2022 Peruvian Second Division (Liga 2)

2022 Peruvian Second Division (Liga 2)

 

Season	2022
Dates	2 April 2022 – November 2022
Champions	Cusco FC
Promoted	Cusco FC
Promotion play-off	Unión Comercio
Relegated	Sport Chavelines
Matches played	155 (not including Cusco FC – Sport Chavelines 3-0, awarded)
Goals scored	431 (2.78/match on average)
Top goalscorers	José Fajardo (Cusco FC) and Matías Sen (Comerciantes Unidos) – 14 goals
Biggest home win	Santos FC – Los Chankas 5-0 (Clausura round 13, 25 September 2022)
Biggest away win	Llacuabamba – Unión Comercio 0-3 (Clausura round 5, 31 July 2022) Juan Aurich – Cusco FC 0-3 (Clausura round 11, 11 September 2022)
Highest scoring	Los Chankas – Llacuabamba 6-2 (Clausura round 11, 11 September 2022)
Longest winning run	Cusco FC – 10 matches (Apertura round 7 – Clausura round 4)
Longest unbeaten run	Cusco FC – 22 matches (Apertura round 3 – Clausura round 12)
Longest winless run	Sport Chavelines – 18 matches (Apertura round 8 – Clausura round 13, including round 1 of Apertura, postponed and played in the meantime)
Longest losing run	Sport Chavelines – 5 matches (Clausura rounds 9 to 13)
Total attendance
Highest attendance
Lowest attendance
Average attendance

 

Competition details and format

 

The Peruvian Second Division (Segunda División in Spanish) represents the second tier of the football system in Peru. Since 2019, it has been officially called Liga 2. Segunda División is however the generic name and it is the 70^th edition under this name in 2022. Cusco FC became champions of the 2022 Second Division by winning both tournaments, Apertura and Clausura, and promoted to the First Division (Liga 1) after just one year. Unión Comercio are the runners-up and will play the promotion / relegation play-off.

The number of participants has been reduced from 14 (as initially planned) to just 13 in the end because of the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS / TAS) in Lausanne regarding Cusco FC, in January 2022. The result of the match between Cusco FC and Cienciano, played in the 2021 First Division, was reverted to 2-2, as it was in the field, and the 3-0 win by Cusco FC as awarded by the Peruvian Football Federation was cancelled. As a consequence, the final table of the 2021 First Division was changed, and Cusco FC were relegated to the Second Division. Universidad de San Martín de Porres and Deportivo Binacional, initially relegated, were reprieved from relegation and remained in the 2022 First Division. Carlos Stein, the winners of the initial promotion / relegation play-offs, were also accepted by the Peruvian Football Federation in the 2022 First Division, thus increasing the total number of teams to 19 (instead of 18). However, under these circumstances, the number of teams relegated to the Second Division was only two (instead of three), Cusco FC and last classified Alianza Universidad de Huánuco. With no relegation from the 2021 Second Division to Copa Peru and only one team promoted from Copa Peru (Alfonso Ugarte), the total number of teams in the 2022 Second Division increased from 12 (in 2021) to 13 (in 2022).

The COVID-19 pandemic no longer had important effects on the competition. All teams were allowed to use their own grounds for their home matches.

The competition was organized mainly by the FPF (Federación Peruana de Fútbol – Peruvian Football Federation) with the help of the ADFP (Asociación Deportiva de Fútbol Profesional – Professional Football Sports Association). Matches are usually played on Saturdays and Sundays, in the afternoon.

The Peruvian Second Division is normally divided into 2 tournaments (Apertura and Clausura), usually followed by a decisive play-off between the winners of the tournaments and the teams classified first and second in the aggregate table (if different from the winners of the tournaments) to establish the champions, which earn a direct promotion to the First Division (Liga 1). In the event that the same team wins both tournaments, they are crowned champions and no play-off is played. The Second Division runners-up enter a promotion / relegation play-off against the 17^th classified in the First Division.

