Cusco FC drew (again) 2-2 with FBC Melgar and remain in the most dangerous part of the table

Wednesday, 4 August 2021, 2:30 pm local time (7:30 pm UTC), San Marcos Stadium, Lima, Peru, the 4th round of the Stage 2, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).

Cusco FC continue their weak form this season, and even when they play better, they fail to win. In their last matches, they luckily drew 2-2 with last classified Binacional (which had plenty of opportunities to score many goals), and then they lost 3-2 to Alianza Universidad, though they came back from 1-0 and 2-1, but were not able to equalize after the third goal of the opponents. The match against Melgar was truthfully considered as more difficult than these previous games, so Cusco FC prepared properly and were ahead most of the match, leading 1-0 (for just a few minutes) and then 2-1 for most of the second half, but Melgar succeeded to equalize in the final minutes and could even have won but Hermoza saved a couple of shots.

The match started very well, with goals from both sides and lots of chances. First, the match has just begun and Édson Aubert scored for Cusco from a free kick: 0-1 (2'). Not long after, a wisely devised attack by Melgar finished with Bordacahar crossing from the right to Iberico at the far post: 1-1 (6'). Melgar had more ball possession, but Cusco responded very well on the counter and used every set piece to inflict danger to the opposite goal. Royón's shot was blocked (11') and Corrales headed the ball to the post (12'). 

The game became less interesting in the middle of the half, with few opportunities for both sides. Melgar maintained the overall control of the game, but rarely reached the opposite goal. Cusco players tried to send large balls to Royón, who sometimes resisted the defenders, and once was able to give the ball back to Ramúa, whose long-range shot (from more than 30 meters!) went straight to the upper-left corner of Cáceda's goal: 1-2 (39'). It is one of the most beautiful goals of the season.

Melgar's attacking pressure immediately increased, but Cusco was able to defend properly until the break. In the second half, the game was mostly the same, with Melgar attacking and Cusco defending. Melgar's manager, Néstor Lorenzo, sent in Kevin Quevedo and Jhonny Vidales for the last 15-20 minutes or so, and the quality of Melgar's attacks increased. Pressure mounted, and Hermoza had several saves which kept Cusco in advantage.

Cusco FC could have also scored, but Carrillo missed a good chance (75'). On the other hand, Vidales (77') and Quevedo (79') were closer to the equalizing goal, which finally arrived: after a collective attack, Vázquez found the needed space on the right side, and his cross was headed in by Vidales: 2-2 (86').

Jhonny Vidales (in red and black, on the ground) scored the equalizing goal for FBC Melgar. Source: Diario Correo

The same Jhonny Vidales could have brought all the points to Arequipa, but his header was saved by Éder Hermoza spectacularly (90'+2').

Both teams were probably unhappy with the final result. Néstor Lorenzo was very much helped by his subs, while Claudio Vivas only made a couple of substitutions, which did not bring anything to Cusco's game, and the bench did not have much to offer.

Melgar: Cáceda - Ibáñez (Vidales 74'), Pereyra, Luján, Reyna - Orzán (Tandazo 78'), Arias (Sánchez 78') - Bordacahar, Vázquez, Iberico (Quevedo 66') - Cuesta. Manager: Néstor Lorenzo.

Cusco: Hermoza - Velásquez, Rizzo, Figueroa, Corrales - Tello, Aubert - Abisab, Ramúa (Espinoza 69'), Rivera - Royón (Carrillo 69'). Manager: Claudio Vivas.

Referee: Edwin Ordóñez.

Yellow cards: Orzán 41, Pereyra 51', Tandazo 89', Vázquez 89' - Rizzo 64', Abisab 89'.

Melgar remain top of the Stage 2 table, and will face Alianza Universidad in the next round, on Monday. Cusco are however more interested in the aggregate table, where they are among the last and in relegation position. Their next match is on Sunday, against newly-promoted Alianza Atlético de Sullana.

