Cusco FC won 2-0 over Carlos A. Mannucci and are leaders of the Group B in the Peruvian Liga 1 - Second Stage (Clausura)

Thursday, the 29th of October 2020, 3.30 pm local time (8.30 pm UTC), Iván Elias Moreno Stadium, Lima (neutral ground), Peru, second round of the Peruvian Liga 1 - Second Stage (Clausura), Group B.
Cusco FC has a surprisingly good start of the shorter Second Stage (Clausura) and won the second game in a row, this time over Carlos A. Mannucci. Just a few weeks ago, Carlos A. Mannucci had won 4-0 in the First Stage (Apertura)! But it was revenge time for Cusco, which started much better and controlled most of the game in the first half, without creating too many goal opportunities. Carlos A. Mannucci preferred to remain in the defence and tried something on the counterattack, but the only big goal chance in the first half came before the break: Pretel had to come out of the area and, under pressure, sent the ball mistakenly to Rodríguez, but his shot was saved by Paniagua, well placed (41').
The second half started very much the same, with Cusco FC trying harder to find a way to the goal, and they found it early: Rizzo's pass to Benincasa was intercepted by Atoche, who assisted Ray Sandoval, and his strong and precise shot went in: 0-1 (49').

Cusco FC players are congratulating Janio Pósito (no. 29) for the second goal. Source: dechalaca.com

Obviously, after the goal, the game changed completely, with the two sides in contrasting positions: Carlos A. Mannucci in attack, Cusco FC in defence and trying something on the break. Mannucci's pressure increased, while they left more and more space in the defence, which meant that Cusco FC also had some chances to score, especially by Carranza and Sandoval. However, the biggest chances belonged to Mannucci, and were missed by Rely Fernández (80') and Javier Núñez (84'), goalkeeper Pretel having some astonishing saves. In the stoppage time, a cross by Brandon Palacios for Miguel Carranza resulted in a foul by Nungaray on Carranza and a penalty for Cusco, executed and transformed by Janio Pósito: 0-2 (90'+6'). Cusco players were so happy that they forgot that the match did not end, and Carlos A. Mannucci had an immense goal chance in the seventh minute of stoppage time, but the ball hit the cross bar and then Lagos's shot went wide from just a few metres.
Carlos A. Mannucci: Heredia - Benites (R. Fernández 78'), Rizzo, Benincasa, Corrales (Moreno 46') - Flores (Núñez 62'), Fuentes (Nungaray 46') - A. Rodríguez, Guastavino, Lagos - Noronha. Manager: Pablo Peirano.
Cusco FC: Pretel - Chávez, Paniagua, Delgado, Céspedes (Boló 90'+7') - Atoche (Palacios 83'), Valenzuela, Gonzales - Ramúa (Carranza 71'), Carando (Pósito 71'), Sandoval (Mimbela 83'). Manager: Carlos Ramacciotti.
Referee: Ramón Blanco.
Yellow cards: Fuentes 9', A. Rodríguez 75' - Sandoval 46'.
Cusco FC has 6 points, the maximum possible after two rounds in the Second Stage and will play against Sport Boys in the third round. The danger now would be for them to imagine that relegation is no longer an issue and that they might even fight to win the Second Stage. The match against Sport Boys is easier on paper, but it is going to be very tough, because Sport Boys are in a very dangerous position, in the relegation area. On the other hand, Carlos A. Mannucci lost again, it is their second consecutive defeat, and they might even lose one of the spots leading to a continental competition the next year. In the next match, they will face Deportivo Municipal. Both these matches will be played on Monday, the 2nd of November.