Los Chankas win clearly over unrecognizable Cusco FC

Los Chankas - Cusco FC 2-0 (2-0)

C.A. López 3', Mejía 45'+2'

Saturday, 4 May 2024, 1 pm local time (6 pm UTC), Los Chankas Stadium, Andahuaylas, Peru, the 14th round of Apertura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).

 Los Chankas starting line-up. Photo source: Los Chankas Facebook page

Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: JTK Producciones Facebook page

After their previous meetings in Copa Bicentenario and in the 2022 Second Division, all either won by Cusco FC or ending up in a draw, it was time for Los Chankas to take revenge and to get their first win over Cusco FC in an official match. 

It was much easier than anyone expected, because Cusco FC had one of their weakest games in the season so far, and were unable to respond properly. It was also because Los Chankas hit in crucial moments of the game, right at the start and right before half time.

First, after a long ball for Carlos Augusto López on the right, in a seemingly impossible position, he was able to take a drop shot which went over the goalkeeper to the opposite upper corner: 1-0 (3').

Cusco FC goalkeeper Andy Vidal was surprised by Carlos Augusto López' shot from an impossible angle and Los Chankas took an early lead. Photo source: Diario Expresión Facebook page

Cusco FC tried to equalize quickly, but Lucas Colitto hit the post after a cross by Juan Manuel Tévez from the right (7'). One must say that this was the only real chance that Cusco FC had in the entire game. The visitors had possession, apparently controlled the midfield, but rarely approached dangerously the target.

Cusco FC (in white) attacked more, but rarely created any danger to the opposite defence. Photo source: JTK Producciones Facebook page

The blow for Cusco FC came right at the end of the first half, when everybody expected the break. José Manzaneda launched Cristian Mejía on the left, and he scored with a wonderful shot to the roof: 2-0 (45'+2').

Cristian Mejía (#24) scored with a beautiful shot to give Los Chankas a 2-0 lead at half time. Photo source: Diario Expresión Facebook page

If the first half was pretty poor for Cusco FC, the second half was even poorer, although this was (luckily for them) not visible on the score sheet. Ledesma, Manzaneda and López missed good opportunities for Los Chankas, while Cusco FC looked incapable of playing anything, despite some changes made by manager Rondelli, but the team looked even worse after the changes. Robles scored even a third goal for Los Chankas (74') but the goal was cancelled for offside, with the help of the VAR. Nevertheless, the replays given on TV were not convincing at all, and it looked like there was no offside. Luckily, it did not matter that much.

Cristian Mejía celebrated and dedicated his goal. Photo source: Los Chankas Facebook page

After a thrilling 2-0 win over Cienciano a week ago in the Cusco derby, Cusco FC were unrecognizable. Two important players missed, Alan Pérez in central defence and Nicolás Silva on the right wing, and their replacements, Schmidt as a centre back and Rely Fernández as a right winger, did not pay off. The defence in fact looked weaker than ever, and a better team than Los Chankas would have won at a much higher score difference. The introduction of former Los Chankas goalscorer Luis Ramos in the second half did not help much Cusco FC, possibly because he played in an unusual position, behind the main striker (Tévez), and not as a striker himself. Few balls reached either Tévez or Ramos, because Colman and Colitto also had a bad day, as well as Valenzuela and Vásquez.

Los Chankas celebrate with their fans at the end of the match. Photo source: Diario Expresión Facebook page

Los Chankas: Ferreyra - Ruidías (Temoche 90'+4'), Mogollón, Becerra, Gamarra, Chávez - Mejía, López (Murialdo 87'), Manzaneda (Luján 90'+4'), Casquete (Robles 68') - Ledesma (Sánchez 87'). Manager: Pablo Bossi.

Cusco FC: Vidal - Ramírez, Bilbao, Schmidt (Tamariz 81') - Valenzuela, Zevallos (Cárdenas 66') - Fernández (Ramos 46'), Vásquez (Morales 66'), Colman, Colitto - Tévez. Manager: Miguel Rondelli.

Referee: Jesús Cartagena.

Yellow cards: Casquete 21', Gamarra 44' - Ramírez 35', Zevallos 41'.

Full results, table and fixtures:

 

Round 14 (3-6 May 2024)

 

ADT Tarma – Universitario de Deportes 2-0

Cienciano – Universidad César Vallejo 1-1

Alianza Lima – UTC Cajamarca 1-0

Los Chankas – Cusco FC 2-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Deportivo Garcilaso 1-1

Comerciantes Unidos – Unión Comercio 3-1

Sporting Cristal – Alianza Atlético 2-1

FBC Melgar – Sport Boys 2-1

Atlético Grau – Sport Huancayo to be played on 6 May

 

Apertura table

 

1	Sporting Cristal	14	11	1	2	37-15	34	Qualified for the play-offs
2	Universitario de Deportes	14	10	3	1	24-6	33
3	FBC Melgar	14	9	2	3	23-15	29
4	Alianza Lima	14	9	0	5	27-11	27
5	ADT Tarma	14	7	3	4	25-21	24
6	Cusco FC	14	7	2	5	16-17	23
7	Cienciano	14	5	6	3	18-19	21
8	Comerciantes Unidos	14	6	3	5	21-27	21
9	Los Chankas	14	5	2	7	22-21	17
10	Sport Huancayo	13	5	2	6	16-22	17
11	UTC Cajamarca	14	4	3	7	16-18	15
12	Universidad César Vallejo	14	3	6	5	16-22	15
13	Atlético Grau	13	3	5	5	14-15	14
14	Deportivo Garcilaso	14	3	4	7	17-20	13
15	Alianza Atlético	14	3	4	7	11-16	13
16	Sport Boys	14	3	3	8	12-17	12
17	Carlos A. Mannucci	14	3	3	8	11-31	12
18	Unión Comercio	14	1	4	9	13-26	7

 

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 15 (10-13 May 2024)

 

Unión Comercio – ADT Tarma

Sport Boys – Comerciantes Unidos

Cusco FC – Carlos A. Mannucci

Sport Huancayo – Alianza Lima

Universidad César Vallejo – Los Chankas

UTC Cajamarca – FBC Melgar

Deportivo Garcilaso – Atlético Grau

Universitario de Deportes – Sporting Cristal

Alianza Atlético – Cienciano