Chile Primera Division Wrap: Espanola, Catolica hold sway

A hat-trick from Gustavo Canales has kept Union Espanola on top of Chile’s Primera Division after a 3-1 win over Antofagasta.

Canales put the league leaders in front just before the half-hour mark and after Antofagasta equalised early in the second half, the 31-year-old Union Espanola striker scored twice in 10 minutes to wrap up victory.

Union Espanola lead Chile’s top tier of football on goal difference ahead of Universidad Catolica, who defeated Audax Italiano, while O’Higgins also won to remain just one point behind the top two.

After Canales opened the scoring in the 29th minute on Saturday, a header from Eric Pulgar dragged Antofagasta level six minutes after half-time.

In the 67th minute, Canales produced a stunning free-kick to give the home side the ascendency again before he finished Antofagasta off with a 77th-minute penalty.

Universidad Catolica had to come from behind at half-time to knock off Audax Italiano 2-1 on Saturday thanks to goals from Milovan Mirosevic and Carlos Villanueva, while O’Higgins won away to Colo Colo by the same score-line on Sunday.

Huachipato kicked off the weekend’s action with a 3-1 triumph over Santiago Wanderers to notch their second win in a row, while bottom club Cobresal claimed their second win in four games, overcoming Union La Calera 2-1.

In other results in Chile’s Primera Division, San Marcos drew 1-1 with Deportes Iquique, Everton defeated Rangers 2-1, Universidad Chile overcame Nublense 3-1 and Cobreloa triumphed 1-0 against Palestino.