“By far the most outstanding”: Aguerre was DIM's star player in the Paisa derby with key saves and ended up injured.

Camilo Cándido and Facundo Batista's Atlético Nacional and Washington Aguerre's Deportivo Independiente Medellín (DIM) played out a goalless draw on Saturday in the first leg of the Copa Colombia final. The hosts were superior in the second half but failed to convert their best scoring opportunities, while the visitors only showed flashes of their best football at certain moments of the game and will decide the title in front of their home crowd on Wednesday next week. The clearest chance of the first half fell to Atlético Nacional's Andrés Román, who finished off a one-two with Alfredo Morelos to find himself one-on-one with Aguerre, but his shot went wide. In the second half, the Verdolagas came out strong and almost opened the scoring after the kickoff in a play in which winger Andrés Sarmiento entered the area and took a shot that was cleared by the Uruguayan goalkeeper's right hand. Diego Arias' team continued to attack and had another chance to score in the 63rd minute with a free kick taken by Edwin Cardona, which was saved with a remarkable stretch by the DIM goalkeeper, who by that point in the game was already the star of the show. As the minutes passed, Medellín regained their balance, but they were unable to penetrate deep into the opposition's half, despite the introduction of the creative Jarlan Barrera, who brought greater fluidity to their possession. In the end, neither team managed to score, and everything will be decided next Wednesday in the second leg, which will also be played at the Atanasio Girardot stadium. "I'm happy to help the team. It was a tough derby. I think they had more chances in the second half, but that's how derbies are played. If you don't win, you can't lose,“ said Aguerre, who, when asked if it was his best game since arriving, said, ”Honestly, yes." Amid speculation about a possible return to Peñarol, the goalkeeper said: “It's wonderful to be able to help, and the team's effort was incredible.” “I have a muscle strain in my calf, but I'm fine. Now it's time to recover and focus on what's next,” concluded Aguerre, who, when asked which of his two saves was the best, chose the one against Cardona. "Because I was covered. He's a very talented player, he chose the right side, held on until the last moment, and nothing, I was able to help the team on that shot." The Colombian press showered the Uruguayan goalkeeper with praise after his performance in the Paisa derby. “In the second half, Nacional dominated Medellín with constant attacks, making Uruguayan goalkeeper Washington Aguerre the star of the show thanks to his timely interventions,” wrote ESPN Colombia. “Washington Aguerre saved DIM and the title will be decided in the second leg,” said El Colombiano, which headlined its match report with “Aguerre was unbeatable!” The Uruguayan wall sealed the draw in the classic Paisa derby in the Cup final. “The Uruguayan was by far the standout player of the match,” they added. With information from EFE.