Carlos A. Mannucci and Cusco FC featured a goalless draw

Carlos A. Mannucci - Cusco FC 0-0

Wednesday, 16 August 2023, 5:30 pm local time (10:30 pm UTC), Mansiche Stadium, Trujillo, Peru, the 9th round of Clausura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).

After a long series of defeats on the road, Cusco FC succeeded their first away point in the second half of the season (Clausura), and one can say they were not far from winning the game. What they really miss is a good striker, which they had (José Fajardo), but went to DC United in the MLS a couple of weeks ago. Manager Pablo Peirano is still trying the other strikers he has in the squad, and it was the turn of Rolando Díaz in this game for almost 70 minutes, then Tiago Cantoro for the last 20 minutes or so, but the truth is that neither of them is capable of replacing the Panamanian forward. The other option is the other Panamanian, Abdiel Ayarza, who is slightly changing from a goalscoring midfielder into a less scoring forward. Indeed, he had most chances for Cusco FC in this game, but did not find the right touch to score the winning goal. Well, one may also add that Carlos A. Mannucci had their chances as well, but honestly, only a couple of them were real goalscoring opportunities. In the field, both teams had good and bad periods, and the game was balanced enough overall to conclude that the draw was a justified result.

Cusco FC had the upper hand in the first minutes of the game, and Ayarza missed a chance even in the start, shooting less convincigly into the arms of the goalkeeper (2'). Then, things changed and Carlos A. Mannucci started the attack more consistently, but without any dangerous attempt at target. Their game suffered a lot after Tarek Carranza was injured and had to be replaced (22'). A very spectacular heel pass by Raziel García launched Escalante on the right, whose cross was headed above the crossbar by Succar (26') - a very nice action, but not really dangerous, because nobody in this world could have headed on target from that position. On the other hand, Cusco FC had a very clear chance, as Vidales crossed and Ayarza, all alone in the middle of the box, headed wide (37').

Abdiel Ayarza (left, in gold) and Raziel García (with the ball, in blue) missed the most important opportunities for their teams. Photo source: Carlos A. Mannucci Facebook page

The first half ended with a half-chance for the hosts, when Escalante delivered a cross from the right, and Gustavo Viera headed into the arms of Ferreyra (44'), the first shot on target by Carlos A. Mannucci.

There were more chances in the second half. The hosts seemed more determined to win the game in certain moments, and Raziel García had the biggest chance of the game at the end of a fastbreak, shooting first in the goalkeeper, then the ball came back to him, and even with Ferreyra down and almost beaten, García was not able to find the target, and the second shot went slightly wide (57'). The same García executed well a long range free kick, also a bit wide (65').

Cusco FC came back in control in certain periods, and especially towards the end of the match, when they searched for a winner. While Mannucci had a single chance, Erick Gonzales' header over the crossbar (78'), Cusco FC had plenty of opportunities, creating a lot of pressure to the opposite goal. Felipe Rodríguez sent numerous crosses (many of them from set pieces) into the box, and some of them were really dangerous, but Ayarza (76') and especially Alonso (85') missed the target from excellent positions.

In the end, both teams looked content with one point, which does not help them much, but keeps the morale for the upcoming matches.

Carlos A. Mannucci: Heredia - Perleche, Cortave, Portales, Llontop - Carranza (Gonzales 22'), Viera (Oliva 88') - Núñez (Cossío 66'), García (González 89'), Escalante (Aguirre 66') - Succar. Manager: Mario Viera.

Cusco FC: Ferreyra - Bilbao, Alonso, Quina, Gordillo (Da Luz 61') - F. Rodríguez, Barreto (Uribe 69'), Vidales (Guivín 85'), Yovera - Ayarza, Díaz (Cantoro 69'). Manager: Pablo Peirano.

Referee: Edwin Ordóñez.

Yellow cards: García 45', Viera 86', Portales 90' - Díaz 25'.

