Colo Colo can almost taste title glory
Table-topping Colo Colo put one hand on the Clausura trophy with a somewhat flattering 3-0 win against reigning champions O´Higgins.
Macul – Arch-rivals Universidad de Chile had done the albos a favour earlier in the day by beating their closest rivals, Universidad Católica, also 3-0.
If Católica had won, the gap would have been down to a single point. However, Colo Colo stepped out in front of 41,000 expectant fans at the Monumental knowing that they would retain a four-point lead even if they lost.
The pressure was off, but they couldn’t have expected a first-minute gift from O´Higgins. The visitors lost possession playing out from the back and the influential Jaime Valdés quickly fed José Pedro Fuenzalida.
His inviting low cross was bundled into the net by Felipe Flores to open the scoring. O´Higgins, who had lost in Paraguay on Thursday night, enjoyed plenty of possession, but couldn´t find the cutting edge.
Braulio Leal´s long-range effort clipped the crossbar as Eduardo Berizzo´s men pressed for an equaliser before the break.
In the second half, O´Higgins continued to probe, but without causing Colo Colo keeper Justo Villar many concerns.
In fact, Colo Colo´s biggest problem of the night came when referee Claudio Puga temporarily suspended the game in the second half after the home fans let off fireworks and flares.
When play restarted, lively substitute Mathías Vidangossy produced some magic on the left and squared the ball across goal for fellow sub Claudio Baeza to tap home in the 80th minute.
Fuenzalida was dismissed in the 85th minute for a late challenge on Leal, but there was still time for Colo Colo to add one more. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, due to the earlier suspension, Esteban Paredes netted from the spot after O´Higgins keeper Paulo Garcés had brought down Valdés.
With just five games left, Colo Colo have a commanding seven-point lead and looks odds on to land their much-coveted 30th crown.
Midfielder Emiliano Vecchio said: “We played against a strong and well-organised team, but we demonstrated our quality. We´re not going to deflect from our path and we´re convinced we´re going to be champions.”
Vecchio´s old Unión Española team-mate Pato Rubio was the thorn in Católica´s side in la U´s impressive 3-0 win at San Carlos de Apoquindo.
The striker took his tally to 11 in the Clausura, one ahead of Paredes, with two well-taken goals and set up the other for Gustavo Lorenzetti.
Iquique moved up to third place with a 2-0 win against Everton. Substitute Walter Mazzolatti came on in the 66th minute and scored in the next to break the deadlock. Gerson Martínez added the second six minutes from time.
Palestino lie sixth after their 2-1 defeat at Antofagasta. Striker Javier Elizondo netted a last-gasp penalty winner for the hosts.
At the other end of the table, Rangers are in deep trouble following their 4-0 defeat at Unión Española, Pato Vidal scoring twice. In the accumulated table, bottom side Rangers are now four points adrift of the teams directly above them, Huachipato and Unión La Calera.
Jorge Garcés is due to take over as boss today, but he faces a major challenge with just five games left.
Huachipato picked up a point from a 0-0 draw at fellow strugglers Audax Italiano, while La Calera lost 1-0 at home against Cobreloa.
The other two weekend matches finished 2-1. Universidad de Concepción beat Santiago Wanderers at home, while Cobresal did likewise against Ñublense.
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