O’Higgins narrowly defeated Universidad Católica for the National Championship in Rancagua, handing UC its fourth loss in a row.
Catholic University continues without raising its head in the 2022 National Championship by falling this Saturday 2-1 in its visit to O’Higginsadding his fourth loss in a row, at the crossroads for the seventh date of the tournament.
The UC went from less to more in its performance, singularly playing better with one more man due to the expulsion of Ignacio Saavedra at 44 minutesbut it was not enough to rescue something positive from Rancagua.
In the table, the cast that directs the questioned Cristian Paulucci stayed in eighth place with nine points, five behind the Ñublense leader.
Those led by Mariano Soso, meanwhile, settled with the victory at the El Teniente Stadium in fifth place in the standings with 11 units.
UC entered the field unfocused, once more showing serious defensive problems and few ideas to do damage in the rival goal. After 15 minutes, he opened the account through Facundo Castro, who anticipated the crossed defense following a corner and with a right cross beat Sebastián Pérez.
The Uruguayan winger was in a state of grace and at 39′ he increased the figures. Facundo Barceló enabled Castro, who hooked Raimundo Rebolledo inside the area and took a very powerful right hand that left the student goalkeeper without an option.
When the first period was over, at 44 minutes, the four-time national football champion would be left with one less man on the field due to the expulsion of ‘Nacho’ Saavedra for elbowing Facundo Barceló. The action was confirmed through the VAR.
In the complement it was clearly better, mainly due to the entry of Cristian Cuevas as a left winger, who gave more vertigo to the game of the cast of the fringe.
Thus, the UC would find the discount at 53′. Good cross from Raimundo Rebolledo from the right, Cuevas lowered it and Fernando Zampedri connected to beat Alexis Martín Arias.
After that, the visitor continued to hammer but he was not fine in the last pass or in the final stitch, so he was left empty-handed once more and begins to lose ground in the contest.
For the eighth date, the Crusaders will host Universidad de Chile on Sunday, April 3, in the Clásico, while the Rancagüinos will host Coquimbo Unido on the same day.
