On that path to make national football more professional, the historic Peru Cup She was relegated in the system, losing her direct ticket to the First Division around 2022. From that moment on, the act of promotion became more complicated and a more desired achievement.
Every season, 18 clubs fight in the Second or better known as Liga 2 to return to the highest category of Peruvian football. Along these lines, the semifinal of the current edition ended, leaving many chapters to remember and defining the two new tenants of the Liga 1 2025.
The first to ensure his presence was University Alliance. The Huánuco team demonstrated from start to finish its desire to return to first class. In all stages of the competition, they placed first in their group with a surprising record.
Throughout 2024, they went 11 dates without losing and only lost three games – against Agropecuaria, Deportivo Coopsol and Santos – out of 20 played, of which only once did they fail to score points in their fortress: the Heraclio Tapia León stadium.
His almost perfect campaign allowed him to qualify directly for the playoff semifinal, where he met again with Santos, one of his executioners in the regular phase, and took his revenge. He beat him in the round-trip duels with a large aggregate score (5-1). Thus, return to League 1 after four years.
There are many people behind this important achievement, but without a doubt the technician Paul Cominges It was key to taking the Huanuqueños to the highest category. He united a team made up of young and experienced players, and shared with them all his experience as a footballer.
Their resilience and persistence cannot be left aside. At 49 years old, he had to caress the glory, but he had lost battles along the way. In 2022 – his first season in League 2 – he was not even among the top five.
In 2023, he missed the opportunity to promote when he lost the final against The Chankas. Despite this, he believed in the process and renewed his bond with the ‘azulgranas’. The former player was not wrong and now he must prepare for his long-awaited debut in League 1.
Goals are very important in any campaign. There was an old acquaintance from the First Division who was in charge of unleashing the screams and passions of the Alianza Universidad fans. It is about Lionard Pajoywith past in Lima Alliance.
The Colombian showed all his validity. And at 43 years old he recorded 9 ‘pepas’, including two doubles, which were worth returning the favor to the team that allowed him to do what he likes most, playing football at that age.
Pajoy was one goal away from being the team’s top scorer. ‘azulgranas’ on the way to promotion. Jorginho Sernaquea player made in the Second Division passing through many teams, made 10 ‘targets’In fact, he scored in the decisive match against Santos. A talent to follow next year.
The other semifinal was full of emotions, goals and controversies. FC Traders He won by the slightest difference in the first leg, however, he was unable to consolidate his promotion in the second leg. John Paul II turned the key in the penalty shootout.
The truth is that, during the 90 minutes of the second match, The referee validated an offside goal in favor of the Chongoyapanos. The forward Facundo Rodríguezwho was ahead, ordered the ball to be saved and tied the key. This goal could not be annulled because there was no VAR in League 2.
Afterwards, the locals scored the second through a shot from the twelve steps of Nahuel Rodríguez. Those from Loreto did not lower their arms and discounted their goal scorer with a ‘pepa’ Junior Zambranoforcing the penalty shootout.
There, John Paul II gained access to the next edition of League 1. The missed shots by Leonardo Salas y Carlos Lugo– the latter in a somewhat strange way – they sentenced the elimination of Comerciantes FC and the rise of the northerners.
John Paul II’s achievement has been tarnished by Rodríguez’s controversial goal, but even more so by its owner. What happens is that the owner of the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF), Agustin Lozanowas the founder of this institution, where his wife also has participation, being the president.
“I am the owner of John Paul II, my wife is the president. My son plays Pirate. Juan Pablo has a temporary license as new clubs because it has just risen,” were his statements in dialogue with RPP.
Juan Pablo II is a club that, unlike others even in the First Division, has its own sports village, something that has attracted attention and has been questioned by many. For this reason, Lozano explained how he built that complex.
“In 2018 we started building and I built my soccer field, I built my house since 2019, with my fields, my dressing rooms, because I am passionate about soccer. How is it financed? With my resources, our resources, legal and banked resources”, he stated.
The rise of the papal team has been meteoric. In 2022, he played his first season in the Peru Cup, where he could not overcome the provincial stage. By 2023, they managed to advance to the semifinals of the national level, in which they fell at the hands of San Marcos de Ancash.
Despite the elimination, it had already earned its ticket to League 2. In 2024, it faced the Second Division and had a good campaign under the direction of a former Peruvian national team player, Santiago Acasiete, which helped him to settle in the semis directly.
Now, in 2025, it will make its debut in Peru’s top category. It will be the first time that professional soccer comes to the city of Chongoyape. Before, there was only one club from the province of Chiclayo in this championship: Juan Aurich.
Juan Pablo II and Alianza Universidad are the new tenants of League 1, however, the Second Division of Peru has not yet finished. The new champion remains to be defined. Between the two clubs mentioned, the one who lifts the trophy will emerge.
The final will be a single match and, unlike all the matches in the competition, it will be held in a neutral setting and in Lima: the Iván Elías Moreno stadium in Villa El Salvador. This confrontation is scheduled for Sunday, October 20 at 2:00 p.m.
