To provide some context, Colo Colo is a football team from Chile, which is the most popular and the most successful in the country. They have won a Copa Libertadores, a prestigious tournament in South America, and they are the only Chilean team to have done so. In September, Colo Colo was playing for the opportunity to advance to the semi-finals of the 2024 Copa Libertadores in a quarter-final matchup against the powerful River Plate from Argentina.
On September 17, the first leg was played, which ended 1-1. It was a draw that felt like a defeat for Colo Colo, as they were the home team. In this match, Colo Colo was the dominant side but could not secure a win. The second leg was scheduled to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on September 24. It was a match with a lot of pressure for River Plate as they were the home team this time. It's important to remember that their stadium has a capacity of almost 85,000 people, which created pressure for both teams.
Colo Colo made the mistake of not being bold enough; they tried to play it safe and protect their lead when they should have been more daring. This came back to haunt them as, early in the second half, a defensive lapse allowed River Plate to score from a set piece. This led River to retreat more defensively, as the result was in their favor. Colo Colo lacked ideas in their gameplay and couldn't overcome a South American giant.
Many Colo Colo fans were satisfied with the team's effort, as we must remember that since 2018, Colo Colo hadn't reached the quarter-finals, and they are still a team in development. With a bitter taste in their mouths, they faced Cobresal on September 28 for the Chilean tournament, where "El Cacique" won 2-0. They played at half-speed but with much more freedom and confidence, securing the victory. This win helped them as they are now second in the national tournament, 7 points behind the leader, Universidad de Chile, with three fewer games played and seven matches left to play. So, Colo Colo's fate to become champions is still in their own hands.