Soccer Roundup: reigning champs stumble, Palestino take early lead
Palestino overcome Universidad de Chile and O’Higgins held to a goalless draw at Antofagasta as the second round of the Clausura throws up some surprises.
Four teams share top spot after a second round of the Primera División which raised eyebrows.
Palestino scored the narrowest of victories against Universidad de Chile to break the deadlock on top after a four-nil victory last week sees it with the best goal difference. Colo Colo has began its campaign for redemption on a bright note with its second consecutive win, while Universidad Católica and Universidad de Concepción both sit on six points as well.
Meanwhile reigning champion O’Higgins is two points off the pace after being held to a goalless draw against Antofagasta.
Huachipato 3-2 RangersHuachipato was unlucky not to have at least shared the points against Santiago Wanderers last week — the team looked like a new machine during Mario Salas’ first game in charge despite losing 4-2 to the Valparaíso-based club. The former Chile international’s footballing philosophy took hold Friday though and his troops dug in to record their first victory of 2014.
Defender Omar Merlo nodded in a corner on three minutes after the ball evaded every Ranger’s man in the box. Set pieces continued to vex the traveling outfit and striker David Llanos finished off a freekick whipped in by Francisco Arrué just before halftime to go two up.
Whatever Ranger’s manager Fernando Gamboa said during the interval worked — no more than four minutes after the break forward Mauricio Gómez found the back of the net with a fine header. However, a storm was brewing in the shape of Mauricio Yedro’s right boot.
At 58 minutes the Ranger’s defender Francisco Alarcón cleared his lines, scooping the ball into the path of Yedro 10-yards-outside the box. Like a runaway stream train the midfielder didn’t even break stride before volleying a thunderbolt into the top lefthand corner of Diego Pozo’s goal. The keeper, utterly helpless, watched the rocket fly past him — only his mouth moved, falling limp and hanging ajar in bewilderment.
“The coach gives us confidence,” Yedro said after securing all three points. “We are showing that we are a great team.”
Rangers rallied late on and managed to claw a goal back thanks to substitute midfielder Gervasio Núñez’s curling freekick in the 93rd minute. But it was too little too late for the Talca-based side who are now winless in five.
“The scoreline suggests it was a tight victory but based on our form and power, we deserved the three points,” Salas told press after the match.
Universidad de Chile 0-1 PalestinoPalestino put the furor surrounding the team’s new kit behind them, at least for 90 minutes Friday evening, to end Universidad de Chile’s four game win streak at the Estadio Nacional.
César Valenzuela hooked a shot wide early on from a good position before the home team headed just over Felipe Núñez’s bar. Striker Patricio Rubio was then denied brilliantly by Núñez, who rushed out, putting his body on the line to keep Palestino in the game.
Man-of-the-match Núñez was on hand in the second half to once again save brilliantly, this time tipping Isaac Díaz’s glancing header over the bar.
It wasn’t until the 85th minutes that forward Juan Duma — on loan from Universidad de Chile — tapped in Roberto Gutiérrez side pass to score the only goal of the match. As a result Palestino now sit atop of the table with two wins in two games with the best goal difference of the four clubs locked in two wins apeice.
“We forced them to play down the centre of midfield, closing off the wings,” Palestino manager Emiliano Astorga said. “Núñez made two or three very good saves.”
Everton 0-2 Colo ColoEverton will feel slightly aggrieved after tamely conceding the game’s first goal when Julio Barroso’s shirt received a slight tug from defender Oscar Carniello — Barroso tumbled to the ground like he had been riddled with hot lead Sunday. Gonzalo Fierro thumped the resulting penalty straight down the middle to make it 1-0.
“El Eterno Campeón” dominated for large parts of the match and the pressure told when midfielder Emiliano Vecchio headed home following an accurate cross from Felipe Flores on 40 minutes. Not long after Vecchio thudded another bullet against the upright — the build-up play leading to the chance brisk and fluid.
Everton’s best chance arrived in the second half when substitute Mauro Olivi sent a left footed daisy-cutter just wide, his long, thick mane swaying wildly as he put his laces through the ball.
“We were superior against Everton,” Héctor Tapia said during the post-match press conference. “Two games, two wins, six points.”
Antofagasta 0-0 O’HigginsA fruitless, rasping 25 yard drive, a header cleared off the line, a point blank shot fired straight at keeper Jorge Broun and a dubious disallowed goal was all O’Higgins could manage against a stubborn Antofagasta side Saturday.
The reigning champion was left frustrated as the Northerns set up shop, making it difficult for Eduardo Berizzo’s side to carve out clear chances. O’Higgins’ man between the sticks Paulo Garcés kept the scoreline goalless with an incredible save to deny Luis Valenzuela.
Cobreloa 3-1 ÑublenseCobreloa, clad in bright orange, put last week’s defeat to Universidad de Concepción to bed with a dominant display against Ñublense — who has now lost three games on the trott.
Midfielder Gabriel Méndez fired in shot with his left six minutes into the first half but the “Los Diablos Rojos” replied on 28 minutes when playmaker Tomás Lanzini glanced a header past the outstretched glove of Lucas Giovani in goal.
However, a tap-in from striker Jaime Grondona five minutes before the break and forward Álvaro López’s effort completed victory for Cobreloa on Sunday.
Universidad Católica 1-0 Unión EspañolaSaturday’s encounter between “Los Cruzadors” and Unión Española witnessed a goalkeeping masterclass by Cristopher Toselli, who produced two amazing saves to deny the traveling side Saturday.
Striker Álvaro Ramos struck on 58 minutes when his chipped effort was only partially saved by Diego Sánchez before dribbling into the goalmouth and over the line. The goal was enough to seal a second consecutive victory for Católica.
Iquique 2-0 CobresalIquique did battle with Cobresal on Friday evening and came out on top thanks to goals from midfielders Santiago Romero and Rodrigo Díaz.
Romero smashed home the rebound into the roof of the net after his initial shot was saved from a corner on 21 minutes to put “Los Dragones Celestes” ahead.
Díaz capped off victory with a penalty after a rash challenge from Johan Fuentes 31 minutes into the match. Things only got worse for Cobresal when Patricio Jerez was sent off four minutes later.
A double save by away keeper Leonel Cuerdo late on made sure the score remained two-nil.
Audax Italiano 2-0 Santiago WanderersAudax Italiano overcame Santiago Wanderers on Thursday, the opener scored by defender Nélson Saavedra — a first time volley from a lofted ball, launched from the halfway line.
The home keeper saved brilliantly before defender Bryan Carassco added a second with an easy finish.
Unión La Calera 0-2 Universidad de ConcepciónA fine header by striker Pedro Muñoz before half time and a close range finish by substitute forward Leonardo Monje, his second of the season, ensured Unión La Calera fell foul of Universidad de Concepción on Saturday.
Clausura upcoming fixtures:Jan. 13, 8 p.m.: Santiago Wanderers vs. Palestino
Jan. 14, 3:30 p.m.: Cobresal vs. Universidad de Chile
Jan. 14, 6 p.m.: Universidad de Concepción vs. Universidad Católica
Jan. 14, 8:30 p.m.: O’Higgins vs. Audax Italiano
Jan. 15, 4 p.m.: Rangers vs Everton
Jan. 15, 4 p.m.: Cobreloa vs. Huachipato
Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m.: Unión Española vs. Iquique
Jan. 15, 8 p.m.: Ñublense vs. Unión La Calera
Jan. 15, 9 p.m.: Colo Colo vs. Antofagasta
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