Universitario de Deportes 3-2 Cusco FC
Valera 22', 66' penalty, Riveros 26' - Callejo 34', Tévez 86' penalty
Saturday, 27 September 2025, 6 pm local time (11 pm UTC), Monumental Stadium, Lima, Peru, 11th round of Clausura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).
Universitario de Deportes starting line-up. Photo source: Liga 1 Facebook page
Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: Liga 1 Facebook page
The top two teams in the Clausura table met on Saturday evening in what could have been the decisive match for this year's title in Peruvian First Division. Cusco FC, after 16 matches unbeaten, had just surprisingly lost at home 2-0 to ADT Tarma, missing the chance to top the table right before the derby against Universitario. On the other hand, Universitario de Deportes are unbeaten in Clausura and had the advantage of their home ground, where they are heavily supported by their numerous fans. More than that, Universitario de Deportes are already winners of the Apertura, so winning the Clausura will bring them the title automatically, without the need for a play-off. Now they seem closer than ever to this third consecutive title, after enlarging the gap between them and second classified Cusco FC from two points to five points.
There were many hard-fought duels in the match. Photo source: Liga 1 Facebook page
The game started well, with both teams trying to open up the opposite defense, and a number of good opportunities at both ends. However, set pieces proved to be decisive in this match. The home side managed to break the deadlock after a corner kick, which followed an obvious trained scheme, with a short pass to Pérez Guedes, who crossed to the near post to Álex Valera, who scored with his left foot despite the opposition from a Cusco defender: 1-0 (22').
Álex Valera scored the first goal of the game. Photo source: Liga 1 Facebook page
Less than four minutes later, after another corner, Universitario doubled their advantage. This time, Jairo Concha crossed the ball in the middle of the box, Fuentes and goalkeeper Díaz failed to clear, and Williams Riveros was in the right place to touch the ball with his body and tap it in: 2-0 (26').
Williams Riveros saluting the crowd after scoring the second goal of the match. Photo source: Liga 1 Facebook page
It seemed like the game was over, but nonetheless Cusco FC replied shortly after. Marlon Ruidias crossed from the right side, and Facundo Callejo, the goalscorer of the competition, headed the ball in from inside the box: 2-1 (34').
Facundo Callejo (in black) headed the ball in, putting Cusco FC back in the game. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
In the second half, both teams pushed for more goals, Universitario to regain a more suitable advantage, and Cusco FC to equalize. However, the main Cusco FC striker, Facundo Callejo, left the field injured in the first minutes of the second half, reducing the offensive potential of the team. Universitario were more straight forward, initiating many actions, especially on the sides. In one such action, Marlon Ruidias touched unintentionally the ball with his hand inside the box, changing slightly the trajectory of the ball. After reviewing the action, with the help of VAR, the referee awarded a penalty for Universitario, and Álex Valera converted the penalty: 3-1 (66').
Álex Valera is congratulated by his teammates for converting the penalty. Photo source: Liga 1 Facebook page
Universitario de Deportes looked quite pleased with a two-goal advantage, leaving Cusco FC in control of the game, while they retreated in defensive mood, and ready to launch counter-attacks. Cusco FC tried hard, but succeeded little. However, they came back to one goal difference towards the end of the game. Juan Manuel Tévez was assisted in the box, but Matías Di Benedetto pushed him and Tévez fell. The referee reviewed once again carefully, with the help of VAR, and decided once again to award a penalty, this time for Cusco FC. Tévez converted: 3-2 (86').
Juan Manuel Tévez converted the penalty for Cusco FC. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
Nevertheless, in the remaining minutes, Cusco FC did not have enough strength to equalize, and Universitario won three big points, which make them favourites to win a third consecutive title this autumn. Cusco FC remain in the battle for the second place, and they still have a fighting chance even for the first place in the Clausura (and therefore a chance to qualify for the play-offs), but they need to get back to winning form, and Universitario to lose some points in the upcoming matches.
Universitario: Britos - Santamaría, Riveros, Di Benedetto - Polo, Pérez Guedes (Rivera 89'), Castillo (Murrugarra 74'), Concha (Reyna 89'), Carabalí (Inga 69') - Vélez (Flores 69'), Valera. Manager: Jorge Fossati.
Cusco: Díaz - Ruidias (Zevallos 66'), Fuentes, Gamarra, Ampuero (Custodio 86') - Díez (Aucca 86'), Valenzuela - N. Silva (Da Silva 67'), Colman, Colitto - Callejo (Tévez 48'). Manager: Miguel Rondelli.
Referee: Daniel Ureta.
Yellow cards: Riveros 84' - Ampuero 1', Tévez 88'.
Cusco FC will have a very difficult game on Tuesday evening, at home against their local rivals, Deportivo Garcilaso, while Universitario de Deportes will play away at Alianza Atlético de Sullana.
