Universidad Católica edged Unión La-Calera 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the Chile Cup Round of 16 on Friday night. The home side survived a tense encounter that stretched to extra time before the shootout decided who advances.
C. Moya picked up the first booking in the 19th minute, and the game grew chippy from there. A. Farias went offside later in the half, J. Valencia was cautioned at 41 minutes, and J. Cruz joined them just before the break. By then the tension was palpable — neither side willing to take unnecessary risks.
Unión La-Calera were second to everything for large stretches, chasing shadows across the pitch. The hosts dominated possession at 62 per cent and launched 132 attacks compared to the visitors' 65. Yet the statistics told only half the story. Seven shots on target from Católica brought nothing, while goalkeeper saves reached four for the home side and seven for the away keeper.
The turning point came when F. Pozzo saw red in the 85th minute, leaving the visitors to shape up for extra time with ten men. We had tipped the hosts to win in regular time at 48 per cent confidence, but the match refused to break open — and that is what ultimately decided its fate.
Extra time produced nothing of note, so the shootout began at 120 minutes plus. F. Zampedri and C. Diaz opened for Católica, J. Valencia and Moya followed. For the visitors, B. Oyarzo Munoz scored, but C. Cuevas and J. Giani missed their spots. N. Avellaneda sealed it for the home side.
The result leaves Católica unbeaten in five across all competitions, while Unión La-Calera's away form takes another knock. The goal difference in this tie says nothing of the night — it was decided by nerves and a few inches at the spot.
