Chile beat Uruguay in Bielsa goodbye
Reuters - Thursday 18 November 2010, 03:31
SANTIAGO - Chile beat 10-man Uruguay 2-0
in a friendly to mark the Chilean national team's centenary but
which turned into a fond farewell by fans for outgoing
Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa on Wednesday.
Forward Alexis Sanchez and midfielder Arturo Vidal scored
the goals that handed Oscar Tabarez's Uruguayans their first
defeat in four matches since they finished fourth at the World
Cup in South Africa in July.
Uruguay midfielder Walter Gargano was sent off for a second
yellow card offence four minutes before half-time in the match
at the Monumental in Santiago.
Fans, who have been hoping to persuade Bielsa to change his
mind about leaving the Chile job, waved banners and chanted in
support for the popular coach who has presided over one of the
country's best spells.
Bielsa, who looked visibly moved by the support, took his
record with to 28 wins and 15 defeats in 50 matches since his
appointment in 2007. He steered Chile to their first World Cup
since 1998.
Having signed a new contract after the World Cup until
2015, Bielsa said on the eve of the Chilean federation
presidential election on November 4 that he would resign if the man
who had brought him in, Harold Mayne-Nicholls, lost - which he
did.
Both teams will meet again in Group C at the Copa America
in Argentina in July 2011, by which time Chile will have
appointed a new coach.