University and the end of the streak: a defeat that forces its leaders to appear in the final stretch of the Apertura

In the 3,050 meters of the city of Tarma, academic He did not rise to the occasion, he did not live up to the level of play and left very high doubts for the final stretch of the 2024 Apertura Tournament of League 1. On top of that, the ugly note was given by coach Fabián Bustos, who again be expelled.

The 2-0 against ADT on date 14 put the ‘U’ at risk in the table, where it is still the leader with 33 points. However, if Sporting Cristal, which is the runner-up with 31 points, wins its match against Alianza Atlético de Sullana (Sunday, 11 am, Alberto Gallardo) it will be able to climb to first place in the tournament with three days remaining.

What’s exciting about the close of the first part of the championship? Next Sunday, May 12, Mother’s Day, creams and light blues will face each other at the Monumental de Ate Stadium in the duel that could be decisive and bring one of the two closer to the title of the 2024 Apertura Tournament. The cream for this match He will not have his coach due to expulsion.

The ‘U’, which had just crushed Comerciantes Unidos 6-0 in Lima, was far from being an organized team to face an ADT that is becoming strong at home (it has not lost since April of last year against Cienciano).

It was not a coincidence that the last merengue defeat in League 1 was, precisely, in the same city of Tarma in August 2023. 24 games passed for the ‘U’, first of Fossati and now of Bustos, to fall again in the local tournament. ADT imposed a rhythm that the ‘U’ could not reach. With 60% of the ball possession, 417 correct passes (the creams reached only 223) and 16 shots on goal, the Tarmeños achieved a valuable victory.

The goals were in key moments. The Ecuadorian Joao Rojas took the lead at 40′, and Janio Pósito finished the game at 90+3′.

Decisive weeks are coming for the ‘U’, between League 1 and Libertadores the fate of its centenary year is at stake.

Figures in action

A defense that only concedes goals on the road (6 in total) should not be blamed. On the contrary, he deserves praise that highlights his performance in 13 dates that have been played in the Apertura Tournament. However, it is inevitable to put our finger on the wound that playing outside of the Monumental could mean this year.

The ‘U’ has played 8 away games with a balance of 4 wins, three draws and one loss. The numbers are not bad, but if we look at the matches at altitude, this year they could not get a win. There were two draws (0-0 UTC, 2-2 Garcilaso) and one defeat (2-0 ADT). Knowing that, after the match against Sporting Cristal, he will visit Cienciano on the 15th, it is urgent that his best men appear.

Williams Riveros leads a defense that is compacted with Aldo Corzo and Matías Di Benedetto, and protects Sebastián Britos’ goal. Now, it’s no use for the team to defend like a lion and attack like a kitten. The problem this year at Universitario has been their lack of goals, despite the fact that in the 6-0 against Comerciantes Unidos all their forwards scored.

Champion teams secure their titles with a decisive scorer. That this year, in the club’s centenary, the striker with the most goals has only 5 raises alarms. The team’s striker is Alex Valera, who last year at this point in the championship had already scored more goals than this season.

Back, Dorregaray is disapproved (4 goals), Tunche Rivera (3) generated excitement until he was injured, Edison Flores appears little in front of goal (3) and Christopher Olivares seemed on a roll but did not appear on the list against ADT due to ailments .

In the area where the game is generated, there is also no figure that stands out above the others. The level that Rodrigo Ureña demonstrates is more than approving, but it ends up being fair and necessary in a team that demands more from his figures. Martín Pérez Guedes and Jairo Concha have not been the watch that the ‘U’ is looking for in the midfield. Against ADT, for example, the performance of both was very discreet.

The band, we understand, is the best thing that Universitario shows this year. Andy Polo’s football is at a high level. This year he has 2 goals and 6 assists, but if his crosses or attacking plays do not end up inside the goal from the forwards, then his contribution falls into an empty bag.

In the ‘U’ their references, the leaders of the locker room, must appear. Not only for the harangue but also to close this Opening by demonstrating authority. The centenary year demands it.