Cusco FC is out of Copa Bicentenario, losing 3-2 to Sporting Cristal in the round of the last 16

Saturday, 19 June 2021, 3 pm local time (8 pm UTC), Miguel Grau Stadium, Callao (neutral ground), Peru, Copa Bicentenario, round of the last 16.

Sporting Cristal, Peruvian champions and winners of the 2021 Stage 1 (Apertura) in the Peruvian First Division, were clear favourites in this game against Cusco FC. The only chance for Cusco FC resided in the fact that some strong teams are not so interested in Copa Bicentenario, and that some key players of Sporting Cristal were either participating at the 2021 Copa América with the Peru national football team or injured.

The first half proved that the initial prognosis was right, as Sporting Cristal dominated clearly and scored twice. First, Calcaterra sent a long ball over the Cusco defense to find Ávila in a perfect position at the edge of the box, who lobbed the ball over over the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 (19'). After other 19 minutes, a cross from the right by Christofer Gonzales hit an unlucky defender, Rossi, and went in for 2-0 (38').

It looked like the game was already decided, but Cusco FC had an unexpected come-back in the second half. In the beginning of the half, a cross from Carranza was transformed into a goal by the other Alfredo, Carrillo: 2-1 (48').

Alfredo Carrillo (in black) scored the first goal for Cusco FC despite the opposition of Gianfranco Chávez. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Cusco FC needed another goal and attacked more and more consistently, and their mission was made easier by Jesús Castillo, who was sent off for hitting Alfredo Ramúa (74'). It is however noticeable that Sporting Cristal, down to ten men, had some great opportunities to make it 3-1 and close the game, but Ávila missed some of them, including a shot to the crossbar. Cusco's numerical advantage was only for 15 minutes, as Edson Aubert was also sent off for a second yellow card (89').

Equality in numbers restored, Cusco succeeded to score - something which they seem unable to do when they have one player more in the field. Matías Abisab perfectly executed a long-range free kick: 2-2 (90'+4'), a wonderful goal. The match seemed to be decided at penalties, but a surprisingly quick execution of a free kick by Sporting Cristal players led to a late winning goal, by Nilson Loyola, who benefited from the lack of attention of Cusco's defense to make it 3-2 for Sporting Cristal (90'+8').

Sporting Cristal: Solís - Madrid, Chávez, Merlo, Loyola - C. Gonzales, Calcaterra, Castillo - Grimaldo (Pretell 61'), Riquelme (Marchán 9', A. González 78'), Ávila. Manager: Roberto Mosquera.

Cusco: Nicosia - Rizzo, Figueroa (Rivera 46'), Rossi - Velásquez (Villano 84'), Abisab, Tello (Aubert 46'), Céspedes - Ramúa (E. Gonzales 90'+2'), Carrillo (Rengifo 76'), Carranza. Manager: Claudio Vivas.

Referee: Augusto Menéndez.

Yellow cards: Calcaterra 35', Madrid 54', Merlo 62', C. Gonzales 70' - Aubert 79', 89'.

Red cards: Castillo 74' - Aubert 89' (for a second yellow card).

Due to this defeat, Cusco FC are now on holidays from the point of view of official matches. The next official match would be the first round of Stage 2 (Clausura), in the second half of July. Some good players are needed to join the team, in order to avoid the relegation area where they are right now.