Wanderers give Valparaíso a much-needed boost

Santiago Wanderers brought a little bit of happiness to fire-hit Valparaíso by ensuring their Primera Division status with a hard-fought 2-0 win against Cobresal.

Valparaíso – The Caturros went into the game knowing that a victory would guarantee their top-flight status and avoid a nerve-jangling final game of the season.
However, visitors Cobresal didn’t make it easy for them and it wasn´t until the last ten minutes that Wanderers could make the breakthrough at a packed Estadio Elías Figueroa.

Sebastián Méndez fired home a low shot in the 83rd minute to give Wanderers the lead and Roberto Saldías wrapped up the crucial victory when he prodded the ball into an empty net five minutes later.

In the accumulated table, Wanderers are now out of danger. It means that one of Everton, Unión La Calera, Audax Italiano and Huachipato will join already-relegated Rangers in the Primera B next season.

Somewhat bizarrely, Wanderers could still qualify for the four-team end of season Liguilla that gives a place to next season’s Copa Sudamericana.

They moved into 14th place in the Clausura and a good result at Antofagasta at the weekend, and favourable results elsewhere, could yet earn them a play-off place.

Aside from the football success last night, it also provided a boost to the fundraising for the Valparaíso fire victims. A bumper crowd of 11,304 signified gate receipts of more than $58 million pesos, while Fiorentina footballer David Pizarro, who hails from Valpo, has agreed to match the sum raised.

Tags: Clausura, David Pizarro, Football, Santiago Wanderers, Valparaíso fires