Cusco FC are winners of the Peruvian Liga 2 - Apertura

Cusco FC - Comerciantes Unidos 3-2 (1-0)

Felipe Rodríguez 13' (penalty), 57' (penalty), José Fajardo 90'+1' - Leandro Díaz 65', Matías Sen 88'.

Sunday, 26 June 2022, 3 pm local time (8 pm UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, the 13th (last) round of the Peruvian Liga 2 - Apertura.

It was obvious for the last two weeks at least that only the final round of the Apertura will decide the winners of the tournament. Cusco FC and Unión Comercio were the only contenders and, luckily for Cusco FC, Unión Comercio had a bye in the last round, so it was up to Cusco FC to win the final game and to overcome their opponents by one point in this final round.

It looked like an easy task, for a team which won six consecutive games before this. Comerciantes Unidos, on the other hand, were classified in mid-table, without any problems, the apparently perfect opponent in such circumstances.

It all went according to the plan for Cusco FC, at least in the first 64 minutes. The referee awarded easily a penalty and Felipe Rodríguez scored for 1-0 (13').

In the second half, Abdiel Ayarza was fouled by the goalkeeper in the box, and Felipe Rodríguez transformed the second penalty for Cusco FC: 2-0 (57').

Probably most of the Cusco players lost gradually their concentration, as their task seemed quite easy. However, almost out of nothing, Leandro Díaz smashed a stunning shot from the edge of the box in the upper corner: 2-1 (65').

Things were not yet serious, but they did become serious later on: a cross from the right was headed in by Matías Sen from the center of the box: 2-2 (88').

The draw meant that Unión Comercio are the winners of Apertura, so Cusco FC launched all their forces into attack, and they succeeded to score the winning goal in stoppage time: the ball was sent in the box, Mauricio Montes headed it towards José Fajardo, who was unmarked and scored easily: 3-2 (90'+1').

José Fajardo scored the winning goal and Cusco FC are winners of the Apertura

Cusco: Ferreyra - Velásquez, Minaya, Beníncasa, Gordillo - Ayarza (Montes 75'), Aucca - Ulloa (Carranza 46'), Ramúa (Abisab 69'), F. Rodríguez (Corrales 81') - Fajardo. Manager: Pablo Peirano.

Comerciantes Unidos: Aliaga - Zuta, Santísteban, F. Silva, Echeandía - Coavoy, Castillo (Chávez 60'), Cabel (Kuncho 82') - Sen, Velázquez (Plasencia 66'), L. Díaz (J. Gonzales 82'). Manager: Salomón Paredes.

Referee: Michael Espinoza.

Yellow cards: Ramúa 48' - Coavoy 12', Sen 13', Velázquez 15', F. Silva 46', Aliaga 56', L. Díaz 59'.

The second stage of the competition, the Clausura, will start this week-end with the much expected derby between Cusco FC and Unión Comercio,

By winning the Apertura, Cusco FC are sure of participating in the promotion play-offs.