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Original article: La Sub 17 femenina saca la cara por Chile y clasifica al Mundial de Marruecos de la mano de Vanessa Arauz

Led by Vanessa Arauz, the U-17 Women’s Team Stands Proud for Chile by Qualifying for the Morocco World Cup

 In a match that will be etched in Chilean football history, the U-17 women’s national team achieved a remarkable feat this Saturday: they qualified for the Morocco World Cup after defeating Ecuador 2-1 in the South American playoff. The decisive goal came in the 90th minute from Catalina Muñoz, just as the game seemed destined for a penalty shootout. This moment not only marked a victory but the end of a long era of disappointments.

The match was arduous, reflecting the determination instilled by their coach, Vanessa Arauz. At 12 minutes in, Antonella Martínez, a standout striker, opened the scoring, and Chile maintained control for most of the game. However, at the 28-minute mark, Arianna Cerda equalized for Ecuador, sending shivers through the hopes of the Chilean team. But unlike previous generations, this squad stood firm.

This mental strength can be attributed to Arauz, a 36-year-old Ecuadorian coach who previously made history in 2015 by leading Ecuador in the Women’s World Cup at just 26 years old, setting a Guinness World Record as the youngest coach in a World Cup. Her arrival on the Chilean bench on June 28, 2024, sparked a resurgence in women’s football, which once experienced its golden generation.

The context is crucial. The adult Chilean team is currently enduring one of its worst qualification campaigns in history, characterized by a drought of victories and critical performance issues revealing deep structural crises. This same negative trend had plagued almost all youth categories, perpetuating a seemingly endless cycle of failures—until this U-17 team arrived.

The statistics from Chile in the South American tournament are compelling: they went undefeated in regulation time. They drew with Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil (only falling to the powerful Canarinha by penalties in the semifinals), while demolishing Bolivia 8-1 and Paraguay 2-0. This unbeaten streak is a testament to a well-coordinated team with a clear identity.

This will be Chile’s U-17 team’s third appearance in a World Cup, following their experiences in 2010 and 2022. However, there is a key difference: this time, the aim is to achieve Chile’s first victory in a women’s global tournament. With a coach experienced in competing at the highest levels, that goal seems increasingly attainable.

Vanessa Arauz and the Return of Hope for Chile

Vanessa Arauz, who previously coached youth teams at Universidad Católica and had a stint at Colo-Colo, has demonstrated that a technical renewal is indeed possible.

While the men’s senior football continues to face setbacks, this U-17 women’s team, guided by an Ecuadorian who chose Chile to shine, has reinvigorated the hopes of a nation that had long forgotten what it felt like to qualify for a World Cup. They achieved this with a last-minute goal, reminiscent of great historical moments.

Arauz’s impressive performance with the U-17 team raises the question: Why isn’t the senior women’s national team coached by one of the talented female strategists in Chile?

La entrada Chile’s U-17 Women’s Team Makes History by Qualifying for the Morocco World Cup Under Vanessa Arauz’s Guidance se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.