By: Luis Imana
The joy doesn’t stop Alliance of Lima after winning the League 1 title in 2022, as not only did he become champions of Peruvian football for the second year in a row, but he also reached a mark that no other national club has achieved.
After the feat accomplished by Guillermo Salas last Saturday, Alianza became the first Peruvian club in history to be crowned men’s, women’s and reserve champions in the same season.
The first success was achieved by the reserve team in the final, which was held on September 17 at the Segundo Aranda Torres de Huacho stadium. The Colts, who had just beaten Melgar in the semifinals, took the title thanks to a goal from Sebastien Pineau (35th) and secured two important points for the absolute cast in the standings.
The 19-year-old scorer of that goal would make his long-awaited first-team debut a month later in a win against Cienciano in the Imperial City.
Foal. The reserve materialized the coveted title in Huacho. Photo: spread
The second feat of the intimate club was achieved by the female category and in the best possible environment at the national level. After drawing 1-1 with Carlos Mannucci in the first leg of the final at Mansiche, the blue and whites played the second leg on October 6 at a matute attended by 30,000 fans.
Samir Mendoza’s team showed their superiority in shots from the 31st minute through Sandy Dorador, who scored the 1-0 with a header. The other goals came thanks to the Venezuelan Heidy Padilla (50th) and the goalscorer Adriana Lúcar (90th) and sealed the 3-0 and the double national championship title.
The biggest line-up in the men’s category put the icing on the cake with a final that ended in a party for the blue and white fans. The line-up led by ‘Chicho’ had a tricky clash in Arequipa, where they went by the tiniest margin after a Vílchez own goal.
Warrior. The women’s category takes the trophy at home. Photo: spread
Football retaliated, however, and Alianza capitalized on their chance in the second leg at the Alejandro Villanueva. With support from the four ranks, the Blue and Whites took the lead a few seconds after half-time and managed to defend as best they could thanks to Vílchez, who headed off a Lavandeira free-kick.
With the overall level, the intimates came into the complement with a goal of securing the championship in regulation time and at 74′ Lavandeira appeared to score the title goal.
“Together with our people, they have always supported us through thick and thin. To be in a club like Alianza, that accompanies you all the time and that makes Alianza great, its people,” explained Hernán Barcos after the win against Domino.
This victory not only meant extending Blue and White’s sovereignty in national football after taking the title in the 2021 season, but also achieving a record that will be difficult to equal by any other Peruvian team in the near future.
As if that wasn’t enough, the 2022 League 1 champions also broke other records, as in the case of Salas, who became the first Peruvian coach to win the title with the Blue and Whites in the last 47 years. The previous national DT to achieve this feat with Alianza Lima was Marcos Calderón in 1975.
Likewise, Wilmer Aguirre became the intimate player with the most national titles in Descentralizado history since 1966. The popular Zorrito won a total of six championships with the cast of La Victoria (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2021, 2022).
Hernán Barcos was crucial in the Bi Championship won by Alianza Lima. Photo: Luis Jiménez/The Republic
Did you know…
Valid. Josepmir Ballón is the active player with the most titles in the entire history of Peruvian football: seven.
freak Farfán is the second Peruvian soccer player with the most domestic and foreign titles (17) in history.