Alianza Lima - Cusco FC 0-0 in the 9th round of the Peruvian Apertura

Saturday, the 29th of August 2020, 1.15 pm local time (6.15 pm UTC), Alberto Gallardo Stadium (neutral ground), Lima, the 9th round of the Peruvian Apertura, Liga 1.
Cusco FC are undefeated since the arrival of Carlos Ramacciotti, but this was the first game they did not actually win, although they had a great opportunity, given that they played more than 60 minutes with one man more.
Alianza Lima started the game well, had most of the ball possession, had a few chances, but then Cusco FC started to get more into the game and the match became more balanced. The key fact was that Reinaldo Cruzado (Alianza Lima) was sent off in the 28' after a foul on Aranda, for which he received the second yellow card.
Cusco FC were superior in number of players, just like in the previous game against Sport Boys, but this time they were unable to make profit out of such a situation. Their biggest chance came when a shot by Mimbela from just outside the area was saved by Butrón (37').
Then, in the second half, the attacking players of Cusco FC were not in their best day, missing lots of chances, although not big ones - they did not have a single clear-cut goal opportunity throughout the whole match. Alianza Lima defended well and even had a few attacks that could have been more dangerous, but again, something happened in the final 20-25 metres, or the goalscorer was in a clear offside position (twice).
Alianza: Butrón - Salazar, A. Rodríguez, Quijada, Rosell (Arroé 64') - Ballón, Cruzado - Mora (Zúñiga 90'+2'), Ascues (Cornejo 76'), A. Gómez - Rubio (G. Sánchez 76'). Head coach: Mario Salas.
Cusco: Pretel - Toledo, Saravia, Delgado (Vílchez 53'), Céspedes - Atoche, E. Gonzales - Rivera (Sandoval 82'), Mimbela (P. Gutiérrez 46'), Aranda (Carranza 46') - Carando. Head coach: Carlos Ramacciotti.
Referee: Víctor Hugo Carrillo.
Yellow cards: Cruzado 22', 28', Rubio 44', Ascues 66', A. Gómez 69', Salazar 72', Cornejo 90'+3' - Carando 83'.
Red card: Cruzado 28' (for the second yellow card).
The match was rather disappointing. For Cusco FC, this goalless draw might be considered a good result, but they missed a big opportunity to win against one of the "big names" in Peruvian football, Alianza Lima. Cusco FC seemed scared of the chance to win this game. Head coach Carlos Ramacciotti should be proud of everything he has done in Cusco since his arrival, but two of his options in this match might be questionable. First, he took out Mimbela at half time for Gutiérrez. In the absence of Ramúa, newly-arrived Wyllian Mimbela seems to be the only real option for a good striker, especially in terms of long-range shots. Mimbela is also the only player of Cusco FC who is capable of winning a match by himself (again, apart from Ramúa). His substitution was, in my opinion, a mistake. Despite having one man more in the field than the opponent, Cusco FC's attack was weaker in the second half than in the first half. The other option is Janio Pósito. This is the third consecutive match in which Pósito does not play and is left on the bench. He is one of the best players when it comes to headers, he is a good jumper and has great aerial skills. Why not introduce him in, since Cusco FC played a lot of high balls in the opponent area, but there was nobody there to head them in? Danilo Carando was again in a goalless mood and Pósito should deserve a chance, at least for a few minutes.
Another problem is that no young players were used for Cusco FC, which means that they will have to play with two or more young players in the field in other matches to fill the number of necessary minutes played by young players.
One should also remark that this is the only match played on Saturday, while all other matches will be played on Monday and Tuesday. Cusco FC played on Wednesday and had a day of rest less, because Alianza Lima played on Tuesday. All the other teams will have more rest days than Cusco FC and Alianza Lima.
The next game of Cusco FC will be against Academia Cantolao, while Alianza Lima will play against Melgar.