Tuesday, 30 March 2021, 3.30 pm local time (8.30 pm UTC), Alberto Gallardo Stadium (neutral ground), Lima, the 3rd round of the Peruvian First Division (Liga 1) - Stage 1, Group B.
According to a decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Alianza Lima were readmitted in the Peruvian First Division, while Carlos Stein, which had already started the competition, were relegated instead to the Second Division. The first match for Alianza Lima in this season was against Cusco FC, and was highly expected, given the unusual circumstances and the high number of Alianza Lima fans. Both teams had some advantages and disadvantages before the game. Alianza Lima had less time to prepare for the this game and this was their first competitive game since last year, compared to Cusco FC, which had more time and had already played two matches in the First Division. On the other hand, despite the use of another stadium (Alberto Gallardo), the match was played in Lima, so it was not really a neutral place, even if it was a neutral ground, and Cusco FC have been disadvantaged for playing all matches in Lima, therefore losing one of their main assets when playing home, the high altitude.
Alianza Lima controlled most of the game but Cusco FC was the most efficient team and it looks like a curse for them, as the final score, 2-2, was identical to the one of their previous game against Cienciano, with the same evolution, as Cusco led again 1-0 and 2-1 and were equalized each time. In each of their previous two matches, Cusco FC received one penalty against them and one red card. This time, they did not receive a red card, but two penalties were given for Alianza Lima, the second one in the final minutes of the game. So, plenty of bad luck for Cusco FC in the beginning of the season.
It started very well for Cusco, as Mauricio Montes headed in a cross coming from José Velásquez on the right side: 0-1 (7'). Alianza Lima reacted promptly and attacked vigorously, while Cusco retired in their own half and tried mostly on the counter. In one of their rare visits in the opposite box, Cusco could have received a penalty, as Lacerda clearly touched the ball with his hand while falling after a tackle on Montes, but the referee probably considered it unintentional. However, the same referee gave Alianza a penalty, when José Velásquez lightly dragged Sebastián Gonzales right in front of the goal. José Miguel Manzaneda made no case of his manager yelling that Oliva should execute the penalty, and scored: 1-1 (31'). Immediately after, Sebastián Gonzales had the biggest chance of the first half, as he dribbled Gonzalo Rizzo and faced only the goalkeeper Hermoza, but his shot from just a few meters went wide (33').
Sandro Rengifo (with the ball) was decisive in the second half for Cusco FC. Source: dechalaca.com/FPF
At half time, Jean Pierre Mendoza was substituted for Sandro Rengifo in Cusco FC, and this changed the pace of Cusco FC in the attack, especially on the left side, where Alianza's Kluiverth Aguilar had some troubles in stopping the young Cusco winger. The game was much more balanced in the second half. Sebastián Gonzales crowned himself as the king of missing chances, when he headed wide from just 2 meters after a cross from Manzaneda, in a position where it was more difficult to miss than to score (58'). Cusco FC were more efficient: Carranza launched himself in attack, opened up to Rivera on the right, and Rivera's pass in the center of the box found Sandro Rengifo all by himself. His shot went to the crossbar, then the ball fell in (?) and came out but the referee awarded the goal: 1-2 (65'). The numerous replays in TV were unclear: from certain angles it looked like the ball went in completely, from other angles it looked like a part of the ball was on the edge of the goal line. Without goal line technology it is impossible to make a call in such cases, so one should get over it and agree with the linesman decision, which was to award the goal.
Alianza's manager, Carlos Bustos, who substituted Oliva for Cornejo earlier, continued with the substitutions, trying to regain control of the game by strengthening the midfield. He succeeded, as Alianza dominated the match in the next 20 minutes, forcing an equalizer. Cusco's defense resisted well for a while, but it was eventually surpassed when Cornejo found a filtering pass to Aguirre, who was smart enough to wait for goalkeeper Hermoza to make contact with him and to get a penalty. Hernán Barcos took charge of the penalty this time: 2-2 (87').
In the final minutes, Cusco FC were unhappy with the result and looked for the winning goal more than Alianza, but there was nothing more to be done.
Alianza Lima: Rivadeneyra - Aguilar, Montoya, Lacerda, Lagos - Ballón, Valenzuela (Aguirre 68'), Concha (Barcos 68') - Manzaneda (Mora 73'), S. Gonzales (Míguez 73'), Oliva (Cornejo 59'). Manager: Carlos Bustos.
Cusco: Hermoza - Velásquez, E. Gonzales, Rizzo, Céspedes - Carranza (Caraza 67'), Abisab (Aubert 88'), Tello, Mendoza (Rengifo 46') - Rivera (Barreiro 78'), Montes. Manager: Carlos Ramacciotti.
Referee: Renzo Castañeda.
Yellow cards: Lacerda 41', Montoya 90'.
After a two weeks break caused by the Easter holidays, the league will resume with Cusco FC facing Sport Boys. Alianza Lima will play against Sport Huancayo, but in the meantime they will also have to play against Deportivo Municipal on 6 April, as this match was postponed from round 2.
Full results, table and fixtures in Group B:
Round 3 (29-31 March 2021)
Sport Boys – Binacional 3-2
Alianza Universidad – Sporting Cristal 0-3
Deportivo Municipal – Universidad César Vallejo 0-4
Alianza Lima – Cusco FC 2-2
Ayacucho – Sport Huancayo 3-0
Group B table
|
1 |
Sporting Cristal |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
8-0 |
9 |
Qualified for Stage 1 final |
|
2 |
Universidad César Vallejo |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
7-3 |
6 |
|
|
3 |
Sport Huancayo |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4-3 |
6 |
|
|
4 |
Alianza Universidad |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2-3 |
6 |
|
|
5 |
Sport Boys |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
5-6 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
Cusco FC |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4-5 |
2 |
|
|
7 |
Alianza Lima |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2-2 |
1 |
|
|
8 |
Deportivo Municipal |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0-5 |
0 |
|
|
9 |
Binacional |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2-10 |
0 |
|
Rules for classification (except for first place): 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.
A play-off is needed to decide the group winner if two or more teams are tied on points on top of the table at the end of the tournament.
Round 4 (13-14 April 2021)
Cusco FC – Sport Boys
Binacional – Alianza Universidad
Sporting Cristal – Deportivo Municipal
Sport Huancayo – Alianza Lima
Universidad César Vallejo – Carlos A. Mannucci
