Friday, the 20th of November 2020, 11 am local time (4 pm UTC), Nacional Stadium (neutral ground), Lima, Peru, the 7th round of the Stage 2 (Clausura), Group B, Peruvian First Division.
It took only four days for Cusco FC to get back with their feet on the ground. On Monday, they were confident that they may reach a continental cup and even play for the national title. Today, they lost their chance, although there are still two matches to play and mathematics show that there is still a very low probability for them to reach their objective.
Ayacucho FC, which are better classified in both tables (the aggregate table and Stage 2 table) will surely represent Peru in continental competitions next year, and are currently fighting for the fourth place in the aggregate table (which would qualify them for Copa Libertadores) and the top spot in Group B, where their only competitors remained Universidad César Vallejo.
Cusco FC started well, but Ayacucho FC scored early: Mauricio Montes' shot from the right side went in, to the surprise of Céspedes, Saravia and Pretel, who were unable to stop him: 1-0 (6'). This goal allowed Ayacucho to play defensively and using the counterattack as their main weapon, while Cusco FC were forced to attack, they had more ball possession but rarely had opportunities. Things started to clear up as Olascuaga finished in style after a beautiful counter: 2-0 (39').
In the second half, Cusco FC took more risks and were therefore even more exposed to Ayacucho counterattacks. Olascuaga missed his second goal, as he sent the ball a little bit wide while goalkeeper Pretel was out of his area, but Montes scored with a beautiful header and pretty much finished the game: 3-0 (54'). Both managers made lots of changes, and the level and intensity of the game somehow decreased. In stoppage time, Mendieta received a second yellow card and was surprisingly sent off (90'+5'). With one man up, Cusco FC eventually succeeded to score the goal of honour, by Rivera, whose shot from the edge of the area went near the side bar: 3-1 (90'+7').
Ayacucho: Zamudio - Rojas (R. Villamarín 72'), Minaya (Souza 77'), Quina, Mendieta - Papa - Olascuaga (Álvarez 60'), Sosa, Ardiles (Lucero 72'), Cossío - Montes (J. Villamarín 72'). Manager: Gerardo Ameli.
Cusco: Pretel - Chávez, Paniagua, Saravia, Céspedes - Atoche (Guidino 73'), Gonzales - Carranza (Valenzuela 57'), Ramúa (Morales 73'), Boló (Rivera 46') - Carando (Pósito 84'). Manager: Carlos Ramacciotti.
Referee: Diego Haro.
Yellow cards: Olascuaga 8', Mendieta 33', 90'+5', Cossío 85' - Céspedes 22', Gonzales 83'.
Red card: Mendieta 90'+5' (for a second yellow card).
Both teams will play their next game on Tuesday, the 24th of November. Ayacucho FC will face Sport Boys, while Cusco FC will play a very difficult game against the leaders of Group B and main favourites to reach the play-offs, Universidad César Vallejo.
No comments:
Post a Comment