CD El Nacional delivered a ruthless attacking masterclass on Wednesday night, dismantling 22 de Julio 5-2 in the Ecuadorian Campeonato Serie B at the Estadio Olímpico de Santo Domingo. The emphatic away victory, played on October 8, 2026, saw the Quito giants score five goals to underline their promotion credentials and hand the home side a chastening defeat in front of their own supporters.

A Statement Performance from El Nacional

From the first whistle, El Nacional imposed their authority on the contest, pressing high and moving the ball with purpose. The visitors opened the scoring early and never looked back, repeatedly slicing through a disjointed 22 de Julio defence. Though the home side briefly threatened a comeback at 3-2, El Nacional responded with two late goals to put the result beyond doubt. The five-goal haul was the club’s largest away victory of the Serie B campaign and served notice that they intend to fight for automatic promotion back to Ecuador’s top flight.

Key Moments: Goals Galore in Santo Domingo

• 12’ – Jhon Cifuentes latched onto a through ball and calmly slotted past the goalkeeper to give El Nacional a 1-0 lead.
• 25’ – 22 de Julio equalised against the run of play when Kevin Mina pounced on a defensive mix-up and fired home from close range.
• 34’ – El Nacional restored their advantage as Andrés Mena curled a superb free-kick into the top corner.
• 45+2’ – Bryan Rivera added a third on the stroke of half-time, finishing off a swift counter-attack.
• 58’ – Jorge Valencia gave the hosts a lifeline, heading in from a corner to make it 3-2.
• 67’ – Cifuentes grabbed his second of the night, converting a penalty after a foul in the box.
• 82’ – Luis Congo completed the rout with a composed finish after being played through one-on-one.

Tactical Breakdown: High Press and Quick Transitions

El Nacional set up in an aggressive 4-3-3, with the front three instructed to press 22 de Julio’s centre-backs relentlessly. That approach forced numerous turnovers in dangerous areas, and the midfield trio of Mena, Rivera, and captain Diego Armas controlled the tempo. The full-backs pushed high, creating overloads on the flanks and stretching the home defence. 22 de Julio, by contrast, lined up in a 4-4-2 but struggled to maintain possession, often resorting to long balls that were easily dealt with by El Nacional’s centre-back pairing. Defensive lapses and a lack of cover in midfield proved fatal, with the visitors scoring three goals from transitions and two from set-piece situations.

Standout Performers

Jhon Cifuentes was the undisputed man of the match, scoring twice and constantly tormenting the 22 de Julio backline with his movement and finishing. Andrés Mena dictated play from midfield, capping his performance with a stunning free-kick, while Bryan Rivera’s energy and direct running caused problems all evening. For the home side, Kevin Mina was a bright spark, scoring one and winning several duels, but he was too often isolated. Goalkeeper Julio Cárdenas had a difficult night, though he made two smart saves to prevent an even heavier defeat.

What It Means for the Serie B Table

With this victory, El Nacional moves into the upper echelons of the Campeonato Serie B standings, keeping pace with the promotion contenders. The three points lift them to within striking distance of the automatic promotion places, and their superior goal difference could prove crucial in the run-in. For 22 de Julio, the defeat leaves them hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone, with defensive concerns mounting. The club will need to regroup quickly if they are to avoid being dragged into a survival battle.

Up Next

El Nacional will look to build on this emphatic win when they return to action next weekend at home, where they have been formidable all season. 22 de Julio, meanwhile, face a tricky away trip as they search for a response. The Serie B campaign is long, but this result could prove a defining moment in both teams’ seasons.