Cusco FC - Deportivo Garcilaso 2-1 (0-1)
Fajardo 56', Arakaki 66' - Rojas 24'.
Sunday, 23 April 2023, 3:30 pm local time (8:30 pm UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, 13th round of Apertura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).
Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
Deportivo Garcilaso starting line-up. Photo source: Club Deportivo Garcilaso official Facebook page
With three Cusco teams in the first division for the first time in history, there will be more Cusco derbies this year than ever, and this is actually the second one so far, after the Cienciano - Cusco (2-0) played behind closed doors in the fourth round of Apertura. The match between Deportivo Garcilaso and Cienciano is scheduled next week, to end the Cusco derbies in the Apertura.
However, this was the first Cusco derby involving Cusco FC and Deportivo Garcilaso in the First Division, because Deportivo Garcilaso is for the first time attending the First Division (Liga 1) as winners of 2022 Copa Perú. This may be dubbed the "Garcilaso derby", since we all remember that Cusco FC were once called Real Garcilaso and changed their name in December 2019 exactly because of Deportivo Garcilaso threatening to reach the First Division and probably to claim the name only for themselves, as they are the older "Garcilaso" team of these two. Nevertheless, Cusco FC has more experience in important competitions, taking into account their history as Real Garcilaso as well.
On the other hand, this was the first Cusco derby of the year when spectators were allowed, and the attendance was pretty high. Although Cusco FC were the hosts, the majority of people in the stands were fans of Deportivo Garcilaso (easily noticeable by their blue coloured shirts). Nevertheless, the Cusco FC fans were the ones who were happy at the end of the game, as their team won yet another game and have an excellent run of six games undefeated, while Deportivo Garcilaso, despite changing the manager, continue their negative streak.
Deportivo Garcilaso (in blue) were better in the first half. Photo source: Club Deportivo Garcilaso official Facebook page
The game started with both teams trying to gain control of the midfield and launching balls in the attack, without much offensive elaboration. The situation switched quite quickly from one box to the other, with many balls collected by the two goalkeepers. In this context, the goal came after the first mistake of one of the goalkeepers. The ball touched two Cusco FC defenders as if it touched the walls of a billiards game and luckily for Deportivo Garcilaso, it went towards the goal. Goalkeeper Ferreyra came out to clear, but he actually passed sideways to Joao Rojas, who was all alone in front of an empty net: 0-1 (24').
Deportivo Garcilaso players celebrate their goal in front of the Occidente stand (with mixed Cusco FC and Deportivo Garcilaso supporters). Photo source: Club Deportivo Garcilaso official Facebook page
The goal gave further impetus to Deportivo Garcilaso players, who were more time in control in the first time, and had several opportunities to increase their lead, but were denied by the Cusco FC defence or missed the target.
Towards the end of the first half, Cusco FC were able to come back and re-establish a balance in midfield. In first half injury time, they had a big chance to equalize: Estrada crossed from the left, Vidales headed to the far corner, hitting the post, and goalkeeper Penny had a great reflex to push the ball away right when Fajardo was on the verge of scoring (45'+5').
The second half started with Cusco FC determined to equalize and to turn the game into their favour. It did not take long until one of the Deportivo Garcilaso defenders judged mistakenly the height of the ball and jumped beneath it, allowing José Fajardo to have a clear path towards goal and to score: 1-1 (56').
José Fajardo celebrates the equalizer. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
Cusco FC maintained their pressure on the opposite goal and this paid off once again. Vidales crossed from the right and Hydeoshi Arakaki, poorly marked, had a shot from close range, but hit the cross bar. The ball came back into the field, José Fajardo passed to Felucho Rodríguez on the left side, and this time the cross was converted by Arakaki from 6 metres: 2-1 (66').
Hideyoshi Arakaki scored the winning goal for Cusco FC. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
Deportivo Garcilaso had nothing else to do than to try to come back into the game. However, the last 20 minutes of the match were affected negatively by poor refereeing decisions. First, Giordana's shot was deflected by Quina into a corner, but the referee mistakenly awarded a penalty for Deportivo Garcilaso for an imaginary hand ball offense by Quina. The TV replays clearly showed that the ball hit the back of the player, and not his hands. After the usual discussions, Giordana took the penalty, but his shot went straight into Ferreyra's arms, so the referee's mistake had no effect eventually (74').
