The new season got underway on the weekend newly promoted Rangers getting a first up win along with Universidad Católica, O’Higgins, Huachipato and Unión Española.
On Friday night O’Higgins kicked of the 2012 Apertura season with a 1-0 over the newly promoted Antofagasta with a 42nd minute goal from Ramón Fernández proving to be the difference between the two teams. In contrast to Antofagasta, fellow promoted side Rangers celebrated their return to the Primera Division with a 2-0 win over La Serena on Saturday afternoon courtesy of goals to José Luis Silva and Milton Caraglio despite the fact that Luis Oyarzún was given an early shower in the 56th minute. In Saturday’s other games Universidad Católica defeated Palestino 2-1 in the Estadio Nacional whilst Huachipato defeated Santiago Wanderers by the same scoreline later in the day.
Sunday saw four games take place with three of them ending in draws as Unión La Calera shared the points with Universidad de Concepción as did Colo Colo with Iquique and Cobresal with Unión San Felipe. The only team to win on Sunday was Unión Española who defeated fierce rivals Audax Italiano 2-0 in the clásico de colonias with new boy Emanuel Herrera getting on the scoresheet with Jean Paul Pineda in the first half to give los hispanos a winning start to the season.
The round’s final match which is a replay of the 2011 Clausura final between Universidad de Chile and Cobreloa will not be held until the 28th February.
Primera Division Campeonato de Apertura 2012, first round
