Chile Breaks Its 35 Year Curse

Chile 1 – Argentina 0

35 years is a long, long time not to beat a team in a qualifying group with only 10 teams. Even longer considering it’d never happened in a World Cup qualifier. And almost an eternity when you think about the fact that Chile is consistently one of the top 50 teams in the world, even top 10 just ten years ago. But that was the case until last night, when they broke their 35 year zero against Argentina with a 1-0 curse in Santiago in front of their own. Fitting that the lone goal would come in the 35th minute.

But as momentous as the occasion may have been, celebrations were a bit subdued amidst a cloud of worry after Nicolas Burdisso and Mark Gonzalez were both taken directly from the field to the hospital after a 14th minute mid-air clash of heads that knocked both the players unconscious. The collision itself was inauspicious – watching it myself I was more enamored with how high Gonzalez had seemingly leapt – but with both players not moving on the ground and Gonzalez’s arm twitching, it soon became evident matters were very serious. Both were hauled off, still unclear whether Gonzalez regained consciousness on the pitch or in the ambulance, and Burdisso deemed fine under the circumstances soon thereafter. Concern for Gonzalez was seemingly much greater, but fortunately he’s sustained no lasting injuries, but will be kept for observation at least through today. (At least this is what I’m getting via google translate from Chilean news.)

And in a cruel coincidence, today, the 16th, is one year to the day of Burdisso’s clash of heads in a match against Venezuela which also rendered him unconscious.

I’d say Burdisso deserves a break during next October’s internationals.

With the concerns alleviated, it’s 22yo Fabian Orellana of Audax Italiano in just his third cap who becomes hero for the day. A day which may, if old patterns resurface, extend into another 35 years.

As the entire Argentine back line, now featuring Daniel Diaz in the place of Burdisso, drifted in unison, waiting for a streaking ball through the six yard box, it was Orellano who used experience which belied his caps, separating himself from the pack by stopping his run and creating enough space to birth a chance. All that was left at that point was a pass and Fabian’s finish. The rest, as they say, is history. A lasting moment in history.

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