Colo Colo drew 1-1 with Palestino this Sunday at Estadio Santa Laura in round 25 of the Liga de Primera. The result extended Colo Colo's run to four consecutive matches without a win, with just three of the last 12 available points collected.
According to La Tercera, Fernando Ortiz's side faded as the match went on. Before this game, they had drawn with Huachipato and Deportes Concepción and lost 5-2 to Coquimbo Unido. They arrived in Independencia with the league's best away record.
Javier Correa opened the scoring early. La Tercera and BioBioChile place the goal in the 8th minute, while ADN Radio records it in the 7th. Following a throw-in, the Argentine held off Enzo Roco, turned and fired a left-footed shot that hit the post before going in. Sebastián Pérez had no time to react.
The major change was Vozinha in goal, with Fernando De Paul on the bench. The Cape Verdean, nominated for the best goalkeeper trophy to be awarded at the Ballon d'Or ceremony this Monday in London, delivered his best performance since arriving in Chile. In the 45th minute, he saved a header from Ronnie Fernández. In the 54th, he turned away a César Munder shot toward the far post, and three minutes later he saved another header by stretching out his right arm.
Palestino came out with greater intensity in the second half. Colo Colo lost control of midfield and struggled down their left flank, where Bryan Carrasco attacked the space behind youngster Gedeón Díaz. Colo Colo had managed just 48% possession in the first half, a low figure for a team that needs the ball to impose its style. Ortiz responded with defensive substitutions.
The equalizer came eight minutes from time, in the 82nd minute according to La Tercera and the 81st according to ADN Radio. The ball fell to Roco inside the penalty area after a series of ricochets, and the center-back fired a low shot. In the 86th minute, Maximiliano Romero won a penalty after a foul by Sebastián Pérez, but the decision was overturned because the striker was offside. In stoppage time, referee Piero Maza sent off Dilan Zúñiga for a studs-up challenge on Leandro Hernández.
The match drew 7,010 spectators. Palestino remain fifth with 38 points and in contention for a place in the 2027 Copa Sudamericana. Colo Colo stay top with 55 points, ten ahead of Universidad de Chile. If Universidad de Chile beat Everton this Monday, the gap will narrow to seven points.
