LIMA, PERU — Brahian Ayala's 74th-minute penalty rescued a dramatic 1-1 draw for 2 de Mayo against Alianza Lima at Estadio Alejandro Villanueva, denying the hosts all three points in a fiercely contested CONMEBOL Libertadores encounter. Luis Advíncula had given Alianza Lima the lead just 11 minutes earlier, but the Paraguayan visitors refused to buckle under sustained pressure.
The opening exchanges saw Alianza Lima assert their authority, controlling 58.6% of possession and pinning 2 de Mayo deep in their own half. Federico Girotti nearly broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when his right-footed effort from outside the box forced Ángel Martínez into a comfortable save, the first of what would prove a busy evening for the 2 de Mayo goalkeeper.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 63rd minute through Advíncula, who showcased his quality with a clinical right-footed finish from the right side of the box that nestled into the bottom right corner. The Peruvian international's strike sent the home faithful into raptures and appeared to have settled a match that had threatened to remain goalless despite Alianza Lima's territorial dominance.
But 2 de Mayo's resilience would prove crucial. Just 11 minutes after falling behind, the visitors were handed a lifeline when Alejandro Duarte brought down Pedro Delvalle inside the penalty area. After a VAR review confirmed the infringement, Ayala stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick with a left-footed strike to the bottom right corner, silencing the home crowd and restoring parity at 1-1.
The final stages descended into chaos as Alianza Lima threw everything forward in search of a winner. Paolo Guerrero, the veteran striker, saw a header flash just wide in the 90th minute after meeting Advíncula's cross from the right flank. Moments later, Guerrero turned provider, setting up Luis Ramos whose point-blank effort was somehow kept out by the inspired Martínez in the 90th minute.
The statistics reflected Alianza Lima's dominance but also their profligacy in front of goal. The hosts registered 22 shots compared to 2 de Mayo's 18, with six efforts on target to the visitors' five. Yet it was Martínez who emerged as the difference-maker, producing five saves to repeatedly frustrate the home side's attacking ambitions.
The match also carried a physical edge, with referee brandishing seven yellow cards throughout the contest—three to Alianza Lima and four to 2 de Mayo. Alejandro Duarte received his booking in the 71st minute following the penalty incident, while Diego Acosta saw yellow deep into stoppage time for a foul on Piero Cari. The combative nature of the encounter reflected what was at stake in this Libertadores clash.
Alianza Lima's attacking intent was evident in their corner count, winning five set-pieces to 2 de Mayo's three, but they couldn't capitalize on their aerial opportunities. Gianfranco Chávez and Mateo Antoni anchored the home defense admirably, yet their efforts counted for little without the cutting edge required to secure victory.
The visitors' game plan centered on absorbing pressure and hitting on the counter, with Ayala, Diego Acosta, and Óscar Romero providing the creative spark. Ayala proved particularly dangerous, testing Duarte with a left-footed drive from distance in the 78th minute that the Alianza Lima goalkeeper gathered comfortably. Five minutes later, Ulises Coronel, introduced as a substitute, forced another save from Duarte with a left-footed attempt from outside the box.
As the clock ticked into the 90th minute, Alianza Lima's desperation grew palpable. Kevin Quevedo saw his right-footed effort from outside the box blocked, while Alan Cantero's cross found Ramos whose header was brilliantly saved by Martínez in the 89th minute. The 2 de Mayo goalkeeper then produced another stunning stop to deny Ramos again moments later, preserving the precious point for his side.
The final whistle brought contrasting emotions—frustration for Alianza Lima who had dominated without reward, and relief for 2 de Mayo who had weathered the storm through defensive organization and goalkeeping excellence. The draw keeps both sides in contention in their respective campaigns, though Alianza Lima will rue their inability to convert territorial superiority into three points.
With the season reaching its business end, every point matters. Both teams will need to regroup quickly and channel the lessons from this hard-fought encounter into their upcoming fixtures as the race for qualification intensifies.