Unión La Calera edges Coquimbo Unido 1-0 in Chilean League Cup clash

A solitary first‑half goal was enough to give Unión La Calera a vital 1-0 victory over Coquimbo Unido at the Estadio Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso on Monday night. The win boosts Los Cementeros’ chances of progressing to the knockout stages of the Chilean League Cup, while Coquimbo remain winless in their last three home fixtures.

Match overview

The match started cautiously, with both sides sizing each other up in midfield. Coquimbo Unido enjoyed the majority of possession early on but struggled to break through a compact La Calera defensive block. The visitors grew into the contest and struck the decisive blow in the 27th minute.

A quick interchange on the right flank freed winger Juan Pablo Vargas, whose cross was met by striker Matías Soule at the near post. Soule’s glancing header flew past Coquimbo goalkeeper Diego Sánchez and into the bottom corner. It was a textbook counter‑attacking goal, catching the home defense out of position.

Second‑half resistance

Coquimbo Unido pushed forward after the restart, with coach Fernando Díaz introducing fresh legs to try to unlock the La Calera rearguard. The hosts created several half‑chances: a long‑range effort from Felipe Campos whistled just wide, and a header from substitute Lucas Núñez was straight at the goalkeeper.

But La Calera held firm. Goalkeeper Gabriel Castellón made a crucial save in the 73rd minute, diving low to his right to deny a deflected shot. The visitors also showed discipline in seeing out six minutes of stoppage time to secure all three points.

League Cup standings impact

• Unión La Calera moves to 9 points in Group D (three wins, zero draws, two losses) and climbs to second place, one point behind group leaders Cobresal.
• Coquimbo Unido stays on 6 points (two wins, zero draws, three losses) and drops to third, now three points adrift of a qualification spot with just two group games remaining.

Standout players

• Matías Soule (Unión La Calera) – The match’s only goalscorer, his sharp movement and clinical finish were the key difference.
• Gabriel Castellón (Unión La Calera) – A composed performance in goal, including a vital second‑half save to preserve the clean sheet.
• Diego Sánchez (Coquimbo Unido) – Blameless for the goal and made several solid stops to keep his side in the match.

What’s next

Coquimbo Unido must quickly regroup ahead of a must‑win trip to bottom‑side Deportes Iquique. Unión La Calera, meanwhile, host O’Higgins in a match that could decide their path to the quarter‑finals. With only two group matches left, every point is gold in the Chilean League Cup.