when Universitario started playing with 9 soccer players to save

when Universitario started playing with 9 soccer players to save the hotel stay

In 2011, the ‘U’ planned its trip to Cusco to face Cienciano less than 3 hours before the game and a flight delay meant the game started when the first team hadn’t even arrived at the stadium.

The beginning of League 1 2023 remains an unknown. Prime Minister Alberto Otárola’s announcement that the tournament will be played next weekend has raised more questions than answers and now there is speculation about various missteps by the 8 clubs who are asserting their position of not backing down in the television rights dispute. Unfortunately, this type of event that damages the product is not new in Peruvian football and on this occasion we remember one thing university and his leadership in 2011.

Back then, the ‘U’, headed by Julio Pacheco, was having a very bad time, economically and institutionally. Amidst the year’s mismanagement, Cienciano’s 3-0 win on 30 October 2011 went down in history as one of the tournament’s most unfortunate scandals.

Less cost (and less time)

The match between Cienciano and Universitario for the 26th edition of the Decentralized Championship 2011 was scheduled for 1.20 p.m. at the Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium. According to the basics of the tournament, the visiting team must always be in the city where it is their turn at least one day before the game. Despite this, the “U” board scheduled its flight to Cusco for 10:15 a.m. the same day.

This decision was the full responsibility of the club, who were obviously trying to cut costs and avoid having the first-team housed in a hotel. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed by two hours – presumably due to inclement weather – and this meant that “Chemo” Del Solar and his team could not arrive before the meeting’s start time.

Martín García scored Cienciano's second goal against Universitario.  Photo: DeChalaca

Martín García scored Cienciano’s second goal against Universitario. Photo: DeChalaca

The Reserve Victim

The Universitario first team arrived in Cusco five minutes before the start of the game and the only way to avoid defeat was to use the reserves, who had lost 1-0 to their Cusco counterpart a few minutes earlier. However, only nine of them had a professional contract, so the “U” had to start with two fewer players.

Goalkeeper Michael Guzmán, defenders Frank Carranza, Edson Díaz and José Olivera and midfielders José Armillas and Jair Franco made their professional debuts on the day. Josimar Vargas, Armando Alfageme and Joyce Conde, players still playing in the 1st division, completed the nine men who came out close to zero in height. Adding to the inexperience, they were the size and had played a different game before.

The Universitario-Reserve players were overworked by the irresponsibility of their board.  Photo: Cienciano

The Universitario-Reserve players were overworked by the irresponsibility of their board. Photo: Cienciano

What happened in the match between Cienciano and Universitario?

Juan Carlos La Rosa and Víctor Balta taxied to the stadium and completed the XI on 27 minutes, but Juan Carlos Mariño had already given the home side the lead with a superb goal from outside the box. Minutes later, Werner Schüler and Ángel Romero came on for Díaz and Olivera, and Willyan Mimbela made the three substitutions before the second half after coming on as a substitute for Armillas.

Everyone’s arrival didn’t matter very much in the end, and Martín García’s superb free-kick and Sergio Ibarra’s penalty ensured a defeat that could have been tougher. After the game, the club issued a statement explaining the delay and announcing that they would claim the airline and INDECOPI, but the paper had already materialized: why should the leadership have received the squad a day earlier?