Full results, schedule and tables:

Round 4 (2-4 August 2021)

 

Ayacucho – Universidad de San Martín 1-0

Cienciano – Deportivo Municipal 2-3

UTC – Universidad César Vallejo 0-0

Carlos A. Mannucci – Sport Huancayo 1-1

Sporting Cristal – Universitario 2-2

Alianza Atlético – Binacional 0-3

FBC Melgar – Cusco FC 2-2

Alianza Universidad – Sport Boys 2-0

Alianza Lima – Academia Cantolao 2-1

 

Stage 2 (Clausura) table

 

1	FBC Melgar	4	2	2	0	11-4	8	Qualified for the play-off
2	Alianza Lima	4	2	2	0	6-2	8
3	Alianza Universidad	4	2	2	0	6-3	8
4	Universidad César Vallejo	4	2	2	0	4-1	8
5	Deportivo Municipal	4	2	2	0	7-5	8
6	Carlos A. Mannucci	4	2	1	1	7-4	7
7	Cienciano	4	1	2	1	7-5	5
8	Sporting Cristal	3	1	2	0	7-5	5
9	Binacional	4	1	2	1	7-8	5
10	Universitario de Deportes	4	1	2	1	6-7	5
11	Ayacucho FC	4	1	1	2	5-8	4
12	Alianza Atlético	4	1	1	2	3-7	4
13	Sport Boys	4	1	1	2	3-7	4
14	UTC	4	0	3	1	1-2	3
15	Cusco FC	4	0	2	2	6-8	2
16	Academia Cantolao	4	0	2	2	5-8	2
17	Sport Huancayo	4	0	2	2	1-5	2
18	Universidad San Martín	3	0	1	2	1-4	1

 

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

A play-off is needed to decide the winner if two or more teams are tied on points on top of the table at the end of the tournament.

 

Round 5 (6-9 August 2021)

 

Deportivo Municipal – Ayacucho

Sport Huancayo – Sporting Cristal

Binacional – UTC

Universidad César Vallejo – Carlos A. Mannucci

Universitario – Cienciano

Cusco FC – Alianza Atlético

Academia Cantolao – Sport Boys

Universidad de San Martín – Alianza Lima

FBC Melgar – Alianza Universidad

 

Aggregate table (Stage 1 + Stage 2)

 

1	Sporting Cristal (AW, Q)	12	9	2	1	25-11	29	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
2	Univ. César Vallejo	13	7	5	1	21-9	26	Qualified for the play-offs & CL
3	Alianza Lima	13	6	6	1	18-8	24	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
4	Cienciano	13	5	4	4	21-17	19	Qualified for Copa Libertadores
5	Ayacucho FC	13	4	7	2	21-18	19	Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
6	Carlos A. Mannucci	13	5	4	4	20-18	19	Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
7	Universidad San Martín	12	6	2	4	11-10	19	[1] Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
8	Universitario de Deportes	13	5	5	3	18-18	19	[1] Qualified for Copa Sudamericana
9	FBC Melgar	13	4	5	4	22-16	17
10	Alianza Universidad	13	5	3	5	14-16	17	[1]
11	Deportivo Municipal	13	4	3	6	13-20	15
12	Alianza Atlético	13	4	2	7	13-16	14
13	Sport Huancayo	13	3	5	5	9-14	14
14	UTC	13	3	4	6	10-14	13
15	Sport Boys	13	4	2	7	15-21	13	[1]
16	Academia Cantolao	13	3	3	7	13-21	12	Relegation / promotion play-offs
17	Cusco FC	13	1	7	5	18-21	9	[1] Relegation to Segunda División
18	Binacional	13	2	3	8	15-29	9	Relegation to Segunda División

 

Q – Qualified for the play-offs

AW – Stage 1 (Apertura) Winners

CW – Stage 2 (Clausura) Winners

R – Relegated

 

Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots; 5) play-off (only if needed to decide teams for relegation)

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[1] Universidad de San Martín, Universitario de Deportes, Alianza Universidad, Sport Boys and Cusco FC have been all deducted 1 point in the aggregate table for financial irregularities.

