It was the third minute of stoppage time. The game was going away. The tension was felt in the ANFA stadium. Antofagasta won 1-0 and qualified for the quarterfinals of the National Youth Amateur Soccer Ñuble 2024. But as a rival was the Chillán U-17, which has shown a steely mettle. An unwavering fighting capacity in moments of pressure. And when it seemed that the Northerners’ penalty goal, at 60′ of the second half, had sealed the game, the tall Gustavo Muñoz appeared from the bench to sneak into the area, following a pivot by Gabriel Matus, and connect a ball that slowly slipped into the upper right corner, despite goalkeeper Vicente Calle’s spectacular flight.
The south gallery of the stadium almost collapsed. The Chillán players unleashed a heroic celebration. Agonizing. Like a movie. A relief following so much battle. Because he who fights is not dead and because he who seeks always finds.
And that’s what Chillán did, once morest a great rival like Amfofagastino. He fought, despite losing by the minimum score and never gave up, despite arriving with physically resentful players. The agonizing draw installed him as an undefeated leader in the quarterfinals, leaving him with one match in group A, this Sunday, once morest Coyhaique de Puerto Aysén.
The match was a high return. With passages of friction, flashes of good associated football and friction to the limit. There was a lot at stake. A ticket to the quarterfinals. And Chillán took it, because he understood that he does not stop fighting until the final whistle.
Antofagasta, an associated and sharp playing team, paid dearly for its two previous draws, because it reached six points and closed its participation in the Nacional, waiting for Chañaral (4) and Arica (4) to tie, to advance.
Chillán, celebrating with his faithful fans, breathes with the satisfaction of the task at hand. He is in the quarterfinals, as the undefeated leader, although on Sunday he will close the first phase once morest the eliminated Aysén (1).
On Sunday, Frank Hess’ dreaming and fighting team will know who will be their rival in the stage that leads to the semifinals.
“It was an important result. Mentality is vital, this is strength, I knew I might score the tying goal. “I am happy for this tie to qualify for the quarterfinals,” commented the hero of the day, who jumped off the bench, Gustavo Muñoz, happily.
“It was a tough game, their goal on the penalty kick came at the worst time, but sometimes it happens. But we fought until the end, we took risks, we put all our meat on the grill and I knew that this was defined by details. We suffered until the end, but we managed to draw,” Frank Hess said.
In the preliminary match, Arica beat Aysén 2-1 and qualification for the quarterfinals will be played on Sunday.
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