Deportes La Serena beat Deportes Iquique 2-1 in a key relegation battle in Chile's Primera Liga. Jeisson Vargas starred with two long-range goals, while Edson Puch pulled one back for the hosts. The win pulls the papayeros away from the drop zone and sinks the celestes further.
The match took place on Friday, October 31, 2025, at Estadio Tierra de Campeones Ramón Estay Saavedra in Iquique, with both teams desperate to avoid relegation. Deportes Iquique, bottom with 15 points after 26 rounds, hosted La Serena, who had 24 points in 12th place.
The game started with physical play, but La Serena seized control. At the 15th minute, Jeisson Vargas, formerly of Universidad Católica, opened the scoring with a powerful 25-meter shot that nestled into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Leandro Requena helpless. 'Frame-worthy!', noted the live broadcast.
Iquique got a chance with a penalty at the 41st minute for handball by Nicolás Ferreyra on an Edson Puch shot, but referee Cristián Galaz disallowed it after VAR review. In the second half, Vargas doubled the lead at the 70th minute with another stunning strike from outside the box, beyond Requena's reach. Four minutes later, Puch made it 2-1, tapping in a low shot from Agustín Venezia in the six-yard box.
The closing stages were tense: at the 80th minute, a VAR technical glitch halted play, but it was fixed, and the match ended after 11 minutes of added time. No further goals came, despite Iquique's frantic efforts.
The win lifts La Serena to 27 points and 12th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone, where Unión Española sits second-bottom. Iquique stays rooted at the bottom with 15 points, jeopardizing their top-flight status. La Serena's coach, Mario Sciacqua, had just beaten Audax Italiano in the previous round, ending a poor run. Iquique, meanwhile, are the league's worst home side with only 11 points from 12 home games.