Soccer roundup: Católica loss sets up dramatic photo finish for Apertura
Universidad Católica stumbles in its title run-in with a loss to Antofagasta, handing a life-line to O’Higgins who now sits behind the league leader only on goal difference.Antofagasta 2-0 Universidad CatólicaAntofagasta stunned Universidad Católica in a 2-0 home win Saturday, setting up a tense race for the title with O’Higgins. The club from Rancagua won its tie over the weekend and now sits level with the league leading Católica on 33 points, separated by an inferior goal difference of 13 to 21.
There are just two rounds left in the Primera División’s Apertura 2013 competition, and recent history suggests both teams are capable of choking come crunch-time. Católica saw a 2-0 win against Universidad de Chile overturned 4-3 on aggregate in the Apertura 2011 playoff final, while O’Higgins fell at “La U’s” sword in similarly devastating fashion in 2012. Most recently, Católica came runner up in this year’s transition tournament, losing out to Unión Española on goal difference.
“I feel we have the team to take the title, though there is sadness, bitterness and anger for not having played the intelligent football needed in this match,” Católica midfielder Milovan Mirosevic said after the game.
Saturday’s fixture was both intense and erratic — Católica dominated possession and came close on several occasions, though tough luck and absent-minded passing in midfield were the undoing of “Los Cruzados.” Antofagasta stuck vigilantly to a counter-attacking game plan, and two second-half goals from midfielder Kevin Harbottle and striker Javier Elizondo ensured that the side mathematically remains in contention for a Copa Libertadores playoff spot.
Elizondo almost gave his team an early advantage — his backheeled attempt following a perfectly weighted through-ball from fellow striker Francisco Sepulveda was blocked on the line, and Elizondo again failed to register with the rebound.
Católica then took control of the midfield and chances began to arrive — prolific forward Ismael Sosa’s long-range drive rattled the crossbar, and striker Nicolás Castillo’s furios header was somehow palmed away by a brilliant Jorge Broun save.
The first goal came two minutes into the second half — Cristopher Toselli parried a shot high into the technical area, and Harbottle swivelled in the air to bang home an acrobatic overhead kick.
Católica responded with nervous urgency, and poor decision making ensured the team built precious few clear-cut chances with the lion’s share of possession. “Los Pumas” waited in ambush, and launched a counterattack when Católica stretched itself too thin in the 70th minute.
Harbottle stole the ball in midfield and easily outpaced his marker, before threading a ball between two Católica defenders into the path of Elizondo who calmly stroked a shot beyond Toselli.
After a tough home match against an unpredictable Colo Colo team next weekend, Católica will on paper be favorite defeat Unión La Calera in its final game of the season — though Saturday’s result makes an upset seem less improbable.
Unión La Calera 1-2 O’HigginsO’Higgins closed the gap on Católica with a scrappy win over Unión La Calera on Saturday. The visiting team looked second best for much of the match, going behind and relying on last ditch defending to keep the scoreline at 1-0, before an attacking surge in the game’s final 20 minutes produced two headed goals.
Manager Eduardo Berizzo praised his players for their resilience in changing the face of a match that was not going their way, though said he “never lost faith” that they had the ability to do so.
O’Higgins backline seemed completely unprepared for the pace and power of Leandro Benegas. The striker shrugged off markers with ease, and belted a ball into the cross bar in the opening exchanges. It seemed just a matter of time before the Argentine would score, and sure enough he was at hand in the 17th minute to cap-off a quick counter with a well-taken side-footed effort to round Paulo Garcés.
La Calera started the second half with the same blistering pace, and almost doubled its lead through Matías Rubio — the striker received the ball on the touchline and easily dummied past Garcés before smashing a shot into a defender on the line.
The introduction of Osmán Huerta on the hour mark settled O’Higgins’ shaky midfield, and the balance of power soon shifted. Sustained pressure led to a corner in the 70th minute, and striker Pablo Calandria rose above the rest to dispatch the set piece. Fifteen minutes later, the indispensable Pedro Hernández fired in another header to complete O’Higgins potentially title-defining comeback.
O’Higgins will hope that an equally spirited Unión La Calera entertain Católica on the final day of the season, while defending champion Unión Española and Rangers complete a final stretch in the team’s search for its first major silverware.
Universidad de Chile 1-0 HuachipatoThe teams with outside chances of making the Copa Libertadores playoff spots will not be smiling favourably on Huachipato goalkeeper Nery Veloso, whose clumsy hands strengthened Universidad de Chile’s grip on third place Saturday.
Bottom placed Huachipato has struggled all season and the team’s poor form was encapsulated by Veloso’s inability to cope with striker Patricio Rubio’s tame shot. The ball spilled from the keeper’s hands into the path of Rubén Farfán on 14 minutes — the forward could not miss.
However, the keeper did atone for his earlier error later on, first keeping out a rampant Rubio, then a daisy-cutting freekick from midfielder Marcelo Jorquera and finally a Ramón Fernández belter from 30 yards out. The midfielder had replaced Rodrigo Rojas at half time.
Huachipato rallied to create a chance late on but substitute midfielder Daniel González fired straight at the home keeper.
