Cusco FC and Universitario de Deportes need to take one more step to reach their objectives

Cusco FC - Universitario de Deportes 1-1 (0-0)

Da Luz 82' - Valera 88'.

Saturday, 21 October 2023, 8 pm local time (Sunday, 22 October 2023, 1 am UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, the 18th (second to last) round of Clausura, Peruvian First Division.

Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: andina.pe

Universitario de Deportes starting line-up. Photo source: Universitario de Deportes Facebook page

The match between Cusco FC and Universitario de Deportes was marked by tensions, as both teams had objectives to achieve, and this was the second to last round of the season, so one of the last chances to get closer to those objectives. Universitario de Deportes was on paper more motivated, because they still have important chances to win the Clausura and to play the play-offs leading to the national title this year. A win in Cusco would have meant a very big step forward in achieving this target. Nevertheless, even a draw gave them the chance to be on top of the Clausura table before the last round, so they depend entirely on themselves in the last round, when they have to win at home over Sport Huancayo to become Clausura champions and to get into the play-off finals against Alianza Lima (the Apertura champions). Truth be told, Universitario were also lucky, because their competitors failed: Sporting Cristal lost 1-0 to Cienciano, while Alianza Lima and ADT Tarma drew 0-0, the perfect result for Universitario, which have one point above FBC Melgar (did not play), two more than Alianza Lima, and three above Sporting Cristal and ADT Tarma, all of which have (mainly) theoretical chances to reach the top spot.

Piero Quispe (in dark kit) was the best Universitario player in Cusco. Photo source: Universitario de Deportes Facebook page

The stakes are not so high for Cusco FC. They finished Apertura in fourth place, which would have allowed them a spot in the next year Copa Libertadores, but they had a poor Clausura and now are struggling to get a place in the top 8, to catch at least a berth in the next year Copa Sudamericana. A win over Universitario would have mathematically solved this issue, given the 1-1 draw between UTC Cajamarca and Universidad César Vallejo. However, this point only means that they need at least a draw in the last match away, a decisive head-to-head encounter with their main competitors at this moment, Universidad César Vallejo. Not even the draw may not be enough, because Cienciano won 1-0 over Sporting Cristal, and a last round win by Cienciano away at Sport Boys (by at least two goals) might get them into eighth place if Universidad César Vallejo and Cusco FC draw. Another result which diminished Cusco FC hopes was Deportivo Garcilaso's 2-1 win over Unión Comercio, away. With this result, Deportivo Garcilaso reached the seventh place, ahead of Cusco FC by one point, and are virtually qualified for the next year Copa Sudamericana, regardless of their result in the last round against Alianza Lima. Mathematically, Deportivo Garcilaso may get lower than the eighth place only in some very improbable circumstances, given their excellent goal difference. It is therefore interesting to note that ADT Tarma and Deportivo Garcilaso qualify for the Copa Sudamericana for the first time in their history.

Mauro Da Luz (Cusco FC, in gold, with the ball) was the player of the match. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

No wonder then that the match between Cusco FC and Universitario de Deportes was very disputed. The visitors had more ball possession, but the home side tried often their very direct attacks, based on Mauro Da Luz' speed, and the technical skills possessed by Christopher Olivares and Felipe Rodríguez. However, it was Da Luz who was the main danger for the opposite goal, as he succeeded in three occasions to surpass the defenders and to get one on one with the goalkeeper (9', 31' and 41' - the last one was the biggest chance of all), but each time he was eventually blocked by Carvallo. At the other end, Universitario also had some opportunities, especially by means of Piero Quispe, the most active player of the visitors. 

Olivares (in gold, #22) and Da Luz broke through the opposite defense, but they were about to be stopped by goalkeeper Carvallo (41st minute). Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

In the second half, the situation changed a bit, because the visitors started to press harder in attack, while Cusco FC made a step back, and their counterattacks became less frequent and less dangerous. It was time for Cusco FC goalkeeper, Daniel Ferreyra, to stand out, saving the shots of Piero Quispe (53' and 73'), in the latter case Flores had a great opportunity just seconds after but missed the target (73').

Édison Flores (Universitario, left) and Federico Alonso (Cusco FC, right, in gold) are prepared to play the ball. Photo source: Universitario de Deportes Facebook page

Despite the overall dominion of Universitario in the second half, Cusco FC did not give up and tried to surprise the opponents by various actions, led especially by Felipe "Felucho" Rodríguez. The visitors had to stop him by all means, which led to yellow cards, and to set pieces in favour of Cusco FC, in the opposite half. After one such free kick, the ball eventually reached Alonso, who launched Hideyoshi Arakaki on the left, and his cross found Mauro Da Luz (possibly the least tall player in the field) in the centre of the box, who had a strong and precise header: 1-0 (82').

Mauro Da Luz scored the first goal of the game and instantly became a hero in Cusco. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

However, once again Cusco FC demonstrated that they are unable to hold the narrow advantage. Just like in previous matches (against Alianza Lima or FBC Melgar), they were equalized quite soon by a very frustrated and fully attacking Universitario squad. Andy Polo crossed perfectly from the right side and Álex Valera moved faster than Cusco defenders to tap the ball in from short range: 1-1 (88').

Nothing really happened in the last minutes and in the added time, and both teams shared paradoxical feelings of both content and discontent after a draw which allows them to dream but did not bring any peace before the last round.

