Cusco FC is out of Copa Sudamericana as they lost 3-0 to Audax Italiano in Santiago de Chile

Thursday, the 27th of February 2020, 21:30 local time (00:30 UTC), Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago de Chile, first stage of Copa Sudamericana, second leg.

Cusco FC succeeded to win 2-0 the first leg at "home" (actually in Arequipa), but they lost surprisingly 3-0 in Santiago de Chile, therefore Audax Italiano qualified to the next stage of the Copa Sudamericana.

It was a poor performance of the Peruvian side, which only started to play some football when the score was 2-0 or 3-0. In the first half, the Chileans had clearly the upper hand and attacked almost continuously, but the visitors seemed to resist, defending well most of the time. However, a short cross from Jorge Henríquez gave Holgado the opportunity to score with a precise header: 1-0 (40'). The same Argentinian striker, Rodrigo Holgado, had a wonderful shot from a difficult position inside the area, and made it 2-0 (45') right before the break. So, actually the home side needed only the first half to level the terms with Cusco FC.

 Audax Italiano (players in blue) succeeded to qualify against a weak Cusco FC. Source: depor.com

The second half was more balanced. The visitors started to attack, but Holgado's hat-trick was completed after a cross from Orellana on the left side and another scoring header: 3-0 (65'). Cusco FC tried their best in the remaining minutes, they even scored a goal, rightly cancelled for offside, and had a few chances, especially by means of Pósito, but did not score.

Audax Italiano: Devecchi - N. Fernández, Labrin, Bosso, D. Torres (Crovetto 83') - Cabrera, Ledezma - Figueroa (Canales 71'), Henríquez (A. Martínez 45'+4'), Orellana - Holgado. Head coach: Francisco Meneghini.

Cusco: Pretel - Toledo, Paniagua, Vílchez, Céspedes - Delgado, Aranda (Palacios 82') - Carranza (Chávez 46'), Ramúa (Velásquez 90'+2'), Boló - Pósito. Head coach: Javier Arce.

Referee: Augusto Aragón (Ecuador).

Yellow cards: Orellana 78', Torres 83', Holgado 90'+4' - Ramúa 28', Toledo 32'.

For Cusco FC, such a defeat is hard to be accepted. Many considered probably that the team had already qualified to the second stage of Copa Sudamericana before the game even started. Nevertheless, one has to admit that the Chileans were the better side on the whole and they deserved to qualify. Cusco FC needs to concentrate on the Peruvian league, where they are among the last in the classification, and improve the squad urgently.

Goalless draw in the match between Shaban Qena and Fayoum SC

Sunday, the 23rd of February 2020, 15:00 local time (13:00 UTC), Shaban Qena Stadium, Qena, Egypt, the 16th round of the Egyptian Second Division, Group A.

Surprises continue in the Egyptian Second Division, as Shaban Qena, big favorites, were unable to win at home against Fayoum SC. The two teams have different objectives: Shaban Qena are in the front group of the table and theoretically fight for promotion, while Fayoum are not far from the bottom and they are still trying to avoid relegation. The last results of both teams indicated that Shaban Qena are in excellent form, while Fayoum were unable to win a single match in 2020.

 Fayoum SC starting XI in the away match at Shaban Qena. Source: Welad El Balad Sports Facebook page

However, in the field, the home side, led by head coach Kamal Al Zain, did not find a way to penetrate the Fayoum defence, which functioned perfectly. The visitors tried even to win the match on the counterattack, but their efforts were fruitless.

 None of the two teams succeeded to score. Source: Welad El Balad Sports Facebook page

In the other matches of the round, Aluminium won 1-0 over National Bank while Beni Suef won 4-0 over Asyut Petroleum. Therefore, Beni Suef are new leaders, while National Bank and Aluminium are 2 points behind, and Shaban Qena 4 points behind.

In the next round, Fayoum SC needs to win at home against Sohag, if they still want to preserve their slim chances to avoid relegation. Shaban Qena will have a tough match away at Telephonat Beni Suef.

