Once again, Cusco FC had to come back from 1-0 down to win the game

Cusco FC - Unión Comercio 2-1 (0-0)

Ayarza 67', Arakaki 85' - de Jesús 54'.

Monday, 6 March 2023, 3:30 pm local time (8:30 UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, 7th round of the Apertura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).

Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Cusco FC won the third match consecutively but once again it only happened after giving quite a scare to their fans. Unión Comercio was not an easy to deal opponent, but they were far from frightening, and the first half was yet again very poor from Cusco FC. They only seem to get to work seriously only in the second half, and even better if they concede a goal first.

It looked like an easy match for Cusco FC, even during the first half, although there were so many missing balls, mistaken passes, too strong crosses and wide shots that one might have thought that these guys have never played football together in their lives.

Felucho Rodríguez in his usual role, providing decent crosses to the tall guys in the box. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

There was one long distance powerful shot by Uribe, which Willy Díaz had some issues in saving (14') and a period of several minutes of intense domination by Cusco FC, which included a good shot by F. Rodríguez, but Willy Díaz was once again able to deflect above the crossbar (20').

The biggest chance for Cusco FC in the first half came a little later. Felucho Rodríguez assisted Estrada, who was all alone in the box, one on one with the goalkeeper, but tried to pass to Fajardo in front of the goal instead of shooting, and Nicolás Palacios had a miraculous intervention, saving Unión Comercio from a sure goal (38').

Estrada had the biggest chance of the first half, but tried to pass to Fajardo (#7) instead of shooting, and Palacios (in red, near Fajardo) was able to intervene. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

All this time, Unión Comercio had quite a good game, and gave a good reply, both in defence and sometimes also in attack. Their best chance came in the stoppage time for the first half, when Marlon de Jesús had a good shot at target, but Ferreyra saved (45'+3').

This proved to be a preview of what was to come in the second half. Cusco FC started very determined and pressed hard in the first minutes of the second half, to no avail. In one of their first attacks of the second half, however, Unión Comercio was able to take the lead. Marlon de Jesús was able to shoot once again, Ferreyra blocked, but the ball went in front of him, and Marlon de Jesús was there to score in his second attempt: 0-1 (54').

This did not change too much the aspect of the game, as Cusco FC were already on fire, trying desperately to score, and this was exactly what happened in the rest of the second half.

The efforts made by the home side eventually paid off. Newly-entered Gordillo crossed from the left and Ayarza headed in from inside the box: 1-1 (67').

Gordillo crossed from the left and Ayarza jumped higher than anyone to head the ball in for the equalizer. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Getting the equalizer was not enough for Cusco FC, and they continued to attack, looking for the winning goal. It took some time to get there, but eventually they succeed it. Unión Comercio tried to fragment the play as much as possible, and goalkeeper Willy Díaz was booked for time wasting (62'). Later, this proved to be quite essential, as the same goalkeeper came out of his box carelessly in an attempt to stop Fajardo, who was faster and reached the ball first near the corner of the field. Willy Díaz had no choice than to foul the Cusco forward (81') and the referee showed him the second yellow card, which turned into a red card, therefore sending him off.

It took four minutes for Willy Díaz to get out of the field. Luckily, Unión Comercio still had changes available, and were able to introduce the back-up goalkeeper, Libman, substituting a field player (Miguel Carranza). When all these ended, Felucho Rodríguez executed the free kick (a sort of a corner) to the far post, and sub Hideyoshi Arakaki was there unmarked to tap the ball in from close range: 2-1 (85').

Felucho Rodríguez crossed from the right side and Hideyoshi Arakaki (#31) was unmarked near the far post and was able to calmly send the ball home, scoring the winning goal for Cusco FC. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Cusco FC were one goal up and one man up with just five minutes to go plus added time. Unión Comercio were far from able to come back into this game, and the home side did not push further for a third goal.

Cusco FC players celebrated a well deserved win. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Cusco: Ferreyra - Estrada, Alonso, Quina, Yovera (Gordillo 59') - Uribe (Vidales 59'), G. Barreto - Da Luz (Arakaki 71'), Ayarza (Cantoro 81'), F. Rodríguez - Fajardo. Manager: Pablo Peirano.

Unión Comercio: W. Díaz - D. Vargas, Palacios, Reátegui, Álvarez - Tello, Sánchez - Carranza (Libman 85'), C. Vargas (Romero 46'), Ó. Barreto (Neira 73') - de Jesús (Arrieta 78'). Manager: Jesús Oropesa.

Referee: Joel Alarcón.

Yellow cards: Yovera 20' - D. Vargas 14', Sánchez 62', W. Díaz 62', 81'.

Red card: W. Díaz 81' (for a second yellow card).

Cusco FC climbed into fifth place and will play away at fourth-placed Alianza Lima on Saturday evening, while Unión Comercio are now in 13th place and will face Sport Huancayo at home, also on Saturday.