Ñublense defeated Universidad de Chile 1-0 at Estadio Bicentenario Nelson Oyarzún in Chillán, courtesy of a free kick by Diego Céspedes in the 90+2nd minute. The match was overshadowed by controversial refereeing from Cristián Galaz, particularly a foul by Jovany Campusano on Javier Altamirano that went unpunished. The Red Devils now have 16 points and surpass the Blues in the Primera División standings.
Ñublense and Universidad de Chile entered the ninth-round Primera División match with 13 points each, played on Saturday in Chillán before 8,891 spectators. Fernando Gago fielded an offensive lineup with Lucas Assadi, Eduardo Vargas, and Maximiliano Guerrero up front, alongside youngsters like Lucas Barrera. The Blues dominated early possession but created no clear shots on target.
The game grew heated under referee Cristián Galaz, who at the 33rd minute failed to punish a hard foul by Jovany Campusano on Javier Altamirano, widely seen as warranting a red card. Piero Maza's VAR did not intervene, sparking protests from the U de Chile bench. Gabriel Graciani later received a yellow for a similar foul on Marcelo Morales.
In the second half, Giovanny Ávalos missed a golden chance for Ñublense in the 47th minute. Gago made substitutions, bringing on Juan Martín Lucero for the injured Vargas, but U de Chile managed just one shot on goal overall. In stoppage time, Diego Céspedes curled a free kick into the top corner for 1-0.
Juan José Ribera hailed the win that halts Gago's two-game winning streak. U de Chile trails Colo Colo by five points, with the leaders having one game in hand.
