Cusco FC win after more than a month

Cusco FC - Academia Cantolao 3-0 (1-0)

Ayarza 24', 65', F. Rodríguez 81' penalty

Friday, 28 July 2023, 3 pm local time (8 pm UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, the 6th round of Clausura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1)

Cusco FC returned with a win after more than one month from their previous success, also at home, 2-1 over UTC Cajamarca in the first round of Clausura. Since then, they only played once at home, and drew 0-0 to local rivals Cienciano, and they lost all matches away.

This time, in front of a very weak Academia Cantolao, Cusco FC had no problems in controlling the game and winning it without too much trouble. José Fajardo was absent again, but this time all the other foreigners were in (Alonso, coming back after suspension, Ayarza and Felipe Rodríguez) or came in later (Da Luz, finally back in the field).

After a rather uneventful start of the match, the goal came after a cross by Estrada from the right side, and Ayarza was in the right place to head it in: 1-0 (24').

Abdiel Ayarza headed the ball to score the first goal of the game. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Towards the end of the first half, newcomer Olivares was injured, and Mauro Da Luz came in. Right before the break, Da Luz had a big chance to double the difference, as he was all alone in the box, but his header went above the crossbar (45'+1').

In the second half, nothing really changed. The visitors tried something, not much, and Cusco FC continued to have the upper hand in all matters. To make things worse, Francisco Duclós failed to stop Ayarza as he slipped, and intentionally kept the ball with his hand. The referee initially awarded a yellow card, but VAR intervened and the referee changed his decision, showing a straight red, because Duclós was the last defender (56') and his action clearly impeded a goal to be scored.

Down to ten men, Academia Cantolao were pretty much doomed to try to minimize the damage, so they mostly stayed in defense. However, when goalkeeper Limousin missed a pass, intercepted by Cusco FC midfielders, a very fast attack started, and ended with the second goal, as Felipe Rodríguez broke on the left side and perfectly assisted Ayarza in front of the goal: 2-0 (65').

Other chances were missed, but eventually the third goal came as well. Gerson Barreto made a wonderful run in the centre and was only stopped in the box by Regalado, who only received a yellow card, although this was also a clear goal-scoring situation. Felipe "Felucho" Rodríguez transformed the penalty: 3-0 (81').

Felucho Rodríguez (with his hand raised) congratulated by his teammates after scoring the third goal.

Cusco FC: Ferreyra - Estrada, Alonso (Bilbao 76'), Quina, Gordillo - Barreto, Vidales (Guivín 76') - Olivares (Da Luz 42'), Ayarza, F. Rodríguez - Cantoro. Manager: Pablo Peirano.

Cantolao: Limousin - Lojas, Montoya, A. Sánchez (Calabrese 73'), Duclós, Tamariz - D. Ramírez (Moreira 63'), L. Ramírez, Velasco (Guarderas 46'), Vergara (Regalado 63') - Espinosa (Acosta 46'). Manager: Adrián Taffarel.

Referee: Michael Espinoza.

Yellow cards: Alonso 61' - Regalado 79', Lojas 84'.

Red card: Duclós 56'.

In the next round, Cusco FC will play tomorrow away at Unión Comercio, while Academia Cantolao will face Sport Huancayo at home.

Full results, fixtures and tables:

 

Round 6 (27 July – 1 August 2023)

 

Sporting Cristal – Deportivo Binacional 5-0

Cusco FC – Academia Cantolao 3-0

UTC Cajamarca – Unión Comercio 1-1

Universidad César Vallejo – Alianza Lima 1-1

Atlético Grau – Deportivo Garcilaso 1-1

Sport Boys – FBC Melgar 0-2

Sport Huancayo – Alianza Atlético 2-0

Universitario de Deportes – Carlos A. Mannucci 3-0

Deportivo Municipal – ADT Tarma 1-2

Cienciano bye

 

Clausura table

 

1	Sporting Cristal	6	4	2	0	14-3	14	Qualified for the play-offs
2	FBC Melgar	6	4	2	0	13-3	14
3	Universitario de Deportes	6	4	2	0	12-2	14
4	ADT Tarma	5	4	0	1	7-6	12
5	Sport Huancayo	5	3	1	1	7-2	10
6	Universidad César Vallejo	6	3	1	2	8-8	10
7	Sport Boys	6	3	1	2	4-4	10
8	Cienciano	5	2	3	0	7-3	9
9	Alianza Lima	6	2	3	1	4-2	9
10	Deportivo Garcilaso	5	2	2	1	10-6	8
11	Cusco FC	5	2	1	2	6-6	7
12	Carlos A. Mannucci	6	2	1	3	4-7	7
13	Academia Cantolao	6	2	0	4	5-11	6
14	UTC Cajamarca	6	0	4	2	5-8	4
15	Alianza Atlético	6	1	1	4	4-8	4
16	Atlético Grau	6	1	1	4	3-10	4
17	Deportivo Municipal	6	1	0	5	5-9	3
18	Deportivo Binacional	5	1	0	4	6-15	3
19	Unión Comercio	6	0	1	5	3-14	1

 

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 7 (4-7 August 2023)

 

Unión Comercio – Cusco FC

Deportivo Binacional – Sport Boys

Alianza Lima – UTC Cajamarca

Alianza Atlético – Cienciano

Carlos A. Mannucci – Universidad César Vallejo

ADT Tarma – Sporting Cristal

FBC Melgar – Universitario de Deportes

Academia Cantolao – Sport Huancayo

Deportivo Garcilaso – Deportivo Municipal

Atlético Grau bye

 

Aggregate table (Apertura + Clausura)

 

1	Alianza Lima (AW)	24	16	3	5	41-18	51	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
2	Sporting Cristal	24	13	10	1	47-21	49	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
3	Universitario de Deportes	24	15	3	6	41-16	48	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
4	FBC Melgar	24	10	9	5	37-25	39	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
5	Cusco FC	23	12	3	8	30-28	39	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
6	Sport Huancayo	23	11	4	8	37-27	37	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
7	Univ. César Vallejo	24	10	7	7	33-31	37	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
8	Carlos A. Mannucci	24	10	4	10	21-25	34	Qualified for C. Sudamericana
9	Deportivo Garcilaso	23	8	9	6	42-33	33
10	ADT Tarma	23	9	6	8	30-29	33
11	Cienciano	23	9	6	8	30-31	33
12	Sport Boys	24	8	4	12	17-30	28
13	Atlético Grau	24	7	6	11	34-31	27
14	Alianza Atlético	24	7	6	11	36-41	27
15	UTC Cajamarca	24	5	10	9	21-30	25
16	Deportivo Municipal *	24	8	3	13	24-30	21	*
17	Deportivo Binacional	23	6	3	14	34-49	21	Relegation to Second Division
18	Unión Comercio	24	5	5	14	27-54	20	Relegation to Second Division
19	Academia Cantolao	24	4	3	17	14-47	15	Relegation to Second Division

 

* Deportivo Municipal have been deducted 6 points for financial irregularities.

AW – Apertura winners

CW – Clausura winners

Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots; 5) play-off (only if needed to decide teams for relegation)