UTC Cajamarca - Cusco FC 2-1 (1-0)
Quintero 17' penalty, J. Pérez 89' - L. Ramos 83'.
Friday, 19 July 2024, 1 pm local time (6 pm UTC), Germán Contreras Jara Stadium, Cajabamba, Peru, 2nd round of Clausura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).
The second (and last) tournament of the Peruvian First Division, Clausura, started on 12 July, soon after the Peru national team returned from Copa América. Teams had more than one month to prepare for the second half of the season, and Cusco FC, in fifth position, seemed one of those teams that enjoyed a fair amount of stability, with nobody leaving, and two incoming players, both on loan (Guzmán and Olaya). So, no big changes compared to Apertura, with Miguel Rondelli safely in charge of the team.
Only two rounds passed in the Clausura and all this may fall apart. Miguel Rondelli was on the verge of leaving after two consecutive defeats, and he is still in danger if Cusco FC does not obtain some good results soon. This might be a typical feat, very similar to what happened last year, when Pablo Peirano was sacked during the Clausura after a very good Apertura, when Cusco FC finished fourth.
The first match, at home against FBC Melgar, was a complete disaster for Cusco FC, the visitors winning 3-0. Not much to say after such a defeat, except for the fact that this was the first home defeat this season for Cusco FC and the first home defeat ever to FBC Melgar, taking also into account the period when Cusco FC was named Real Garcilaso. To give some credit to the opponents, though, one should also point out that FBC Melgar finished the Apertura with seven straight wins, and with the two wins in the Clausura, they are now having nine wins in a row. And they are certainly looking to get the title this year.
In the second round, Cusco FC played away at UTC Cajamarca. Actually, the match was played in Cajabamba (not in Cajamarca), which would have seemed like a possible advantage for Cusco FC.
There was no advantage. Although Cusco FC started better, a cross in the box accidentally hit Jonathan Bilbao's hand, and the referee (with the help of the VAR) eventually awarded a penalty for UTC. Jarlín Quintero converted: 1-0 (17').
Jarlín Quintero converted the penalty given for hands committed by Jonathan Bilbao (in white, behind). Source: UTC Pagina Oficial Facebook page
Just like in the match against Melgar, Cusco FC took over the control of the game, had most of the ball possession, attacked on all fronts, with Iván Colman distributing balls on the left, for Lucas Colitto, on the right, for Nicolás Silva, and in front, for Luis Ramos. Opportunities emerged, but Cusco FC failed to score in the first half.
However, in the beginning of the second half, Cusco FC scored. A cross from the right side was beautifully volleyed to the far post by Lucas Colitto (48'). Nonetheless, after another VAR review, the goal was cancelled, because Jonathan Bilbao (the anti-hero of this match) committed a foul, impeding one of the UTC defenders to clear and allowing Colitto to score.
With frustration growing, Rondelli threw in the field all his offensive players, including Juan Manuel Tévez, Rely Fernández and Stéfano Olaya. Bigger opportunities emerged and the equalizer was in the air, while UTC defended their narrow lead with desperation.
Finally, Lucas Colitto managed a vertical assist to Luis Ramos, and the striker did his job, sending the ball home: 1-1 (83').
The big problem for Cusco FC was that they were pretty much out of defensive players, and this became visible as soon as UTC started to attack once again. Jimmy Pérez missed one opportunity, but he converted the second one, when he was way too alone on the right side, had all the time to enter the box and to think about his precise shot: 2-1 (89').
Jimmy Pérez celebrating the winning goal. Source: UTC Pagina Oficial Facebook page
In just six minutes, UTC Cajamarca turned again the game in their favour, while Cusco FC, despite dominating the game for about 70 minutes, were unable to get a draw.
UTC: Zubczuk - Ojeda, Segura, Aparicio, Otazú - J. Pérez, Romero (Marcos 62') - C.A. Fernández (Portales 46'), J. Sánchez (Cano 90'+3'), Perlaza - Quintero (Ruiz 57'). Manager: Carlos Ramacciotti.
Cusco: Vidal - Ramírez (Guzmán 46'), Bilbao, A. Pérez - Valenzuela, Zevallos (R. Fernández 76') - N. Silva (Olaya 82'), Vásquez (Tévez 67'), Colman, Colitto - L. Ramos. Manager: Miguel Rondelli.
Referee: Alejandro Villanueva.
Yellow cards: C.A. Fernández 35', Otazú 79', J. Pérez 90'+7' - Valenzuela 13', Guzmán 47'.
