Cusco FC drew (again) 2-2 with FBC Melgar and remain in the most dangerous part of the table

Wednesday, 4 August 2021, 2:30 pm local time (7:30 pm UTC), San Marcos Stadium, Lima, Peru, the 4th round of the Stage 2, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).

Cusco FC continue their weak form this season, and even when they play better, they fail to win. In their last matches, they luckily drew 2-2 with last classified Binacional (which had plenty of opportunities to score many goals), and then they lost 3-2 to Alianza Universidad, though they came back from 1-0 and 2-1, but were not able to equalize after the third goal of the opponents. The match against Melgar was truthfully considered as more difficult than these previous games, so Cusco FC prepared properly and were ahead most of the match, leading 1-0 (for just a few minutes) and then 2-1 for most of the second half, but Melgar succeeded to equalize in the final minutes and could even have won but Hermoza saved a couple of shots.

The match started very well, with goals from both sides and lots of chances. First, the match has just begun and Édson Aubert scored for Cusco from a free kick: 0-1 (2'). Not long after, a wisely devised attack by Melgar finished with Bordacahar crossing from the right to Iberico at the far post: 1-1 (6'). Melgar had more ball possession, but Cusco responded very well on the counter and used every set piece to inflict danger to the opposite goal. Royón's shot was blocked (11') and Corrales headed the ball to the post (12'). 

The game became less interesting in the middle of the half, with few opportunities for both sides. Melgar maintained the overall control of the game, but rarely reached the opposite goal. Cusco players tried to send large balls to Royón, who sometimes resisted the defenders, and once was able to give the ball back to Ramúa, whose long-range shot (from more than 30 meters!) went straight to the upper-left corner of Cáceda's goal: 1-2 (39'). It is one of the most beautiful goals of the season.

Melgar's attacking pressure immediately increased, but Cusco was able to defend properly until the break. In the second half, the game was mostly the same, with Melgar attacking and Cusco defending. Melgar's manager, Néstor Lorenzo, sent in Kevin Quevedo and Jhonny Vidales for the last 15-20 minutes or so, and the quality of Melgar's attacks increased. Pressure mounted, and Hermoza had several saves which kept Cusco in advantage.

Cusco FC could have also scored, but Carrillo missed a good chance (75'). On the other hand, Vidales (77') and Quevedo (79') were closer to the equalizing goal, which finally arrived: after a collective attack, Vázquez found the needed space on the right side, and his cross was headed in by Vidales: 2-2 (86').

Jhonny Vidales (in red and black, on the ground) scored the equalizing goal for FBC Melgar. Source: Diario Correo

The same Jhonny Vidales could have brought all the points to Arequipa, but his header was saved by Éder Hermoza spectacularly (90'+2').

Both teams were probably unhappy with the final result. Néstor Lorenzo was very much helped by his subs, while Claudio Vivas only made a couple of substitutions, which did not bring anything to Cusco's game, and the bench did not have much to offer.

Melgar: Cáceda - Ibáñez (Vidales 74'), Pereyra, Luján, Reyna - Orzán (Tandazo 78'), Arias (Sánchez 78') - Bordacahar, Vázquez, Iberico (Quevedo 66') - Cuesta. Manager: Néstor Lorenzo.

Cusco: Hermoza - Velásquez, Rizzo, Figueroa, Corrales - Tello, Aubert - Abisab, Ramúa (Espinoza 69'), Rivera - Royón (Carrillo 69'). Manager: Claudio Vivas.

Referee: Edwin Ordóñez.

Yellow cards: Orzán 41, Pereyra 51', Tandazo 89', Vázquez 89' - Rizzo 64', Abisab 89'.

Melgar remain top of the Stage 2 table, and will face Alianza Universidad in the next round, on Monday. Cusco are however more interested in the aggregate table, where they are among the last and in relegation position. Their next match is on Sunday, against newly-promoted Alianza Atlético de Sullana.

