Soccer Roundup: ‘La U’ coach quits, Concepción downs Católica
Universidad de Chile manager Marco Antonio Figueroa hands in resignation following loss to Cobresal, Apertura grand finalists both drop points, Concepción goes top.
Cobresal 2-1 Universidad de ChileFor the 14th time in 14 years, Marco Antonio Figueroa has parted ways with a soccer club as manager. The journeyman coach handed in his resignation Wednesday after training, with Tuesday’s loss to Cobresal the last nail in the coffin of “El Fantasma’s” brief tenure at “La U.”
While Figueroa managed to secure “La U” Copa Libertadores via the playoffs last season, an uninspiring — by the club’s standards — fourth-placed finish in the Apertura was followed by a poor start to this year’s Clausura. Rumors abounded that Figueroa had also lost the dressing room toward the end of last season, following public criticism directed at him from both club mainstay Jose “Pepe” Rojas and rising star Isaac Díaz.
A proven tactician, Figueroa’s fraught relationship with players and press has followed him throughout his six year managerial spell in Chilean soccer, and the former Universidad Católica player has expressed a desire to return to coaching in Mexico. The club’s board — which accepted the Chilean’s resignation by unanimous vote — has appointed Cristián Romero from the club’s youth coaching staff as interim manager until May. O’Higgins coach Eduardo Berizzo leads the shortlist for the job on a long term basis.
On Tuesday, “La U” claimed the majority of possession in the first half though did precious little with it, and a lethargy overtook the side under the unforgiving Atacama sunshine in the second period. Cobresal broke the tie in the 72nd minute — midfielder Johan Fuentes capped off a magical run through “La U’s” backline with a stonker into the roof of the net, and substitute striker Ever Cantero made it 2-0 from outside the box ten minutes later. Central midfielder Rodrigo Rojas pulled one back for the visitors in the 88th though it was all too little, too late.
Universidad de Chile and Cobresal are 15th and 16th respectively.
Universidad de Concepción 2-1 Universidad CatólicaConcepción moved top of the table Tuesday, registering its third win in as many games at home to last season’s grand final runner-up Universidad Católica.
The visiting side opened the scoring in the first half through Ramiro Costa, who showed skill and composure in chipping the backline and finishing low between Cristián Muñoz’s feet. The young, powerful Argentine will need all the confidence he can get this season — starts will come thick and fast following the departure of star striker Ismael Sosa to Mexican club Pumas.
Having forced the best out of keeper Cristopher Toselli on several occasions before the break, Concepción finally equalized in the 55th when striker Leandro Monje’s beautiful, bending free kick dipped under the the bar.
Another dead-ball was to be Católica’s undoing — though in this instance the wall should have blocked midfielder Fernando Manríquez fizzing delivery in the 78th minute. Católica falls to fourth in the Clausura.
O’Higgins 1-1 Audax ItalianoApertura champion O’Higgins shared the spoils with Italiano in an entertaining 1-1 draw Tuesday.
A goalless yet open first half was edged by the visiting team, and Paulo Gárces was imperious between the sticks to deny Omar Zalazar and Marco Medel putting Italiano ahead. The keeper went straight back into action twice just after the restart, saving the blushes of a backline still reeling from the loss of Julio Barroso to Colo Colo.
Italiano finally broke the deadlock on 70 minutes — midfielder Diego Valdés’ drive from outside the box was firm and true, leaving Gárces no chance. Things got worse for O’Higgins in the 80th minute when midfielder Bastián San Juan saw red for a silly high challenge, and the champion looked certain to suffer its first loss in eight games before substitute Gastón Lezcano’s injury-time equalizer. The opposition was understandably infuriated, as Lezcano collected the rebound from an offside position.
Italiano could have still won it however, had Medel not finished a late breakaway with an early “miss of the season” contender, blasting wide of an open net.
O’Higgins and Italiano are fifth and sixth respectively.
Rangers 3-0 EvertonEverton’s start to the Clausura went from bad to worse Wednesday after the team from Viña del Mar slumped to its third loss of the season — and fifth defeat straight — away at Rangers.
The match appeared to have began brightly for Everton when striker Matías Donoso nodded in a free kick, though the goal was disallowed for offside and things would go against the visitors from then on.
To accuse Everton of schoolboy defending in the lead up to Gervasio Núnez’s 16th minute tap-in would be an insult to youth soccer. Rangers may as well have walked the ball into the net for all the opposition they met en route to goal.
The build-up to Fabián Bordagaray’s strike just before the half was equally simple, the striker allowed to run-on to an uncontested knock-down in the technical area with plenty of time to sweep a controlled drive beyond Gustavo Dalsasso. Winger Rodolfo González netted his team’s third after the break to put the game beyond Everton and Rangers played out the following 45 minutes in autopilot.
