Cusco FC wins 3-2 over Academia Cantolao and keeps some chances to stay in the First Division

Cusco FC - Academia Cantolao 3-2 (0-1)

Rivera 59', Montes 62', Figueroa 85' - Leyes 16', 68'.

Monday, 27 September 2021, 11 am local time (4 pm UTC), Alberto Gallardo Stadium, Lima (neutral ground), Peru, 13th round, Stage 2, Peruvian First Division.

Cusco FC is in such a situation that they need to win (almost) every game to save themselves from relegation. It is this sort of desperation and some luck which gave them a much needed win over Academia Cantolao. Otherwise, the team looks equally weak on all fronts, and the result is mostly due to the fact that Academia Cantolao played in ten in the second half, as Reyna was sent off (for a second yellow card) right before the break.

In the first half, Cusco FC tried hard, but Academia Cantolao seemed the better team, which controlled calmly the game, allowing Cusco to attack only to trigger some deadly counterattacks, which were quite a trouble for a rather disorganized Cusco defense. Academia Cantolao took the lead early, as Reyna crossed from the left and Leyes found the target from inside the box: 0-1 (16'). Reyna, D'Arrigo, Arce and Leyes were quite happy with the large amounts of space left in the defense by Cusco, but were not able to score a second. Cusco also had their chances, but Rengifo's cross for Montes was too strong (8'), while the same Rengifo headed to the near post (37').

Cantolao remained in ten after the break and Cusco were determined to reverse the result in their favour, which eventually happened, not without lots of emotions and frustration. Alfredo Ramúa came on the field at half time and his assists were crucial. In the first 20 minutes of the second half, Cantolao were stretched into their own half and even inside their own box, and chances occurred for Cusco, one after another. In the biggest one, Gonzales hit the crossbar from close range (55'). Not much afterwards, Ramúa crossed from the left, and José Rivera headed the ball in: 1-1 (59'). Cusco's offensive continued at the same pace, and another cross by Ramúa, this time from the right, was headed in by Mauricio Montes: 2-1 (62').

The problem for Cusco was that they thought they had done enough and the game was over. Manager Marcelo Grioni event made some defensive changes, to preserve the result (64'). Even in ten men, Cantolao found the net again, as Leyes sent a precise long-range shot which took Enríquez by surprise: 2-2 (68').

Cusco FC were therefore forced to resume their all-out offensive, which finally paid off: a shot by Gonzalo Rizzo was deflected by a defender, and Figueroa headed the ball from close range, to give Cusco a much-desired victory: 3-2 (85').

Mauricio Montes (center) and Anier Figueroa (right) scored two of Cusco FC goals against Academia Cantolao. Source: futbolperuano.com

Cusco FC: Enríquez - Velásquez (Ramúa 46'), Gonzales (Tello 67'), Rizzo, Corrales - Abisab, Aubert (Royón 81') - Rengifo (Figueroa 64'), Cedrón (Carranza 64'), Rivera - Montes. Manager: Marcelo Grioni.

Cantolao: Limousin - Tajima, Otoya, Gambetta, Núñez - Solís, Salinas - Reyna, Arce, D'Arrigo (Celi 88') - Leyes (Barreiro 70'). Manager: Jorge Espejo.

Referee: Pablo López.

Yellow cards: Rizzo 37', Gonzales 51', Corrales 69', Figueroa 84', Rivera 90'+2' - Reyna 25', 45', Leyes 41', Tajima 77'.

Red card: Reyna 45' (for the second yellow card).

Cusco FC are again two points below the relegation line. Their next match, against Universidad de San Martín de Porres, direct rivals in the fight to avoid relegation, might prove decisive. There are four games remaining before the end of Stage 2 and of the 2021 season for the teams in the bottom part of the table.