Thursday, the 13th of February 2020, 19:30 local time (00:30 am Friday UTC), Monumental de la UNSA Stadium, Arequipa, Peru, first stage of Copa Sudamericana, first leg.
Despite their two consecutive defeats in the first two rounds of Apertura, Cusco FC started well their international campaign in Copa Sudamericana. The match was played in Arequipa, because Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium in Cusco does not have (yet) the lighting capacity required by CONMEBOL. However, by choosing the stadium in Arequipa, the Peruvians retained the advantage of playing at high altitude, which might be decisive in such matches.
Cusco FC starting XI. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page.
The visitors, Audax Italiano of Chile, seemed affected by the effects of playing at high altitude, especially towards the end of the game, when Cusco FC scored a double.
In the first half, the game was quite balanced. The visitors tried to keep the ball possession as much as possible, even without crossing into the opposite half. On the contrary, the home side played with long balls, in search of a break in the opposite defence. Both sides had their chances, but Audax Italiano missed the biggest opportunity in the end of the first half, when Argentinian striker Holgado's shot from the centre of the area went very close to the target (44').
The two goalscorers, Vílchez and Audax goalkeeper, Devecchi. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page.
In the second half, Cusco FC took the initiative more and attacked more consistently, while the Chileans tried to respond, but failed. The home side had some huge opportunities: a cross from the right by Ramúa, and Aranda's header kicked the cross bar (56'); then a pass by Ramúa to Boló, who scored, but from an offside position (58').
Franco Boló's long range shots were a constant danger to the opposite goal. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page.
Eventually, Cusco FC broke the deadlock: a cross by Boló from the right side was meant for Pósito, but a defender managed to touch the ball, perfectly for Vílchez, who couldn't miss the target from the centre of the area: 1-0 (73'). Ten minutes later, Boló's long range shot hit the cross bar, from where the ball deflected in the goalkeeper Devecchi and ended up in the net: 2-0 (83').
Finally, a win for Cusco FC. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page.
Cusco FC: Pretel - Toledo, Paniagua, Vílchez, Céspedes - Delgado (Aucca 68'), Aranda - Carranza (Palacios 90'+2'), Ramúa, Boló (Guidino 86') - Pósito. Head coach: Javier Arce.
Audax Italiano: Devecchi - N. Fernández, Labrin, Bosso, D. Torres (Crovetto 54') - Cabrera, Ledezma - Lavandeira (Figueroa 86'), Henríquez (A. Martínez 83'), Orellana - Holgado. Head coach: Francisco Meneghini.
Referee: Luis Eduardo Quiroz (Ecuador).
Yellow cards: Céspedes 31' - D. Torres 50', Crovetto 82'.
For Cusco FC, this win is an important achievement, after the poor start in the Peruvian Apertura. They still need to qualify, two weeks from now, in the return leg, in Santiago de Chile, for this win to become a complete success.
However, it is also essential to gain points in the Peruvian Liga 1. Their next match will be Monday, away at Universidad Técnica de Cajamarca.
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