By: Luis Imana
With a completely changed squad, Sporting Cristal drew 4-4 against Deportivo Garcilaso on Matchday 8 of the Apertura tournament. The ‘Rimenses’ and the ‘Little Piece of Heaven’ gave joy to all the participants of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Prank from start to finish.
Bajo Pontino’s team, who came out with another team and were thinking about Thursday’s game against Huracán for the Copa Libertadores, managed to get the first hit on the scoreboard at 33 minutes with a carom caught in a Rafael header Lutiger culminated, the first goal for the centre-back in 2023.
The hosts didn’t waste any time and surprised the visitors with an early goal Kevin Quevedo, who used a precise cross from Joao Rojas to turn the 1-1 upside down.
Far from retiring, Cristal took the lead again on 60 minutes after referee Augusto Menéndez awarded a penalty following a Rambal handball. Alejandro Hohberg successfully took the lead to make it 2-1, but this game was far from over.
Rambal He managed to justify himself to his teammates as he scored a new temporary draw at 71 minutes that set the game on fire. The 2:2 only lasted a few minutes because Hohberg would unleash his goalscoring qualities.
The ’10’ of the ‘Rimenses’ shone with two extra hits, the first at 76′ with a left foot shot and the second at 83′ with an angle shot, giving Cristal a 4-2 lead.
When it seemed those passed by Thiago Nunes They would take the three points to Lima, Deportivo Garcilaso showed what they were made of in the last half of the game.
Santiago Giordana became the hero of the ‘little piece of heaven’ as at 85 minutes he expected Flavio Alcedo to head the tee shot and at 90+2 he took advantage of another Rojas cross to seal a tie for the memory to seal .
Sporting Crystal They had to settle for a point from Cusco that puts them fifth in the Apertura tournament, while Deportivo Garcilaso ended their winning streak since the start of this league season.
For its part, the team led by Roberto Tristán remains the sole leader of the first tournament of the year with 13 points, one point ahead of their closest rival Alianza Lima.
Cristal thinks about hurricane
After saving a draw against Deportivo Garcilaso, Sporting Cristal are fully involved in this Thursday’s game against Huracán for the Copa Libertadores.
After the 0-0 equalization in the first leg, the “Rima” have to beat the “Globo” by the slightest difference to qualify for the group stage of the international competition.