Real Cartagena delivered a dominant performance, defeating Atlético FC 4-1 in a Round 5 match of the Primera B Apertura tournament on . The victory was highlighted by a remarkable four-goal display from Mauro Manotas in his first start as a forward for the club.
The match, played at Estadio Olímpico Jaime Morón León, saw Real Cartagena assert their control early. Manotas opened the scoring in the 7th minute, signaling his intent for a prolific evening. The team’s approach was characterized by intensity, direct play, and clinical finishing.
Manotas doubled the lead in the 42nd minute, showcasing his ability to find space within the penalty area and capitalize on a cross. He completed a first-half hat-trick with a penalty conversion just before halftime, sending Real Cartagena into the break with a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Goalkeeper Guillermo Gómez played a crucial role in maintaining the lead, making at least three key saves to deny Atlético FC. His performance proved vital in preserving the clean sheet for a significant portion of the match.
Atlético FC managed to pull one back in the 50th minute through a header from Jhonier Alomia, briefly injecting some hope into their comeback efforts. However, Real Cartagena quickly stifled any momentum.
Real Cartagena coach Álvaro Hernández made strategic substitutions, bringing on Juan Nieva and Héctor Long to refresh the team. Later additions of Jairo Ditta and Luis Yanes aimed to regain control and maintain the intensity. Juan David Rodríguez and Cristian Graciano also stood out for their contributions to the team’s offensive build-up and overall performance.
Manotas capped off his dream performance with a fourth goal in the 76th minute, a powerful strike that sealed the victory and earned him widespread acclaim. The goal was made even more special as it was celebrated with his family in attendance.
Manotas’s achievement holds historical significance for Real Cartagena. He became the first player in over a decade to score four goals in a single match for the club, with the last player to accomplish the feat being Yesus Cabrera on July 16, 2014, during a Copa match.
The win propelled Real Cartagena to 13 points from a possible 15, solidifying their position near the top of the Primera B Apertura standings. They will look to continue their strong home form in their next match against Leones on at 5:00 p.m. Local time.
The head-to-head record between Real Cartagena and Atlético FC now stands at 7 wins for Real Cartagena, 0 for Atlético FC, and 1 draw, according to available records.
The match also saw the following players feature for Real Cartagena: Guillermo Gomez, Luis Carlos Guevara Rodríguez, Ronaldo Lora, Cristian Graciano, Guillermo Tegue, Andres Escobar, Juan Rodriguez, Didier Pino, Janeth Aleman, Alvaro Melendez, and Samuel Cordoba Maturana. Atlético FC’s lineup included David Agudelo, Jhonier Camilo Alomía Díaz, Jhonier José Julio Jiménez, José Mariano Palacios Zamora, Jhon Stiwar Veira Vergara, Carlos Yesid Restrepo Castillo, Jean Aldair Rentería Vivero, Juan Diego Perdomo Cataño, Fabian Villa, and Juan Farias.
