Peruvian Primera Division Wrap: Real Garcilaso stalk leaders Universitario

Real Garcilaso remain in the box seat in the Peruvian Primera Division with a 4-2 win over Inti Gas leaving them second with two games in hand.

Alfredo Ramua and Ricardo Ramos both scored in the final 20 minutes as Garcilaso overcame a stubborn Inti Gas outfit, with the winners moving into second on 37 points from 18 matches.

Inti Gas stunned Garcilaso in the 11th minute on Sunday, as Daniel Sanchez curled a free-kick in off the underside of the bar to give the visitors the lead.

Garcilaso were level in the 21st minute when Mauricio Montes headed home from inside the six-yard box, following a flicked-on corner, and two minutes later Ricardo Uribe put the hosts in front, rounding Inti Gas goalkeeper Mario Villasanti for an easy tap in.

Inti Gas had a goal ruled out for offside in the 35th minute but with five minutes remaining before half-time, the visitors shocked Garcilaso again thanks to Julio Landauri’s long-range blast.

After a tough start to the second half with few scoring chances, Garcilaso finally broke through again when Ramua struck his free-kick into the top corner in the 70th minute and although the home side were denied by the woodwork soon after, they wrapped up the win with a minute remaining when Ramos scored from Montes’ through-ball.

While the top tier of Peruvian football will not finish until mid-August, Garcilaso are steadily improving their chances of winning the title as they sit just one point behind leaders Universitario (38), who have played two more games so far this season.

Sporting Cristal (36 points from 20 games), Alianza Lima (34 from 21) and Cesar Vallejo (33 from 21) complete the top five in the standings.

Garcilaso remain favourites for the championship, although their games in hand – which were postponed due to the Copa Libertadores – are not easy ones, as they are set to face Universitario and Cristal.

Universitario remain top of the league after a 1-0 win over Alianza thanks to Christopher Gonzales’ strike from the edge of the area in the 69th minute, while Cristal also had a win over the weekend, overcoming Leon de Huanuco 3-1, and Cesar Vallejo drew 1-1 with Sport Huancayo.

In other results, Juan Aurich won 1-0 away to Union Comercio, Jose Galvez defeated Cienciano 3-2, Universidad San Martin triumphed 3-1 over Pacifico and Melgar played out a scoreless draw with UTC Cajamarca.