Sport Boys’ late double settles a derby Alianza nearly rescued
Two goals in the closing minutes gave Club Sport Boys Association a 2-1 Copa Sudamericana victory over Club Alianza Lima on Tuesday, before Alianza replied almost at once.
Could Club Alianza Lima turn a late derby defeat into a point? For a minute, it looked possible. Club Sport Boys Association scored in the 86th minute; Alianza answered in the 87th, but could not find another goal.
The 2-1 result gave Sport Boys the edge in a Copa Sudamericana meeting between local rivals. Its shape changed sharply at the end: Sport Boys’ second goal seemed to settle the contest, only for Alianza to respond almost immediately.
Sport Boys had taken the lead in the 34th minute, with an unknown scorer converting a penalty. Alianza put nine of its 16 attempts on target, but did not score until the 87th minute. Both sides hit the woodwork once. Sport Boys held 63 per cent of possession and had one clear-cut chance; Alianza had none.
Miguel Córdova, 20, made his first reported start at centre-back; 16-year-old Erick Bazalar began at defensive midfield, while Enrique Quiróz, 18, started in central midfield. Bazalar and Quiróz were playing out of position. Alianza began in a 4-3-3 and finished in a 4-1-1-2-2, but its late goal could not change the result.
For Sport Boys, the two late strikes decided a close local contest. Alianza’s reply kept the closing moments alive, but the win belonged to its rival.