TUNJA, Colombia — In a match that oscillated between frustration and drama at Estadio de La Independencia, Atletico Nacional salvaged a 1-1 draw with Chico on Monday night, thanks to a penalty converted by A. Morelos in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Chico, having led for much of the second half through a composed finish by Johan Bocanegra, saw their hopes of a statement victory dashed at the very last gasp.

For long stretches, Chico looked set to pull off an upset that would reverberate through the Primera A Clausura. Their approach was pragmatic yet ambitious from the opening whistle, as they tested Nacional’s defense with quick transitions and well-timed pressing. By the 36th minute, their endeavor bore fruit. Johan Bocanegra, Chico’s attacking linchpin, peeled away from his marker to latch onto a delivered cross and, with a calm and precise finish, steered his side into a deserved lead.

The goal was the product of sustained pressure and sharp movement, exploiting a brief lapse in Nacional’s backline. Bocanegra’s strike injected confidence across the Chico ranks, and the crowd responded in kind, their anticipation growing with every clearance and challenge. Moments before the breakthrough, Chico’s K. Cortes became the first player in the referee’s book, collecting a booking in the 28th minute after a late challenge.

Nacional, one of Colombia’s most storied clubs, struggled to assert their usual authority. The visitors found themselves repeatedly repelled by Chico’s disciplined shape and tenacity. Tempers occasionally flared as the half wore on, resulting in a yellow card for J. Rengifo of Nacional in the 40th minute, as frustrations mounted.

The second half brought changes in personnel, as coaches sought to tilt the momentum. Chico substituted K. Cortes at halftime, perhaps with an eye toward preserving numerical parity after his first-half caution. Johan Bocanegra himself left the pitch in the 54th minute to a well-earned ovation, replaced as Chico sought fresh legs to maintain their slender advantage.

Nacional, chasing the game, introduced attacking reinforcements: F. Batista and J. Rengifo entered in the 60th minute, followed by A. Salazar and A. Sarmiento just past the 70-minute mark. Chico countered with their own substitutions, as the match took on ever greater urgency. The bookings increased in frequency, with J. Campuzano of Nacional and J. Molina of Chico both cautioned in the 79th minute amid a succession of increasingly heated exchanges.

As the match slipped into its closing stages, Chico’s discipline was put to the test. D. Denis received a yellow card in the 87th minute for time-wasting, and as the pressure from Nacional intensified, the hosts began to retreat deeper, content to defend their lead. K. Londono went into the book in the 95th minute, and W. Tesillo joined him a minute later as tensions reached their peak.

But it was in the dying embers, with Chico seconds away from a vital three points, that the resolution would come. After an extended period of stoppage time — reflective of the spate of substitutions and cautions — Nacional were awarded a penalty. The decision, met with uproar by the home fans, was nevertheless upheld after a brief delay.

A. Morelos, tasked with the responsibility, showed remarkable composure. Amid deafening whistles, he slotted the ball past the Chico goalkeeper in the 97th minute, giving Nacional a point that had seemed beyond reach for much of the contest.

For Chico, it was a cruel denouement to an evening that had promised so much. Their defensive grit and attacking precision were evident, particularly in Bocanegra’s standout performance before his substitution. Yet, their inability to see out the match amid Nacional’s late siege and a flurry of cards proved costly.

For Atletico Nacional, the draw will be viewed as a rescue act, maintaining their place in the race for postseason positions. Yet, questions loom about their lack of cutting edge in open play and the necessity of late-game heroics to salvage results against resolute opposition.

Both teams will now turn their attention to the final stretch of the Clausura, with Chico reflecting on what might have been, and Nacional seeking answers as the campaign nears its climax.