Bourj FC are winners of the 2021 Lebanese Challenge Cup, 4-2 over AC Tripoli in the final

Sunday, 1 August 2021, 5 pm local time (2 pm UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, Challenge Cup final.

Abou Baker Al Mel (left) and Hussein Al Outa both scored a double for Bourj FC in the Challenge Cup final. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page / Abdallah Mahfouz

Bourj FC won for the second time in a row the Lebanese Challenge Cup, after winning the 2019 and 2021 editions (the competition was not held in 2020). In the 2021 final, Bourj FC faced AC Tripoli, a team they have already defeated in the group stage, but now the victory was even clearer.

Bourj FC starting XI in the Challenge Cup final. Source: elmaestrosport.com

Bourj scored early: Abou Baker Al Mel passed to Hussein Al Outa in the box, and the striker found a perfect shot, above the goalkeeper, into the crossbar and then into the net: 1-0 (5').

Hussein Al Outa (in yellow), one of the heroes of the final for Bourj FC. Source: elmaestrosport.com

Most of the first half, Bourj FC played rather conservatively, though they had several opportunities, especially by Abou Baker Al Mel, very active on the right side. The Tripoli side tried to slowly move the game in their favour, bur only had a couple of dangerous long-range shots.

This situation largely persisted in the second half, when the number of chances increased however. Both teams missed one important chance in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but the real show was in the last 20 minutes or so, when five goals were scored. Ali Merkabaoui, who just came in as a sub, had a great run on the right side, and was stopped only by a foul inside the box (69'). The penalty was transformed by Abou Baker Al Mel: 2-0 (71').

Some of the Bourj FC players celebrating at 2-0. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page / Abdallah Mahfouz

The match seemed solved, but there was much more to come. On a counter, Hussein Ibrahim assisted Hussein Al Outa, who splendidly dribbled the opposite defender and finished in style: 3-0 (75'). This proved the qualities of this footballer, usually playing as a winger, but this time as a central forward, giving full satisfaction in any position.

AC Tripoli had eventually a response, when Mohammad Korhani perfectly executed a free kick from the edge of the box: 3-1 (80'). The last minutes fully belonged to AC Tripoli, as they attacked with all their lines. But, on another break, it was Bourj FC that scored again, by Abou Baker Al Mel, who eventually sent the ball in, after another great run by Ali Merkabaoui, this time on the left side, and an initial shot saved by a defender: 4-1 (83'). The referee awarded easily a penalty for AC Tripoli after a contact between Mohammad Al Faour and a striker. Mohammad Korhani transformed the penalty, which established the final score: 4-2 (88').

Bourj FC: Abdelkarim Saleh - Mohammad El Dor, Hassan Bitar (Khodor Hallak 83'), Shadi Skaff, Youssef Anbar (Ibrahim Abou Hamdan 13') - Hussein Ibrahim "Al Saaouk" (Ali Kharoubi 79'), Mohammad Al Faour - Abou Baker Al Mel "Bako", Abbas Atwi "Onika", Samih Damaj (Ali Merkabaoui 68') - Hussein Al Outa (Hussein Ghanem 80'). Manager: Fouad Hijazi.

AC Tripoli: Ahmad Korhani - Mohammad Korhani, Ahmad Moghrabi, Abdelrazzak Dakramanji (Omar Khayed 76'), Ghazi Hussein, Bassam Zakaria (Mohammad Omar Sadek 56'), Adnan El Kheir (Ghazi Ramzi Hussein 76'), Jihad Eid, Fouad Eid (Mohammad El Samrout 66'), Ali El Rachid, Samir Abdelrahman (Alex Rattel 89'). Manager: Saad Jamil.

The ceremony after the end of the match has not progressed properly, because of a conflict generated during the match between some of the Bourj FC leading figures and some of the Lebanese FA leading figures regarding the access of several Bourj FC fans in the stands.