Therefore, the first tournament to be played was the Apertura. All teams played against each other once (single round-robin), in a total of 13 rounds, and 12 matches for every team, as one team received a bye in each round. The tournament was very much disputed between Cusco FC and Unión Comercio. The winners were decided only in the last round, played on 26 June 2022, when Cusco FC won 3-2 over Comerciantes Unidos to claim the top spot, only one point above their rivals, Unión Comercio. As a result, Cusco FC classified for the play-off semifinals, at least.

The second tournament was the Clausura. Points earned during Apertura were not carried over in Clausura. All teams played against each other once (single round-robin), in a total of 13 rounds, in the same order as in the Apertura, but switching location. The winners of Clausura have the same status as the winners of Apertura, so they also qualify for the play-off semifinals and might qualify directly for the finals if they finish first or second in the aggregate table. Cusco FC won the Clausura as well on 18 September 2022 as they defeated Alianza Universidad by 2-1 and maintained a gap of six points over the second classified with one round to go. Therefore, Cusco FC became champions of the 2022 Second Division without any play-offs.

The final aggregate table (Apertura and Clausura) is very important. The teams classified first and second in the aggregate table would qualify for the play-off semifinals even if they did not win either tournament and therefore have a chance to become champions and to promote to the First Division. If the teams finishing first or second in the aggregate table are also the winners of any tournament, they will qualify directly to the play-off finals. However, if the same team wins both Apertura and Clausura, then the second classified in the aggregate table will not qualify to the play-offs, as these are not to be played.

The aggregate table also decides the relegation. The team with the worst overall record (classified 13^th) will be relegated to the Copa Peru. Sport Chavelines were mathematically relegated to the Copa Peru after their 2-1 defeat away to Deportivo Coopsol in the 11^th round of Clausura, on the 10 September 2022, as there was a 9-point gap between them and those classified second to last in the aggregate table with only two rounds to go.

Teams in the Second Division also take part usually in the Copa Bicentenario, whose winners qualify for the next year Copa Sudamericana. However, the 2022 Copa Bicentenario was cancelled due to the lack of available dates to be played, and therefore the Second Division teams lacked any opportunity to reach the continental competitions.

The play-offs decide the Second Division champions, unless the same team wins both tournaments. This was the case in 2022, as Cusco FC won both Apertura and Clausura and were crowned champions, without any play-offs.

 

The promotion / relegation play-offs, are to be played between the 17^th classified in the aggregate table of the First Division and the runners-up of the Second Division. The winners would compete in the 2023 season of the First Division, while the losers would play in the 2023 season of the Second Division.

 

Team changes from 2021

 

To the Second Division

 

Promoted from the Copa Peru

 

Alfonso Ugarte (2021 Copa Peru runners-up)

 

Relegated from the First Division

 

Cusco FC (17^th in 2021)

Alianza Universidad de Huánuco (18^th in 2021)

 

From the Second Division

 

Promoted to the First Division

 

Atlético Grau (2021 Second Division winners)

Carlos Stein (2021 Second Division runners-up, winners of the promotion / relegation play-offs)

 

Relegated to Copa Peru

 

None

 

Teams

 

Team	Home town	Stadium	Capacity	2021
Cusco FC	Cusco	Garcilaso de la Vega	42056	Relegated
Alianza Universidad	Huánuco	Heraclio Tapia León	25000	Relegated
Sport Chavelines	Pacasmayo	Municipal de Pacasmayo	7000	3rd overall
Unión Comercio	Nueva Cajamarca	Carlos Vidaurre García	7000	4th overall
Deportivo Llacuabamba	Otuzco	Municipal de Otuzco	12000	5th overall
Los Chankas	Andahuaylas	Los Chankas	10000	6th overall
Unión Huaral	Huaral	Julio Lores Colán	6000	7th overall
Juan Aurich	Chiclayo	César Flores Marigorda	7000	8th overall
Deportivo Coopsol	Lima	Facundo Ramírez	3000	9th overall
Santos FC	Nazca	Municipal de Nasca	10000	10th overall
Comerciantes Unidos	Cutervo	Juan Maldonado	8000	11th overall
Pirata FC	Chongoyape	Municipal de la Juventud	2500	12th overall
Alfonso Ugarte	Puno	Monumental UNA	30000	Promoted

 

Geographical distribution of teams

 

The departments of Lima, La Libertad and Lambayeque each have 2 teams – Deportivo Coopsol and Unión Huaral in the department of Lima, Deportivo Llacuabamba and Sport Chavelines in the department of La Libertad, Juan Aurich and Pirata FC in the department of Lambayeque. The other 7 teams come from 7 different departments.

