Cusco FC 2-0 (1-0) Sporting Cristal
Colman 37' penalty, Callejo 56'
First leg: 0-1. Cusco FC won 2-1 on aggregate.
Sunday, 14 December 2025, 6 pm local time (11 pm UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, 2nd leg of the play-off final, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).
Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
Sporting Cristal starting line-up. Photo source: Liga 1 Facebook page
Cusco FC had their greatest achievement in their history on Sunday evening, the 14th of December 2025, when they succeeded to win 2-0 (and 2-1 on aggregate) over Sporting Cristal in the play-off final for the second place. It is true, for those who remember, that they were runners-up three times before, when their name was Real Garcilaso, in 2012, 2013, and 2017, but in two of those situations they ended up in second place after losing the play-off for the title, and certainly there was no joy in losing the title, while in 2017 they classified second without any play-offs. This time, according to the new regulations, even if Universitario became champions by winning both tournaments of the year (Apertura and Clausura), a play-off for the second place was organised for the first time in the history of Peruvian football. This was not necessarily what Cusco FC would have wanted, since they finished second in the aggregate table anyway. The third (Alianza Lima) and fourth (Sporting Cristal) classified played a semifinal, and Sporting Cristal qualified to the final rather surprisingly at penalties, after two draws, 1-1 and 3-3.
In the first leg of the final, Sporting Cristal won 1-0 at home, the only goal scored by Santiago González rather early (15'). Sporting Cristal missed several chances to increase their advantage, but Cusco FC also had a huge chance to equalize in the final minutes, when Juan Manuel Tévez missed the target in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper.
Marlon Ruidías (Cusco FC, left) tries to get past Maxloren Castro (Sporting Cristal). Photo source: Liga 1 Facebook page
In Cusco, the match started from 1-0 to Sporting Cristal, the slender advantage that the team of Lima had from the first leg. The visitors focused primarily on wasting as much time as possible in the first 35 minutes of the game, keeping the ball away from their own box, fragmenting the game, and establishing a pace as low as possible. Even when they had the chance of a swift and dangerous counterattack, they preferred to scale down and to keep possession of the ball, instead of creating a chance. On the other hand, Cusco FC tried to built up the attacks in the usual style, but it did not work out so well in the first half an hour, possibly because they tried too much to speed things up, when a calmer mood would have probably helped more.
The first chance came after more than half an hour, when Marlon Ruidías had a good shot from range, but Enríquez saved (31'). This gave the signal for a more serious offensive from the home side, and it paid off quickly. The same Ruidías crossed from the right side, and Miguel Araujo tackled Pierre da Silva inside the box (35'). The referee left the game to continue for a few seconds more, but Cusco FC did not score, so he whistled and awarded a penalty for Cusco FC. Ivan Colman converted calmly: 1-0 (37').
Ivan Colman (Cusco FC) converted the penalty, bringing the final to a tie on aggregate. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
After the goal, Sporting Cristal woke up from the dead and started playing some football, while Cusco FC retreated instinctively in defence, although they actually needed a second goal to win the play-off final. The match became more animated. Cusco FC had a number of dangerous crosses from the right, while Sporting Cristal reached several times the opposite box. The biggest chance of the visitors in the first half came in stoppage time, when Gerald Távara's shot from long range was blocked by goalkeeper Díaz (45'+1').
Cusco FC centre-back Carlos Gamarra headed the ball away in front of Diego Otoya (Sporting Cristal). Photo source: Liga 1 Facebook page
The second half started equally interesting, with both teams in search of a goal that would bring them in advantage. Once again, Cusco FC seemed the team more willing and eager to attack, and once again they were rewarded. Lucas Colitto took a corner from the left side, Fuentes made a sort of paravan for Facundo Callejo, whose right-footed powerful shot went in: 2-0 (56').
