With Quispe as a figure and a decisive Flores in front of the goal: the unoxuno of the Universitario champion of the Clausura 2023

Just him, the little boy from Comas who came to his first training session in 2011 with a small bag bought at the market in his neighborhood. Just him, the youth who left, first to Spain in 2012 and then to Denmark in 2016, leaving an immense debt of love with the club. Just him, the World Cup player who was called to reinforce the 2023 squad that was beginning to walk with Jorge Fossati on the bench. Just him, the cream of the crop who smells the goal like no one else and scores 1-0 against Sport Huancayo. He is the one responsible for making the entire stadium break the silence with the explosion of joy.

If there is a player tailored to these games, it is Flores. That’s why Peredo said he called him “the one with the important goals.” As decisive as he was with the Peruvian team once in Quito or Barranquilla, yesterday he moved throughout the attack front so that the ‘U’ could play and win without thinking about the results of the other fields.

“Only you matter,” reads a phrase on a mural in the Monumental. Flores honored him so that the ‘U’ crowns the 2023 Clausura Tournament in his house and with his people.

And just in case the dose of tranquility was missing after the 1-0 at 11′, Calcaterra jumped off the bench to hit a volley (78′) and seal the victory against a worthy Sport Huancayo. It was not easy to beat the reds in Lima, but as their almost centenary history dictates, the ‘U’ imposed their grit, football and goals.

The arch, present and future

In the Clausura, and motivated by the fact that José Carvallo is frequently requested in the training sessions of the local Peruvian team, Jorge Fossati decided in some games for Diego Romero. The youth saved in five Clausura games and only conceded one goal. However, the best news came from the experienced Carvallo: throughout the year he left his goal undefeated in 16 of the 28 games he played. Meanwhile, the merengue goal only received 8 goals in the entire Clausura. Against Sport Huancayo they had no problems.

a line of memory

Fossati arrived late to the Apertura, but he gave signs of what he wanted. He reinvented Corzo as ‘Stopper’ on the right. He told Riveros that he would be the central back and Di Benedetto would complete the defense on the left. Whenever they could, the three of them were there. And when someone was missing, Marco Saravia entered as the best substitute for the defense. The award is unique: at home in the Clausura they received two goals, but only one was at the Monumental (1-1 draw against Deportivo Garcilaso). The other goal received was against Cantolao, but at the National Stadium.

Competition on the bands

That Andy Polo is a starter for Juan Reynoso in the Peruvian team is the result of his performances in the ‘U’. In his role as right winger, this season he reached 10 assists. Five were in the Clausura. All decisive. Whether to win (Sullana, Mannucci, Binacional) or save results (Garcilaso, Cusco).

On the other hand, the competition was tough. José Bolívar and Nelson Cabanillas were used by Fossati and each one contributed in their own way. Bolívar being more physical and defensive, and Cabanillas treating the ball better on offense.

The triangle of solidity

If Piero Quispe breaks lines, breaks waists and leads the team, it is because he has the hard-working Rodrigo Ureña behind him to do the dirty work. He recovers, touches, throws. Cream spirit all the time. The Chilean fights with Riveros for the best foreign hire of the season. He has played 32 of the 36 games of the year in League 1. He was only not present on the dates he served his suspension, since he was sent off 3 times and once accumulated 5 yellow cards.

There are countless debates on the performance of Martín Pérez Guedes on social networks. The Argentine, who in a few months will complete his procedures to become Peruvian, only scored three goals this year. In the Clausura he scored 1-1 against Cienciano in Cusco. Then, he adds several wasted chances. There lies the criticism of his game. He is a footballer who runs the entire game, he participates a lot in the ‘U’ approach, but in front of the goal he gets cloudy.

However, Ureña and Pérez Guedes are the base from which Piero Quispe stands to start playing. Without them, before Piero had to go back to the midfield to generate play and transfer in about 50 meters. On the other hand, in the Clausura it was seen that Quispe was decisive near the rival area.

The goal duo

Between Valera (14), Urruti (11), Herrera (6), Flores (5) and Rivera (3) they totaled 39 goals in the year of the 57 that Universitario scored. The team finished with the best goal difference (+35), two more than the other finalist. However, they have gone through long droughts.

Valera, for example, only scored four times in the Clausura. The one who scored the most goals was Urruti: 6 in total. Against Sullana, Mannucci, Grau, Sport Boys, Vallejo and UTC. The Uruguayan’s last goals were decisive in the fight for the title.

But if we talk about determinants, since Edison Flores returned he has capitalized on a goal with Universitario approximately every 106 minutes. He has 5 goals and an assist goal. Whenever ‘Orejas’ scored, the ‘U’ won. His debt, on the other hand, is to score outside the Monumental. The shot that hit Matute may have revenge in the finals.

Emanuel Herrera was losing the title little by little. Between injuries and poor aim, he left his place to his teammates. The Argentine has not scored since July against Unión Comercio. That day he scored from a penalty. From the bench, meanwhile, José Rivera signed twice in the Clausura (Comercio and Sport Boys).

In recent times, Fossati made sure that Valera did not score a fifth yellow card, and sent the Flores-Urruti duo. Already in the finals against the intimates, two of the three will command the merengue attack front.