2 – 3
“Francisco Fydriszewski broke the deadlock against the run of play. Lucas Colitto had tested the Cusco goalkeeper twice inside the opening quarter-hour, and from that pressure Fydriszewski finished coolly to put Medellín ahead.”
Pivotal“Moments after a wave of substitutions — including Fydriszewski being withdrawn — Gu-rum Choi levelled for Cusco at 1-1, rewarding the home side's prolonged dominance and setting up a nervy finale.”
Pivotal“In a breathtaking 90th minute, Baldomero Perlaza restored Medellín's lead with a composed left-footed finish, only for Aldair Fuentes to equalise almost immediately at 2-2, before Alexis Serna struck the decisive winner moments later to complete a three-goal final minute that left Cusco devastated.”
Pivotal
Cusco FC
Independiente Medellín
Outstanding performance
Independiente Medellín•AttackerCusco FC controlled this match from the opening whistle to an almost absurd degree — 62% possession, 421 passes at 89% accuracy, and a dominance index that dwarfed Medellín's — yet they leave with nothing. Francisco Fydriszewski's 13th-minute strike gave Medellín an early lead against the run of play, and for the better part of an hour Cusco pressed, probed, and created without reward. The equaliser finally arrived at 78' through Gu-rum Choi just after a flurry of substitutions reshuffled both sides, and Cusco's fans would have sensed the match was turning their way. What followed in the final minutes was extraordinary: Perlaza restored Medellín's lead in the 90th, Aldair Fuentes immediately pulled Cusco level again seconds later, and then Alexis Serna — already booked for time wasting — drove home the winner to complete one of the more stunning smash-and-grab victories seen in this year's Copa Libertadores. For Medellín, three points built almost entirely on clinical ruthlessness from limited opportunities — they created four big chances to Cusco's two — while the Peruvians will be left to rue a night when the statistics told one story and the scoreboard another.
How entertaining was this match?
Francisco Chaverra takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Aldair FuentesAldair Fuentes scores with a header.
assist: Lucas Colitto
Goal! Aldair Fuentes scores, making it 2-2.
Baldomero PerlazaBaldomero Perlaza takes a left-footed shot and scores.
Francisco Chaverra replaces Frank Fabra Palacios.
Luis Escorcia is substituted off for Yony Alexander Gonzalez Copete.
Juan TévezThe VAR decision confirms that no penalty is awarded for Juan Manuel Tevez.
Joel Herrera takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Gu Choi scores with a header.
assist: Iván Colman
Goal! Gu Choi scores, bringing the match to 1-1.
Hayen Palacios is on, and Francisco Fydriszewski is off.
Baldomero Perlaza comes on for Didier Moreno.
Jose Dilan Ali Gutierrez is on, and Jose Fernando Zevallos Villanueva is off.
Halam Loboa takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Gabriel Carabajal comes on for Oswaldo Valenzuela.
Nicolas Silva comes on for Jose Miguel Manzaneda Pineda.
Joel Herrera's header hits the post.
Alexis SernaYellow CardAlexis Serna receives a yellow card.
Francisco Fydriszewski attempts a header but misses the target.
Halam Loboa takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Alexis Serna replaces Daniel Catano.
Francisco FydriszewskiYellow CardFrancisco Fydriszewski receives a yellow card.
Frank Fabra Palacios takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Francisco Fydriszewski takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Gu Choi receives a yellow card.
Marlon Ruidías takes a right-footed shot but misses.
José OrtizYellow CardJosé Ortiz receives a yellow card.
Marlon Ruidias is on, and Jose Bolivar is off.
Joel Herrera comes on for Diego Soto.
Jose Miguel Manzaneda Pineda takes a header, but it misses the target.
The first half ends with a score of 0-1.
José Ortiz takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Juan Manuel Tevez attempted a header but missed the shot.
Jose Miguel Manzaneda Pineda takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Shot by Ivan Colman with his right foot is saved.
Halam Loboa takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Juan Manuel Tevez takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Francisco FydriszewskiFrancisco Fydriszewski scores with a left-footed shot.
assist: Yony González
Goal! Francisco Fydriszewski scores, making it 1-0.
Lucas Colitto takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Lucas Colitto's left-footed shot is saved.
Cusco FC desperately need points at their high-altitude fortress after a tough run of form, while Independiente Medellín arrive in Peru carrying more confidence and three times as many points. This Copa Libertadores group stage clash at the Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega could prove pivotal in deciding who advances from the group.
