Cusco FC, champions of the Second Division (Liga 2), promote to the First Division (Liga 1)

Cusco FC - Alianza Universidad de Huánuco 2-1 (2-0)

Ayarza 6, Fajardo 33 - Cruzado 50.

Sunday, 18 September 2022, 3:30 pm local time (8:30 pm UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, the 12th round of Clausura, Peruvian Second Division.

Cusco FC, champions of the 2022 Second Division. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Cusco FC were already 99% sure of winning the Peruvian Second Division last week, when they had won 4-0 away at Juan Aurich, but the mathematical conclusion came at the end of their home game against Alianza Universidad. Because Santos FC, their only hypothetical rivals, lost 3-0 away at Llacuabamba, Cusco FC did not even need the points to be crowned champions. Everything has been prepared thoroughly: even the trophy itself was awarded after the end of the game, even if there is one more match to be played - a match that will only matter for statistical purposes.

Cusco FC started the match in style, scoring early. Matías Abisab executed a corner from the right side, and Abdiel Ayarza tapped the ball home from short range: 1-0 (6'). After many other chances, the second goal came after a long pass by Diego Minaya, Ayarza headed towards José Fajardo, who outwitted his opponent, and scored from inside the box: 2-0 (33').

Cusco FC fans came in great numbers in the Occidente stand to support their favorites. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Things seemed to be settled, but just like in the last match of Apertura against Comerciantes Unidos, the visitors came back in the game rather unexpectedly, and were short of ruining the celebrations. A good action on the right side was finished from inside the box by Paolo Cruzado: 2-1 (51').

The tension was rising in the field, although the visitors had almost nothing to gain out of this match - a point or three would have not made too much of a difference for Alianza Universidad. Also, Cusco FC would have been champions even without winning the game - but of course, they wanted to please their fans in the last game this year on home ground.

These tensions eventually escalated, and a conflict between Matías Abisab (Cusco FC) and Brayan Guevara (Alianza Universidad) was judged harshly by the referee, who sent off both players (77'). Moreover, two minutes later, Alfredo 'Chapu' Ramúa (Cusco FC) also saw a red card for a tough foul on one opponent (79').

Cusco FC had to play the remaining minutes in just nine players, against ten of Alianza Universidad, but they succeeded to hold on to the winning 2-1 score.

Cusco FC: Ferreyra - Velásquez, Minaya, Benincasa, Gordillo (Corrales 71') - Ayarza (R. Díaz 46'), Aucca (Ramúa 57'), Abisab - Ulloa (Carranza 57'), Fajardo (Rentería 81'), F. Rodríguez. Manager: Pablo Peirano.

Alianza UDH: Araujo - Laura, Ibargüen, Schmidt - Aoki, Espinoza, Viza (Salas 90'), Guevara - C. López (A. Cruz 90'), R. Gómez (Sernaqué 27'), Cruzado (Zárate 69'). Manager: Paul Cominges.

Referee: Augusto Menéndez.

Yellow cards: Ayarza 18, Rentería 31', Aucca 45', Fajardo 52', Benincasa 74', Minaya 86' - Schmidt 24', Espinoza 30', Ibargüen 64', Viza 73', Laura 76'.

Red cards: Abisab 77', Ramúa 79' - Guevara 77'.

Results, tables and fixtures of the last round of Clausura:

 

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

 

Clausura table

 

1	Cusco FC	11	9	2	0	26-7	29	Promoted
2	Unión Comercio	12	7	2	3	30-10	23
3	Santos FC	11	6	2	3	12-13	20
4	Alfonso Ugarte	11	6	1	4	16-12	19
5	Comerciantes Unidos	11	5	2	4	16-15	17
6	Alianza Universidad	11	4	4	3	22-15	16
7	Los Chankas	11	4	4	3	23-18	16
8	Unión Huaral	11	4	2	5	13-18	14
9	Pirata FC	11	3	4	4	12-17	13
10	Llacuabamba	11	3	3	5	16-21	12
11	Deportivo Coopsol	11	1	5	5	9-20	8
12	Juan Aurich	11	2	2	7	9-24	8
13	Sport Chavelines	11	0	3	8	7-21	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.

 

Round 13 (24-25 September 2022)

 

Juan Aurich – Sport Chavelines

Deportivo Coopsol – Llacuabamba

Alianza Universidad – Alfonso Ugarte

Comerciantes Unidos – Cusco FC

Unión Huaral – Pirata FC

Santos FC – Los Chankas

Unión Comercio bye

 

Aggregate table (Apertura + Clausura)

 

1	Cusco FC (AW, CW, C)	23	18	4	1	46-14	58	Promoted to Liga 1
2	Unión Comercio (PO)	24	16	3	5	55-19	51	Qualified for the play-offs
3	Los Chankas	23	10	6	7	40-32	36
4	Alfonso Ugarte	23	10	5	8	32-29	35
5	Santos FC	23	10	6	7	30-29	34	[1]
6	Comerciantes Unidos	23	10	4	9	35-34	33	[2]
7	Unión Huaral	23	8	8	7	25-28	30	[1]
8	Llacuabamba	23	7	6	10	30-36	27
9	Alianza Universidad	23	6	8	9	39-37	26
10	Pirata FC	23	5	8	10	18-28	23
11	Deportivo Coopsol	23	4	9	10	21-37	21
12	Juan Aurich	23	5	5	13	28-50	18	[1]
13	Sport Chavelines (R)	23	2	6	15	13-39	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)

 

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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.