Full results, schedule and tables:

Round 4 (2-4 August 2021)

 

Ayacucho – Universidad de San Martín 1-0

Cienciano – Deportivo Municipal 2-3

UTC – Universidad César Vallejo 0-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Sport Huancayo 1-1

Sporting Cristal – Universitario 2-2

Alianza Atlético – Binacional 0-3

FBC Melgar – Cusco FC 2-2

Alianza Universidad – Sport Boys 2-0

Alianza Lima – Academia Cantolao 2-1

 

Stage 2 (Clausura) table

 

1	FBC Melgar	4	2	2	0	11-4	8	Qualified for the play-off
2	Alianza Lima	4	2	2	0	6-2	8
3	Alianza Universidad	4	2	2	0	6-3	8
4	Universidad César Vallejo	4	2	2	0	4-1	8
5	Deportivo Municipal	4	2	2	0	7-5	8
6	Carlos A. Mannucci	4	2	1	1	7-4	7
7	Cienciano	4	1	2	1	7-5	5
8	Sporting Cristal	3	1	2	0	7-5	5
9	Binacional	4	1	2	1	7-8	5
10	Universitario de Deportes	4	1	2	1	6-7	5
11	Ayacucho FC	4	1	1	2	5-8	4
12	Alianza Atlético	4	1	1	2	3-7	4
13	Sport Boys	4	1	1	2	3-7	4
14	UTC	4	0	3	1	1-2	3
15	Cusco FC	4	0	2	2	6-8	2
16	Academia Cantolao	4	0	2	2	5-8	2
17	Sport Huancayo	4	0	2	2	1-5	2
18	Universidad San Martín	3	0	1	2	1-4	1

 

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 winner if two or more teams are tied on points on top of the table at the end of the tournament.

 

Round 5 (6-9 August 2021)

 

Deportivo Municipal – Ayacucho

Sport Huancayo – Sporting Cristal

Binacional – UTC

Universidad César Vallejo – Carlos A. Mannucci

Universitario – Cienciano

Cusco FC – Alianza Atlético

Academia Cantolao – Sport Boys

Universidad de San Martín – Alianza Lima

FBC Melgar – Alianza Universidad

 

Aggregate table (Stage 1 + Stage 2)

 

1	Sporting Cristal (AW, Q)	12	9	2	1	25-11	29	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
2	Univ. César Vallejo	13	7	5	1	21-9	26	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
3	Alianza Lima	13	6	6	1	18-8	24	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
4	Cienciano	13	5	4	4	21-17	19	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
5	Ayacucho FC	13	4	7	2	21-18	19	Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
6	Carlos A. Mannucci	13	5	4	4	20-18	19	Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
7	Universidad San Martín	12	6	2	4	11-10	19	[1] Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
8	Universitario de Deportes	13	5	5	3	18-18	19	[1] Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
9	FBC Melgar	13	4	5	4	22-16	17
10	Alianza Universidad	13	5	3	5	14-16	17	[1]
11	Deportivo Municipal	13	4	3	6	13-20	15
12	Alianza Atlético	13	4	2	7	13-16	14
13	Sport Huancayo	13	3	5	5	9-14	14
14	UTC	13	3	4	6	10-14	13
15	Sport Boys	13	4	2	7	15-21	13	[1]
16	Academia Cantolao	13	3	3	7	13-21	12	Relegation / promotion play-offs
17	Cusco FC	13	1	7	5	18-21	9	[1] Relegation to Segunda División
18	Binacional	13	2	3	8	15-29	9	Relegation to Segunda División

 

Q – Qualified for the play-offs

AW – Stage 1 (Apertura) Winners

CW – Stage 2 (Clausura) Winners

R – Relegated

 

Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots; 5) play-off (only if needed to decide teams for relegation)

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[1] Universidad de San Martín, Universitario de Deportes, Alianza Universidad, Sport Boys and Cusco FC have been all deducted 1 point in the aggregate table for financial irregularities.