With a single goal from their historic goalscorer Waldir Sáenz, the blue and whites celebrated a title against their classic rivals in Matute almost two decades ago. do you remember her
The first University vs. Alliance of Lima of the league 2023 will be held next Sunday, February 19th. The Peruvian football classic has been heating up since the last one and both will be hoping for their second victory in the championship. In the long history of this confrontation, the Alianza have a positive record against the U in terms of wins in general, but it has been a long time since the reigning Peruvian soccer champions were able to turn the Olympic game against the creams.
Alianza Lima became a two-time national champion in 2004 after beating Sporting Cristal on penalties at the national stadium. Cienciano was the best team overall with 101 points, but couldn’t play in the finals because they didn’t win the opening or the closing. Despite the memorable title win against Sky Blues, the classic against Universitario in the Apertura tournament was an unforgettable intimate memory of the season.
Alianza Lima won the two classics against Universitario at the 2004 Apertura tournament. Photo: GLR archives
Alianza Lima and the 2004 inaugural tournament title
Alianza Lima and Cienciano battled it out for the lead in the 2004 Apertura tournament. Before the end of this short 26-day tournament, the last date the two teams didn’t win their respective matches was Date 19: Cienciano tied 1-1 -Win at San Martín and Melgar beat Alianza 4-0 in Arequipa. However, Papa gave up a 2-2 with Vallejo in Cusco on Day 23.
This small detail was crucial in a context where the two teams won practically all their games. In addition, Alianza allowed Lima to reach the penultimate day with the possibility of counting on winning the Apertura title. The rival was nothing more and nothing less than Universitario and it was the perfect opportunity to celebrate a championship against the classic rival.
Alianza Lima won the inaugural tournament in 2004 with 61 points. Photo: GLR archives
The classic and the return of Alianza Lima in Matute
The Lima Alliance vs. University for date 24 of the Apertura 2004 was played in Matute on Saturday 14th August. The blue and whites had to win in front of more than 28,000 spectators in order to secure the first tournament of the year early. The natives were formed as follows: Leao Butrón; Guillermo Salas, José Soto, Walter Vílchez, Wenceslao Fernández; Juan Jayo, Marko Ciurlizza; Jesus Chavez, Aldo Olcese; Waldir Saenz, Mauricio Montes.
The match was even, but Alianza struck fast and first. In the 13th minute, Waldir Sáenz headed in from a ‘Chucho’ Chávez cross and ended up with a cut as a result of the action. The U had a chance to equalize when they awarded a penalty for a Salas foul on ‘Cachete’ Zúñiga, but Argentina’s Diego Cigogna hit the middle and Butrón went wide.
Ultimately, however, the marker would not move any further. The Universitario suffered the expulsion of Cigogna, Zúñiga and José ‘Tierra’ Mendoza, and those led by Gustavo Costa turned in front of their people with the Apertura trophy in their hands. Although the “U” surpasses Alianza in the classics by definition, they will never forget that moment at La Victoria.