Real Garcilaso ended the Peruvian Apertura on sixth place with a goalless draw over Universitario. Local rivals Cienciano are the first opponents in the Copa Bicentenario

In the last round of the Apertura, on Friday, the 7th of June, Real Garcilaso played at home against Universitario de Deportes, one of the most beloved teams in Peru. Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium in Cusco was once again almost full, despite the game being played on a Friday afternoon. Unfortunately for the football fans, not much football has been played.

The home side controlled most of the game in the first half but was unable to score. Right before half time, Joao Ortiz (Real Garcilaso) received a second yellow card and was sent off.

This event pretty much ended the game because in the second half Real Garcilaso, with one man down, could not do much, while the visitors did not try too heavily to gain something out of this situation. Both teams seemed rather happy with a 0-0 draw at the end.
Real Garcilaso: Ferreyra - Arismendi (82 Canova), Robles, Quina, Joao Ortiz - Miguez - Lecaros (63 Goyoneche), Nunez, Ramua, Souza (86 Carando) - Rengifo. Head coach: Juan Reynoso.
Universitario de Deportes: Carvallo - Zevallos, Morales, N. Quina, Vasquez - De La Cruz, Alfageme, Paucar, Hohberg - Correa (76 Grados), Denis. Head coach: Juan Pajuelo.
Real Garcilaso finished sixth in the Apertura and are looking forward to Copa Bicentenario, which will start this Friday, the 21st of June, with a local derby against rivals Cienciano.
Deportivo Binacional are the somehow surprising winners of the Apertura and are qualified in the play-offs and to the Copa Libertadores, provided that they are among the first nine in the final aggregate table.
Last round results and final table of the Peruvian Apertura:

Round 17 (7-11 June 2019)

Alianza Lima – Unión Comercio 1-1

Real Garcilaso – Universitario 0-0

Universidad César Vallejo – Alianza Universidad 1-0

Deportivo Municipal – Carlos A. Mannucci 1-1

Sporting Cristal – Binacional 3-1

Sport Boys – Sport Huancayo 0-1

Academia Cantolao – FBC Melgar 1-5

Ayacucho – Universidad de San Martín 5-0

UTC – Pirata FC 4-1

Final Apertura table

1	Binacional	17	12	0	5	44-23	36	Qualified for the play-off
2	Sporting Cristal	17	9	5	3	28-13	32
3	Universidad César Vallejo	17	9	2	6	25-21	29
4	Deportivo Municipal	17	7	7	3	27-20	27	[1]
5	Alianza Lima	17	7	5	5	30-24	26
6	Real Garcilaso	17	7	5	5	19-15	26
7	Ayacucho FC	17	7	4	6	26-23	25
8	UTC	17	6	7	4	26-24	25
9	Academia Cantolao	17	6	7	4	18-17	25
10	Sport Huancayo	17	6	6	5	22-23	24
11	FBC Melgar	17	6	5	6	26-25	23
12	Universitario de Deportes	17	6	5	6	25-27	23
13	Alianza Universidad	17	5	7	5	18-18	22
14	Carlos Mannucci	17	4	4	9	22-27	16
15	Unión Comercio	17	3	6	8	15-21	15
16	Universidad San Martín	17	3	6	8	13-32	15
17	Pirata FC	17	3	5	9	17-29	13	[1]
18	Sport Boys	17	2	4	11	9-28	10

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[1] Deportivo Municipal and Pirata FC had one point deducted for financial irregularities.

Danilo Carando's late goal brought 3 points to Real Garcilaso away at Unión Comercio

After a disappointing defeat, 3-2 away at Universidad Técnica de Cajamarca, Real Garcilaso managed to win 1-0 in the second consecutive game on the road, this time at Estadio IPD de Moyobamba against Unión Comercio. The match was unusually played on Sunday morning (the 2nd of June), at 11.15 local time, and counted for the 16th (second to last) round of the Peruvian Apertura.

It is interesting to note that both managers, Diego Barragán (Unión Comercio) and Juan Reynoso (Real Garcilaso), viewed the match from the stands, as they had been sent off in the previous round.

The game was very boring in the first half, when almost nothing really happened, as both teams neutralized each other in the middle of the field. The home side tried to attack, but William Mimbela, the main shooter of the squad, was well blocked by the visitors' defence.

 The captains are fighting for the ball: Juan Morales (Unión Comercio, in red) and Hernán Rengifo (Real Garcilaso). Source: La República.

The second half started pretty much the same way and it looked like the game would finish 0-0. However, the visitors made two important substitutions, bringing Alfredo Ramúa and Danilo Carando on the field, who definitely changed the game. Real Garcilaso gained the upper hand in the last 20 minutes or so. Hernán Rengifo's header after a cross by Ramúa sent the ball into the net, but the goal was correctly disallowed for offside. However, in the 80th minute, on a break, the ball went from Ramúa to Rengifo, who smartly touched it towards Danilo Carando, and the Argentinian striker had a great run and finished in style, bringing all 3 points to Cusco.

