Coquimbo Kingdomcurrent Chilean champion, became champion of the Chile Super Cup this Sunday beating Catholic University in the penalty shootout 8-7 after a goalless draw, in a definition in which goalkeeper Diego ‘Mono’ Sánchez made a clean save. The last penalty converted by Alejandro Camargo gave the Aurinegros the first title of the year, at the Sausalito Stadium in Viña del Mar, after the crossed center back Branco Ampuero failed in his turn sending the ball over the crossbar.
And frustrated again Gary Medelthe legendary Chilean defender who wanders through the twilight of his career with two Copa América titles with the national team and still has not won one at the club level. The man of the movie, however, was the green-haired goalkeeper, the charismatic ‘Mono’ Sánchez, who saved two penalties from Diego Corral and Eugenio Mena and also converted his own, which was the fifth in the order.
“I saw it once in a World Cup. Just experience, managing the moment, the emotion. I’ve been playing for 20 years, I have to save sometimes,” declared the goalkeeper after the celebration. Coquimbo had never won a Super Cup and with this title they remain on the path to victory, after winning the 2025 championship for the first time, while Católica was chasing its fifth crown to surpass Colo Colo, but both remain with four.
Coquimbo, Super Cup champion
The intensity with which Coquimbo started the match by attacking the cross goal, preventing the rival from having clarity in the exit, did not bear fruit and quickly became a duel with friction due to fouls by both teams. The pirates had an easier time going deeper and attempting shots with Alejandro Camargo, while their defense remained firm against the isolated attempts of Católica with the wingers Cristian Cuevas and Clemente Montes who did not reach the scorer Fernando Zampedri.
La Franja midfielder Matías Palavecino had a slow start against his former team, called upon to lead the offensive through the middle against the Aurinegros, barely generating a clear option that goalkeeper ‘Mono’ Sánchez ended up controlling. About half an hour into the game, Coquimbo had the option to open the scoring with a header from Sebastián Galani, but cross goalkeeper Vicente Bernedo took it out with one hand to keep the score at zero.
Substitution of Palavecino at the beginning of the second half
It was difficult for UC to find fluidity in its game to face the rival goal, and with defensive failures it allowed the current Chilean champion to be closer to scoring first. Before going to half-time, the Aurinegros had the clearest chance to take the lead on the scoreboard, but the play ended up being canceled due to offside and Martín Mundaca’s shot went wide.
Palavecino did not work and coach Daniel Garnero replaced him early in the second half with Argentine reinforcement Justo Giani, who in a few minutes generated play in the area that ended with a shot narrowly deflected by Montes. The search for the title caused the match to pick up more pace, but in a direct back-and-forth over the areas, rather than in elaborate play on the part of both teams.
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The pressure from the crusaders tested the hierarchy of ‘Mono’ Sánchez who saved a header from Giani and another loose shot. Hernán Caputto pulled the champion’s strings and brought on the experienced Argentine forward Lucas Pratto in search of offensive weight and definition, but the best opportunity came from Benjamín Chandía, which Bernedo cleared.
The Chilean league will start next Friday, Coquimbo Unidos will visit the newly promoted Universidad de Concepción, while Católica will also play away from home against Deportes La Serena.
