The week of Colo Colo was sweet and bitter. After the celebrated classification obtained in Asunción, to settle among the 16 best in the Copa Libertadores (after six years), the Cacique returned to the domestic and stumbled. In the Monumental, they lost by the minimum against Deportes Copiapó, once again giving ground in the fight for the forefront of the championship.
A clear protagonist of the day, regardless of the result, was Damián Pizarro. The young forward played his last game with Cacique, before leaving for Europe. The striker’s future is at Udinese in Italy, ahead of the 2024-2025 Serie A season (the Friuli club maintained the category). In that sense, Before the start he was honored as it was his farewell. The sports manager of ByN, Daniel Morón, gave him a framed t-shirt and received applause from those attending the Macul venue.
A good one for Jorge Almirón was to close the semester alive in the double competition. Colo Colo got back into the fight for the top positions, but that had to be confirmed against a rival who is below, whose challenge is to maintain the category and who arrived in Santiago without wins as a visitor. In addition, the U’s victory over Everton put pressure.
It was extremely difficult for the whites to decipher the puzzle that Ivo Basay and his team came to propose. Copiapó settled in its territory, waiting for a quick counterattack, but also went to press in the opponent’s area (mainly in the first half) when the local team came from behind from their goal. During the first 45 minutes, Colo Colo did not have great scoring chances against Richard Leyton. In the 9th minute, Damián Pizarro, looking handsome, took the ball and finished. Then, in the 32′, the intermittent Carlos Palacios almost hit it, but his shot was rejected from the goal line.
Cristián Zavala’s overflows gave Cacique depth on the right side of the attack, however the plays were not finished effectively. Several centers ended up on the other side of the field. The control of the game was from the handling of the ball for the albos, but not from a neat procedure, taking the rival ahead. Not at all. And the situation became complicated because Copiapó found the advantage.
Felipe Reynero’s thing against the whites is a trend, a healthy habit for the right pointer. Every time he visits Colo Colo, he holes out. This time was no exception. In the 39th minute, Reynero connects a cross from the far post, anticipating a weak Emiliano Amor, and makes it 1-0 in Macul. He surprises at the Monumental.
How was the Chief going to respond? Almirón sent Castellani to the field for Amor, with which the former La Calera midfielder was positioned in the axis, while Esteban Pavez was placed behind as a central defender. The complement was more like what was expected, with a venue pushing ahead and the visit, increasingly delayed, enduring a result that was like water in the desert. In the 55th minute, Arturo Vidal had it, but Leyton took a great header from him.
In the second half, referee Juan Lara emerged as the main actor, because some charges could have changed the outcome of the game. In the 57th minute, he converted Damián Pizarro through a volley. The Copapinos claimed a foul on Leyton and that the ball had crossed the line. The judge validated the goal, however the VAR rectified and the goal was annulled. With five minutes left, Lara sanctioned a debatable penalty for an alleged foul by Nieto on the 9th, which was not perceived on the field. It was the ideal window for Colo Colo, in search of a tie. Once again the VAR came into action to save the central referee and the charge was annulled, one that could have caused enormous controversy if it had been maintained.
With 10, due to the expulsion of Pavez, the popular team tried but could not and ended up falling. The long faces multiplied, because they missed an option to continue chasing the leader. It was six points behind the U. Meanwhile, Copiapó left the relegation zone, making it difficult for Cobreloa.
Colo Colo: B. Cortes; O. Opazo (83′, G. Paiva), A. Saldivia, E. Amor (46′, G. Castellani), E. Wiemberg; A. Vidal, E. Pavez, V. Pizarro (68′, L. Gil); C. Zavala, D. Pizarro and C. Palacios (68′, M. Bolados). DT: J. Almirón.
Copiapo: R. Leyton; B. Nieto, N. Vargas, D. García, F. Calisto (90′+8′, M. Medel); F. Manzano, J. Jaime; F. Reynero (73′, Y. González), J. Luna (87′, A. Cazula), F. Torres (73′, Y. Oyanedel); and M. Quinteros (73′, I. Díaz). DT: I. Basay.
Goals: 0-1, 39′, Reynero, advances to the far post and scores.
Referee: Juan Lara. He cautioned Amor, Wiemberg, Saldivia (CC); García, Reynero, Díaz, González, Calisto (COP). In the 72′, he sends off Pavez (CC) after a VAR review.
Monumental Stadium. 27,325 people attended.
In italics, youth players.
