Monday, the 15th of July, 15:00 local time (20:00 UTC), Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Cusco (Peru), the first round of Clausura, Liga 1 / Primera Division de Peru.
Real Garcilaso were big favourites before the start of the game in front of newly-promoted Pirata FC, a team which also had a rather disappointing Apertura and brought nine new players, almost an entire new team, for the Clausura.
However, in the field, everything looked different, with the home team unable to break through the well organized defence of the visitors. Even more than that, Pirata FC proved to be lethal on the counter-attack, and as early as the 8' Mario Ramirez had an astonishing individual action, overtaking all the defenders and the goalkeeper to score the only goal of the game.
Real Garcilaso tried hard to equalize but had a weak first half, with few goal scoring opportunities, despite the high percentage of ball possession.
The second half belonged entirely to the home side, which attacked and pressurized continuously the visitors. Their mission was made even easier when Mario Ramirez was sent off after a dispute with Souza in 63'. Even in ten men, Pirata FC defended heroically while Real Garcilaso had many clear opportunites but missed incredible chances and were denied a penalty (for a hand inside the area) and a goal, cancelled for a foul on the goalkeeper.
Real Garcilaso: Ferreyra - Herrera, Miguez, Quina, Rivas - Goyoneche (Guerrero 66') - Souza, Ramua, Nunez (Archimbaud 46'), Lecaros (Rengifo 46') - Carando. Head coach: Juan Reynoso.
Pirata FC: Izaguirre - Andia, Kike Rodriguez, Valoyes, Echeandia - Canales (F. Ramirez 89') - Serrato (Perleche 56'), Bustamante, M. Ramirez, Anderson Cueto - Aguirre (Bravo 78'). Head coach: Miguel Angel Arrue.
Referee: Jhon Gutierrez.
Yellow cards: Nunez 39' - Echeandia 44'.
Red card: M. Ramirez (Pirata) 63'.
This defeat comes as a big blow for a team which is supposedly fighting for the national title but is unable to win at home against one of the weakest teams in the league. Not to mention that Real Garcilaso won all three games in Copa Bicentenario and is prepared to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
The two strikers, Carando and Rengifo, as well as Ramua and Gino Guerrero, seemed out of shape, despite fighting hard and creating some chances. The best attacking player was Souza, who provided several good assists, but could not be the goal scorer at the same time. Juan Reynoso, the head coach, had to start without Joao Ortiz (suspended) and Arismendi (recovering from an injury, but played in the reserves). In their place, on the flanks, Rivas (on the left) and Herrera (on the right) had a very poor game in a match when the strikers needed good crosses in the area. Gino Guerrero brought a bit of air in the midfield after he entered, but he did not find the goal from very clear situations. The same can be said of Rengifo and Carando, who made a hero out of Izaguirre, Pirata's goalkeeper. The weak game of Real Garcilaso is however mainly Ramua's fault. He is the leader of the team, the brain behind any offensive action. He had to bring calmness and to build up the attacks in such a manner as to result in goals. Instead, Real Garcilaso looked desperate even from half time, attacking more or less chaotically, with balls inside the area, hoping that one of them would reach for the net. But it was one of those days when nothing could be done and Pirata won surprisingly and somehow deservedly.
The next week, Real Garcilaso will play away to Universidad de San Martin, another team involved in the fight against relegation.
Results of the other games of the first round of Clausura:
Ayacucho – Carlos A. Mannucci 1-0
Universidad César Vallejo – Binacional
1-1
Sporting Cristal – Sport Huancayo 3-0
UTC – Universidad de San Martín 0-2
Academia Cantolao – Alianza Universidad
2-1
Universitario – Unión Comercio 2-1
Deportivo Municipal – FBC Melgar 1-0
Sport Boys – Alianza
Lima 1-2
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