Cienciano cup winner humiliated U in their “hell”, bombarded them with long balls and won 2-0: what was not seen from the worst match of the Cúper era

The image was eloquent. As soon as the final whistle blew, the Universitario players walked with lost gazes over the grass of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. It was not just a defeat. It was the feeling of having been outplayed from start to finish in a setting where, until not long ago, the three-time champion found answers when others found excuses. This time, Cusco was a hell. It was because of the football of an intense, dynamic Cienciano convinced of its idea. And also because of a crowd that turned every recovery, every defensive closure, and every imperial attack into a push that ended up suffocating the national champion.

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READ: VIDEO: Universitario could not overcome Cienciano in Cusco and moves away from the top of the Clausura Tournament

If something distinguished the ‘U’ during the last three consecutive titles, it was their ability to compete at altitude. Winning in cities like Cusco, Arequipa, Cutervo, or Andahuaylas stopped being an exception and became a habit. However, that identity seems to have been left behind. So far this year, Universitario has not been able to impose itself in any of those places. The victory against ADT in Tarma, at the start of the Clausura, gave the impression that the problem was solved. But Garcilaso once again exposed an uncomfortable reality: this team no longer transmits the authority that once made it fearsome outside Lima.

On the other side appeared a Cienciano going through one of its best moments. The only Peruvian club that will play the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana, where it will face Botafogo, played with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what they are playing for. The team led by Carlos Desio pressed high, attacked down the wings, and found spaces with surprising ease against a cream defense that never managed to settle.

Much of the doubts point again towards the bench. Héctor Cúper insisted on a back four that, so far, offers no guarantees. But beyond the formation, the number of players placed outside their best context caught attention. César Inga played again on the opposite flank; Andy Polo had to adapt as a fullback in a back four; Alzugaray covered the entire wing; Jairo Concha and Quiroz were too pressured in the first line of midfielders; Alex Valera constantly left the area to link up; Fértoli ended up making a huge effort between attack and retreat; and Requena took on the responsibility of the first pass from the back.

Without taking away credit from a great Cienciano nor placing all the responsibility on the coach, the reading of the match left questions again. Universitario wanted to play with intensity but ran out of breath too soon. Their midfielders failed to fall back in time, the wings were left unprotected, and the Cusco team turned crosses into a permanent weapon. It was a divided, stretched team without the capacity to react. The statistics explain the magnitude of the problem: the ‘U’ shot only once during the entire match.

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The local dominance ended up reflected on the scoreboard. At 34 minutes, Matías Succar took advantage of a defensive lapse to open the scoring. The goal made a packed Garcilaso explode, which pushed Cienciano throughout the night and turned every cream advance into an uphill mission. Universitario never found answers. Neither from the bench nor on the field. At 82 minutes, Carlos Garcés sealed the 2-0 and ended up unleashing the Cusco celebration.

Jesús Castillo, one step away from Tunisian football

While the team tries to find football answers, Universitario also lives decisive hours off the pitch. This newspaper learned that the transfer of Jesús Castillo to Esperance of Tunisia was fully agreed upon after the cream club responded to the documentation sent from Africa. The midfielder will travel this Tuesday and the official announcement of the operation will be made between today and tomorrow.

The sale, according to this newspaper, exceeds half a million dollars — far from the million initially speculated — and Universitario will keep 20% of a future transfer, betting on the international growth of one of the midfielders with the greatest projection in the squad.

The defeat in Cusco ended a streak of two consecutive wins in the Clausura and left another worrying fact: since Héctor Cúper’s arrival, Universitario has three wins, three losses, and one draw. On Friday, when Sporting Cristal visits the Monumental, it will no longer be just about recovering in the table. The confidence of a team that just a few months ago seemed invincible and that today looks at the altitude with fear will also be at stake. Because at Garcilaso they not only lost three points: they lost one of the certainties that made them three-time champions.

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