UCV Moquegua defeated FC Cajamarca 2-1 at the Estadio 25 de Noviembre, a result that, while narrow on the scoreboard, reflected a largely dominant performance backed by the underlying numbers. The Lemeister model had given the home side a 36 per cent chance of victory against 32 per cent for the draw and 32 per cent for the away side, but UCV proved more clinical in front of goal to claim a result that was both deserved and necessary for their Apertura campaign.
The home side took the lead inside the opening ten minutes. In the eighth minute, R. Chipao found the net from a pass by C. Enciso, putting UCV ahead early. It was a productive opening that set the tone, as UCV went on to dominate the shot count. By full-time they had registered 17 attempts to Cajamarca’s 11, with six on target against four. Their expected goals output was not part of the data but the volume of chances, 10 from inside the box alone, suggests sustained pressure that the visitors struggled to contain.
After the interval, UCV doubled their advantage quickly. C. Mejia scored in the 49th minute with an assist from N. Amasifuen, making it 2-0. That second goal came at a time when Cajamarca might have hoped to reset, and instead it put them on the back foot. Their task became even harder in the 40th minute when Hairo Timaná was sent off, meaning they played the majority of the second half a man down. Carlos Meza later received a yellow card in the 68th minute, adding to a disciplinary picture that included nine fouls to UCV’s 13.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, FC Cajamarca pulled one back in the 81st minute through B. Palacios. It was a normal goal with no assist recorded, and it gave the visitors late hope. They had managed four shots on target overall and forced three saves from the UCV goalkeeper, but they could not find an equaliser. Their three corner kicks compared to UCV’s five further illustrated the home side’s territorial edge.
The passing statistics tell a slightly different story, with Cajamarca holding 53 per cent possession and completing 214 of 311 passes (69 per cent) against UCV’s 179 of 273 (66 per cent). Yet the game was not played on terms of simple retention; the away side’s extra passes did not translate into enough high-quality chances. Their seven shots inside the box were respectable, but they needed a second goal that never came.
Individually, C. Mejia was the highest-rated player on the pitch with a 7.9, underlining his influence in the attacking phase with the decisive second goal. R. Chipao followed closely on 7.7, having opened the scoring. Carlos Grados (7.3) and N. Amasifuen (7.2) also contributed to a strong UCV performance. For the visitors, Pablo Lavandeira and B. Palacios both earned 7.2, with Palacios at least providing a consolation goal that kept the contest alive until the final minutes.
The win moves UCV Moquegua forward in the Apertura standings, giving them three crucial points at home against a Cajamarca side that showed resilience but could not overcome the early deficit or the red card. For FC Cajamarca, the loss continues a difficult run, and they will need to address their discipline and defensive organisation in the fixtures ahead.
