Colo Colo defeated Unión La Calera 4-1 at Estadio Monumental, securing a temporary spot in the 2026 Copa Sudamericana. Lucas Cepeda was the match's star with a stunning goal and key plays. The team now controls its own destiny for qualification, with two crucial matches ahead.
In a crucial match of Primera División's Matchday 28, Colo Colo beat Unión La Calera 4-1 on Sunday, November 23, at Santiago's Estadio Monumental, with around 30,000 attendees. Fernando Ortiz's side delivered their best first half since the Argentine coach arrived, featuring a young midfield of Víctor Felipe Méndez, Tomás Alarcón, and Vicente Pizarro.
Goals came early: Lucas Cepeda scored at the 7th minute with a left-footed strike from the right, reminiscent of Arjen Robben's plays. Javier Correa made it 2-0 at the 16th after a pass from Erick Wiemberg, and Méndez netted the 3-0 at the 25th by beating the keeper. Unión La Calera pulled one back at the 55th via Ignacio Mesías, but Salomón Rodríguez sealed 4-1 at the 85th on a rebound.
Cepeda, back after a 10-day break with the national team in Russia, was the undisputed star. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: “It was necessary to win... This is the first step and there are two finals left. We woke up late, but it's never too late to achieve the goals. Colo Colo must qualify for the Sudamericana and we have to go to El Salvador to get those three points. We're fighting with Cobresal”.
Surprisingly, he defended former coach Jorge Almirón: “I'm a proponent that the coach doesn't play. I loved working with coach Jorge; that's why we were champions last year. Unfortunately, the results didn't come due to various circumstances, but that's it. We've turned the page”.
This win lifted Colo Colo to 44 points and seventh place, tied with Cobresal but with a better goal difference (+14 vs. +2). The next match is a direct clash against Cobresal in El Salvador, without Arturo Vidal due to accumulated yellows. Ortiz benched Vidal and didn't call up Esteban Pavez, opting for freshness.
Referee Nicolás Millas cautioned Vidal and Enzo Lobos.