Alianza Lima and the illusion of repeating the 2003 title against Cristal with Farfán and Aguirre

“First good friends

Then hit the ball … “

The small hand of the clock reads 12 noon. It’s March 9, 2021 and Lima Alliance decides to make official, through their social networks, the return of Wilmer Aguirre. On days where the blue and white fan anxiously awaited the return of Jefferson Farfan, the club announced the other prodigal son weeks before also closing the signing of the ‘Foquita’. Wilmer returned when the team was preparing for League 2, he stayed after the TAS resolution and understood that, at 38 years old, his starting place was going to be on the substitute bench. He waited, he worked and when he had his chance he did not disappoint. On the goal before Mannucci in the 1-0 that gave phase 2 to the victorian box It is the reflection of this Alliance that got into the national final based on effort and sacrifice, and now he will seek the title against Sporting Cristal.

Wilmer was born and raised in football in the heart of La Victoria, in Matute. He won nine titles with the current one, had dreamed games like that of the Libertadores against Estudiantes de La Plata, and also games to be forgotten. But he was always willing to come back, to collaborate and to work for the club that gave him everything. Today, with the experience that his two decades in soccer give him,.

“The objective was to win this phase to reach the final. Now we have to think about the next game. We have to keep improving because there is still a lot to improve and also prepare for what is to come “, Aguirre commented at the end of the game. If something characterizes Carlos Bustos’ team, it is the seriousness with which they take on defending the white and blue colors.

The happiness of the players after the victory is the feeling of the fan that last year, at this point, he lived in complete anguish. La Victoria smiles and Alianza Lima is excited about Wilmer and Jefferson, the compadres who seek to bring a new national title to Matute. Both today are decisive for the Victorian team. Four of Aguirre’s five goals served to win (three were the first goal of the match and the other the transitory draw). Farfán’s four goals were worth 12 points.

Is the 2003 title repeated?

Lima Alliance is in the national final and will face Sporting Crystal, an old acquaintance. In the memory of the aliancista fan is the bichampionship of 2003-04 against the same rival. And of course, if those titles were Wilmer Aguirre and Jefferson Farfan. In fact, the paths for the first of the two titles is similar to the one experienced this year.

In the 2003 season, Alianza and Cristal contested the title after a controversial year, overshadowed by managerial incompetence that was reflected in the financial crisis of the clubs and resulted in a footballers’ strike that ended the tournament seven dates before its end. . Although the Peruvian Football Federation and the Peruvian Football Association, in an even more clumsy drowning slap, wanted the contest to continue with U-20 players, something that only lasted two more days and was not even completed.

There were no descents and no champion that same year. But despite everything, the La Victoria team was the most regular. With a Jefferson Farfan in the year of its launch, and Wilmer Aguirre Also standing out, the cast led by Gustavo Costas led much of the Apertura, but succumbed at the end to the onslaught of the Sporting Crystal by Wilmar Valencia, who replaced Brazilian René Weber in the middle of the tournament.

alliance he won the Clausura with relative ease and the Federation decided to ‘reward’ him by giving him direct access to the final for the national title. The contest ended on matchday 15 and the intimates took five points to Alianza Atlético and seven to Cristal.

The final was played on January 31, 2004 at the National Stadium before 25 thousand spectators. . Wilmer Aguirre was the starter.

Today, Alianza will once again define the best of Peru against Cristal after winning phase 2 (something similar to Clausura). He will do it with Farfán and Aguirre and in the Nacional (both finals will be played at the home of the Peruvian team on November 21 and 28. Will history repeat itself? The blue and white people dream of the same ending.