With a Tierra de Campeones Stadium almost at capacity, Deportes Iquique defeated Palestino by a tight 2-1, ending its streak of three consecutive losses and positioned itself as a runner-up in the National Championshipbehind of University of Chilewho beat Huachipato 4-0.
After an amazing start to the tournament, even reaching first place, the northerners accumulated a series of bad results that meant a slight drop in the table. The Baisanos, on the other hand, took advantage of this situation to establish themselves as escorts of the leader Universidad de Chile.
With these ingredients, an interesting match was foreseen, which was initially controlled by the visitor, who dominated the ball and generated constant danger on the goal of Daniel Sappa, who showed his credentials and was essential to maintain zero on the scoreboard. .
However, after half an hour of play the roles would turn, with the Iquiqueños putting pressure on the rival field and finding themselves with the opening of the account in the 41st minute, when Hans Salinas sent a long ball that was capitalized by Alvaro Ramoswho managed to hit him with his right foot inside the area and made it 1-0.
Although the outsider came out with the intention of reversing the adverse score against them, it was the celestial dragons who had the best scoring chances, stretching the numbers in the 65th minute with a header from Lazaro Romero after a cross from Enzo Hoyos, who in the previous action broke César Rigamonti’s crossbar.
But the joy did not last long for those led by Miguel Ramírez. The thing is that just three minutes later they got the desired discount thanks to an accurate header from Junior Marabelwho connected the ball that Pablo Palacio sent to the area.
In the 72′ everything would go uphill for the First Region team because the expulsion of Yonathan Andía, who earned his second yellow card for a foul on Marabel. Despite having one more man on the field, the colony team could not change history and It ended their unbeaten streak of seven games.
This way, Deportes Iquique ended its bad streak in the competition and, with 19 points, climbed to second place, moving Tino Tino to third place, and was five behind the U.a club that will face next Sunday starting at 5:30 p.m.
Palestino, meanwhile, will host Deportes Copiapó this Friday and then will have to think about the crucial fight with Flamengo for the fourth date of the CONMEBOL Libertadores.
Sports Iquique (2)
Daniel Sappa; Yonathan Andía, Matías Blásquez, Miguel Sanhueza, Hans Salinas; Diego Orellana, Agustín Nadruz (Joaquín Moya, 83′), Enzo Hoyos (Diego Fernández, 77′); Álvaro Ramos (Álvaro Delgado, 83′), Lázaro Romero (Ronald De La Fuente, 77′), Edson Puch (César González, 54′). (DT: Miguel Ramírez)
Palestinian (1)
Caesar Rigamonti Dilan Zúñiga, Antonio Ceza, Iván Román, Misael Dávila; Fernando Cornejo (Brayan Véjar, 82′), Nicolás Linares (Ariel Martínez, 56′), Felipe Chamorro (Joe Abrigo, 56′); Bryan Carrasco (Pablo Palacio, 67′), Junior Marabel, Jonathan Benítez (Michael Fuentes, 67′). (DT: Pablo Sánchez)
Driven out: Yonathan Andía (IQU, 72′)
Referee: Cristian Garay
Stadium: Land of Champions, Iquique
