Sporting Cristal grind out a win against Juan Pablo II College
Sporting Cristal beat Juan Pablo II College 2:0 in the Clausura third round of the Peruvian Primera on 2 August. The result keeps the hosts on 25 points in 10th place, while the visitors remain in 14th with 28 points after 25 matches.
Hernán Barcos opened the scoring in the 46th minute, and Santiago González added a second in the 80th. Barcos was substituted off in the 84th, and González picked up a booking in the 82nd before the final whistle.
Sporting Cristal controlled the game with 62 per cent possession and 132 attacks compared to 69 for the visitors. The hosts created two big chances and registered 11 key passes, while Juan Pablo II College managed none. Shots accuracy sat at 33 per cent for both sides, but Cristal landed five on target against three for the visitors.
There were five substitutions in total. Juan Pablo II College brought on Nicolás Leguizamon in the 67th minute, followed by Mateo Tavara and José Torres for Sporting Cristal in the 68th. A Rojas came off late for the visitors in the 79th.
Four yellow cards went to Sporting Cristal — Miguel Araujo, Víctor Yotun, Mateo Almiron and Santiago González — while Juan Pablo II College received three, including one to A. Rojas in the 72nd. Both sides committed 12 fouls and each goalkeeper made three saves.
What it means is straightforward. Cristal ground out the win despite a shaky run that included a 1:2 loss to Melgar and a 0:1 defeat by RB Bragantino. Juan Pablo II College extended their unbeaten run to four after drawing 2:2 with Cahamarca and 0:0 with Comesiántes Unidos.
The goal difference now sits at +2 for Cristal and +1 for the visitors. Both teams have played 25 games, and the gap between them remains three points in the table.