 

Location of the 2022 Peruvian Second Division teams. Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_2_2022_(Perú)

 

Province or department	Number	Name of the teams
Lima	2	Deportivo Coopsol, Unión Huaral
La Libertad	2	Deportivo Llacuabamba, Sport Chavelines
Lambayeque	2	Juan Aurich, Pirata FC
Apurímac	1	Los Chankas
Cajamarca	1	Comerciantes Unidos
Cusco	1	Cusco FC
Huánuco	1	Alianza Universidad
Ica	1	Santos FC
Puno	1	Alfonso Ugarte
San Martín	1	Unión Comercio

 

Foreign players

 

Each team was allowed a maximum of 5 foreign players in the squad, who could all play simultaneously in the field. A foreign player could be replaced in the roster by another foreign player only during the larger mid-year transfer window. If a foreign player receives Peruvian citizenship during the course of the year, he would still be counted as a foreign player throughout that year.

Most foreign players are from South American countries, especially Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Ecuador. Many of the foreign players are strikers and are usually among the top goalscorers of the competition.

 

Compulsory use of young players (“bolsa de minutos”)

 

Each team has to use one or more young players during matches. If these requirements are not met by a team, points would be deducted for that team.

 

Apertura

 

The Apertura was the first tournament of the 2022 Peruvian Second Division (Liga 2). All teams played against each other once (single round-robin), in a total of 13 rounds, and 12 matches for every team, as one team received a bye in each round. The Apertura started on 2 April 2022 and ended on 26 June 2022, with the last round, in which Cusco FC won 3-2 over Comerciantes Unidos to become winners of the tournament, only one point above Unión Comercio.

 

Round 1 (2-3 April 2022)

 

Deportivo Coopsol – Los Chankas 2-0

Comerciantes Unidos – Alfonso Ugarte 2-1

Unión Comercio – Cusco FC 1-0

Unión Huaral – Llacuabamba 3-0

Juan Aurich – Pirata FC 0-2

Alianza Universidad – Sport Chavelines 1-1 – played on 8 June 2022

Santos FC bye

 

Round 2 (9-10 April 2022)

 

Pirata FC – Alianza Universidad 0-1

Santos FC – Deportivo Coopsol 2-2

Alfonso Ugarte – Unión Comercio 1-1

Llacuabamba – Juan Aurich 2-1

Sport Chavelines – Comerciantes Unidos 2-0

Los Chankas – Unión Huaral 1-1

Cusco FC bye

 

Round 3 (16-17 April 2022)

 

Cusco FC – Alfonso Ugarte 2-2

Unión Comercio – Sport Chavelines 3-0

Alianza Universidad – Llacuabamba 1-1

Comerciantes Unidos – Pirata FC 1-1

Unión Huaral – Santos FC 0-0

Juan Aurich – Los Chankas 4-2

Deportivo Coopsol bye

 

Round 4 (23-24 April 2022)

 

Deportivo Coopsol – Unión Huaral 0-1

Pirata FC – Unión Comercio 0-2

Santos FC – Juan Aurich 4-0

Llacuabamba – Comerciantes Unidos 1-0

Sport Chavelines – Cusco FC 0-1

Los Chankas – Alianza Universidad 3-2

Alfonso Ugarte bye

 

Round 5 (30 April – 1 May 2022)

 

Comerciantes Unidos – Los Chankas 1-0

Cusco FC – Pirata FC 2-0

Unión Comercio – Llacuabamba 2-0

Alfonso Ugarte – Sport Chavelines 2-0

Alianza Universidad – Santos FC 4-1

Juan Aurich – Deportivo Coopsol 1-2

Unión Huaral bye

 

