Third consecutive win for UTC Cajamarca, poor start of the season for Cusco FC

UTC Cajamarca 1-0 (0-0) Cusco FC

Marlon de Jesús 78' (penalty)

Friday, 13 February 2026, 3 pm local time (8 pm UTC), Héroes de San Ramón Stadium, Cajamarca, Peru, 3rd round of Apertura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).

UTC Cajamarca starting line-up. Photo source: Ale Villena / David Villena (Facebook)

Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: Ale Villena / David Villena (Facebook)

UTC Cajamarca was a team which fought to avoid relegation in previous seasons, but it looks like a completely different team this season, fact which is easily provedby their three consecutive wins at the start of the 2026 season. On the other hand, Cusco FC was a team which, last season, fought for the title and came in second place, but this season, despite having the same manager and pretty much the same players, has had an unexpected poor start of the season, with one draw at home against title holders Universitario, and two rather similar defeats (1-0) away at Alianza Atlético de Sullana and UTC de Cajamarca.

The match was intense, but there were few chances. Photo source: UTC Cajamarca Facebook page

UTC Cajamarca dominated most of the match and had most of the goal chances. In the first half, Cusco FC tried to impose their usual play, based on ball possession, but they rarely reached the opposite box. The home side preferred a more direct approach, but their opportunities came mainly from shots from range, rather than well-built actions. Arce had a number of powerful shots (6', 8', 36'), the latter from a free kick close to the box, but goalkeeper Díaz saved without too much trouble.

Abdiel Arroyo (UTC) and Álvaro Ampuero (Cusco FC) in an aerial dispute for the ball. Photo source: UTC Cajamarca Facebook page

The second half was better in terms of actions and chances, but still very boring for the neutral audience. UTC pushed more, Marlon de Jesús' header went slightly wide (58'), and the same happened to the shots of Adolfo Muñoz (67' and 70'). 

Adolfo Muñoz had a couple of good shots, but missed the target. Photo source: Liga de Fútbol profesional - Perú (Facebook page)

The only goal of the game came logically for UTC Cajamarca, which was better, but it was due to a serious error of the referees (VAR included), which awarded a penalty for UTC Cajamarca for a hand ball by Soto (Cusco FC) in his own box that was purely accidental, with the ball initially sent from a corner kick, headed by Marlon de Jesús, and coming from the ground to his hand, which was in a natural position, less than one meter from where the striker hit it (75'). Some may say that this was a sort of "divine justice", given that Cusco FC received a similarly debatable penalty in the previous round, which allowed them to equalize the score (1-1) against Universitario.

Nevertheless, despite revision from VAR, the referee stood by his (wrong) decision, and the penalty was converted by the same Marlon de Jesús: 1-0 (78').

Marlon de Jesús celebrates after scoring the only goal of the match from the penalty spot. Photo source: UTC Cajamarca Facebook page

This proved to be the only and therefore decisive goal of the match. In the final minutes, Cusco FC tried everything to get an equalizer, but failed. Facundo Callejo had a shot (79'), but the greatest opportunity was missed by Nicolás Silva, in stoppage time (90'+2'). In both cases, goalkeeper Campos denied the equalizer for the visitors.

Cusco FC manager Miguel Rondelli tried to change something in this game - the line-up, starting with new players Manzaneda and Soto, which eventually proved to be a wrong decision. Manzaneda, while playing very well in the previous games after coming in, was one of the weakest in this game and the first to be substituted. Soto brought almost nothing in midfield and was the unlucky cause for the penalty which gave UTC the chance to win the game. Cusco FC desperately need a good result to get out of this poor form, and they might get it in the next round, when they have a relatively easy game at home against Comerciantes Unidos.

UTC Cajamarca, on the other hand, are free to dream, given their position almost at the top of the table. They are actually second, despite having the highest possible amount of points, because FBC Melgar with the same points have a better goal difference. Their next game will be away at ADT Tarma, a difficult one.

 UTC: Campos - Garro, Serra, Duarte, Caro (Huerto 82') - Dioses, Arce (Figuera 63') - Camacho (Arroyo 63'), Lliuya, Muñoz (Rasmussen 72') - De Jesús (Ganoza 82'). Manager: Carlos Bustos.

Cusco: Díaz - Ruidías, Fuentes, Gamarra (Silva 81'), Ampuero - Soto, Valenzuela (Tévez 81') - Colitto, Colmán, Manzaneda (Carabajal 65') - Callejo. Manager: Miguel Rondelli.

Referee: Joel Alarcón.

Yellow cards: Dioses 80' - Fuentes 36', Gamarra 53'.