Cienciano faces Montevideo City Torque in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana at the Estadio Centenario in Uruguay. The Peruvian team arrives with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg and is looking to advance to the semifinals of the continental tournament.
The lineups for the match have been confirmed. Cienciano will have Ítalo Espinoza in goal, supported by Rotceh Aguilar, Maximiliano Amondarain, Kevin Becerra, and Marcos Martinich in defense. In midfield, there will be Santiago Arias, Gerson Barreto, Cristian Souza, and Neri Bandiera, while Matías Succar and Carlos Garcés will form the attack. On the other hand, Montevideo City Torque will line up with Franco Torgnascioli; Eduardo Agüero, Kevin Silva, Gary Kagelmacher, and Facundo Silveira in defense; Pablo Siles, Gonzalo Montes, Franco Pizzichillo, and Esteban Obregón in midfield; and Salomón Rodríguez along with Luka Andrade in attack.
The situation is clear for Cienciano: a draw or a win guarantees their advancement to the semifinals. If they lose by one goal, the team could still qualify. However, if Montevideo City Torque wins 2-0, the champion would be decided by penalties. A victory by three goals or more for the Uruguayans will ensure them a place in the next round.
A significant absence for Cienciano will be Alejandro Hohberg, who cannot participate due to an injury sustained in the first leg. Despite his absence, the team has prepared to compete in this crucial match.
Montevideo City Torque arrives at the match with a recent game under their belt, having won 3-1 against Liverpool in the Uruguayan league. Cienciano, on the other hand, was inactive in the national league and has focused entirely on this rematch.
The first leg, held on September 10 at the Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, ended with a victory for Cienciano by 2-0, with a goal from Cristian Souza and another from Maximiliano Amondarain. The Cusco team displayed offensive play, recording 17 shots on goal.
This crucial match will be broadcast in Peru and South America via the international signal of ESPN and can also be followed on Disney+ for those who prefer streaming. The match will kick off at 19:30 hours in Peru and 21:30 hours in Uruguay, marking an important night for Cienciano in their pursuit of a new chapter in their sports history.
Source: www.infobae.com
