O'Higgins secured a 2:1 victory over Unión La Calera at El Teniente in the 22nd round of the Primera División. The home side took the lead before halftime and never looked back, despite a frantic finish. To be fair, the match was decided by moments rather than sustained pressure. The match concluded with the visitors pushing forward in the final stages.
Arnaldo Castillo gave O'Higgins the advantage in the 33rd minute, breaking the deadlock with a clinical finish. Unión responded almost immediately, as Luis Pavez levelled the score just six minutes later. By then, the first half had ended with the score level.
Sebastián Sáez restored O'Higgins' lead in the 59th minute, capitalising on a defensive error. Both sides made changes at the interval. The visitors pressed for an equaliser in the second half. And here's the thing, the drama peaked late when Sáez saw a penalty waved away in the 90+6th minute. That cancellation kept the scoreline intact.
Our prediction of a home win was correct, and the confidence level of 42% reflected the uncertainty of the first half. The hosts controlled the play in the second period. It was a pragmatic performance rather than a dominant display.
O'Higgins dominated possession with 59%, yet Unión created slightly more attacks, recording 110 compared to the hosts' 108. Both sides registered five shots on target, but accuracy favoured the visitors at 42% versus 38%. The statistics suggest a tight contest with few clear chances.
The result leaves O'Higgins in 11th place with 27 points, holding their nerve after a mixed run. Unión remain in 16th position with 14 points, a gap that continues to widen between them and the mid-table. The victory provides a necessary boost for the hosts as they look to climb further.
