Universidad César Vallejo - Cusco FC 2-2 (1-2)
Guerrero 3', A. Ramírez 54' - Colman 8', N. Silva 29'.
Saturday, 2 March 2024, 7 pm local time (12 midnight UTC), Mansiche Stadium, Trujillo, Peru, the 6th round of Apertura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).
Universidad César Vallejo starting line-up. Photo source: LFP Facebook page
Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: Opening Party Facebook page
The stadium was almost full, many people attended to see the debut of Paolo Guerrero for Universidad César Vallejo. Photo source: LFP Facebook page
The 2023 season ended with a decisive game between Universidad César Vallejo and Cusco FC, which saw the home side win 3-1 to qualify for the last remaining spot in the Copa Sudamericana. Cusco FC was then in a difficult situation, with many players who did not come for the last match of the season, for varous reasons. This time, there were more balanced conditions, and this was eventually materialized in the field and on the scoresheet.
For Universidad César Vallejo, fiesta began even before the game, as their newly-acquired star, former Peruvian international Paolo Guerrero was announced to be part of the starting eleven. Paolo Guerrero's debut was very well prepared by the club officials and he did not disappoint - he scored very early to bring even more enthusiasm in the stands.
Paolo Guerrero (in orange) made his entrance like one of the biggest stars of the planet. Nicolás Silva (Cusco FC, in white, behind him and to the left) was however the man of the match. Photo source: Opening Party Facebook page
The goal was nevertheless created by others. A beautiful pass through the defenders saw Yorleys Mena alone on the right side, he even had the time to think and to pass precisely back to Guerrero, who came towards the centre of the box, unmarked, and sent it home: 1-0 (3').
Yorleys Mena (in orange, no. 17) celebrate the first goal of Universidad César Vallejo, as he assisted Paolo Guerrero (in the centre, near the goalkeeper). Photo source: Opening Party Facebook page
Celebrations in the field and in the stands reached momentum, but soon things changed. Just as Paolo Guerrero was crawling on the ground, accusing something, Cusco FC launched an offensive action on the right, which finished with a cross in the area, cleared by the home side defense only to Iván Colman, just outside the area, whose shot took a deflection and went in: 1-1 (8').
To add insult to injury, Cusco FC took the lead about 20 minutes later. José Zevallos crossed from the left, Juan Manuel Tévez headed just enough to assist Nicolás Silva, behind him, who controlled the ball and had a wonderful left-footed shot: 1-2 (29').
Cusco FC players celebrate taking the lead. Photo source: LFP Facebook page
Most of mass-media reporters were so much interested in Paolo Guerrero and everything that happened to him, that they missed the goalscorer - most international and Peruvian sites claimed Rubén Ramírez was the one who scored the second goal for Cusco FC, instead of Nicolás Silva. Interesting enough, since the goal was the result of a normal offensive action, and not a set piece, and a central defender would not normally be in the opposite box in such a situation.
However, these reporters soon had things to write and to report, because the great Paolo Guerrero was again in the middle of the action, when he missed the target from just a few meters, unmarked and in front of an empty net (35'). Before the end of the first half, he also stood out by taking a free kick, easily saved by the goalkeeper Andy Vidal (45'). Cusco FC also had a couple of good opportunities to extend their advantage, but shots went either slightly wide (Colitto) or were saved by Grados (Valenzuela).
In the second half, Universidad César Vallejo pushed hard to equalize and eventually they succeeded. The same Yorleys Mena crossed from the right in front of the goal, Cusco FC defenders and the goalkeeper invited each other to clear the ball, allowing Alejandro Ramírez to come from behind and push the ball in: 2-2 (54').
Universidad César Vallejo players celebrate the equalizer. Photo source: LFP Facebook page
Cusco FC replied almost immediately. Colitto's shot from the right side reached Nicolás Silva in the box, who had just the right touch to send the ball into the net, avoiding the goalkeeper (58'). Nevertheless, after careful VAR revision, the goal was cancelled because Colitto was in an offside position.
