Argentine striker Juan Martín Lucero scored his first goal for Universidad de Chile on Saturday, leading the 'Blues' to a 1-0 victory over Universidad Católica in the Clásico Universitario at the Estadio Nacional.
The goal, achieved 15 minutes into the match, serves as a vital step for the club as they attempt to climb back into the upper ranks of the Primera División.
According to BioBioChile, the Argentine forward, nicknamed 'Gato,' utilized his left foot to find the far corner of the net following a corner kick and a pivot by Lucas Barrera.
This strike marks Lucero's first goal in 11 months, following his previous tenure with Colo Colo, as reported by BioBioChile.
Gago praises tactical execution and youth integration
Following the match, Universidad de Chile manager Fernando Gago expressed satisfaction with how his team executed his game plan against their rivals.
Speaking at a press conference, Golem told La Tercera that the match unfolded as intended, stating, "The match went as we planned beforehand. From that, we knew where we were going to find the spaces to attack."
He noted that the defensive lines performed well against Católica's long-ball strategy, adding that the team used pressure to find opportunities through recoveries.
"We pressured very well and found many spaces from the recoveries. It was a very good first half," Gago told La Tercera.
While the first half saw several attacking approaches, Gago admitted to La Tercera that the team lacked the necessary composure or final pass to increase the lead during certain stretches.
"In the second half, we had moments where we had to play it more [patiently]; we rushed a bit in the game construction phase," Gago told La Tercera.
He also noted that the team had two or three situations to increase the score, though they were forced to defend certain situations as the rival played.
Regarding the performance of Agustín Arce, Ignacio Vásquez, and Lucas Barrera—all of whom made their debuts in the Clásico Universitario—Gago emphasized his reliance on weekly performance.
"I don't like to think of a team of 11 players because weekly performance is what I base it on so that they can be ready on match day," Gago told La Tercera.
He added that the players were informed of their selection on the day of the match, noting that all players prepare equally during the week of training knowing they have the possibility to play.