Round 6 (7-8 May 2022)

 

Deportivo Coopsol – Alianza Universidad 1-1

Pirata FC – Alfonso Ugarte 0-1

Llacuabamba – Cusco FC 0-0

Santos FC – Comerciantes Unidos 2-0

Unión Huaral – Juan Aurich 0-0

Los Chankas – Unión Comercio 2-1

Sport Chavelines bye

 

Round 7 (14-15 May 2022)

 

Comerciantes Unidos – Deportivo Coopsol 4-1

Unión Comercio – Santos FC 3-1

Cusco FC – Los Chankas 2-1

Alfonso Ugarte – Llacuabamba 1-0

Alianza Universidad – Unión Huaral 1-3

Sport Chavelines – Pirata FC 1-0

Juan Aurich bye

 

Round 8 (21-22 May 2022)

 

Deportivo Coopsol – Unión Comercio 0-1

Santos FC – Cusco FC 1-2

Llacuabamba – Sport Chavelines 5-1

Unión Huaral – Comerciantes Unidos 1-1

Los Chankas – Alfonso Ugarte 3-0

Juan Aurich – Alianza Universidad 3-3

Pirata FC bye

 

Round 9 (28-29 May 2022)

 

Comerciantes Unidos – Juan Aurich 4-3

Pirata FC – Llacuabamba 1-0

Cusco FC – Deportivo Coopsol 3-0

Unión Comercio – Unión Huaral 4-0

Alfonso Ugarte – Santos FC 1-1

Sport Chavelines – Los Chankas 0-1

Alianza Universidad bye

 

Round 10 (4-5 June 2022)

 

Deportivo Coopsol – Alfonso Ugarte 2-1

Alianza Universidad – Comerciantes Unidos 1-2

Santos FC – Sport Chavelines 3-0

Unión Huaral – Cusco FC 0-1

Juan Aurich – Unión Comercio 2-1

Los Chankas – Pirata FC 0-0

Llacuabamba bye

 

Round 11 (11-12 June 2022)

 

Cusco FC – Juan Aurich 2-0

Pirata FC – Santos FC 0-1

Unión Comercio – Alianza Universidad 3-1

Llacuabamba – Los Chankas 1-2

Alfonso Ugarte – Unión Huaral 1-1

Sport Chavelines – Deportivo Coopsol 0-0

Comerciantes Unidos bye

 

Round 12 (18-19 June 2022)

 

Comerciantes Unidos – Unión Comercio 2-3

Deportivo Coopsol – Pirata FC 1-1

Santos FC – Llacuabamba 2-2

Alianza Universidad – Cusco FC 0-2

Unión Huaral – Sport Chavelines 1-0

Juan Aurich – Alfonso Ugarte 4-3

Los Chankas bye

 

Round 13 (26 June 2022)

 

Alfonso Ugarte – Alianza Universidad 2-1

Cusco FC – Comerciantes Unidos 3-2

Sport Chavelines – Juan Aurich 1-1

Llacuabamba – Deportivo Coopsol 2-1

Pirata FC – Unión Huaral 1-1

Los Chankas – Santos FC 2-0

Unión Comercio bye

 

                                                Apertura final table

 

1	Cusco FC	12	9	2	1	20-7	29	Qualified for the play-offs
2	Unión Comercio	12	9	1	2	25-9	28
3	Los Chankas	12	6	2	4	17-14	20
4	Unión Huaral	12	4	6	2	12-10	18
5	Comerciantes Unidos	12	5	2	5	19-19	17
6	Santos FC	12	4	4	4	18-16	16
7	Alfonso Ugarte	12	4	4	4	16-17	16
8	Llacuabamba	12	4	3	5	14-15	15
9	Deportivo Coopsol	12	3	4	5	12-17	13
10	Juan Aurich	12	3	3	6	19-26	12
11	Alianza Universidad	12	2	4	6	17-22	10
12	Pirata FC	12	2	4	6	6-11	10
13	Sport Chavelines	12	2	3	7	6-18	9

