Vozinha helps Colo-Colo win Chilean title at 40 with a late save against Ñublense

Late save seals the title

Colo-Colo beat Ñublense 2-1 on Sunday, 8 November, and the result made them Chilean champions with three rounds of the season still to play. SAPO reports that the club finished the day 10 points clear of Universidad de Chile. Arturo Vidal gave Colo-Colo the lead in the 14th minute, but Lucas Molina levelled in the 29th minute, leaving the match open. Marcos Bolados scored the winner in the 90+2 minute, in a move in which Argentine Javier Correa also took part, according to Mediafax. Vozinha then made the decisive intervention in the 90+7 minute, stopping a dangerous shot from outside the box that could have brought an equaliser.

The 35th title and a Libertadores place

The win gave the club its 35th league championship and secured a place in the Copa Libertadores 2027. Vozinha started the decider, although before it he had played only five of Colo-Colo's 14 matches, according to 7sur7 and El Mundo. His coach, Fernando Ortiz, has mostly preferred 19-year-old Gabriel Maureira, a product of the club's youth system. Fanpage describes Vozinha as a backup in practice, noting he had made six appearances in total this season, including the title match. The goalkeeper has been named a substitute more often than a starter, which has raised questions about his future in South America.

After the final whistle he told TNT Sports Chile that he was happy and that the future would be discussed later.

“Today is a day to celebrate, we will talk about the future later.”

From Cape Verde's World Cup to Santiago

Vozinha, who is 40, became a figure of the 2026 World Cup with Cape Verde, playing in matches against Spain (0-0), Uruguay (2-2) and Argentina in the round of 16. According to El Mundo, Cape Verde forced extra time against Argentina before losing 3-2. He joined Colo-Colo in August after his contract with Portuguese club Chaves ended, Mediafax reports. His presentation at the Monumental stadium in Santiago drew thousands of fans and fireworks. 7sur7 and El Mundo also report that he has appeared in advertising campaigns for Adidas, Pepsi and Red Bull, and that he finished sixth in the Lev Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London.

Contract and what comes next

SAPO reports that Vozinha's commitment to the club runs until December, and he declined to discuss a renewal after the match. Fanpage describes a six-month contract with a one-year extension tied to reaching half of the official minutes, a target it says was not met. After the match he said he had come to the club for exactly this purpose.

“I came here for this: to win the title.”

Fanpage says his future in South America is now at risk, given that Maureira remains the first choice. The contract situation and the start of the Copa Libertadores campaign will determine whether he stays at the club beyond the current season.