Octavio Rivero returns and scores from the spot in Universidad de Chile's 4-2 rout of Coquimbo Unido

Penalty called, ball spotted at the center, net rippling and a shout that had been building for months. That's how Octavio Rivero made his return to professional soccer, converting Universidad de Chile's fourth goal in a 4-2 win over Coquimbo Unido, played at the Estadio Nacional in matchday 22 of the 2026 Liga de Primera.

The Uruguayan hadn't played since February, when a serious injury sidelined him for several months. All that time in the gym, in physical therapy and waiting paid off in a single penalty kick that ended in a goal and a group hug with his teammates. Truth is, even he didn't see this comeback coming so soon.

"I wasn't expecting to be called up this week. I got the surprise yesterday (Friday), and from there, I started dreaming about this moment," the forward said right after the match.

How much does a comeback like this mean for a player who came through Colo Colo before joining the club across town? Quite a lot, especially when the silence of an injury also brings doubts from outside. Rivero didn't hold back on that front and was direct with those who questioned his recovery process.

"A lot of people doubted a lot of things. I kept my mouth shut, worked the way I always have, and try to show it on the field," the forward added, with the calm of someone who just answered in the best way possible: with a goal.

A win that sends a message on the field too

Beyond the Uruguayan's return, Universidad de Chile picked up a clear-cut victory over a Coquimbo Unido side that pulled within one twice but couldn't slow down the attacking output of a blue squad that finished with four goals to its name. The 4-2 result delivers three important points in the fight for matchday 22 and, just as significantly, a piece of soccer news that could matter more than the scoreline itself: getting a top-level forward back right as the season enters its key months.

For Rivero, the challenge now is maintaining his physical condition and building up minutes gradually. Nobody expects the first match back from a long-term injury to mean an immediate return to a starting role, but the message he sent with that penalty was exactly the one both the coaching staff and the waiting fans needed to hear.