Cosas locas: Lightning strike La Equidad vs Nacional

On 12 February 2011 La Equidad faced Atlético Nacional in the 2nd round of the Colombian Apertura 2011. The game had to be temporarily suspended after lightning hit the field. The game resumed and the final score was 1-1.

For more crazy South American football check out the rest of the Cosas locas series.

Marcelo Salas vs Atlético Nacional 1997

In November 1997 Chilean striker Marcelo Salas scored this goal for River Plate against Atlético Nacional in the semi-final of the now defunct Supercopa Sudamericana. River won 3-2 on aggregate and progressed to the final where they beat Brazilian side São Paulo 2-1 at home after a 0-0 draw in the first leg..

Part of the Golazo series.

Golazo: René Higuita, Nacional vs River Plate, Copa Libertadores 1995

Whenever English football fans think of eccentric Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita, generally the first thing that comes to mind is his outrageous trick at Wembley in 1995 and the second is probably his encounter with Roger Milla at the 1990 World Cup.

Fans of Argentine club River Plate have another moment etched into their collective memory. The occasion was the first leg of the 1995 Copa Libertadores semi-final. River had knocked out the holders, fellow Argentine side Vélez Sársfield in the quarter finals to set up their 8th Libertadores semi-final (they currently hold the record for the most semi final appearances with 13, but they've lost 9 of them).

River Plate's opponents were Colombian side Atlético Nacional, who had scraped through the group stage thanks to a last minute penalty save by Higuita against Universidad Cátolica of Chile.

Nacional hosted the first leg of the semi-final which they won 1-0 with this exquisite free kick from Higuita but River Plate rallied to win their home leg 1-0 to set up a penalty shootout which Nacional eventually won 8-7 after Higuita saved Matías Almeyda's penalty.

Unfortunately for Nacional, Higuita had an absolute stinker of a game in the first leg of the final against Grêmio of Brazil, in which he was at fault for all three goals. Nacional could only draw their home leg 1-1 and were beaten 4-2 on aggregate.

Part of the Golazo series.