Chile's women's national team fell 2-0 to Colombia this Tuesday at the Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium in Cali, during the sixth round of the Nations League. The result raises concerns regarding the performance of the national squad, which was already coming off a narrow loss to Argentina in Valparaíso.
Colombia dictated an intense pace from the opening whistle. According to latercera.com, the team coached by Ángelo Marsiglia struggled to even cross the halfway line due to the relentless pressure applied by the hosts, led by Leicy Santos.
Real Madrid star Linda Caicedo opened the scoring in the 14th minute. The forward cut in diagonally from the left, bypassed Chilean defenders Michelle Olivares, Anaís Cifuentes, and Camila Sáez, and finished past goalkeeper Tiane Endler.
A Rough Finish
Chile began to show signs of life after the 30-minute mark through the physical presence of Sonya Keefe, but the Colombian side continued to test the Chilean goal. In the second half, Luis Mena's squad attempted to press higher up the pitch in search of an equalizer.
This aggressive strategy left gaps that local forwards, such as Manuela Pavi and Maithe López, exploited to attack the Chilean defense. In the closing minutes, 'La Roja' pushed forward with renewed energy, but ultimately conceded a penalty after Camila Sáez fouled Linda Caicedo.
Manuela Vanegas converted the penalty in stoppage time (90+5'), sealing the 2-0 victory. With this loss, the Chilean national team remains stuck on seven points and has dropped to fifth place in the standings, falling out of both the direct qualification and playoff zones.
The national team's next test will be on Saturday, April 18, in Montevideo, where they will face Uruguay. That match will be crucial for maintaining their hopes of securing an intercontinental spot, as both teams fight to stay in the running for World Cup qualification.
