Cusco FC - UTC Cajamarca 1-1 (0-0)
L. Ramos 84' - K. Ruiz 90'+2'.
Friday, 2 February 2024, 3 pm local time (8 pm UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, Round 2, Apertura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).
Both teams had started very well the 2024 season of the Peruvian First Division: Cusco FC had won 3-2 away at FBC Melgar, while UTC de Cajamarca had won 1-0 at home over Deportivo Garcilaso. So there were pretty high expectations regarding this match, between two winning teams that clearly wanted to continue their positive run. One could not have been more mistaken about it.
The two teams come out to the field of play. Photo source: UTC Facebook page
In the first half, nothing really important happened. Cusco FC had more ball possession (72%), but did not know what to do with the ball. UTC defended staunchly, and sometimes launched some counterattacks, but they were not really dangerous either. There were simply no real gol opportunities, the only potentially dangerous actions came from set pieces, mostly corner kicks, which however led to nothing. On the other hand, the game was very much fragmented, lots of fouls and free kicks, but mostly in the center of the field, and a few yellow cards. Expected goals at half-time: 0.11 to 0.11. Score at half-time: 0-0.
There was a lot of fight for the ball. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
In the second half, things improved, but not right from the beginning. One had to wait until the 63rd minute to see the first clear action on goal, which actually ended up with a goal, scored by Lucas Colitto after a brillian assist from Iván Colman. Nevertheless, the goal was cancelled for offside after VAR revision, despite the fact that Colitto was not himself in offside, but Vásquez. However, the referees interpreted that Vásquez interfered with the action, because he positioned himself in such a way as to block a defender who might have challenged the ball.
Lucas Colitto was very close to scoring once again. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
A few minutes afterwards, a long pass from the left side from the same Iván Colman found Lucas Colitto in an even better position, but this time goalkeeper Zubczuk blocked (72').
Cusco FC continued to press, and manager Miguel Rondelli introduced striker Luis Ramos to improve the attack, which until then had only Tévez as central forward. The sub was immediately visible. Iván Colman executed a corner kick from the right side, and Luis Ramos headed in from short range: 1-0 (84'). Goalkeeper Zubczuk was on the ball but was surprisingly unable to catch it, and it went through his hands, and a defender cleared, but only after the ball obviously crossed the goal line entirely.
Luis Ramos (left) scored his first goal for Cusco FC. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
This could have been the end of the story, and certainly Cusco FC thought so. Nevertheless, the visitors did not agree to it, and their manager, Carlos Ramacciotti, made some offensive changes. Already in stoppage time, Pedro Requena crossed from the right, and recently-entered Kevin Ruiz headed the ball in, despite being marked by Jonathan Bilbao: 1-1 (90'+2'). Goalkeeper Solís, after a great match one week ago in Arequipa, just watched the ball entering the net.
Cusco FC: Solís - Zevallos, R. Ramírez, A. Pérez, Tamariz - Aucca (L. Ramos 80') - Colitto (R. Fernández 90'), A. Vásquez (Valenzuela 80'), Colman, N. Silva (Morales 72') - Tévez (Bilbao 90'). Manager: Miguel Rondelli.
UTC: Zubczuk - Requena, Valoyes, Mondino, A. Gutiérrez - Aparicio (J. Pérez 87'), Á. Romero - C. Fernández (Ojeda 87'), J. Sánchez, Perlaza (K. Ruiz 90') - Quintero (Cantoro 90'). Manager: Carlos Ramacciotti.
Referee: Pablo López.
Yellow cards: A. Pérez 27', Collitto 69' - Valoyes 27', C. Fernández 40'.
The match was broadcasted on L1 Max. Extended highlights are available on YouTube (shorther highlights as well).
In the next round, UTC de Cajamarca will face Universidad César Vallejo at home, while Cusco FC will play away at Sport Huancayo.
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