Such obliging opponents were welcomed by the Rancagüinos — the win ends a four game losing streak.
Santiago Wanderers 2-2 PalestinoPalestino threw away a two-goal lead as Santiago Wanderers fought back on Monday night to earn a point. It was an exciting end-to-end matchup as both teams attacked with pace and vigour. The opening goal was exquisite, Palestino frontman Rodrigo Gutiérrez lighting up Estadio Bicentenario Lucio Fariña with an artful backheel five minutes before half time.
The visitors extended the lead 10 minutes into the second period thanks to midfielder Sergio López, however Wanderers reacted with lightening speed and pulled a goal back two minutes later through Chilean goalgetter Nicolás Canales, on loan from Colo Colo.
With the the home side trailing and the game winding down, midfielder Joao Ortiz was given his marching orders, reducing Palestino to 10 men. Wanderers took the initiative and Sebastián Méndez’ strike completed the comeback — sending the home crowd into raptures. The goal ended Palestino’s perfect start to the season yet the outfit still holds down second place in the table. Ivo Bassay’s men are perched at 11th.
Colo Colo 1-1 AntofagastaA point moves Colo Colo up to third on seven points behind Palestino and Concepción although the homeside will be disappointed not have secured the win and the possibility of top spot after dominating for large parts game against Antofagasta.
Ahead of the game, all eyes were on veteran striker Esteban Paredes, making his first start for the club since resigning from the Mexican league. A proven goalscorer, Paredes is loved by the fans and accepted a 50 percent cut in his paycheck to force through a return to his spiritual home.
On Wednesday, a late goal from substitute striker Michael Silva denied Colo Colo maximum points and while “Las Pumas” manager Gustavo Huerta will be happy to have salvaged a point, a record of five straight draws may be cause for concern.
Colo Colo carved out the best goal scoring opportunities of the two teams during the opening exchanges. Both José Pedro Fuenzalida and Paredes went close but lacked a clinical touch. The home side then went ahead through striker Jaime Valdés on ten minutes and maintained the advantage until the dying moments of the game.
Valdés and fellow striker Felipe Flores had chances to secure all three points late on but the pair were left ruing these opportunities when Silva, brought on to replace Luis Valenzuela in the 75th minute, pounced on a poor clearance to score. Antofagasta occupies 13th as a result.
Unión Española 1-1 IquiqueStriker Santiago Romero’s goal on four minutes was hit so hard on Wednesday it was fortunate Unión Española’s keeper, Diego Sánchez, was not in the line of fire — it would have taken his head off before piercing the net. That’s two in two for the man from Montevideo.
The goal did not deter the home side though, who continued to attack and eventually equalized through forward Sebastián Jaime in the 29th minute. “Los Dragones Celestes” sits eighth while Española hovers one place above the bottom of the table.
Ñublense 2-0 Unión La CaleraA second half brace from striker Luciano Vázquez sealed Ñublense’s first victory of the season on Wednesday evening against Unión La Calera. The Argentine registered his first goal on 64 minutes when he collected compatriot Emanuel Croce’s pass before beating Juan Ojeda in goal.
Ten minutes later Vázquez chipped the onrushing Ojeda to seal all three points and 14th spot in the standings. La Calera are two places above in 12th.
Cobreloa 1-1 HuachipatoEstadio La Madriguera witnessed Cobreloa and Huachipato share the spoils on Wednesday night. Striker David Llanos only needed 11 minutes to get the traveling team off the mark — manager Mario Salas’ encouraging start continued.
Every goal will be vital for Huachipato this Clausura given that the outfit lead only Everton (16) with 17 points in the cumalitive table and remains in danger of relegation if an improvement is not made on last season. However, playmaker Gabriel Méndez fired in a fine freekick just before the break, bringing the scores even. Huachipato are mid-table on four points, Cobreloa seventh, also on four points.
Clausura upcoming fixtures:Jan. 24, 6:30 p.m.: Palestino vs. Universidad Concepción
Jan. 25, 5 p.m.: Huachipato vs. Unión Española
Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.: Audax Italiano vs. Universidad Católica
Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.: Antofagasta vs. Cobresal
Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.: Unión La Calera vs. Rangers
Jan. 25, 10 p.m. Deportes Iquique vs. Colo Colo
Jan. 26, 5 p.m.: Everton vs. O’Higgins
Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m.: Universidad Chile vs. Ñublense
Jan. 27, 8 p.m.: Santiago Wanderers vs. Cobreloa
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