Cusco FC won away at Alianza Lima, Universitario are again champions

Alianza Lima - Cusco FC 1-2 (0-0)

Cabellos 87' - Colitto 79', Ramos 81'.

Sunday, 3 November 2024, 3 pm local time (8 pm UTC), Alejandro Villanueva (Matute) Stadium, Lima, Peru, the 17th (last) round of Clausura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).

Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: Liga 1 Te Apuesto.

Alianza Lima starting line-up. Photo source: Liga 1 Te Apuesto.

Before the last round of Clausura, Universitario de Deportes and Alianza Lima were equal on points, but Universitario had a much better goal difference than Alianza, so the only way for Alianza to win the Clausura was to get a better result than Universitario in the last round. The other, less likely way, was a win by a huge goal difference (at least 8 goals) over Cusco FC, to counter a potential win by Universitario away at Los Chankas. 

Well, everything was considered possible and even feasible before these two matches, although everybody expected both Universitario and Alianza Lima to win, and Universitario to be crowned champions after winning both Apertura and Clausura on goal difference. Eventually, Universitario became national champions for the 28th time even without winning away at Los Chankas, because Alianza failed to get any point at home in the decisive match against Cusco FC. Given this result, Universitario would have been champions even if they had lost. Sporting Cristal were also watching closely the two games, hoping for Alianza to get the Clausura, because in this case they would have been qualified to the play-off for the title as second classified in the aggregate table. Because Universitario won both tournaments, Apertura and Clausura, they were crowned champions and no play-off is going to be played. Therefore, these were the last matches of the Peruvian First Division (Liga 1) in the 2024 season.

Goalkeeper Andy Vidal collected yet another ball in front of Paolo Guerrero and Sabbag. Photo source: ovacio.pe.

Cusco FC came to this match in Lima after two unexpected defeats, 4-1 away at Carlos A. Mannucci (relegated in the meantime) and 1-0 at home to Atlético Grau. They had nothing to lose (or to win), because they were already sure of the fifth place in the aggregate table and a participation in the next year Copa Sudamericana. On the contrary, all the pressure was on Alianza Lima, which needed to win, and have had a good streak of three consecutive wins and five matches undefeated before this game.

Pablo Cárdenas (Cusco FC) and Juan Pablo Freytes (Alianza Lima) are chasing the ball. Photo source: Liga 1 Te Apuesto.

The match was very disputed from the start. Alianza Lima took an offensive stance, and missed a few opportunities even in the first ten minutes, by means of Sebastián Rodríguez, Paolo Guerrero and the biggest one, a header by Noriega (10'). Cusco defence resisted, and slowly the intensity of Alianza attacks dropped, leading to a more balanced game in the rest of the second half.

In Cusco FC, Aucca suffered a serious injury in his knee and had to be replaced by Cárdenas, which was considered as a blow for the visitors' midfield. Nevertheless, Cárdenas played a good game and stood close to Valenzuela, who was the main defensive midfielder for Cusco FC.

Juan Pablo Freytes (Alianza Lima) preparing to cross in front of Nicolás Silva (Cusco FC). Photo source: Liga 1 Te Apuesto.

Cusco FC even had the chance to score in the first half, in one of their counterattacks. Silva changed the side to the right, where Colitto was all by himself, but the Argentinian winger, after moving into the box, was not able to get the right shot in time, being blocked by Noriega in the last moment (36').

In the second half, Alianza Lima seemed very decided to take the game in their favour, especially after learning that the score was still 0-0 at half time between Los Chankas and Universitario in Andahuaylas. Alianza moved all their lines forward, and the game was played almost entirely in the Cusco FC half of the field, and even more, in and around their box. The pressure from Alianza was immense and opportunities started to emerge, one after the other. Goalkeeper Andy Vidal had to save, to collect or to block almost every minute, and Cusco FC defence made a very good job, especially Alan Pérez dominated the box, heading away multiple crosses which came in just like drops of rain. Aguirre missed a very good opportunity in the first minutes of the second half, after a mistaken pass in the Cusco FC defence. Then, Vidal was not able to catch the ball after a powerful header by Guerrero from close range, but Garcés missed the target (66'). Gonzalo Aguirre had a great shot from the edge of the box, but Vidal saved miraculously (75'). It looked like the goal was in the air, and it was coming. But it came in the opposite goal.

Lucas Colitto (Cusco FC) scored and celebrated the first goal of the match. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page.

While Alianza Lima were amassing all their players in the attack, hoping to break the opposite defence, Cusco FC launched a deadly counterattack. Silva crossed from right to left for Ramos, who headed the ball towards Colitto, and the Argentinian succeeded to get to the ball before the defender and to find the target with a beautiful shot, sending a shockwave throughout the stadium: 0-1 (79').

Lucas Colitto (center) celebrating together with his teammates after scoring. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page.

Alianza Lima players were still in a state of shock when the second goal by Cusco FC was scored, two minutes later. This time, the counterattack consisted of only two players, Nicolás Silva and Luis Ramos, who combined beautifully and efficiently, and Luis Ramos eventually had a shot from outside the box, to the far post: 0-2 (81').

