Alianza in action during a Libertadores match. Photo by ERNESTO BENAVIDES / AFP
Pablo Guede’s side rescued a 1-1 draw at Matute with a stoppage-time goal from Esteban Pavez, keeping hold of top spot in the Apertura. Without shining but with grit, Alianza Lima once again proved they know how to survive when the going gets tough.
Some teams are defined by fine details. Others, like this Alianza Lima under Pablo Guede, are defined by how they react when the game seems to slip away. At Matute, with nearly 30,000 fans roaring from the stands and the Apertura entering its decisive phase, the home side found a last-gasp 1-1 draw against Sporting Cristal—a result that, given the manner it was achieved, felt like a victory.
It wasn’t the most polished performance from the white-and-blue side. There were mistakes in ball circulation, uncharacteristic giveaways from Fernando Gaibor, and several passages where the team looked off. Yet even in those moments, Alianza clung to a conviction that has become one of their trademarks: they never give up.
That trait was on full display against a rival that usually feels comfortable in possession. Cristal had less possession and fewer shots, but they capitalized on a single lapse to take the lead. Until then, Guede’s men had controlled much of the match, holding 55% of the ball and firing 13 shots, five on target.
The moment that briefly changed the game came in the 72nd minute, and it involved one of Peruvian football’s brightest prospects. Maxloren Castro, just 18 years old, dribbled past Marco Huamán and Gianfranco Chávez, reached the byline, and sent a low cross that Gustavo Cazonatti converted with a subtle backheel.
The blow was unexpected, and somewhat harsh on Alianza, who were enjoying their best spell. But far from losing their heads or giving up, the home team doubled down. Guede ordered the lines pushed higher, and his side responded by attacking down the flanks, urged on by a crowd that never stopped believing.
When the clock ticked past 92 minutes and defeat threatened to cast doubt, Esteban Pavez stepped up. The Chilean midfielder, one of the season’s most influential signings, unleashed a powerful strike from outside the area to seal the equalizer and spark euphoria in La Victoria.
The celebrations matched the relief. Alianza had not only avoided a painful loss but also kept their spot at the top of the table intact. With 33 points, the white-and-blues hold a four-point lead over Cienciano and Los Chankas, meaning they remain in control of their own destiny.
“We kept trying throughout the game. It was tough, but this team works to never give up. If we can’t win, at least we don’t lose,” Pavez said after the match. His words perfectly capture the spirit of a side that has turned character into a competitive weapon.
Now the challenge grows even bigger. Alianza will visit Cienciano at the Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega in a clash that could decide the Apertura. The Cusco-based side has turned altitude into a fortress, matching Alianza’s home record of 19 points.
But if anything has defined Guede’s team this season, it’s the ability to compete in adverse conditions. They have already won in Huancayo, Cajabamba, and Tarma, and drew in Cusco against Deportivo Garcilaso. So far, altitude has not been an obstacle.
This Alianza Lima does not always play well. At times they make mistakes, suffer, and teeter on the brink of a setback. But they possess a quality that often separates teams that fight until the end: they never surrender. And as long as they hold that resilience, they will keep pushing forward.