Disastruos start for 1. FK Svidník in the new season: a 12-0 loss at Odeva Lipany

Saturday, 31 July 2021, 4:30 pm local time (2:30 UTC), Odeva Stadium, Lipany, Slovakia, 1st match day of the Slovak Third League - East Group.

1. FK Svidník have luckily remained in the Slovak Third League, because Družstevník Plavnica did not enroll for the 2021-2022. The last two seasons were very weak indeed, as the club financial situation suffered a lot, and the situation turned from bad to worse, ending up in a relegation at the end of the 2020-2021 season, which was eventually overturned due to a lucky event, as specified.

As weak as it was, 1. FK Svidník still had a number of good players, able to play at the level of the Slovak Third League. Time for reconstruction has definitely arrived, but it would have been advisable that at least some of those players stayed. However, with very few exceptions, most of the these players moved to other teams, probably fed up with all the issues that the club had in the past two seasons.

New players indeed arrived, and a new manager, but there was no time for them to train properly, and the first competitive match was scheduled on 31 July. The opponents - Odeva Lipany - are one of the strongest teams in the group, among the favourites to claim the top spot and to promote to the Second Division.

The match was clearly won by Odeva Lipany, the score, 12-0, says everything. 

Odeva Lipany (in green) crushed 1. FK Svidník 12-0 on Saturday. Source: Odeva Lipany Facebook page

However, a few more details are necessary. The first two goals were scored in the middle of the first half, by Štefan Kollár (1-0, 23') and Peter Vitovič (2-0, 29'), the second one by a penalty.

Goalkeeper Anton Dzupina almost saved the penalty executed by Peter Vitovič, but the score became 2-0. Source: Odeva Lipany Facebook page

The disaster began to take shape in the 38th minute, when goalkeeper Anton Dzupina made a foul in his own box and was sent off. A field player (Rafael Guman) had to be replaced by the substitute goalkeeper, Mário Mulík, who saved the penalty executed by the same Peter Vitovič (39'). However, with one man less, 1. FK Svidník were clearly dominated by Odeva Lipany, and Pavel Popovec made it 3-0 right before the break (44').

The situation got worse for the visitors in the second half, as Radoslav Kamenec (52') and Marcel Vysočan (64') made it 5-0. Then, in just four minutes, the score went to 8-0, as goals were flowing, by Lukáš Micherda (69'), Pavol Popovec (71') and Branislav Poremba (72' - from penalty). These consecutive goals came very hard for the young Svidník team. The last of them was scored from a penalty caused by another foul in the box, made by Timotej Čabala, who was also sent off, so the visitors had to play the last 18 minutes in just nine men!

In these conditions, it was easy to imagine that everyone in Lipany squad wanted to score, and four more goals were therefore added, scored by Pavol Popovec (78', hat-trick), Kristián Gul'áš (86'), Roman Kovalčík (88') and Vladimír Pyda (90'). The final whistle of the referee came as a relief for the visitors, otherwise the score could have reached even higher dimensions.

Lipany: Bartoš - Kamenec (Bujňák), Dlugoš, Popovec, Vitovič (Gul'áš 58'), Poremba, Kovalčík, Kollár (Micherda 66'), Pyda, Vysočan (Blaško 66'), Štroncer (Marchevka 58'). Manager: Pavol Vytykač.

Svidník: Dzupina - Košč (Haňak 69'), T. Čabala, Blanár, Makara, Guman (Mulík 39'), Shliakhov, Daňo (Janek 82'), Paňko, D. Čabala, Oravec. Manager: Alexander Tyč.

Referee: Radoslav Bobko.

Red cards: Dzupina 38', T. Čabala 72'.

It is interesting to note that no yellow cards were given, but two straight red cards!

For 1. FK Svidník, other difficult matches are just around the corner. One reason is that the Slovak rules regarding the schedule of matches make that the best teams (in the previous season) would play the weakest teams in the first rounds. So, 1. FK Svidník will face all the best classified teams (in the previous season) in the first match days. The first of these matches will be Wednesday, 4 August, at home, against the main favourites for promotion, 1. FC Tatran Prešov.