Full results, table and fixtures:

Round 16 (23 February 2020)

Tahta – Telephonat 2-1

Beni Suef – Asyut Petroleum 4-0

Aluminium – National Bank 1-0

Sohag – Dayrout 1-0

Al Minya – Media 3-0

Shaban Qena – Fayoum 0-0

Table

1	Beni Suef	16	10	4	2	22-6	34	Promotion to Premier League
2	National Bank	16	9	5	2	20-9	32
3	Aluminium	16	10	2	4	20-10	32
4	Shaban Qena	16	8	6	2	13-8	30
5	Sohag	16	6	4	6	14-12	22
6	Telephonat	16	5	7	4	16-15	22
7	Asyut Petroleum	16	6	3	7	17-21	21
8	Al Minya	16	5	4	7	15-15	19	Relegation to the Third Division
9	Media	16	4	6	6	17-23	18	Relegation to the Third Division
10	Fayoum	16	4	3	9	12-16	15	Relegation to the Third Division
11	Tahta	16	2	4	10	10-24	10	Relegation to the Third Division
12	Dayrout	16	2	2	12	13-30	8	Relegation to the Third Division

Round 17 (1 March 2020)

Dayrout – Al Minya

Media – Beni Suef

Asyut Petroleum – Aluminium

Fayoum – Sohag

Telephonat – Shaban Qena

Tahta – National Bank

Ramua and Carando scored and brought the first win for Cusco FC this season: 3-1 over Melgar

Saturday, the 22nd of February 2020, 15:30 local time (20:30 UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, the 4th round of Liga 1, Apertura.

It was already time for Cusco FC to win a game this season, after three consecutive defeats in the Peruvian Apertura. Head coach Javier Arce had little time to prepare an almost completely new team, which however played better every game, despite the defeats, and eventually succeeded to win against a traditional rival, Melgar, one of Southern Peru strongest teams.

Both teams had their chances in the first half, but Cusco scored first: a great long range shot by Bolo was saved by Caceda, but the ball got to Ramua, whose shot from inside the area hit the target: 1-0 (35'). Just a few minutes later, Toledo made an unnecessary foul in the area, and the penalty was transformed by Arce: 1-1 (43').

In the second half, the home side struggled a lot, but could not find the way to the goal, while Melgar proved dangerous in their attacks. The move that changed the game was the substitution of Bolo by Carando in the 68th minute. Carando just came in when his header was saved by Caceda after a corner by Ramua (69'). Another corner, and the same happened: Ramua took the corner, Carando headed from the center of the area, and this time he scored: 2-1 (70').

 The two Argentinians, Carando (left) and Ramua (the captain), were again decisive for Cusco FC

Melgar wanted to equalize, but it was Cusco which scored the decisive goal. First, Pretell (Melgar) was sent off for a second yellow card, for a foul on Cespedes (84'). Ramua's free kick straight to the goal resulted in Caceda giving away a corner; then, the same story occurred: Ramua executed the corner and Carando headed the ball in: 3-1 (85').

Cusco: Pretel - Toledo, Paniagua, Vilchez, Cespedes - Delgado (Aucca 71'), Aranda - Carranza, Ramua, Bolo (Carando 68') - Posito (Guidino 89'). Head coach: Javier Arce.

Melgar: Caceda - Neyra, Deneumostier (Avila 74'), Miguez, Mifflin (Vidales 77') - Pretell - Amoroso, Hinostroza (Cabrera 64'), Aubert, J. Sanchez - Arce. Head coach: Carlos Bustos.

Referee: Luis Garay Evia.

Yellow cards: Delgado 11', Vilchez 48' - Mifflin 53', Deneumostier 72', Pretell 79', 84', Cabrera 82'.

Red card: Pretell 84' (for a second yellow card).

The next week, Cusco FC will play away at Sport Huancayo, while Melgar will play also away at UTC Cajamarca.

Third consecutive defeat for Cusco FC in the Peruvian Apertura, 2-1 away at UTC de Cajamarca

Monday, the 17th of February 2020, 15:00 local time (20:00 UTC), Heroes de San Ramon Stadium, Cajamarca, Peru, the 3rd round of the Peruvian Liga 1 - Apertura.

Third match in Liga 1 and the third defeat for Cusco FC, which continues the negative run in the domestic league, despite a good result in Copa Sudamericana, a 2-0 win over Chilean Audax Italiano in the first leg of the first stage.

UTC de Cajamarca, on the contrary, is unbeaten and registered a new success on their own ground. However, Cusco FC was very close this time to get at least one point, given the great opportunities they had, including a missed penalty.

The home side, UTC, started very well and scored a double in the first 11 minutes. First, G. Martinez executed perfectly a free kick from just outside the area: 1-0 (9'). Immediately after, a ball from Goyoneche found Iberico on the right side, and his cross was headed into the net by Guevgueozian: 2-0 (11'). Two more opportunities for Huaman and Martinez gave the impression that UTC might win easily and comfortably.

Everything turned around after the 20th minute. Cusco started to play, and had a first chance by Delgado, whose shot went just a little wide. Then, a cross by Carranza from the right was headed in by Posito: 2-1 (23'). The visitors took control of the game and missed several important chances to equalize, by Bolo (with his long-range shots) and especially by Delgado, whose header from close range went again wide (42').