 

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

 

Clausura

 

The Clausura is the second tournament of the 2022 Peruvian Second Division (Liga 2). All teams play against each other once (single round-robin), in a total of 13 rounds, in the same order as in the Apertura, but switching (reversing) location. Clausura started on 3 July 2022 and will finish on 25 September 2022. Cusco FC won the tournament with one round to go, on 18 September 2022, as they defeated Alianza Universidad by 2-1 and maintained a 6-point gap over the second classified. Because Cusco FC are also the winners of Apertura, they were crowned champions of the 2022 Second Division (Liga 2) and promoted to the First Division.

 

Round 1 (3 July 2022)

 

Los Chankas – Deportivo Coopsol 2-2

Alfonso Ugarte – Comerciantes Unidos 2-0

Cusco FC – Unión Comercio 4-1

Llacuabamba – Unión Huaral 3-1

Pirata FC – Juan Aurich 1-0

Sport Chavelines – Alianza Universidad 0-1

Santos FC bye

 

Round 2 (9-10 July 2022)

 

Deportivo Coopsol – Santos FC 0-1

Alianza Universidad – Pirata FC 3-0

Unión Comercio – Alfonso Ugarte 4-1

Juan Aurich – Llacuabamba 2-2

Comerciantes Unidos – Sport Chavelines 4-0

Unión Huaral – Los Chankas 2-1

Cusco FC bye

 

Round 3 (17 July 2022)

 

Alfonso Ugarte – Cusco FC 0-1

Sport Chavelines – Unión Comercio 0-0

Llacuabamba – Alianza Universidad 2-1

Pirata FC – Comerciantes Unidos 1-2

Santos FC – Unión Huaral 1-0

Los Chankas – Juan Aurich 4-0

Deportivo Coopsol bye

 

Round 4 (23-24 July 2022)

 

Juan Aurich – Santos FC 0-1

Cusco FC – Sport Chavelines 3-0 (awarded)

Unión Huaral – Deportivo Coopsol 1-1

Unión Comercio – Pirata FC 4-1

Comerciantes Unidos – Llacuabamba 2-1

Alianza Universidad – Los Chankas 2-2

Alfonso Ugarte bye

 

Round 5 (30-31 July 2022)

 

Deportivo Coopsol – Juan Aurich 0-0

Los Chankas – Comerciantes Unidos 2-0

Pirata FC – Cusco FC 2-2

Llacuabamba – Unión Comercio 0-3

Sport Chavelines – Alfonso Ugarte 1-1

Santos FC – Alianza Universidad 2-2

Unión Huaral bye

 

Round 6 (5-7 August 2022)

 

Alianza Universidad – Deportivo Coopsol 6-1

Cusco FC – Llacuabamba 2-0

Alfonso Ugarte – Pirata FC 2-1

Comerciantes Unidos – Santos FC 1-1

Juan Aurich – Unión Huaral 4-1

Unión Comercio – Los Chankas 4-0

Sport Chavelines bye

 

Round 7 (13-14 August 2022)

 

Deportivo Coopsol – Comerciantes Unidos 0-0

Santos FC – Unión Comercio 1-0

Los Chankas – Cusco FC 1-1

Llacuabamba – Alfonso Ugarte 2-3

Unión Huaral – Alianza Universidad 1-1

Pirata FC – Sport Chavelines 1-0

Juan Aurich bye

 

Round 8 (21 August 2022)

 

Unión Comercio – Deportivo Coopsol 4-0

Cusco FC – Santos FC 4-1

Sport Chavelines – Llacuabamba 1-1

Comerciantes Unidos – Unión Huaral 3-1

Alfonso Ugarte – Los Chankas 2-1

Alianza Universidad – Juan Aurich 3-1

Pirata FC bye

 

Round 9 (27-28 August 2022)

 

Deportivo Coopsol – Cusco FC 1-2

Juan Aurich – Comerciantes Unidos 2-1

Llacuabamba – Pirata FC 0-0

Unión Huaral – Unión Comercio 2-1

Santos FC – Alfonso Ugarte 1-0

Los Chankas – Sport Chavelines 3-2

Alianza Universidad bye

 

