Their semi-final elimination to Cobreloa means that not only did they end the year without a single title but that they won't participate in the 2012 Copa Libertadores as well.
Colo Colo were within minutes from reaching the final of the Chilean Clausura championship after taking a two-goal lead against Cobreloa with goals from Esteban Paredes in the 14th minute and Carlos Munoz in the 24th minute in Calama on Tuesday.
But a defensive error from the Colo Colo defense ten minutes from full-time allowed Diego Barrios to score a crucial goal for Cobreloa, that sent them into the final of the Clausura on the away goals rule. Cobreloa had picked up a 3-2 win over Colo Colo in Santiago on the weekend.
Not only did the goal mean Colo Colo missed out on the final of the Clausura, but to top off a miserable year for the Cacique it also meant that they failed to qualify for the 2012 Copa Libertadores.
The statistics speak for themselves: Colo Colo went through three different coaches in 2011, them being Diego Cagna, Americo Gallego and Ivo Basay. For a club of their stature they didn't claim a single title, and will neither participate in the Copa Libertadores nor the Copa Sudamericana in 2012.
Colo Colo suffered 14 defeats between the Apertura and Clausura championships, which was the highest number of losses for the club since 2002. They also conceded 65 goals. Historically Colo Colo are Chile's most successful club, with 29 Chilean championships to their name. They are followed by Universidad de Chile with with 14 titles and Universidad Catolica with 10 titles.
What makes Colo Colo's year seem all that much worse, is the fact that arch-rivals Universidad de Chile are passing through the best year of their entire history. Not only did whey win the Apertura championship and are a draw away from reaching the final of the Clausura championship, but last week they lifted the first international title of their entire history in thrashing Liga de Quito of Ecuador 4-0 on aggregate in the final of the Copa Sudamericana. Universidad de Chile have gone unbeaten for 36 matches now.
Next year Colo Colo are expected to undergo dramatic change in order to return to the elite of Chilean soccer. Their reputation counts on it.
But a defensive error from the Colo Colo defense ten minutes from full-time allowed Diego Barrios to score a crucial goal for Cobreloa, that sent them into the final of the Clausura on the away goals rule. Cobreloa had picked up a 3-2 win over Colo Colo in Santiago on the weekend.
Not only did the goal mean Colo Colo missed out on the final of the Clausura, but to top off a miserable year for the Cacique it also meant that they failed to qualify for the 2012 Copa Libertadores.
The statistics speak for themselves: Colo Colo went through three different coaches in 2011, them being Diego Cagna, Americo Gallego and Ivo Basay. For a club of their stature they didn't claim a single title, and will neither participate in the Copa Libertadores nor the Copa Sudamericana in 2012.
Colo Colo suffered 14 defeats between the Apertura and Clausura championships, which was the highest number of losses for the club since 2002. They also conceded 65 goals. Historically Colo Colo are Chile's most successful club, with 29 Chilean championships to their name. They are followed by Universidad de Chile with with 14 titles and Universidad Catolica with 10 titles.
What makes Colo Colo's year seem all that much worse, is the fact that arch-rivals Universidad de Chile are passing through the best year of their entire history. Not only did whey win the Apertura championship and are a draw away from reaching the final of the Clausura championship, but last week they lifted the first international title of their entire history in thrashing Liga de Quito of Ecuador 4-0 on aggregate in the final of the Copa Sudamericana. Universidad de Chile have gone unbeaten for 36 matches now.
Next year Colo Colo are expected to undergo dramatic change in order to return to the elite of Chilean soccer. Their reputation counts on it.