Universidad de Concepción 0-1 Unión EspañolaA single headed goal was the only difference between Universidad de Concepción and Unión Española on Friday as the visitors continued marching up the table with five wins and a draw from their last six matches — the team is now fourth.
Concepción on the other hand dropped to 12th in the standings and must surely be resigned to finishing the season hovering in mid-table mediocrity.
Defender Dagoberto Currimilla turned in a fine cross with his head eight minutes after halftime but Española might have gone ahead during the first half had it not been for the heroics of goalkeeper Cristián Muñoz.
At the other end Diego Sánchez was also in fine form — saving a number of times in outstanding fashion to deny first Concepción midfielder Fernando Manríquez’s long range effort before bravely blocking striker Patricio Vidal’s attempt in the second period.
Palestino 3-6 ÑublenseSaturday’s nine goal thriller between Palestino and Ñublense certainly didn’t fail to disappoint but the home team will be ruing periods of suspect defending and goalkeeping.
Luciano Vázquez grabbed four goals for the away team — none of which were truly spectacular but all clinically finished. However, it was the result that mattered most with both teams harboring serious hopes of making it into the top five places come the end of the season.
Ñublense’s win puts the team on 21 points — two positions and four points behind sixth placed Palestino. Both remain in contention for a Copa Libertadores playoff spot with two games to go.
Cobresal 3-1 Audax ItalianoBoth teams entered Sunday’s contest with only one win in their last five games although it was Cobresal who took the initiative and in the process kept alive hopes of finishing in the Copa Libertadores playoff places.
Cobresal midfielder Hans Salinas opened the game’s account in stunning style as the midfielder rifled a left footed shot beyond the reach of Jaime Bravo in the visitor’s goal on 11 minutes.
Four minutes into the second half Italiano’s Marco Medel drew his team level. The tricky midfielder jinked down the left wing and stroked the ball past Leonel Cuerdo who stood rooted to the spot.
Suspect Italiano defending enabled the home team to seal victory two minutes from time as substitute defender Michael Contreras found himself unmarked in acres of space to head home Johan Fuentes left footed cross.
Once again the away team’s defence fell asleep deep in stoppage time to allow Álvaro Navarro in on goal. The forward duly placed the ball past the goalkeeper piling further misery on 17th placed Italiano. Cobresal is now in seventh and will be aiming for a strong finish in their final few games.
Cobreloa 1-2 EvertonAn 86th minute penalty denied Cobreloa a point against Everton on Sunday — resigning the team to seven defeats in eight matches.
On 66 minutes Argentine striker Luis Vila put the traveling team ahead when he rose above two defenders to head in only his second goal of the season.
Eighteen-year-old midfielder Iván Ledezma replied for Cobreloa by bundling in a headed knockdown from a cross 12 minutes later.
However, with full time approaching, defender Diego Silva conceded a needless foul and gifted Everton a penalty, smashed home by midfielder Ángel Rojas.
Everton climbs to 15th as Cobreloa occupies ninth, four points behind Iquique in fifth.
Santiago Wanderers 0-0 Colo ColoSantiago Wanderers goalkeeper Mauricio Viana produced a man-of-the-match performance to keep Colo Colo at bay during Sunday’s match-up at Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander.
The 24-year-old stopper pulled off a stunning reaction save in the first half, denying Colo Colo midfielder José Fuenzalida’s bullet header
Shortly afterwards Colo Colo striker Felipe Flores rode his luck defending a corner when the ball jumped up off his boot and spiralled over his own keeper before bouncing off the base of the post, onto the line and into the thankful arms of Justo Villar.
In the second half Viana was forced into making three further stops – each equally impressive. The first a long range effort from Colo Colo’s Argentine midfielder Emiliano Vecchio, the second a low pile driver from outside the area by fellow midfielder Esteban Pavez. The third was perhaps the pick of the bunch as Viana got down fast to deflect a vicious, close range shot from playmaker Gonzalo Fierro late on.
The shared points do little for each teams’ standing. Wanderers remain 14th and Colo Colo drops a place to tenth.
Rangers 0-0 IquiqueThis game was by no means a classic as Rangers and an in-form Iquique side grinded out a drab goalless draw Friday evening. It was the home team who carved out the most chances, bombarding the visitor’s penalty area with a number of crosses but goalkeeper Roderigo Naranjo was on hand to keep the scores level. Rangers did manage to rattle the woodwork in the second half as Argentine striker Esteban Ciaccheri’s header ricocheted back off the bar from 12-yards out. The results means Iquique occupies the last Copa Libertadores playoff spot in fifth while Rangers drop a place to 15th.
Apertura upcoming fixtures:Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m: Huachipato vs. Unión La Calera
Nov. 29, 9 p.m: Audax Italiano vs. Rangers
Nov. 29, 9 p.m: Antofagasta vs. Cobreloa
Nov. 30, 4 p.m: Cobresal vs. Santiago Wanderers
Nov. 30, 4 p.m: O’Higgins vs. Unión Española
Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m: Universidad de Chile vs. Universidad de Concepción
Nov. 30, 10 p.m: Iquique vs. Palestino
Dec. 1, 12 p.m: Universidad Católica vs. Colo Colo
Dec. 1, 6.30 p.m: Ñublense vs. Everton
Målhttp://www.cdf.cl/videos/