On Sunday, Cusco FC will face FBC Melgar at home in the derby of South Peru, while Carlos A. Mannucci will travel to Sport Huancayo.

Full results, tables and fixtures:

Round 9 (15-17 August 2023)

 

Unión Comercio – Cienciano 2-0

Academia Cantolao – Alianza Atlético 1-0

FBC Melgar – UTC Cajamarca 1-1

ADT Tarma – Universitario de Deportes 2-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Cusco FC 0-0

Deportivo Garcilaso – Sport Boys 3-0

Alianza Lima – Sport Huancayo 1-0

Atlético Grau – Sporting Cristal 2-3

Deportivo Binacional – Universidad César Vallejo 1-0

Deportivo Municipal bye

 

Clausura table

 

1	Sporting Cristal	9	6	3	0	21-6	21	Qualified for the play-offs
2	Universitario de Deportes	9	6	2	1	14-4	20
3	FBC Melgar	9	5	3	1	16-6	18
4	ADT Tarma	8	5	2	1	11-8	17
5	Alianza Lima	9	4	4	1	7-3	16
6	Deportivo Garcilaso	8	4	2	2	18-11	14
7	Sport Huancayo	8	3	3	2	9-5	12
8	Cienciano	8	3	3	2	9-7	12
9	Carlos A. Mannucci	9	3	2	4	6-10	11
10	Sport Boys	9	3	2	4	5-12	11
11	Universidad César Vallejo	9	3	1	5	10-13	10
12	Academia Cantolao	9	3	1	5	7-13	10
13	Cusco FC	8	2	3	3	8-9	9
14	Deportivo Binacional	8	3	0	5	11-16	9
15	UTC Cajamarca	9	1	5	3	8-10	8
16	Unión Comercio	9	2	2	5	8-16	8
17	Alianza Atlético	8	2	1	5	6-10	7
18	Atlético Grau	8	2	1	5	5-13	7
19	Deportivo Municipal	8	1	0	7	7-14	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 10 (19 – 21 August 2023)

 

Alianza Atlético – Unión Comercio

Cusco FC – FBC Melgar

Sport Huancayo – Carlos A. Mannucci

Universitario de Deportes – Deportivo Garcilaso

Sporting Cristal – Deportivo Municipal

Cienciano – Alianza Lima

Sport Boys – Atlético Grau

UTC Cajamarca – Deportivo Binacional

Universidad César Vallejo – ADT Tarma

Academia Cantolao bye

 

Aggregate table (Apertura + Clausura)

 

1	Alianza Lima (AW)	27	18	4	5	44-19	58	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
2	Sporting Cristal	27	15	11	1	54-24	56	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
3	Universitario de Deportes	27	17	3	7	43-18	54	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
4	FBC Melgar	27	11	10	6	40-28	43	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
5	Cusco FC	26	12	5	9	32-31	41	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
6	Sport Huancayo	26	11	6	9	39-30	39	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
7	Deportivo Garcilaso **	26	10	9	7	50-38	38	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
8	ADT Tarma	26	10	8	8	34-31	38	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
9	Carlos A. Mannucci	27	11	5	11	23-28	38
10	Univ. César Vallejo	27	10	7	10	35-36	37
11	Cienciano	26	10	6	10	32-35	36
12	Atlético Grau	26	8	6	12	36-34	30
13	Alianza Atlético	26	8	6	12	38-43	30
14	UTC Cajamarca	27	6	11	10	24-32	29
15	Sport Boys	27	8	5	14	18-38	29
16	Deportivo Binacional	26	8	3	15	39-50	27
17	Unión Comercio	27	7	6	14	32-56	27	Relegation to Second Division
18	Deportivo Municipal *	26	8	3	15	26-35	22	Relegation to Second Division
19	Academia Cantolao	27	5	4	18	16-49	19	Relegation to Second Division

 

* Deportivo Municipal have been deducted 5 points for financial irregularities.

** Deportivo Garcilaso have been deducted 1 point.

AW – Apertura winners

CW – Clausura winners

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)