Full results, tables and fixtures:
Round 1 (12-14 July 2024)
Unión Comercio – Los Chankas 1-2
ADT Tarma – Sporting Cristal 3-1
Deportivo Garcilaso – UTC Cajamarca 1-0
Comerciantes Unidos – Cienciano 1-2
Universidad César Vallejo – Alianza Lima 2-3
Universitario de Deportes – Carlos A. Mannucci 6-0
Alianza Atlético – Atlético Grau 0-0
Sport Boys – Sport Huancayo 2-1
Cusco FC – FBC Melgar 0-3
Round 2 (19-21 July 2024)
UTC Cajamarca – Cusco FC 2-1
Sport Huancayo – Deportivo Garcilaso 1-0
Los Chankas – Comerciantes Unidos 2-0
FBC Melgar – Universidad César Vallejo 5-2
Alianza Lima – Alianza Atlético 2-0
Atlético Grau – Universitario de Deportes 1-1
Carlos A. Mannucci – Unión Comercio 0-0
Sporting Cristal – Sport Boys 4-0
Cienciano – ADT Tarma 0-1
Clausura table
|
1 |
FBC Melgar |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
8-2 |
6 |
Qualified for the play-offs |
|
2 |
Alianza Lima |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
5-2 |
6 |
|
|
3 |
ADT Tarma |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4-1 |
6 |
|
|
4 |
Los Chankas |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4-1 |
6 |
|
|
5 |
Universitario de Deportes |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
7-1 |
4 |
|
|
6 |
Sporting Cristal |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
5-3 |
3 |
|
|
7 |
Cienciano |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2-2 |
3 |
|
|
8 |
Sport Huancayo |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2-2 |
3 |
|
|
9 |
UTC Cajamarca |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2-2 |
3 |
|
|
10 |
Deportivo Garcilaso |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1-1 |
3 |
|
|
11 |
Sport Boys |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2-5 |
3 |
|
|
12 |
Atlético Grau |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1-1 |
2 |
|
|
13 |
Unión Comercio |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1-2 |
1 |
|
|
14 |
Alianza Atlético |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0-2 |
1 |
|
|
15 |
Carlos A. Mannucci |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0-6 |
1 |
|
|
16 |
Comerciantes Unidos |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1-4 |
0 |
|
|
17 |
Universidad César Vallejo |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4-8 |
0 |
|
|
18 |
Cusco FC |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1-5 |
0 |
|
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.
Aggregate table (Apertura + Clausura)
|
1 |
Universitario (AW) |
19 |
13 |
5 |
1 |
39-8 |
44 |
Qualified for the play-offs & CL |
|
2 |
FBC Melgar |
19 |
14 |
2 |
3 |
44-21 |
44 |
Qualified for the play-offs & CL |
|
3 |
Sporting Cristal |
19 |
14 |
1 |
4 |
49-23 |
43 |
Qualified for Copa Libertadores |
|
4 |
Alianza Lima |
19 |
13 |
0 |
6 |
37-18 |
39 |
Qualified for Copa Libertadores |
|
5 |
ADT Tarma |
19 |
10 |
4 |
5 |
33-25 |
34 |
Qualified for C. Sudamericana |
|
6 |
Cienciano |
19 |
7 |
8 |
4 |
22-22 |
29 |
Qualified for C. Sudamericana |
|
7 |
Cusco FC |
19 |
9 |
2 |
8 |
23-26 |
29 |
Qualified for C. Sudamericana |
|
8 |
Los Chankas |
19 |
8 |
3 |
8 |
29-27 |
27 |
Qualified for C. Sudamericana |
|
9 |
Sport Boys |
19 |
6 |
4 |
9 |
20-25 |
22 |
|
|
10 |
Sport Huancayo |
19 |
6 |
4 |
9 |
20-31 |
22 |
|
|
11 |
Comerciantes Unidos |
19 |
6 |
4 |
9 |
23-35 |
22 |
|
|
12 |
Atlético Grau |
19 |
4 |
9 |
6 |
20-18 |
21 |
|
|
13 |
Universidad César Vallejo |
19 |
4 |
8 |
7 |
23-32 |
20 |
|
|
14 |
UTC Cajamarca |
19 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
23-31 |
19 |
|
|
15 |
Deportivo Garcilaso |
19 |
4 |
5 |
10 |
21-27 |
17 |
|
|
16 |
Alianza Atlético |
19 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
11-21 |
15 |
Relegation to Second Division |
|
17 |
Carlos A. Mannucci |
19 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
11-40 |
15 |
Relegation to Second Division |
|
18 |
Unión Comercio |
19 |
1 |
7 |
11 |
18-36 |
10 |
Relegation to Second Division |
AW – Apertura winners
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.
Round 3 (25-27 July 2024)
Alianza Atlético – FBC Melgar
Universidad César Vallejo – UTC Cajamarca
Cusco FC – Sport Huancayo
Unión Comercio – Atlético Grau
Comerciantes Unidos – Carlos A. Mannucci
Deportivo Garcilaso – Sport Boys
Universitario de Deportes – Alianza Lima
Sporting Cristal – Cienciano
ADT Tarma – Los Chankas
