Deportes Concepción returned to Chile's Primera División after 18 years by defeating Cobreloa 3-2 in the promotion playoff final in Calama. Thousands of fans in Concepción celebrated the achievement with an open-top bus parade through the city streets. Key player Joaquín Larrivey, who scored six goals in the mini-tournament, received an award in Santiago as the team was cheered at home.
Deportes Concepción secured promotion to Primera División with an agonizing 3-2 victory over Cobreloa at the Zorros del Desierto stadium in Calama, closing a tie that ended 1-1 in the first leg in Collao. Nelson Sepúlveda opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a cross shot, and Joaquín Larrivey extended the lead in the 52nd with a header from a corner, taking advantage of the suspended coach Patricio Almendra's absence, replaced by Mario Salgado. Cobreloa fought back late: Gotti pulled one back in the 77th minute, and Álvaro Delgado equalized from the penalty spot in the 85th after a handball by Gillard. However, in added time, Sepúlveda sealed the 3-2 with a shot that hit the post before going in, while moments earlier Gotti had seen his effort strike the crossbar.
The win capped a rebuilding process for the lilac team, which rose two divisions consecutively after disaffiliation and years in lower leagues. Larrivey, 41, was decisive with six of Concepción's eight goals in the unbeaten playoff. "The truth is I'm very excited, football keeps giving me joys," the Argentine said, dedicating the best player award in the Promotion League to his team and family. In Santiago, at the Gala Crack, he stated: "I'm very excited and I'm here representing the entire Deportes Concepción team".
In Concepción, euphoria erupted with around 1,500 fans traveling to Calama and thousands more celebrating in the streets until dawn. On Tuesday, after 9 p.m., the squad toured in an open-top bus along Avenida Collao, Avenida Los Carrera, Rotonda Paicaví, Avenida O’Higgins, and Plaza Independencia, the epicenter of the festivities. From the Loa side, coach César Bravo lamented the defeat: "For us, it hits the post and goes out; for them, it hits the post and goes in. These are things that can't be understood." The squad was left "too sad and shocked," with Bravo avoiding his future: "Today we just want to wake up from this nightmare".
