Saturday, 8 May 2021, 3.30 pm local time (8.30 UTC), Miguel Grau Stadium, Callao (neutral ground), Peru, 7th round of Stage 1, Group B, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).
Sporting Cristal are the winners of Group B with two rounds to go in Stage 1 of the Peruvian First Division. With seven wins in seven matches, they now have 21 points and are unreachable in Group B, so they will play the final of Stage 1 with the (yet unknown) winners of Group A. They are also involved in Copa Libertadores, so manager Roberto Mosquera preferred to rest some of the key players and used a rather reserve team in the match against Cusco FC.
Sporting Cristal (in blue) won despite the unfavorable circumstances. Source: De Chalaca / Prensa FPF
The two teams celebrated Mothers' Day in interesting ways: Cusco FC played in magenta shirts instead of the usual black, while Sporting Cristal players' used their mothers' name instead of their own on the back of the shirts.
Cusco FC, which have not won a single match so far this season, played very well and dominated most of the game, but had difficulties in scoring and their two errors committed in the box were both penalized by Sporting Cristal, which won the match by transforming two penalties and not much more.
The first penalty came early, as Grimaldo was tackled by Figueroa in the corner of the box. Hohberg transformed for 0-1 (12'). Cusco responded rapidly, equalizing: Ramúa scored from the center of the box, assisted by Barreiro and helped by Rivera: 1-1 (18'). The rest of the first half belonged entirely to Cusco FC, but they were unable to score a second goal, despite several good opportunities, especially one by Abisab (assisted by Ramúa), blocked by the goalkeeper Duarte (37').
Abisab (#17) was blocked by goalkeeper Duarte in the face of the goal. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page
The second half looked very much the same as the first one, with Cusco FC putting a lot of pressure on the opponent. Their mission was made easier by an apparently incorrect referee decision, to send off Villalta (Sporting Cristal) for a second yellow card, very easily given (50').
Despite having one man up in the field, Cusco FC did not know to take benefit of this situation. Moreover, the changes made by their new manager, Claudio Vivas, reduced even more their offensive capabilities, given the low efficiency of the likes of Mendoza or Carrillo, while Rengifo made the mistake which gave Sporting Cristal the win.
On the other hand, Roberto Mosquera sensed the difficult moment of his team and sent in several good players, so the match was rather balanced and the numerical difference was not so obvious.
Cusco FC had only one single major goal chance, by Barreiro, who robbed the ball from Chávez, but, all alone with Duarte, sent a shot directly in the direction of the goalkeeper (75').
In the other box, due to a temporary injury of Céspedes, Sandro Rengifo had to take the role of left back and stopped Lora in the box, providing a second penalty for Sporting Cristal, this time transformed by Christofer Gonzales: 1-2 (86').
Cusco: Enríquez - Figueroa, Rizzo, Rossi, Céspedes - Tello (Mendoza 57'), Aubert (Carrillo 73') - Abisab (Rengifo 63'), Ramúa, Rivera (E. Gonzales 57') - Bareiro. Manager: Claudio Vivas.
Sporting Cristal: Duarte - Prado (Lora 76'), A. González, Chávez, Villalta - Pretell, Castillo, Soto (C. Gonzales 67') - Marchán (Corozo 68'), Hohberg (Loyola 60'), Grimaldo (Calcaterra 76'). Manager: Roberto Mosquera.
Referee: Jesús Cartagena.
Yellow cards: Tello 53', Rengifo 85', E. Gonzales 87' - Villalta 1', 50'.
Red card: Villalta (Sporting Cristal) 50' (for the second yellow card).
Alfredo Ramúa celebrated after he scored, but his goal was not enough. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page
For Cusco FC, this is the third match in which they had at least one man up in the field but did not win. Their last two matches in Stage 1, against Deportivo Municipal and Deportivo Binacional, are now equally important in the fight against relegation, as they are all involved in the lower part of the table.
No comments:
Post a Comment