Universitario rallies from 2-0 down to beat UTC in Cajamarca, stays atop Clausura 2026

They were down 2-0 and it looked like Cajamarca was going to walk away with all three points. But Universitario has that ability to never give up until the final whistle, and at altitude, trailing on the scoreboard, the team showed the character that Hector Cuper demands from the bench. It ended up winning 4-2 over UTC and remains in first place in the Clausura 2026 of the Peruvian Liga 1.

The comeback was no small feat. Playing in Cajamarca is never comfortable for any visiting side, and being down 2-0 on top of that made things look complicated. Still, the crema side kept adjusting, found space, and ended up taking the match with a scoreline that made clear they never stopped fighting, even when the result seemed to be slipping away.

Universitario's start to this Clausura wasn't exactly smooth. Of the first twelve points up for grabs, the 'U' picked up seven: there were stumbles against ADT in Tarma and against Cienciano in Cusco, while at the Monumental they drew with Cusco FC and with Sporting Cristal. It wasn't the dream start for a team arriving as three-time defending champion with hopes of a fourth straight title on the horizon.

But little by little the team righted the ship. It won in Cajamarca on two occasions and also beat Chankas CYC, results that allowed it to take second place in the aggregate table away from its closest rival and cement its position at the top of the Clausura.

A schedule that gets steeper

There was plenty of talk about how demanding the start of the tournament would be for Universitario, but the fixture list also has a tough stretch in store starting in matchday 9. First up is a home game against Comerciantes Unidos, a match that on paper should be a chance to pick up three points before what's coming.

Because after that comes a trip to Alianza Lima, a match with a special flavor beyond the points at stake. A win there would leave the 'U' with a sizable cushion in the aggregate table, but a loss would complicate things, especially since the very next matchday brings a visit to the current aggregate table leader, Deportivo Garcilaso, in Cusco no less.

And the demands don't stop there. After that comes the unpredictable Melgar at the Monumental, followed immediately by another road trip, this time to face Alianza Atletico, two rivals that have historically taken points off the tournament's big clubs. That's four straight matchdays that will show whether Universitario is really built to fight for this Clausura title and stay alive in the race for a fourth consecutive championship.

What's ahead for Universitario in the Clausura: Comerciantes Unidos (home), Alianza Lima (away), Deportivo Garcilaso (away), Melgar (home), Alianza Atletico (away), Juan Pablo II (home), Sport Boys (home), Atletico Grau (away), CD Moquegua (home) and Sport Huancayo (away).