University of Chile won the first round of the 2024 First Division Championship. Gustavo Álvarez’s blues finished with 32 points, one more than Coquimbo Unidos, which had a great chance to surpass the U, but he only tied with Palestino.
The concept of ‘winter champion’ is not something new. It is at least three decades old. In the nineties, the contest generally closed its first round in the month of September, just in the last days of the winter season.
In fact, Universidad de Chile even received a cup for winning the first round. It was in the 1993 Championship, when the blues led with 22 points, the same score as Colo Colo, but with a better goal difference.
A joy that didn’t last long
On Saturday, October 23, 1993, the same day that Michael Jackson performed for the only time in Chile, Universidad de Chile received the ‘Iván Zamorano Cup’ for the champion of the first round.
A trophy that was presented by the vice president of the ANFP, Dario Calderon. Minutes before facing Deportes Antofagasta, the captain Mariano Puyol was in charge of receiving and raising the cup, together with the president of the U, Rene Orozcobefore the 18,000 people who attended the Santa Laura stadium.
That afternoon, the U lost 1-0 against the pumas, with a goal from the former blue Eric Lecaros. It was the second round of the second round and in the first round they had already lost 1-0 to Provincial Osorno in the south.
At that moment the decline began for those led by Arturo Salah, who in the end finished in fourth place, nine points behind champion Colo Colo. They also did not go to the Copa Libertadores, since Unión Española stayed with the Liguilla. However, everything would change the following year, when Universidad de Chile was the monarch of Chilean soccer after 25 years.
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