Cienciano Makes the Altitude of Cusco Count and Takes the Advantage Against Montevideo City Torque

The Peruvian side defeated Montevideo City Torque 2-0 in the first leg of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals and will travel to Uruguay with an important advantage, although the tie is still far from over.

Cristian Souza and Maximiliano Amondarain scored the goals on a night in which the home side controlled large stretches of the match and ultimately made the effects of playing more than 3,300 meters above sea level in Cusco count.

Cienciano Strikes Twice Before Halftime

From the opening minutes, Cienciano made it clear that it wanted to build a significant advantage at the Estadio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.

Carlos Garcés came close to opening the scoring, but Gary Kagelmacher appeared practically on the goal line to deny the first. The Peruvian pressure, however, was finally rewarded in the 28th minute.

Neri Bandiera broke down the flank and sent a low cross into the heart of the penalty area, where Cristian Souza arrived to turn the ball home and make it 1-0.

The biggest blow for Montevideo City Torque came just before halftime. In the 41st minute, Maximiliano Amondarain tried his luck from long range and fired a powerful low shot that beat the Uruguayan goalkeeper to double the advantage.

By then, the altitude was beginning to become another opponent for Marcelo Méndez’s team. During the hydration break, several City Torque players turned to oxygen as Cienciano maintained its intensity and control of the match.

Torque Responds, but Cienciano Holds Firm

The halftime break gave the Uruguayan side some much-needed relief.

Montevideo City Torque started the second half much more aggressively and had a golden opportunity through Salomón Rodríguez, who reacted to a rebound and burst into the penalty area at speed, only to send his effort over the crossbar.

After the visitors’ strong start, Cienciano regained its composure.

Neri Bandiera came extremely close to scoring the third in the 73rd minute with a glancing header that went just wide of the post, while Eduardo Agüero responded minutes later with a shot from outside the box that narrowly missed the target.

The Peruvians still had two huge opportunities in the closing stages.

A powerful free kick from Juan Romagnoli produced a rebound inside the penalty area that Torque somehow survived after several attempts. Moments later, Agüero appeared on the goal line to clear a cross that seemed destined to make it 3-0.

There was no time for more.

Cienciano will travel to Montevideo with a two-goal advantage and the opportunity to return to the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana. The Peruvian club, champion of the 2003 edition, had already eliminated defending champion Lanús this season before thrashing Botafogo 6-1 in Cusco.

Montevideo City Torque, playing in only its second Copa Sudamericana and enjoying the best international campaign in its short history, will now have to produce a comeback at home to keep its dream alive.

The altitude played its part. Cienciano did the rest.

But there are still 90 minutes to play in Montevideo.