In the last half hour, it was Universidad César Vallejo who had most opportunities, but missed them all. The greatest player in the field, Paolo Guerrero, did not stand out too much in the second half, but he was again in the news in the last minute of normal time, when he was substituted by Cristian Benavente.
In the last minute of stoppage time, Óscar Barreto made a useless foul on Nicolás Silva. He initially received a yellow card, but VAR intervened and eventually he was sent off (90'+8').
After the match, Paolo Guerrero was of course the main attraction for the press, and in the televised interview he was very critical of the referees. He probably wanted to highlight the fact that the referees (including VAR) forgot to show him a second yellow card and implicitly a well-deserved red card. Such a great star should be however in the field as long as possible.
Certainly Cusco FC ruined the party (sorry, the match) organized for Paolo Guerrero.
UCV: Grados - Cabello, Ascues, Perea, Madrid (Loyola 46') - Ysique (A. Ramírez 46'), Ballón (Ó. Barreto 46'), G. Barreto, Vélez - Mena, Guerrero (Benavente 90'). Manager: Roberto Mosquera.
Cusco: Vidal - Zevallos, R. Ramírez, A. Pérez, Bilbao - Valenzuela, A. Vásquez (Aucca 66') - N. Silva, Colman (Morales 84'), Colitto (Núñez 73') - Tévez (Ramos 73'). Manager: Miguel Rondelli.
Referee: Christian Santos.
Yellow cards: Guerrero 12' - R. Ramírez 17', Bilbao 44', Vidal 90'.
Red card: Ó. Barreto 90'+8'.
The next game for Cusco FC will be very soon, on Thursday afternoon, at home, against Alianza Atlético de Sullana, while Universidad César Vallejo will play away at Sport Boys on Sunday afternoon.
Full results, table and fixtures:
Round 6 (29 February – 4 March 2024)
Alianza Atlético – Deportivo Garcilaso 3-0
ADT Tarma – Alianza Lima 2-0
Universitario de Deportes – Sport Huancayo 2-0
Sporting Cristal – Atlético Grau 1-0
Comerciantes Unidos – FBC Melgar 0-0
Universidad César Vallejo – Cusco FC 2-2
Los Chankas – Sport Boys 2-0
Cienciano – Carlos A. Mannucci to be played
Unión Comercio – UTC Cajamarca to be played
Apertura table
|
1 |
Sporting Cristal |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
20-6 |
16 |
Qualified for the play-offs |
|
2 |
Universitario de Deportes |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
10-0 |
16 |
|
|
3 |
Sport Huancayo |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
10-3 |
13 |
|
|
4 |
Alianza Lima |
6 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
12-6 |
12 |
|
|
5 |
Cienciano |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
9-6 |
11 |
|
|
6 |
Los Chankas |
6 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
10-10 |
9 |
|
|
7 |
UTC Cajamarca |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
6-3 |
8 |
|
|
8 |
ADT Tarma |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
11-11 |
8 |
|
|
9 |
Comerciantes Unidos |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9-11 |
8 |
|
|
10 |
Cusco FC |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
7-10 |
8 |
|
|
11 |
FBC Melgar |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
7-9 |
7 |
|
|
12 |
Alianza Atlético |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
6-8 |
7 |
|
|
13 |
Sport Boys |
6 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
8-9 |
6 |
|
|
14 |
Atlético Grau |
6 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
6-7 |
6 |
|
|
15 |
Universidad César Vallejo |
6 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
7-13 |
5 |
|
|
16 |
Deportivo Garcilaso |
6 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
2-9 |
3 |
|
|
17 |
Unión Comercio |
5 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
5-10 |
1 |
|
|
18 |
Carlos A. Mannucci |
5 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
3-17 |
1 |
|
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 7 (7-10 March 2024)
Cusco FC – Alianza Atlético
UTC Cajamarca – Comerciantes Unidos
Deportivo Garcilaso – Universitario de Deportes
Atlético Grau – Cienciano
FBC Melgar – ADT Tarma
Carlos A. Mannucci – Los Chankas
Alianza Lima – Sporting Cristal
Sport Huancayo – Unión Comercio
Sport Boys – Universidad César Vallejo
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