Peru Roundup: Sporting Cristal Run Riot

Sporting Cristal 4-1 Alianza Atletico

Sporting Cristal ran riot on a sunny afternoon at the Alberto Gallardo in Rimac. The score was 4-0 at half time. Ortiz opened the score with a nice shot from right outside the box to give Los Cerveceros the lead in the 5th minute. 10 minutes later, Horacio Calcaterra doubled Cristal’s lead with a shot outside the box into the top right corner at an unsavable speed. In the 18th, the score was put at 3 goals to 0 after Rolando Blackburn wins a tap in after a cross from Jair Cespedes. 10 minutes before half-time in the 36th, Ortiz was found completely open in the box and takes a shot hitting it bar down and putting Cristal 4-0 up. While Christian Ortiz scored 2 goals in the match, the best player here was central midfielder Pedro Aquino. Aquino was a rock in the midfield. He showed superb anticipation and won everything in the middle. He even helped get forward in attack instead of slowing it down like some defensive minded midfielders do.

UTC 2-0 Sport Huancayo

Huancayo continue to struggle away from home, as they are still yet to win at any ground that isn’t the Estadio Huancayo. The first goal came from Gonzalo Baglivo. He heads the corner taken by Juan Pablo Vergara into the back of the net in the 30th minute. 3 minutes later, Jonathan Segura tricks the keeper by taking a fake shot and is able to score from his real attempt. Cajamarca go 4 points clear of 2nd with this after the Alianza Lima loss and have 19 points as it stands. They are looking on good course for the final. Juan Pablo Vergara with the assist and numerous dangerous chances created was definitely the most influential player of the match.

Universidad San Martin de Porres 1-2 Academia Cantolao

Cantolao and Universidad San Martin have both been known for creating youth players, with Christian Cueva and Pedro Gallese being the 2 most notable names to start at San Martin. Claudio Pizarro and Carlos Zambrano the 2 most notable from Academia Cantolao. Alexander Succar opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a nicely placed shot which beats the keeper. Junior Ponce and Alexander Succar ran the first half, but Academia Cantolao took over in the second and Jeferson Collazos managed to bag a brace. The first one coming in the 48th minute. Collazos rounds the keeper to tie the game up as he has done on a few occasions this season. The second one came from an open header from Giancarlo Carmona in the 60th minute. Academia Cantolao move away from the bottom and currently sit in 6th with 9 points.

Sport Rosario 0-0 Union Comercio

Sport Rosario are slowly becoming the toughest team to cover in the Primera. Aside from the fact that Huaraz doesn’t have an airport and is relatively far from any other airport, it seems most of their home games have signal problems and watching them on TV is tough because of it. They also seem to be a dull side. They’re very defensive and most of their wins or losses are narrow. No doubt, they’ll begin to fall but they’ll be happy with their start.

Universitario 3-0 Alianza Lima

In Pedro Troglio’s first match as Universitario manager, he couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the job. Universitario got a comfortable win over Alianza Lima. While they didn’t run rings

around La Blanquiazul, the defence was impeccable. Alianza created very little while Universitario took advantage of opposition mistakes. Venezuelan midfielder Arquimedes Figuera opened the scoring in the 4th minute, with a shot about 40 yards out in wide open space giving Los Merengues the lead at the monumental. Alexi Gomez doubled the lead with a penalty in the 37th minute after a foul by Leao Butron. In the second half, Quintero picks up a gift and wins himself a break. He rounds the keeper and made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute. It is only La U’s second win in the tournament, with the first being a 1-0 win over Deportivo Municipal in early march. Alianza Lima remain in second place but UTC have taken a 4 point lead with this. The best player was Arquimedes Figuera who aside from the goal, he won a lot of the midfield duels and even contributed in attack which was something we haven’t seen from him with the previous manager.

Real Garcilaso 0-0 Comerciantes Unidos

While there is not too much to report in this match, it should be noted that everyone’s favourite South American football phenomenon happened and that was a dog entered the pitch. Took the referee 15 seconds to see it. Three sending offs in this one. Luis Mayme and Jhoel Herrera, both for second yellows after the 80th minute. The 3rd sending off was, of course, the dog, who will miss the next game and will have to stay in the stands. Shame.

Juan Aurich 0-1 Deportivo Municipal

Municipal have been one of the disappointments in the Torneo de Verano so far. They managed to win here despite being outplayed. Juan Aurich’s lack of experience and bad finishing cost them. The home team have a very young squad and are in a rebuilding process after losing a lot of their key players as well as their owner Oviedo leaving them for the FPF. In the 53rd minute, Costa Rican Freddy Alvarez found the back of the net and won the game for La Academia. Juan Aurich didn’t play too badly but, were very lightweight.