Cusco FC, nearly promoted to the Peruvian First Division, need one point in last two rounds

Juan Aurich - Cusco FC 0-3 (0-2)

F. Rodríguez 10', R. Díaz 37', 73'.

Sunday, 11 September 2022, 3 pm local time (8 om UTC), César Flores Marigorda Stadium, Lambayeque, Peru, the 11th round of the Peruvian Second Division (Liga 2) - Clausura.

Cusco FC starting XI in their away game at Juan Aurich. Source: ovacion.pe

Cusco FC are just one step (point) away from becoming champions of the Peruvian Second Division and to obtain the promotion to the First Division without the need of any play-offs. They have already won the first annual tournament, the Apertura, and now they lead by six points in the second tournament, the Clausura, with only two rounds remaining. If the same team wins both tournaments, they are champions and promote to the First Division, the play-offs are no longer needed. Mathematically, with just one point in the next two rounds, Cusco FC would become champions. Most likely, this might happen the next week, when they play at home against Alianza Universidad de Huánuco.

The 11th round was quite decisive, as Cusco FC won 3-0 away at Juan Aurich, while second classified Santos FC lost surprisingly at home, 2-1 to Pirata FC.

Despite the score, which might suggest an easy win, Cusco FC had quite a difficult game. However, they started very well and knew when to put pressure on their opponents to increase the difference in their favour. 

Felucho Rodríguez scored the first goal, as he executed perfectly a free kick from just outside the box: 0-1 (10'). Juan Aurich tried to equalize and even had a great opportunity, but Ferreyra miraculously saved Samudio's header from short range (24'). Cusco FC responded mainly on fast breaks. In one of these breaks, F. Rodríguez launched Rolando Díaz on the right, and Cusco's striker had an excellent run and finished in style, with a shot which went in the upper right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance: 0-2 (37').

Juan Aurich had long periods of ball possession and attacked almost continuously, but they were unable to find a way to the goal. Ferreyra denied another attempt by Samudio (48'), while Cusco FC proved lethal on counterattacks. Juan Aurich's goalkeeper, Osvaldo Cabral, also had some great saves, including a very spectacular one caused by Abisab's long-range shot.

The final score was established after another Cusco break. Carranza passed to F. Rodríguez on the right, the Uruguayan forward outran his opponent as he entered the box, and assisted Rolando Díaz in the middle of the box, who simply tapped the ball home: 0-3 (73').

Juan Aurich: Cabral - Morales, Álvarez (K. López 13'), Pacheco (Santamaría 86'), Antón (Ávila 46') - Carrillo, Bustamante - Acuy (Ross 46'), Manco, Correa (Orosco 70') - Samudio. Manager: Carlos Cortijo.

Cusco FC: Ferreyra - Velásquez, Minaya, Benincasa, Gordillo (Corrales 80') - Aucca (Rentería 85'), Abisab - Ulloa (Iraola 60'), Ayarza (Carranza 60'), F. Rodríguez (Ramúa 80') - R. Díaz. Manager: Pablo Peirano.

Referee: Jesús Cartagena.

Yellow cards: K. López 52', Manco 82', Bustamante 88' - Ayarza 17', Ulloa 54', Aucca 83'.

Results, table and fixtures:

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

 

Clausura table

 

1	Cusco FC	10	8	2	0	24-6	26	Qualified for the play-offs
2	Unión Comercio	11	6	2	3	26-10	20
3	Santos FC	10	6	2	2	12-10	20
4	Comerciantes Unidos	10	5	2	3	16-11	17
5	Alianza Universidad	10	4	4	2	21-13	16
6	Los Chankas	11	4	4	3	23-18	16
7	Alfonso Ugarte	10	5	1	4	12-12	16
8	Pirata FC	10	3	3	4	10-15	12
9	Unión Huaral	10	3	2	5	10-17	11
10	Llacuabamba	10	2	3	5	13-21	9
11	Juan Aurich	10	2	2	6	9-20	8
12	Deportivo Coopsol	10	1	4	5	7-18	7
13	Sport Chavelines	10	0	3	7	6-18	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 12 (18 September 2022)

 

Unión Comercio – Comerciantes Unidos

Pirata FC – Deportivo Coopsol

Llacuabamba – Santos FC

Cusco FC – Alianza Universidad

Sport Chavelines – Unión Huaral

Alfonso Ugarte – Juan Aurich

Los Chankas bye

 

Aggregate table (Apertura + Clausura)

 

1	Cusco FC (AW, Q)	22	17	4	1	44-13	55	Qualified for the play-offs
2	Unión Comercio	23	15	3	5	51-19	48	Qualified for the play-offs
3	Los Chankas	23	10	6	7	40-32	36
4	Santos FC	22	10	6	6	30-26	34	[1]
5	Comerciantes Unidos	22	10	4	8	35-30	33	[2]
6	Alfonso Ugarte	22	9	5	8	28-29	32
7	Unión Huaral	22	7	8	7	22-27	27	[1]
8	Alianza Universidad	22	6	8	8	38-35	26
9	Llacuabamba	22	6	6	10	27-36	24
10	Pirata FC	22	5	7	10	16-26	22
11	Deportivo Coopsol	22	4	8	10	19-35	20
12	Juan Aurich	22	5	5	12	28-46	18	[1]
13	Sport Chavelines (R)	22	2	6	14	12-36	9	[3] Relegated to Copa Peru

 

C – Champions

Q – Qualified for the play-offs

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)

 

---

[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.