Facundo Callejo (left) celebrates after he scored the second and decisive goal of the game, joined by Carlo Díez. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
Paulo Autuori, Sporting Cristal manager, reacted and made three changes (60'), a little bit too late, I would say. The game was actually played. However, the visitors had more than 30 minutes to score a goal and force the penalties, as they did against Alianza Lima in the semifinal, when they came back from 3-1 for Alianza to 3-3, and then they won the penalty shoot-outs. But this happened in Lima, because both Alianza and Sporting Cristal are from Lima. It is different in Cusco, at more than 3,000 metres above sea level. The locals are adapted, those from Lima are not, and their physical strength was on a descending curve in the second half, despite the substitutions, which actually did not bring too much.
The biggest danger came from Gerald Távara, whose long range shots (one of them from a free kick, 71') gave some trouble to goalkeeper Díaz. A potential numerical superiority in an attack was poorly judged by newly-entered Luis Iberico, who chose to try a shot instead of a logical pass to one of the free teammates ideally placed in the box (77').
Pierre da Silva, who had made an excellent game until then, had the bad idea of tackling hard Santiago González from behind (79'). He probably knew he was going to be substituted, and possibly had some sort of revenge to take against the Cristal winger. He thought a yellow card would not be much. Wrong decision. The referee gave him a yellow card initially, but after reviewing the action with the help of VAR he changed his mind and awarded a straight red (83'). Therefore, Da Silva left his team down to 10 men in a difficult situation, while Aucca, who was prepared to come in (celebrating his 150th match for Cusco FC), had to remain on the bench.
In the final minutes, tensions rose to new heights. There was an incident involving a ball boy who kept the ball in his hands, to be taken away somewhat aggresively by one Sporting Cristal staff. Several minutes went before the situation calmed. The referee indicated 7 minutes of stoppage time, then 9 minutes of stoppage time, then 10. Cusco FC wasted as much time as possible, while Sporting Cristal created as much pressure as they could in the opposite box, but their actions became predictible, with long high balls sent randomly in the box and easily cleared by Cusco FC defenders, on and on again.
Cusco FC players celebrating together with the large crowd that came to support them. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
There was nothing else to be done, Cusco FC resisted until the final whistle, and the game finished 2-0. Cusco FC won 2-1 on aggregate, won the play-off for the second place, and qualified after 8 years in the group stages of Copa Libertadores.
Cusco FC, 2025 runners-up of the Peruvian First Division (Liga 1). Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
After the game, the Peruvian Federation officials gave the silver medals to all the players and staff of Cusco FC, who celebrated this achievement in the field together with their supporters.
The entire squad deserves to be congratulated, but special mentions need to go to Pedro Díaz, the best goalkeeper in the league, Ivan Colman, the player with most assists in the league (18 assists), and Facundo Callejo, the best goalscorer of the league, with 25 goals. It is worth noting that the second best in terms of assists is Lucas Colitto, also of Cusco FC, with 11 assists.
Goalkeeper Pedro Díaz with the award for the best goalkeeper in the play-offs. He was also recently called up for the Peru national team as well. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
These results would not have been possible without the team led by manager Miguel Rondelli. His contribution to the accomplishments of Cusco FC in the last 2 years is enormous, and he should be kept in charge as long as possible. One wonders how far can he get with this team.
Cusco FC: Díaz - Ruidías (Zevallos 86'), Fuentes, Gamarra, Ampuero - Valenzuela, Diez - Da Silva, Colman, Colitto (Silva 65') - Callejo (Tévez 74'). Manager: Miguel Rondelli.
Sporting Cristal: Enríquez - Sosa, Araujo, Lütiger, Castro (Iberico 76') - Távara, Cazonatti (Pretell 60'), Wisdom (Pasquini 60') - S. González, Otoya (Ávila 65'), Pacheco (Benavente 60'). Manager: Paulo Autuori.
Referee: Bruno Pérez.
Yellow cards: Ampuero 51', Fuentes 69' - Pacheco 26', Távara 54', C. Gonzales 81'.
Red card: Da Silva 83'.
Cusco FC staff, including manager Miguel Rondelli (third from the right). Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page
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