Saturday, 20 March 2021, 3.30 pm local time (8.30 pm UTC), Campo de la Videna FPF, Lima (neutral ground), 2nd round of Stage 1, Peruvian First Division.
The so-called "classic match of the round" had everything that such a game needs: spectacular football, goals, penalties, red cards, disputes, questionable referee decisions, emotions. The lack of audience (generalized for all matches in Peru) and the small neutral ground in Lima were the negative sides of this derby. The final 2-2 score largely reflects the balance of forces on the ground, while both teams may also claim that they deserved to win (and they are both justified, in a way).
Mauricio Montes jumped higher than goalkeeper Ferreyra and headed in the first goal for Cusco FC. Source: dechalaca. com / Prensa FPF
Cusco FC started better. On the right side, Carranza had no problems in taking over Rosell in terms of speed, and one of his crosses reached Montes, who judged the ball better than the goalkeeper Ferreyra, and succeeded to head it in: 1-0 (15').
Montes, near the fallen goalkeeper Ferreyra, and his Cusco FC colleagues celebrate the goal. Source: dechalaca. com / Prensa FPF
However, immediately after the goal, Cienciano gradually took control of the game, and their attacks intensified. Cusco's goalkeeper, Éder Hermoza, had a number of spectacular saves, which maintained the fragile advantage of his team for a while. Eventually, Cienciano equalized: Romagnoli, one on one with Hermoza, lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper, hit the side post, from where it came back to Ayarza in the center of the box, who sent it to the net: 1-1 (38'). The end of the first half was all Cienciano's, which had two other goal opportunities, one missed by Ayarza, and another one in which Hermoza saved again in front of Cienciano strikers.
Nevertheless, it was again Cusco FC which started better the second half. Mauricio Montes robbed a ball from an opponent, combined with his fellow forward Rivera, and then scored again, placing his shot to the left of goalkeeper Ferreyra: 2-1 (49').
Mauricio Montes succeeded a double for Cusco FC. Source: dechalaca. com / Prensa FPF
This time, Cusco FC looked more decided to keep the advantage. However, referee Luis Garay disagreed, and awarded a penalty for Cienciano, for a wrestling-type contact between Aucca and Takeuchi in the box. Romagnoli transformed the penalty: 2-2 (55').
This was the second match of the 2021 season for Cusco FC, and the second penalty awarded against them. In the first match, there was also a red card for a Cusco player, associated with the penalty. This time, the red card came later, for Manuel Corrales, who received two consecutive yellow cards (72') after he just came in, as a substitute for injured Erick Rossi. Erick Gonzales had to take over again the tasks of a central back for the last twenty minutes or so (including stoppage time).
It was surprising that Cienciano, with one man up in the field, were absolutely unable to penetrate Cusco's defense, which they did quite often when they were equal in numbers. Even more, Cusco FC had more ball possession and created more dangerous opportunities than their opponents in the final minutes of the game, especially after Sandro Rengifo came in (76').
Cusco FC: Hermoza - Caraza, Figueroa, Rossi (Corrales 57'), Céspedes - Gonzales, Aubert (Aucca 46') - Carranza (Rengifo 76'), Abisab, Rivera (Ramúa 87') - Montes (Barreiro 87'). Manager: Carlos Ramacciotti.
Cienciano: Ferreyra - Perleche, Lojas, Aparicio, Rosell (Guidino 64') - Álvarez, Ayarza (Guívin 89') - Romagnoli (Mosquera 82'), R. García, K. Sandoval - Takeuchi. Manager: Marcelo Grioni.
Referee: Luis Garay.
Yellow cards: Aucca 65', Corrales 68', 72' - Romagnoli 6', Rosell 40', Aparicio 58', Lojas 66', Ayarza 86'.
Red cards: Corrales (Cusco FC) 72'.
In the next round, Cienciano will face newly-promoted Alianza Atlético in Group A, while Cusco FC will play against Alianza Lima, which have just been admitted back to the Peruvian First Division, according to a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS / TAS), in the place of Carlos Stein, which have been relegated to the Second Division, despite playing one game in the First Division, last week! The result of the first round match between Carlos Stein and Alianza Atlético (0-0) was erased and the game cancelled from the records, and Alianza Lima will have to play this game against Alianza Atlético, as the "classic of the round", although this has never been a classic match...
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