Unión lost to Palestino from Chile 2 to 1 in the match they played tonight, at the 15 de Abril stadium, for the fourth round of Group E of the 2025 Copa Sudamericana. The home team had started ahead with a goal from forward Lucas Gamba, in the third minute of the second half, but attacker Junior Marabel equalized in the 39th minute of the second half and turned the game around at the 43rd minute. With the defeat, the "Tatengue" is third with three points, having six units less than their rival, who occupies the second position.
In the next round, the Santafesino team will host Mushuc Runa from Ecuador next Tuesday, May 13 at 21:30, while the Chilean team will visit Cruzeiro on Wednesday 14 at 21:30. The first attacks of the first half were for the "Tatengue". After a good combination, full-back Mateo Del Blanco broke down the left and delivered a searching cross, which was deflected by a defender and went close to the second post. The first goal came three minutes later.
A prepared play from a free kick allowed winger Julián Palacios to put a cross to the near post, which caused confusion in the Chilean defense and was headed into the goal by Lucas Gamba. Palestino attacked again 15 minutes into the second half, with a shot from the ground by midfielder Bryan Carrasco, which was weak and contained by Cardozo.
The participation of the Unión player stopped the ball in the small area, where Junior Marabel captured it to score the equalizing goal. It was Marabel himself, a former player of Unión, who got the comeback goal, after a cross from the right by Junior Arias, so that the Paraguayan forward fired high at the near post and made it 2-1 in the 43rd minute of the second half. The last chance was for the home team, with a cross from Del Blanco and a shot from forward Diego Armando Díaz, who attempted a bicycle kick that went near the left post of Sebastián Pérez.
Regarding the changes in both teams, Junior Arias for Joe Abrigo (P) and Jason León for Vicente Espinoza (P), as well as other substitutions, influenced the development of the match. Notably for Unión were the changes of Diego Díaz for Marcelo Estigarribia and Claudio Corvalán for Franco Fragapane, among others. Palestino also made significant movements in their squad, such as the additions of Facundo Castro for Julián Fernández and Ariel Martínez for Mauricio Martínez.
With officiating by Derlis López (Paraguay) and VAR assistance by Zulma Quiñonez (Paraguay), the match between Unión and Palestino featured an exciting comeback by the visiting team, who managed to take home the three points. The goals of Lucas Gamba (U) and Junior Marabel (P) made the difference in a match that kept spectators on edge until the last minute.