In the second half, Cusco FC continued to dominate and to have important chances, but the home side responded better on the counterattack. Delgado missed again the target with another close range header, but the biggest chance of all was a penalty give for a foul on Carranza, but missed by Carando (68'). Campodonico had the clearest goal opportunity for UTC, while the desperate efforts of the visitors had no result and in the end the score remained 2-1.

UTC: Libman - Estrada, Ortiz, Aparicio, J. Rodriguez - Diez, Goyoneche - Iberico, G. Martinez (Espinoza 89'), Huaman (Campodonico 46') - Guevgeozian (Ramirez 72'). Head coach: Franco Navarro.

Cusco: Farro - Toledo, Paniagua, Vilchez, Cespedes - Carranza, Delgado, Aucca (Guidino 81'), Bolo - Posito (Ramua 57'), Carando. Head coach: Javier Arce.

Referee: Hilbert Villegas.

Yellow cards: Goyoneche 65', Ortiz 67', J. Rodriguez 90'+3' - Vilchez 45', Aucca 73'.

Cusco played better than in their previous two games, one also has to mention that their opponents were weaker than the previous two opponents. However, there are still no points for the Cusco FC which continues to be in the bottom part of the table, despite their tradition (as Real Garcilaso) to be in the upper side of the table, and even struggling for the national title and a place in international competitions.

The defense remains one of the biggest issues to be solved. As long as UTC attacked, they scored twice in 11 minutes. Then, Cusco attacked for 70 minutes but only scored once, at the beginning of this period, when they theoretically had control of the game. They were very dangerous from set pieces, but again, they missed every opportunity they had, scoring from action, but not from free kicks and not even from the penalty spot. Bolo executed very well some of the free kicks and corners, before Ramua entered the field. Then, Ramua took over, but his performance was rather poor. Carando missed the penalty and one has to ask if he is the one who should execute penalties with Ramua and Bolo both on the field.

Franco Navarro, UTC's head coach, guessed better the way this match could be won and he made good changes in his team throughout the game. Campodonico, who replaced Huaman at half time, was one of the best players in the field in the second half. On the contrary, the two players Javier Arce sent in, Ramua and Guidino, brought nothing (or almost nothing) for Cusco, unexpectedly especially for Ramua, who is usually a key player for Cusco, but not this time.

In the next round, UTC will play away to champions Binacional, while Cusco FC will have a very difficult game at home, actually at Sicuani, against FBC Melgar.
Full results, table and fixtures:

Round 3 (14-17 February 2020)

Cienciano – Deportivo Llacuabamba 5-2

Universidad César Vallejo – Deportivo Binacional 0-2

Academia Cantolao – Ayacucho 0-2

Carlos Stein – Universitario 1-3

Sport Boys – Carlos A. Mannucci 3-3

Alianza Lima – Atlético Grau 1-0

Universidad de San Martín – Alianza Universidad 1-2

FBC Melgar – Sporting Cristal 1-0

Sport Huancayo – Deportivo Municipal 1-1

UTC – Cusco FC 2-1

                                                            Table

1	Universitario de Deportes	3	3	0	0	7-3	9	Qualified for the play-off
2	Alianza Universidad	3	3	0	0	6-3	9
3	UTC	3	2	1	0	4-2	7
4	Cienciano	3	2	0	1	10-4	6
5	FBC Melgar	3	2	0	1	6-4	6
6	Binacional	3	2	0	1	6-4	6
7	Ayacucho FC	3	2	0	1	5-4	6
8	Carlos A. Mannucci	3	1	2	0	7-4	5
9	Sport Boys	3	1	1	1	7-7	4
10	Alianza Lima	3	1	1	1	4-4	4
11	Sport Huancayo	3	1	1	1	3-3	4
12	Deportivo Municipal	3	0	3	0	2-2	3
13	Sporting Cristal	3	1	0	2	4-5	3
14	Deportivo Llacuabamba	3	1	0	2	7-9	3
15	Universidad San Martín	3	1	0	2	4-7	3
16	Academia Cantolao	3	1	0	2	3-6	3
17	Universidad César Vallejo	3	0	2	1	2-4	2
18	Atlético Grau	3	0	1	2	1-3	1
19	Cusco FC	3	0	0	3	3-7	0
20	Carlos Stein	3	0	0	3	1-7	0

Round 4 (21-24 February 2020)

Deportivo Binacional – UTC

Deportivo Municipal – Carlos Stein

Sporting Cristal – Sport Huancayo

Atlético Grau – Sport Boys

Cusco FC – FBC Melgar

Universitario – Universidad César Vallejo

Carlos A. Mannucci – Academia Cantolao

Ayacucho FC – Alianza Lima

Deportivo Llacuabamba – Universidad San Martín

Alianza Universidad – Cienciano