Real Madrid’s Under-20 side seized control of the Intercontinental final at the Santiago Bernabéu when Dani Yáñez’s free-kick put them ahead against Santiago Wanderers, moments after the Chilean visitors had been reduced to 10 men.
The decisive sequence came after a Wanderers defender was dismissed for an off-the-ball challenge on Álex Ciria, with the Madrid attacker struck on the calf after releasing possession. The Chilean side appealed for a video review, but the decision stood. Earlier, Amaro Silva had been booked for another incident involving Ciria, while Villarroel later received a yellow card for a late tackle on the Madrid player.
Yáñez then delivered the punishment from a wide set piece. His ball towards the far post went untouched through a crowded area and into the net, giving Madrid the advantage in a final that had begun with the home side pressing high and keeping Wanderers close to their own penalty area.
Madrid had already found openings without quite taking them. Diego Aguado slipped as he prepared to shoot from a promising position, Joan Martínez failed to connect with a dangerous cross, and Sergio Martínez sent a long-range effort wide. Ciria also attempted an inventive rabona cross, but the Chilean defence prevented a finish.
Wanderers gradually steadied themselves through longer spells on the ball, though they struggled to test Javi Navarro. Mario Rivas intervened sharply after a Madrid midfield error, while Aguado dealt with an attempted ball over the home defence. Navarro also collected a Wanderers cross confidently as the visitors looked for a route back into the contest.
With the numerical disadvantage, Wanderers made their first alteration, replacing Flores with Jaramillo. The visitors had arrived in Madrid carrying a squad strengthened by Denilson San Martín and built around the influence of Valenzuela, Ponce, Vargas and Christian Silva, several of whom have already become significant figures for a first team pursuing promotion to Chile’s top division.
There was substantial backing for the Chilean club in the Bernabéu, where around 3,000 travelling Wanderers supporters were expected. Madrid, meanwhile, named Javi Navarro in goal behind Diego Aguado, Mario Rivas, Joan Martínez and Fortea; Sergio Martínez, Cestero and Carlos Díez in midfield; and a front line of Álex Ciria, Yáñez and Yeremaiah.
Wanderers started with Avello; Dubó, Adasme, Valenzuela and Silva; Villarroel, Avendaño and Ponce; plus Flores, Vargas and Silva. For Carlos Díez, the occasion brought the added weight of playing at the Bernabéu, a stadium he associated with the club’s great European nights. Once Yáñez struck and Wanderers lost a man, however, the final became a test of whether Madrid could turn that advantage into the Intercontinental crown.