Full results, tables and fixtures:
Round 11 (25-28 September 2025)
Ayacucho FC – Juan Pablo II College 2-1
Deportivo Garcilaso – UTC Cajamarca 0-0
Alianza Universidad – Sport Boys 2-3
ADT Tarma – Alianza Atlético 1-0
Atlético Grau – Sport Huancayo 3-1
Comerciantes Unidos – FBC Melgar 1-1
Universitario de Deportes – Cusco FC 3-2
Cienciano – Alianza Lima 2-1
Los Chankas – Deportivo Binacional cancelled
Sporting Cristal bye
Round 12 (29 September – 2 October 2025)
UTC Cajamarca – Los Chankas 2-0
Sporting Cristal – Ayacucho FC 3-0
Sport Huancayo – Alianza Universidad 5-1
Juan Pablo II College – ADT Tarma 1-1
Cusco FC – Deportivo Garcilaso
Alianza Atlético – Universitario de Deportes
Alianza Lima – Atlético Grau
FBC Melgar – Cienciano
Deportivo Binacional – Comerciantes Unidos cancelled
Sport Boys bye
Clausura table
|
1 |
Universitario de Deportes |
10 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
18-8 |
24 |
Qualified for the play-offs |
|
2 |
Sporting Cristal |
10 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
18-5 |
19 |
|
|
3 |
Cusco FC |
9 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
13-8 |
19 |
|
|
4 |
Deportivo Garcilaso |
10 |
4 |
6 |
0 |
14-8 |
18 |
|
|
5 |
ADT Tarma |
11 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
12-13 |
17 |
|
|
6 |
Alianza Lima |
10 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
15-11 |
15 |
|
|
7 |
Cienciano |
10 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
16-13 |
15 |
|
|
8 |
Sport Huancayo |
12 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
22-20 |
15 |
|
|
9 |
FBC Melgar |
11 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
16-13 |
14 |
|
|
10 |
Atlético Grau |
10 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
15-13 |
14 |
|
|
11 |
Comerciantes Unidos |
10 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
11-15 |
12 |
|
|
12 |
Los Chankas |
9 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
12-22 |
12 |
|
|
13 |
Juan Pablo II College |
10 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
9-11 |
11 |
|
|
14 |
Alianza Atlético |
9 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
6-4 |
10 |
|
|
15 |
Ayacucho FC |
11 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
8-17 |
10 |
|
|
16 |
Alianza Universidad |
11 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
12-23 |
10 |
|
|
17 |
Sport Boys |
11 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
8-15 |
9 |
|
|
18 |
UTC Cajamarca |
10 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
8-14 |
6 |
|
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) fair-play (according to the number of red and yellow cards); 5) drawing of lots.
Aggregate table (Apertura + Clausura)
|
1 |
Universitario de Deportes |
28 |
19 |
6 |
3 |
56-20 |
63 |
Qualified for play-offs & CL |
|
2 |
Cusco FC |
27 |
16 |
5 |
6 |
47-28 |
53 |
Qualified for play-offs & CL |
|
3 |
Alianza Lima |
28 |
15 |
7 |
6 |
38-22 |
52 |
Qualified for C. Libertadores |
|
4 |
Sporting Cristal |
28 |
15 |
6 |
7 |
49-29 |
51 |
Qualified for C. Libertadores |
|
5 |
Deportivo Garcilaso |
28 |
12 |
9 |
7 |
42-27 |
45 |
Qualified for C.Sudamericana |
|
6 |
FBC Melgar |
29 |
11 |
12 |
6 |
44-33 |
45 |
Qualified for C.Sudamericana |
|
7 |
Sport Huancayo |
30 |
13 |
6 |
11 |
45-41 |
45 |
Qualified for C.Sudamericana |
|
8 |
Alianza Atlético |
27 |
13 |
5 |
9 |
34-22 |
44 |
Qualified for C.Sudamericana |
|
9 |
ADT Tarma |
29 |
11 |
8 |
10 |
36-43 |
41 |
|
|
10 |
Cienciano |
28 |
9 |
11 |
8 |
45-38 |
38 |
|
|
11 |
Atlético Grau |
28 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
38-37 |
36 |
|
|
12 |
Los Chankas |
27 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
36-47 |
35 |
|
|
13 |
Juan Pablo II College |
28 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
29-39 |
30 |
|
|
14 |
Sport Boys |
29 |
7 |
8 |
14 |
34-43 |
29 |
|
|
15 |
Ayacucho FC |
29 |
7 |
4 |
18 |
22-44 |
25 |
|
|
16 |
UTC Cajamarca |
28 |
6 |
7 |
15 |
25-48 |
25 |
|
|
17 |
Comerciantes Unidos |
28 |
5 |
8 |
15 |
28-46 |
23 |
Relegation to Liga 2 |
|
18 |
Alianza Universidad |
29 |
5 |
6 |
18 |
28-56 |
21 |
Relegation to Liga 2 |
|
19 |
Deportivo Binacional (R) |
18 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
20-33 |
18 |
Relegated to Liga 2 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) fair-play (according to the number of red and yellow cards); 5) drawing of lots.
R – relegated
Round 13 (3-5 October 2025)
Comerciantes Unidos – UTC Cajamarca
Los Chankas – Cusco FC
ADT Tarma – Sporting Cristal
Sport Boys – Sport Huancayo
Alianza Universidad – Alianza Lima
Deportivo Garcilaso – Alianza Atlético
Atlético Grau – FBC Melgar
Universitario de Deportes – Juan Pablo II College
Cienciano – Deportivo Binacional cancelled
Ayacucho FC bye