While the home side struggled vainly to equalize, the visitors had a couple of chances more to finish off the game, but goalkeeper Zamudio denied the shots of Alfredo Ramúa and Cristian Souza.

Unión Comercio: Zamudio - Garro, Manenti, Rabanal, Angeles - Rentería, Morales (64 Dioses) - Ciccolini (64 Rivera), Mimbela, Casique - Succar (74 Rebagliati). Head coach: Diego Barragán.

Real Garcilaso: Ferreyra - Arismendi, Cánova, Benincasa, Joao Ortiz (84 Rivas) - Archimbaud, Míguez - Lecaros (74 Carando), Núñez (64 Ramúa), Souza - Rengifo. Head coach: Juan Reynoso.

Referee: Renzo Castañeda.

Yellow cards: Manenti 20 - Arismendi 57.

Again, head coach Juan Reynoso had a few surprises in the setting up of the starting eleven. First of all, the usual central defenders, Quina and Robles, as well as left-back Cossío, missed the game altogether, as they were not even on the bench. Instead, the manager opted for Cánova and Benincasa as central defenders and Joao Ortiz as left back, all of them less used lately. Even if they did not do anything impressive, their main task was fulfilled, as the opponents did not score. Goalkeeper Ferreyra also had his merits in this, as well as right-back Arismendi and the midfielders, who often came to support the defense and blocked the long-range shots of the well-known Unión Comercio snipers (Mimbela and Rentería, especially).

However, the main surprise was that Alfredo Ramúa was (again) left on the bench and introduced only during the second half, and the same happened with Danilo Carando, who played even less. This time the subs brought the much needed fresh air in the attack and succeeded to turn the game in favour of Real Garcilaso. The short period of time when Ramúa, Souza, Rengifo and Carando were all on the pitch showed just how strong this attack might be if used more often.

Real Garcilaso remains seventh in the Apertura table after this this win, while Unión Comercio moved to the 16th spot and must think seriously about avoiding relegation.

Two wins and two losses for 1. FK Svidník in May 2019

1. FK Svidník played four games in the Slovak 3. Liga (East Group) during the month of May and had alternate results.

In round 24, on Sunday, the 5th of May, 1. FK Svidník played away at MFK Snina. Despite controlling most of the game, the Svidník players were surprised by the home side counter-attacks, two of them finished in goals by the same player, Maros Ferko, in the first half. The visitors managed to score in the beginning of the second half by Dmytro Rohulskyi but received a third goal in the 74th minute, scored by Jakub Lukac. In the last minutes of the game, Marek Matkobis succeeded to score again for 1. FK Svidnik but it was not enough and MFK Snina won 3-2.

It was the fifth consecutive defeat for 1. FK Svidnik, so they needed badly to cut this negative spell. Just like in autumn, the series of bad results finished with the game against FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy, played at home on Sunday, the 12th of May.

The only goal of the game was scored by veteran Marian Panko right before half time, in the 40th minute. It was a tight game, but the home side finally won 1-0.

This result gave strength to the team for the next round, when they played away to ASK Maria Huta, a club which did not win a single match since they moved from Gelnica to Spisské Vlachy. 1. FK Svidnik dominated clearly the whole game but only in the end succeeded to score the winning goal, by means of Dmytro Rohulskyi, in the 75th minute. So, again 1-0 for the Svidník side.

However, the next game, also on the road, this time at Sarisske Michal'any, proved less successful. On Friday, the 24th of May, the home side had the upper hand throughout the match and even had 3-0 after about one hour of play, by means of Vladimir Pyda in 21st minute and Pavol Cicman in the 50th and 61st minute - the second goal from a wonderfully executed free kick. The Svidník team had their opportunities, and in the first half Marek Matkobis's shot hit the crossbar. The same Marek Matkobis scored the consolation goal for the visitors, with a beautiful long-range shot in the 84th minute.

1. FK Svidník players (in red) fight for the ball at Sarisské Michal'any. Marek Matkobis (no. 11) scored their only goal in this match. Source: https://vsfz.futbalnet.sk/spravy/sarisske-michalany-svidnik-3-1

In round 28, played in the first week-end of June, 1. FK Svidník did not play. They are now eighth in the classification and waiting for the local derby against Tesla Stropkov in the second to last round, next week-end. 

