Unprepared by Braulio Leal, Nano Díaz claimed victory in a clash of historical figures to lift the pirate and deepen the Manojito de Claveles’ troubles.
Two teams settled in First Division and stubbornly refusing to leave that status soon found themselves on opposite paths as Coquimbo and Magallanes clashed at Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso. The result marked the end of the first round of the 2023 season with differing expectations: El Pirata tasted their eighth win and briefly climbed into the Copa Libertadores top three, while El Manojito, under new management after Braulio Leal’s arrival, sat on just eight points following Nico Núñez’s departure. Another setback would push them to scramble from a distant position as the league pauses in July, when action resumes after a volley from Benjamín Chandía briefly reignited belief and pushed the Barbón side back among the leading contenders.
“We justified our approach with the second-half arrivals, playing point to point as in the penalty area,” Nan o Díaz reflected. “We have established a clear style, and the players have shown discipline and technical ability. We’re ahead; with those three points we would be among the leaders, but that’s the situation now. Dreams are fine, but we must stay awake,” he added, underscoring the practical reality for the team.
Luminaire – Positions – Degradation
97′ END! Coquimbo secured the win and, for the moment, sat third in the table.
95′ Gastón Rodríguez came close, stretching to intercept a corner and cut down Joe Abrigo’s attempt to thread a free kick into the far corner.
81′ Diego Carrasco, returning to action, denied Alfred Canales from scoring on the line after a miscue by a just-starting Sánchez, with each side aiming to protect a slender advantage for the home team.
76′ Monkey Sánchez unleashed a dangerous set-piece, guiding the ball toward Alfred Canales whose header clipped a defender and drifted to a corner, highlighting the tight margins as the clock ticked down.
52′ 39′ GOOOOOOOOOOOL by Benjamín Chandía! The young forward struck a stunning volley after meeting a left-footed cross from Rubén Farfán. The ball hit the post, skimmed off the right, and found the back of the net to open the scoring for the home side.
45+3′ END OF FIRST HALF! No goals yet between Coquimbo and Magallanes, but the tempo suggested a second half that could swing either way.
25′ Vilches left the field for El Kily, who failed to connect with a headed chance on another late strike where the timing was off.
5′ An changed hand! Yorman Zapata surged and Diego Sánchez showed acrobatic reflexes to deny Maga’s first potential breakthrough.
1′ The match began with a torrent of energy, as both teams pressed from the outset, determined to make their mark in a season that has already delivered more questions than clear answers.
Endorsed a champion’s starting squad in bankruptcy with Colo Colo, like Leal, recently retired:
With three Argentines and a youth, the Pirate’s XI: