Overview
- Santiago González scored at 15 minutes from a lofted pass by Gustavo Cazonatti to give Cristal the home win at the Estadio Nacional.
- Cusco FC goalkeeper Pedro Díaz kept the series tight with several key saves, including a late double stop to deny a larger margin.
- Defender Alex Custodio exited early with a knee injury and was replaced by Miguel Aucca for the visitors.
- The return leg is set for Sunday, December 14 at 6:00 p.m. local time at the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega in Cusco, where altitude could influence the match.
- The winner claims Peru 2 and direct entry to the 2026 Copa Libertadores group stage, with the match broadcast on L1 Max and available via Liga 1 streaming platforms.