Cienciano pulled off a dramatic comeback to force penalties and defeat Asociación Deportiva Tarma on the road, winning 1-1 (6-5 on penalties) to book their spot in the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana group stage. Víctor Cedrón opened the scoring for Tarma, but a late own goal from Gu Rum Choi gave the Cusco side a lifeline.

Tarma Dominates, but Cienciano Stays Alive

The first half was all Tarma, as they unleashed eight shots, four on target, but Cienciano’s defense and goalkeeper held firm to keep it 0-0 at halftime. The home side's persistence finally paid off in the 68th minute when Víctor Cedrón fired home a powerful strike to break the deadlock.

A Lucky Equalizer and a Shootout Hero

Despite being outplayed for most of the match, Cienciano capitalized on a rare opportunity when a long cross led to an own goal by Gu Rum Choi, sending the game to penalties. In the decisive shootout, goalkeeper Juan Bolado became the hero, saving two spot-kicks in sudden death before stepping up to convert the winning penalty himself, sealing his team’s dramatic qualification.