Cusco FC: Ferreyra - Estrada, Bilbao, Alonso, Quina (Arakaki 66'), Yovera - Guivín (Barreto 46'), Aucca - Da Luz, Olivares (Ayarza 72'), F. Rodríguez. Manager: Luis Flores.

U: Carvallo - Corzo (Saravia 90'), Riveros, Di Benedetto - Polo, Pérez Guedes (Murrugarra 78'), Ureña (Calcaterra 90'), Cabanillas (Bolívar 90') - Quispe, Urruti (Valera 56'), Flores. Manager: Jorge Fossati.

Referee: Diego Haro.

Yellow cards: Quina 61', Ayarza 89' - Ureña 21', Di Benedetto 73', Cabanillas 81'.

Both teams have their decisive matches this week-end. Universitario de Deportes plays at home on Sunday against Sport Huancayo. Their only choice is to win in order to become Clausura champions and to play the finals against Alianza Lima for the national title. Cusco FC will play on Saturday away at Universidad César Vallejo. They also have to win to be sure of a place in the next year Copa Sudamericana, but a draw might probably be enough, considering the slim chances of a Cienciano win (by at least two goals) away at Sport Boys, because Sport Boys also desperately need to win to avoid relegation.

Full matches, tables and fixtures:

 

Round 18 (20-23 October 2023)

 

UTC Cajamarca – Universidad César Vallejo 1-1

Alianza Atlético – Deportivo Municipal 1-2

Alianza Lima – ADT Tarma 0-0

Cusco FC – Universitario de Deportes 1-1

Sport Huancayo – Sport Boys 1-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Deportivo Binacional 3-2

Unión Comercio – Deportivo Garcilaso 1-2

Cienciano – Sporting Cristal 1-0

Academia Cantolao – Atlético Grau 0-4

FBC Melgar bye

 

Clausura table

 

1	Universitario de Deportes	17	10	6	1	26-8	36	Qualified for the play-offs
2	FBC Melgar	17	10	5	2	29-12	35
3	Alianza Lima	17	9	7	1	17-6	34
4	Sporting Cristal	17	9	6	2	28-13	33
5	ADT Tarma	17	9	6	2	21-13	33
6	Sport Huancayo	17	8	5	4	22-12	29
7	Deportivo Garcilaso	17	7	6	4	24-19	27
8	Cienciano	17	6	6	5	20-18	24
9	Universidad César Vallejo	17	6	3	8	22-18	21
10	Sport Boys	17	5	5	7	13-22	20
11	UTC Cajamarca	18	3	10	5	21-23	19
12	Carlos A. Mannucci	17	5	4	8	16-22	19
13	Cusco FC	17	4	6	7	17-20	18
14	Atlético Grau	17	4	6	7	17-26	18
15	Deportivo Binacional	17	5	2	10	24-32	17
16	Alianza Atlético	17	4	4	9	14-22	16
17	Unión Comercio	17	3	5	9	17-32	14
18	Academia Cantolao	17	4	2	11	10-25	14
19	Deportivo Municipal	17	4	0	13	16-31	12

 

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 19 (28-29 October 2023)

 

Deportivo Municipal – Academia Cantolao

Sport Boys – Cienciano

Universidad César Vallejo – Cusco FC

Deportivo Garcilaso – Alianza Lima

Universitario de Deportes – Sport Huancayo

Sporting Cristal – Alianza Atlético

Deportivo Binacional – FBC Melgar

Atlético Grau – Unión Comercio

ADT Tarma – Carlos A. Mannucci

UTC Cajamarca bye

 

Aggregate table (Apertura + Clausura)

 

1	Alianza Lima (AW, Q)	35	23	7	5	54-22	76	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
2	Universitario de Deportes	35	21	7	7	55-22	70	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
3	Sporting Cristal	35	18	14	3	61-31	68	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
4	FBC Melgar	35	16	12	7	53-34	60	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
5	Sport Huancayo	35	16	8	11	52-37	56	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
6	ADT Tarma	35	14	12	9	44-36	54	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
7	Deportivo Garcilaso	35	13	13	9	56-46	51	[1] Qualified for C. Sudamericana
8	Cusco FC	35	14	8	13	41-42	50	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
9	Univ. César Vallejo	35	13	9	13	47-41	48
10	Cienciano	35	13	9	13	43-46	48
11	Carlos A. Mannucci	35	13	7	15	33-40	46
12	Atlético Grau	35	10	11	14	48-47	41
13	UTC Cajamarca	36	8	16	12	37-45	40
14	Alianza Atlético	35	10	9	16	46-55	39
15	Deportivo Binacional	35	10	5	20	52-66	35
16	Sport Boys	35	10	8	17	26-48	34	[2]
17	Unión Comercio	35	8	9	18	41-72	33	Relegation to Second Division
18	Deportivo Municipal	35	11	3	21	35-52	31	[3] Relegated to Second Division
19	Academia Cantolao (R)	35	6	5	24	19-61	23	Relegated to Second Division

 

AW – Apertura winners

Q – Qualified for the play-offs

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] Deportivo Garcilaso have been deducted 1 point.

[2] Sport Boys have been deducted 4 points for financial irregularities.

[3] Deportivo Municipal have been deducted 5 points for financial irregularities.