Round 10 (4 September 2022)

 

Alfonso Ugarte – Deportivo Coopsol 1-0

Comerciantes Unidos – Alianza Universidad 3-1

Sport Chavelines – Santos FC 1-2

Cusco FC – Unión Huaral 2-0

Unión Comercio – Juan Aurich 4-0

Pirata FC – Los Chankas 1-1

Llacuabamba bye

 

Round 11 (9-11 September 2022)

 

Alianza Universidad – Unión Comercio 1-1

Deportivo Coopsol – Sport Chavelines 2-1

Juan Aurich – Cusco FC 0-3

Santos FC – Pirata FC 1-2

Los Chankas – Llacuabamba 6-2

Unión Huaral – Alfonso Ugarte 1-0

Comerciantes Unidos bye

 

Round 12 (17-18 September 2022)

 

Pirata FC – Deportivo Coopsol 2-2

Unión Comercio – Comerciantes Unidos 4-0

Llacuabamba – Santos FC 3-0

Cusco FC – Alianza Universidad 2-1

Sport Chavelines – Unión Huaral 1-3

Alfonso Ugarte – Juan Aurich 4-0

Los Chankas bye

 

Round 13 (24-25 September 2022)

 

Juan Aurich – Sport Chavelines 3-0

Deportivo Coopsol – Llacuabamba 2-0

Alianza Universidad – Alfonso Ugarte 4-2

Comerciantes Unidos – Cusco FC 2-1

Unión Huaral – Pirata FC 2-1

Santos FC – Los Chankas 5-0

Unión Comercio bye

 

Clausura final table

 

1	Cusco FC	12	9	2	1	27-9	29	Promoted
2	Unión Comercio	12	7	2	3	30-10	23
3	Santos FC	12	7	2	3	17-13	23
4	Comerciantes Unidos	12	6	2	4	18-16	20
5	Alianza Universidad	12	5	4	3	26-17	19
6	Alfonso Ugarte	12	6	1	5	18-16	19
7	Unión Huaral	12	5	2	5	15-19	17
8	Los Chankas	12	4	4	4	23-23	16
9	Pirata FC	12	3	4	5	13-19	13
10	Llacuabamba	12	3	3	6	16-23	12
11	Deportivo Coopsol	12	2	5	5	11-20	11
12	Juan Aurich	12	3	2	7	12-24	11
13	Sport Chavelines	12	0	3	9	7-24	3

 

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.

 

Aggregate final table (Apertura + Clausura)

 

1	Cusco FC (AW, CW, C)	24	18	4	2	47-16	58	Promoted to Liga 1
2	Unión Comercio (PO)	24	16	3	5	55-19	51	Qualified for the play-offs
3	Santos FC	24	11	6	7	35-29	37	[1]
4	Los Chankas	24	10	6	8	40-37	36
5	Comerciantes Unidos	24	11	4	9	37-35	33	[2]
6	Alfonso Ugarte	24	10	5	9	34-33	35
7	Unión Huaral	24	9	8	7	27-29	33	[1]
8	Alianza Universidad	24	7	8	9	43-39	29
9	Llacuabamba	24	7	6	11	30-38	27
10	Deportivo Coopsol	24	5	9	10	23-37	24
11	Pirata FC	24	5	8	11	19-30	23
12	Juan Aurich	24	6	5	13	31-50	21	[1]
13	Sport Chavelines (R)	24	2	6	16	13-42	9	[3] Relegated to Copa Peru

 

C – Champions

AW – Apertura Winners

CW – Clausura Winners

PO – Promotion / relegation play-off

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)

 

Promotion / relegation play-off

 

Unión Comercio will play the promotion / relegation play-off against the 17^th classified in the First Division.

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[1] Santos FC, Unión Huaral and Juan Aurich have been deducted 2 points due to irregularities.

[2] Comerciantes Unidos have been deducted 1 point for irregularities.

[3] Sport Chavelines have been deducted 3 points due to irregularities.