Deportes Santa Cruz hold Palestino to goalless draw in Chilean Cup first leg

Deportes Santa Cruz and Palestino played out a tense 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Chilean Cup tie on 28 June 2026 at the Estadio Municipal de Santa Cruz. The result leaves the two-legged contest wide open, with Palestino – a Primera División side – failing to make their higher-tier status count against a determined home team.

Match overview

From the opening whistle, Palestino controlled possession but struggled to break through a compact Santa Cruz defence. The home side, competing in the lower divisions, set up with a clear game plan: stay solid, frustrate the visitors, and look for counter-attacking opportunities. Both teams managed only a handful of clear-cut chances, with goalkeepers rarely seriously tested.

The first half saw Palestino’s best opportunity come from a 25-yard free kick that curled just over the crossbar. Santa Cruz responded with a swift break just before the interval, but the final pass lacked precision.

Tactical story

Santa Cruz manager opted for a five-man defensive line, ceding possession to Palestino while relying on speed out wide. The strategy worked effectively, as Palestino often found themselves crowded out in the final third. The visitors lacked a creative spark and failed to sustain attacking pressure after the break.

Palestino’s midfield struggled to link up with the forwards, and their usual fluidity was absent. Santa Cruz grew in confidence as the game wore on, even enjoying a spell of pressure midway through the second half, but neither side could force a breakthrough.

Standout players

• Santa Cruz goalkeeper: Made two comfortable saves but was mostly well-protected by his defence.
• Palestino defender: Dominated aerial duels but couldn’t influence the offensive phase.

What it means

The tie remains perfectly balanced ahead of the second leg. Santa Cruz will feel they can progress with an away goal in the return fixture, while Palestino know they must improve their attacking execution to avoid an upset. The match highlights the competitive nature of the Chilean Cup, where lower-tier teams can test top-flight opponents.