# Palestino Stun Universidad de Chile with Dramatic Stoppage-Time Winner in Sudamericana Opener
**SANTIAGO, CHILE —** In one of the most breathtaking finales Chilean football has produced in recent memory, Palestino snatched a stunning 2-1 victory over Universidad de Chile at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos on Wednesday, delivering a devastating blow to the hosts in their CONMEBOL Sudamericana opener with two goals in the dying moments of stoppage time.
For the vast majority of a tightly contested 90 minutes, the match appeared destined for a goalless draw—a result that would have flattered neither side given the frenetic late action that ultimately unfolded. Universidad de Chile, deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, controlled the tempo throughout, commanding 65.9 percent of possession and generating sustained pressure, particularly through Eduardo Vargas and Maximiliano Guerrero. Yet despite their territorial dominance, La U proved unable to capitalize, with 12 shot attempts yielding just two on target.
Palestino, compact in their 4-1-4-1 shape and content to absorb pressure, demonstrated their own attacking ambitions across the evening. Nelson da Silva tested the hosts with a header in the 38th minute, while Martín Araya threatened from a direct free kick six minutes earlier. The visitors registered 13 shot attempts—one more than the hosts—but it was their clinical finishing in the final minutes that proved decisive.
The deadlock shattered in the 85th minute when da Silva made amends for his earlier miss, powering a header from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner, assisted by a cross from substitute César Munder. The goal sent shockwaves through the Estadio Nacional, igniting hope among the traveling supporters.
Universidad de Chile refused to surrender. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, with the match seemingly slipping away, Marcelo Díaz—himself a substitute who had entered just minutes earlier—delivered a corner that Guerrero met with a header from close range to level at 1-1. The stadium erupted in disbelief.
But the drama intensified further. Just two minutes later, Palestino struck again. Ian Garguez, who had been lively throughout the contest, drove a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner, again assisted by the influential Munder with a cross, to seal a remarkable 2-1 victory and complete an extraordinary turnaround.
Palestino goalkeeper Sebastián Pérez made one save on the night, while Universidad de Chile's Castellón was not called upon to make any. The visitors collected two yellow cards in a physical encounter in which they committed 13 fouls to the hosts' seven, reflecting the intensity of the contest.
The result leaves Universidad de Chile facing an uphill battle in their Sudamericana campaign, while Palestino travel home with maximum points and considerable momentum. La U will look to bounce back in their next fixture, while Palestino aim to build on this stunning victory in their upcoming matches.