The team under Mauricio Pellegrino visits the Central South Zone by the reed squad as they push toward a place in the tournament’s quarterfinals.
University of Chile makes its Copa Chile 2023 premiere this Sunday against Chimbarongo FC, a regional match for the South Central Zone of the long-standing cup that features 64 clubs from across the country.
The Pellegrino-led squad aims to secure a spot in the quarterfinals at Elías Figueroa, representing the Third A division of ANFA, in a decisive single-elimination clash.
It is worth noting that the Blues have not lifted this trophy since the 2015 edition, when they defeated Colo Colo on penalties. That title would mark the fifth league crown after those won in 1979, 1998, 2000 and 2013.
Meanwhile, Chimbarongo FC earned a notable result in the tournament by defeating Rancagua Sur in the previous round, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory.
In the first leg, the home side grabbed a 1-0 win at the Patricio Mekis stadium. In the return leg, Rodrigo Quezada’s squad staged a comeback in San Fernando, with goals from Elías Caro, José Meneses and Benjamín Galaz guiding them to success. The winner of this tie will move on to face the victor of the cross between O’Higgins and General VelLike this in the next stage.
On the domestic front, the Blues arrive at this clash with a streak of draws, most recently a tie with Deportes Copiapó that extended their winless run to three matches. They sit fifth in the National Championship table with 15 points, three behind leaders Universidad Católica and Huachipato. Colchagua, for its part, is preparing for its Group B debut against Comunal Cabrero.
For this match, Emmanuel Ojeda will miss out due to a suspension from the semifinals of the last edition after his sending off against Unión Española. Leandro Fernández’s participation is also in doubt following a car accident in Argentina in which he was reported to have been under the influence of alcohol.
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UNIVERSITY OF CHILE:
To confirm.
CHIMBARONGO FC:
To confirm.
Note: this overview reflects ongoing developments and is provided for informational purposes. (Goal)