths with in decisive moments.
Guzmán goal settles clásico at the Pascual Guerrero
América de Cali beat Atlético Nacional 1-0 at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali on August 9, 2026, in a fourth-round clásico of the Liga BetPlay clausura that had been scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. local time.
The single goal separated the sides in one of the round's featured fixtures. According to the Colombian outlets consulted, Yeison Guzmán scored the decisive goal for the home side, capping what reports describe as a standout individual run during América's winning start to the second semester. The exact minute and manner of the goal have not been confirmed.
The match also carried late drama. Reports from Colombian media indicate a VAR decision featured in the closing stages, though the precise nature of the review and which team it affected remain unclear from the available accounts.
The result at the Pascual Guerrero extended América's perfect start to the clausura campaign and came against a Nacional side that had arrived in Cali looking to close the gap at the top of the table.
Four wins from four put América top of Liga BetPlay
The 1-0 victory over Atlético Nacional on August 9, 2026, did more than settle a clásico — it reshaped the top of the Liga BetPlay table. The win was América de Cali's fourth consecutive victory to open the second semester of the 2026 Colombian league season, a perfect record through four rounds that lifted them to first place in the standings.
No other side in the clausura has matched that start, and América now set the pace as the tournament's early leaders. The run has also drawn attention to individual performances, with Yeison Guzmán reported to have been a standout figure during the winning streak. That assessment comes from Colombian media coverage rather than confirmed statistical analysis, but his influence on the team's perfect opening has been widely noted. For Atlético Nacional, the defeat leaves them chasing the leaders as the fourth round concludes.
A virus-hit signing and a perfect record going in
América de Cali arrived at the clásico in strong form. According to reports, the hosts had won all three of their opening matches in the second semester of the Liga BetPlay season, giving them a perfect record going into the fourth-round meeting with Atlético Nacional at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero.
Their preparations were not entirely smooth, however. Reports indicated that one of the club's new signings for the semester was temporarily ruled out of the fixture after contracting a gastrointestinal virus. The identity of the player has not been confirmed, and it is not known whether he recovered in time to feature against Nacional.
The clásico in the wider clausura picture
The fixture formed part of the fourth round of the 2026 clausura tournament, which, according to Colombian media reports, opened with Santa Fe hosting Boyacá Chicó, with the América de Cali versus Atlético Nacional clásico among the round's featured matches.
The meeting also carried echoes of the previous semester. Reports from December 2025 indicate that Atlético Nacional beat Medellín on Thursday, December 4, in the fifth round of Group A of the league's quadrangular stage. According to those accounts, Nacional entered the final round still in contention to reach the Liga BetPlay final against Deportes Tolima, where América de Cali were said to be waiting. Whether Nacional ultimately reached that final is not yet known.
Atlético Nacional defeated Medellín in the fifth round of Group A of the league's quadrangular stage.
Atlético Nacional went into the final quadrangular round still able to reach the Liga BetPlay final against Tolima, where América de Cali awaited.
The fourth round of the 2026 clausura opened with Santa Fe facing Boyacá Chicó, with América de Cali vs Atlético Nacional among the round's featured fixtures.
América de Cali entered the clásico with three wins from three in the second semester, while one of their new signings was temporarily ruled out with a gastrointestinal virus.
América de Cali beat Atlético Nacional 1-0 at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, in a fourth-round match scheduled for 8:15 p.m. local time.
Yeison Guzmán scored the only goal of the match, which also featured late drama involving a VAR decision.
The win gave América de Cali a fourth straight victory to open the second semester and secured them top spot in the Liga BetPlay standings with a perfect record.
Frequently asked questions
Who won América de Cali vs Atlético Nacional and what was the score?
América de Cali won 1-0. The Liga BetPlay match was played on August 9, 2026, at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, as part of the fourth round of the second half of the 2026 Colombian league season. According to reports, Yeison Guzmán scored the only goal of the game.
When and where was the América de Cali vs Atlético Nacional match played?
The match was played on August 9, 2026, at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, Colombia. It was a fourth-round fixture of the 2026 clausura tournament, and according to reports it was scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. local time on a Sunday.
What position is América de Cali in the Liga BetPlay standings after beating Atlético Nacional?
The victory was América de Cali's fourth consecutive win at the start of the second semester of the 2026 Colombian league season. With that perfect record, América secured the top position in the Liga BetPlay standings after the fourth round of the clausura tournament.
Who scored the goal in América de Cali's 1-0 win over Atlético Nacional?
According to reports, Yeison Guzmán scored the only goal in América de Cali's 1-0 win over Atlético Nacional on August 9, 2026. Reports also credit Guzmán with a standout performance during América's winning run at the start of the second semester. The minute of the goal and how it was produced have not been confirmed.
What happened with the VAR decision in América de Cali vs Atlético Nacional?
According to reports, the match featured late drama involving a VAR decision. The exact nature of the decision and which team it affected have not been confirmed. Reports also indicate América de Cali entered the clásico with three wins from three, while one of their new signings was temporarily ruled out with a gastrointestinal virus.
Compiled from reporting by 9 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