In terms of promotion, FC Kosice are mathematically promoted but continue to trash their opponents. At the other end of the table, ASK Maria Huta will remain last and there are some doubts about relegation because three teams from the 2. Liga will be relegated to 3. Liga - East Group: Odeva Lipany, Tatran Presov (what a surprise!) and Slavoj Trebisov. It means that either the group will have 18 teams the next year or that one or two teams should be relegated in order to have just 16 teams, supposing that one or two teams will be promoted from the 4. Liga.

Full results, fixtures and table:

Round 24 (4-5 May 2019)

FK NOVES Spišska Nová Ves – MŠK Tesla Stropkov 1-1

AŠK Maria Huta – FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy 1-2

MFK Snina – 1. FK Svidník 3-2

FC Košice – OŠFK Šarišske Michal’any 4-0

FK Humenné – FK Družstevník Plavnica 5-0

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – TJ FK Vel’ké Revištia 1-0

MFK Vranov and ŠK Milénium Bardejovská Nová Ves did not play.

Round 25 (12 May 2019)

ŠK Milénium Bardejovská Nová Ves – AŠK Maria Huta 3-1

TJ FK Vel’ké Revištia – FK Humenné 3-0

FK Družstevník Plavnica – FK NOVES Spišska Nová Ves 4-1

MŠK Tesla Stropkov – MFK Vranov 1-1

OŠFK Šarišske Michal’any – MFK Snina 2-1

1. FK Svidník – FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy 1-0

FC Košice and MFK Slovan Giraltovce did not play.

Round 26 (18-19 May 2019)

FC Košice – MŠK Tesla Stropkov 2-1

MFK Vranov – FK Družstevník Plavnica 3-1

AŠK Maria Huta – 1. FK Svidník 0-1

FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy – OŠFK Šarišske Michal’any 1-6

FK NOVES Spišska Nová Ves – TJ FK Vel’ké Revištia 1-1

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – ŠK Milénium Bardejovská Nová Ves 1-0

MFK Snina and FK Humenné did not play.

Round 27 (24-26 May 2019)

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – AŠK Maria Huta 3-0

ŠK Milénium Bardejovská Nová Ves – FK Humenné 2-1

TJ FK Vel’ké Revištia – MFK Vranov 2-3

FK Družstevník Plavnica – FC Košice 1-3

MŠK Tesla Stropkov – MFK Snina 1-0

OŠFK Šarišske Michal’any – 1. FK Svidník 3-1

FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy and FK NOVES Spišska Nová Ves did not play.

Round 28 (1-2 June 2019)

FK NOVES Spišska Nová Ves – ŠK Milénium Bardejovská Nová Ves 1-2

AŠK Maria Huta – OŠFK Šarišske Michal’any 0-8

FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy – MŠK Tesla Stropkov 0-0

MFK Snina – FK Družstevník Plavnica 1-2

FC Košice – TJ FK Vel’ké Revištia 9-0

FK Humenné – MFK Slovan Giraltovce 3-0

1. FK Svidník and MFK Vranov did not play.

Table

1	FC Košice	25	24	0	1	87-8	72	Promoted to 2. Liga
2	MFK Vranov	24	18	2	4	62-23	56
3	FK Humenné	24	14	2	8	37-28	44
4	OŠFK Šarišske Michal’any	25	13	1	11	46-31	40
5	NOVES Spišska Nová Ves	24	11	4	9	29-40	37
6	MFK Snina	25	10	3	12	38-46	33
7	MŠK Tesla Stropkov	24	9	5	10	31-29	32
8	1. FK Svidník	24	9	2	13	25-40	29
9	MFK Slovan Giraltovce	24	9	1	14	19-32	28
10	TJ FK Vel’ké Revištia	24	7	6	11	32-42	27
11	Pokrok SEZ Krompachy	24	8	2	14	23-38	26
12	M. Bardejovská Nová Ves	24	7	5	12	39-58	26
13	FK Družstevník Plavnica	24	7	4	13	40-48	25
14	AŠK Maria Huta	25	4	3	18	21-66	15	Possible relegation to 4. Liga

Round 29 (8-9 June 2019)

FK Humenné – AŠK Maria Huta

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – FK NOVES Spišska Nová Ves

ŠK Milénium Bardejovská Nová Ves – MFK Vranov

TJ FK Vel’ké Revištia – MFK Snina

FK Družstevník Plavnica – FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy

MŠK Tesla Stropkov – 1. FK Svidník

OŠFK Šarišske Michal’any and FC Košice do not play.

Round 30 (15-16 June 2019)

MFK Vranov – MFK Slovan Giraltovce

FK NOVES Spišska Nová Ves – FK Humenné

OŠFK Šarišske Michal’any – MŠK Tesla Stropkov

1. FK Svidník – FK Družstevník Plavnica

FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy – TJ FK Vel’ké Revištia

FC Košice – ŠK Milénium Bardejovská Nová Ves

AŠK Maria Huta and MFK Snina do not play.