Just a few minutes later, Betancourt had a good shot from the left side to the far corner, the ball hit the post, came back into the field and deflected into Wilmer Aguirre and then inside the net. Aguirre was happy but only for a couple of seconds, because assistant referee Vera Yupanqui raised the flag to call an offside position for Aguirre, and so the Deportivo Garcilaso goal was cancelled. The TV replays showed that Aguirre was not in an offside position in the moment when Betancourt took the shot, so the goal was wrongly disallowed.
These two situations show the need for VAR to be implemented as soon as possible in the Peruvian First Division as well.
Cusco FC players celebrate the win. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
Cusco FC: Ferreyra - Estrada (Benincasa 78'), Alonso (Bilbao 35'), Quina, Gordillo - Barreto - Da Luz (Arakaki 63'), Vidales (R. Díaz 78'), Ramúa (Aucca 63'), F. Rodríguez - Fajardo. Manager: Pablo Peirano.
Deportivo Garcilaso: Penny - Caraza, Salazar, Lojas, Gómez - Páucar (Malpartida 82'), Fuentes (Dioses 62') - Quevedo (Bazán 46'), Rojas (Aguirre 30'), Betancourt (C. Fernández 82') - Giordana. Manager: Jorge Célico.
Referee: Michael Espinoza.
Yellow cards: Barreto 16', Estrada 20', Alonso 27', Morales (on the bench) 87', Gordillo 90'+2' - Quevedo 27', Salazar 39', Lojas 70', Giordana 90'+2'.
Cusco FC consolidated their third position in the table and proved that they win a game even without Ayarza, who was suspended for this match. As a result, "Chapú" Ramúa was in the starting line-up for the first time this season.
The two captains, Diego Penny (Deportivo Garcilaso, in green) and Alfredo "Chapu" Ramúa (Cusco FC), in a display of fair-play before the start of the game. Photo source: Club Deportivo Garcilaso official Facebook page
In the next round, Cusco FC will face Atlético Grau away, while Deportivo Garcilaso will play on the same ground (Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium), but as hosts, against Sport Huancayo.
Full results, table and fixtures:
Round 13 (21-24 April 2023)
UTC Cajamarca – Atlético Grau 1-1
Academia Cantolao – Carlos A. Mannucci 0-2
Sport Huancayo – ADT Tarma 1-3
Cienciano – Deportivo Binacional 1-1
Unión Comercio – Alianza Lima 1-3
Cusco FC – Deportivo Garcilaso 2-1
Alianza Atlético – FBC Melgar 3-3
Universidad César Vallejo – Deportivo Municipal 1-1
Universitario de Deportes – Sporting Cristal 2-0
Sport Boys bye
Table
|
1 |
Alianza Lima |
11 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
19-8 |
27 |
Qualified for the play-offs |
|
2 |
Universitario de Deportes |
12 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
20-9 |
25 |
|
|
3 |
Cusco FC |
12 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
17-14 |
23 |
|
|
4 |
Carlos A. Mannucci |
11 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
12-8 |
20 |
|
|
5 |
Universidad César Vallejo |
10 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
16-10 |
18 |
|
|
6 |
Sporting Cristal |
10 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
15-10 |
17 |
|
|
7 |
Deportivo Garcilaso |
11 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
19-16 |
15 |
|
|
8 |
Alianza Atlético |
10 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
18-15 |
15 |
|
|
9 |
ADT Tarma |
11 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
12-10 |
15 |
|
|
10 |
Deportivo Municipal |
11 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
12-14 |
15 |
|
|
11 |
UTC Cajamarca |
11 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
9-8 |
14 |
|
|
12 |
Sport Huancayo |
11 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
19-19 |
14 |
|
|
13 |
Atlético Grau |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
17-14 |
13 |
|
|
14 |
Cienciano |
10 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
10-13 |
13 |
|
|
15 |
Unión Comercio |
11 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
14-19 |
13 |
|
|
16 |
FBC Melgar |
10 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
6-12 |
8 |
|
|
17 |
Sport Boys |
10 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
7-15 |
8 |
Relegation to Liga 2 |
|
18 |
Deportivo Binacional |
10 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
13-22 |
6 |
Relegation to Liga 2 |
|
19 |
Academia Cantolao |
11 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
6-25 |
3 |
Relegation to Liga 2 |
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 14 (28-30 April 2023)
Sporting Cristal – Universidad César Vallejo
Atlético Grau – Cusco FC
Sport Boys – Universitario de Deportes
Deportivo Garcilaso – Sport Huancayo
FBC Melgar – Academia Cantolao
ADT Tarma – Cienciano
Deportivo Municipal – UTC Cajamarca
Deportivo Binacional – Alianza Atlético
Carlos A. Mannucci – Unión Comercio
Alianza Lima bye