Luis Ramos celebrating his scoring the second goal of the game. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page.

The match looked over at 2-0 for Cusco FC, and some of the fans in the stadium began to leave. However, it was not over yet. This time, it was Alianza that had nothing to lose, and the home side gathered forces to lay siege on the opposite goal. Less concentrated than before, Cusco FC conceded a goal rather quickly. Andy Vidal made a mistake, boxing away a ball right into the feet of Catriel Cabellos, who was swift and shot to the empty net without controlling the ball, but hitting the target: 1-2 (87').

 Catriel Cabellos scored the only goal for Alianza Lima in this game. Photo source: Liga 1 Te Apuesto.

In the final minutes, as well as in added time, Alianza Lima pressed hard for an equalizer, but it looked like they were running out of time and out of luck. Cusco FC defence was solid once again, and they preserved the result right until the final whistle. The match in Adahuaylas had finished 0-0, so not even an equalizer would have saved Alianza anyway. For Cusco FC, this is a great win and a payback for what Alianza did back in 2017, when Cusco FC was still called Real Garcilaso.

Alianza Lima players were devastated after the final whistle. Photo source: ovacion.pe.

Alianza: Campos - Noriega, Zambrano, Garcés (V. Guzmán 72') - Arregui (Aguirre 35'), Zanelatto (Cabellos 46'), Freytes, S. Rodríguez - Sabbag, Guerrero, Quevedo (D'Arrigo 46'). Manager: Mariano Soso.

Cusco: Vidal - Ramírez, Bilbao, Pérez, Zevallos (Tamariz 77') - Valenzuela, Aucca (Cárdenas 17') - Silva (P. Guzmán 85'), Colman, Colitto - Ramos (Tévez 84'). Manager: Miguel Rondelli.

Referee: Fernando Legario.

Yellow cards: Sabbag 31', Zambrano 84' - Zevallos 66', Ramírez 90'+7'.

Full results and final tables:

 

Round 17 (31 October – 3 November 2024)

 

Cienciano – Unión Comercio 7-0

ADT Tarma – Sport Boys 1-0

Atlético Grau – Universidad César Vallejo 3-1

UTC Cajamarca – Sport Huancayo 1-1

Carlos A. Mannucci – Alianza Atlético 2-2

Sporting Cristal – Comerciantes Unidos 3-0

Los Chankas – Universitario de Deportes 0-0

Alianza Lima – Cusco FC 1-2

FBC Melgar – Deportivo Garcilaso 1-1

 

Final Clausura table

 

1	Universitario de Deportes (W)	17	11	4	2	31-10	37	Champions
2	Alianza Lima	17	11	3	3	25-11	36
3	Sporting Cristal	17	10	4	3	47-15	34
4	FBC Melgar	17	9	5	3	30-16	32
5	Atlético Grau	17	8	8	1	25-11	32
6	Cusco FC	17	9	4	4	28-23	31
7	Alianza Atlético	17	8	6	3	17-15	30
8	Cienciano	17	8	2	7	28-24	26
9	ADT Tarma	17	6	5	6	18-16	23
10	Deportivo Garcilaso	17	7	2	8	17-17	23
11	Sport Huancayo	17	5	4	8	21-28	19
12	Los Chankas	17	4	6	7	17-21	18
13	Carlos A. Mannucci	17	4	5	8	23-30	17
14	Sport Boys	17	4	4	9	14-31	16
15	UTC Cajamarca	17	3	6	8	14-24	15
16	Comerciantes Unidos	17	3	4	10	14-29	13
17	Universidad César Vallejo	17	2	4	11	15-31	10
18	Unión Comercio	17	2	2	13	13-45	8

 

W – Clausura winners

Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.

 

Final aggregate table (Apertura + Clausura)

 

1	Universitario (AW, CW, C)	34	23	8	3	63-17	77	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
2	Sporting Cristal	34	23	5	6	91-35	74	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
3	FBC Melgar	34	21	7	6	66-35	70	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
4	Alianza Lima	34	22	3	9	57-27	69	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
5	Cusco FC	34	18	6	10	50-44	60	Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
6	Cienciano	34	14	10	10	48-44	52	Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
7	Atlético Grau	34	12	15	7	44-28	51	Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
8	ADT Tarma	34	14	9	11	47-40	51	Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
9	Alianza Atlético	34	11	11	12	28-34	44
10	Los Chankas	34	10	9	15	42-47	39
11	Sport Huancayo	34	10	8	16	39-57	38
12	Deportivo Garcilaso	34	10	7	17	37-43	37
13	Sport Boys	34	9	8	17	32-51	35
14	Comerciantes Unidos	34	9	8	17	36-60	35
15	UTC Cajamarca	34	7	10	17	35-53	31
16	Carlos A. Mannucci (R)	34	7	10	17	34-64	31	Relegated to the Second Division
17	Univ. César Vallejo (R)	34	6	12	16	34-55	30	Relegated to the Second Division
18	Unión Comercio (R)	34	3	8	23	30-79	17	Relegated to the Second Division

 

AW – Apertura winners

CW – Clausura winners

C – Champions

R – Relegated

Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.