In a commanding display, the blues surged to a 10-0 victory over Chimbarongo, sealing a historic advance to the quarterfinals and signaling their intent to push deep in the Copa Chile. O’Higgins lingered in the background, awaiting their next challenge as the celebration began in earnest.
The University of Chile kicked off their Copa Chile 2023 campaign with purpose, taking the field under Mauricio Pellegrino to face Chimbarongo in Elías Figueroa. The match, part of the Central South Zone in the regional stage, saw two storied programs clash in a competition known for mixing teams from varied levels across Chilean football.
The visitors opened the scoring early when Nicolás Guerra, celebrating his 100th appearance in the blue jersey, converted a rebound from a Matías Zaldivia shot that struck the post. At the 25th minute, Cristián Palacios delivered a precise header after a clever setup by Marcelo Morales, stretching the lead and energizing the Chilean crowd.
Lucas Assadi doubled down on the momentum by pouncing on a goalkeeper Tomás López rebound, pushing the tally to a comfortable lead at Valparaíso. Moments later, Federico Mateos added another, curling the ball home with a composed finish. As the first half neared its end, Guerra struck again with a brace, and Zaldivia marked his scoring debut by converting a corner, sending Playa Ancha into a celebratory roar.
When extra time beckoned, the Blues did not ease up. Yonathan Andía, Luis Casanova, and Renato Huerta added their names to the scoresheet, while Marcelo Morales completed the rout with a deft finish from inside the area. The result was a firm message: the University of Chile were not taking a back seat as they advanced to the quarterfinals, leaving General Velásquez on the road after a 1-2 victory in El Teniente de Rancagua. Historically, their largest point haul in a single match had come in 1962 with a 9-1 win over Magallanes, a benchmark the team surpassed with this emphatic performance.
With the win, the side asserted their early dominance in a tournament that has not seen them lift the trophy since 2013, and their first triumph in a knockout scenario since a dramatic 5-3 victory over Colo Colo after a 90th-minute equalizer. The squad has now reaffirmed its place among Chile’s most successful institutions, building toward a potential title challenge in this edition of Copa Chile.
The post-match analysis highlighted the decisive moments that defined the day. Marcelo Morales opened the scoring narrative with nimble movement and relentless pressure, while Palacios and Assadi linked effectively in wide and central regions to stretch a defense that struggled to cope with the pace and precision on the ball. Guerra, already a talisman in this fixture, found the back of the net twice, reinforcing his status as a key contributor in this season’s campaign.
Zaldivia’s early influence continued after halftime as he added his second goal of the day, cementing a memorable debut in which his contribution extended beyond finishing, influencing build-up play and creating space for teammates. The later stages of the match saw Huerta and Casanova capitalize on counterattacking opportunities, illustrating the depth of talent available to Pellegrino and the tactical flexibility that characterized the approach throughout the 90 minutes.
The tactical setup featured a cohesive unit that pressed with intent and maintained discipline in transition. The central midfield duo, Poblete and Mateos, controlled tempo and distribution, while the forward line combined speed and clinical finishing to keep Chimbarongo on the back foot. The defense remained compact, allowing the goalkeeper Cristóbal Campos to manage the game efficiently from the back, contributing to a clean sheet that capped a day of high-intensity football for the Blues.
The team’s lineup for the dominant performance included Cristóbal Campos in goal, Yonathan Andía, Matias Zaldivia, Luis Casanova, and Marcelo Morales forming the defensive spine, with Renato Cordero, Israel Poblete, Federico Mateos, and Lucas Assadi in midfield. Up front, Nicolas Guerra and Cristián Palacios provided the attacking thrust, supported by the pace of Morales and the creativity of Assadi.
Chimbarongo FC entered the match determined to compete, but the early goals set a difficult tempo. The Universidad de Chile capitalized on every opportunity, applying pressure high up the pitch and converting chances with clinical efficiency that underscored their status as a top contender in the domestic cup. The final whistle confirmed a historic night in which the Blues wrote a bold new chapter in their Copa Chile story, pushing toward the next round with momentum and belief.
Source: Goal