The visiting Pirates asserted control at the Monumental, breaking the long unbeaten run of the Cacique who had not tasted defeat in 17 matches within his fortress.
Colo Colo failed to close the gap atop the standings after a surprising 2-3 home defeat to Coquimbo Unido in the sixth round of the 2023 National Championship.
Gustavo Quinteros’ side was pressed to bounce back after a draw with Everton de Viña del Mar the day before. Yet the visitors from the north delivered the blow, ending Popular’s home invincibility at Pedrero in a clash that will be remembered for its dramatic turns.
Colo Colo had not lost in 17 home fixtures. Their last defeat at the Monumental in the league was November 28, 2021, against Unión Española. It also marked the first time Barbón celebrated a victory in Pedrero in 21 matches, a streak that includes 15 wins at home and five draws.
The match opened with the visitors taking the lead early on through a well-orchestrated move finished by Benjamín Chandía after Javier Parraguez sparked the play with a clever buildup. At minute 23, Leandro Benegas converted a penalty to restore parity for the hosts.
Three minutes later, Rodrigo Holgado nodded in a second goal for Coquimbo, capitalizing on a defensive lapse and finishing past Brayan Cortés. It marked the third time since 2014 that Colo Colo conceded three first-half goals at home in the First Division, a dubious record previously set by Universidad Católica in 2015 and San Luis in 2016. In the later phase, Darío Lezcano pulled one back for Colo Colo, exploiting a slow reaction to a miscue by the opposition goalkeeper to set the final scoreline.
With the result, Colo Colo sat in eighth place with seven points. On the other side, the Aurinegros had not defeated the reigning champions since April 2019 and moved up to third, level on points with their opponent but trailing on goal difference.
The next day, Colo Colo would travel to face Magallanes, while Coquimbo Unido prepared to host Audax Italiano at the Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso venue.
In the following sections, the lineup details, substitutions, and key moments from the match are summarized for readers seeking a deeper understanding of the action:
90+5 A goal for Colo Colo is ruled out after a late adjustment by the defender and the play is controversially nullified.
85 39 Disallowed: a former Independiente contributor was found offside by VAR review, negating a potential equalizer.
82 GOOOOOL FOR COLO COLO Leandro Benegas capitalizes on a loose ball to seal his second of the night.
52 39 A chance for the Pirates as Parraguez delivers a cross that eludes the left flank and goes astray.
46 39 The Popular push forward as Bolados cuts inside and tests the keeper, though the ball sails over the bar.
36 39 Bolados dances in from the right and fires hard, but the goalkeeper stands tall and saves.
29 39 GOOOOOOOOOOL FOR UNITED COQUIMBO A precise pass from Parraguez finds Rodrigo Holgado who finishes low and beats the keeper.
26 39 GOOOOOAAL FOR COQUIMBO UNIDO Parraguez celebrates a successful break in Macul with a deft header to restore the lead.
⚽, 1-2, 27′ J. Parraguez. The striker makes it look easy as he rises to meet a cross and head the ball into the net for the visitors.
– TNT Sports Chile coverage confirms the sequence from the Ruca stadium to all corners of the country.
23 39 GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL FOR COLO COLO Leandro Benegas converts the penalty after a VAR review and level the scores once more.
21′ Penalty for Colo Colo after VAR confirms a foul in the box. The official steps up and hands Colo Colo a lifeline from the spot.
Are you in agreement with the decision The VAR was present and the decision trails the images that show the contact as Benegas is pulled down in the area
fifteen’ An injury interrupts play as Eric Wiemberg is substituted for Augustine Bouzat.
12′ The drama continues as a potential draw brews after a long-range attempt by Benegas misses the target.
11 39 Fabián Castillo makes a run and shoots, but the Pirates’ goalkeeper is fast off his line to deny the danger.
4 39 GOOOOOOOOOL FOR COQUIMBO UNIDO Benjamín Chandía and Parraguez combine to set up a first-half opener for the visitors.
The ball is rolling at the Monumental as the referee Cristian Garay takes his place to oversee the affair.
Equally important in the pregame ceremony, Arturo Sanhuesa, a veteran of the game, was honored in a tribute that highlighted the long-standing culture of football in this storied venue.
The two teams officially locked onto the field as kickoff neared, with the match coverage highlighting the tactical deployments and the players to watch in this confrontation.
Colo Colo’s starting XI included Brian Cortés in goal; César Fuentes, Ramiro González, Daniel Gutiérrez, and Erick Wiemberg across the back; Esteban Pavez, Vicente Pizarro, and Carlos Palacios in midfield; Marcos Bolados, Leandro Benegas, and Fabian Castillo in attack.
The head-to-head history between the sides shows Popular with the edge in most meetings. Colo Colo had 32 wins in 53 clashes, while Coquimbo Unido had six victories and 15 draws, a record that adds context to this tense chapter in the rivalry. The most recent meeting prior to this clash had Colo Colo triumphing 2-0 at home in October with goals from Lucero and Bouzat. The game was billed as a pivotal moment early in the season for both clubs.
This encounter is part of a larger narrative as both sides entered the Monumental with different ambitions, hoping to climb the table and strengthen their positions in a fiercely competitive league. The match provided a vivid snapshot of the ongoing battle for supremacy, with fans and pundits weighing the implications for the chase at the top of the table. (Goal)
Who had the standout performance for you in this clash The debate continued across forums and social media as fans debated the refereeing decisions and the impact of the goals on the season’s trajectory. (Goal)
Source: Goal