Peruvian second level was still without a league, but ‘Copa Peru’ was played instead, as established in 1967. At first regional tournaments were played, consisting of provincial teams, which won the earlier departmental rounds, and the winners of the 8 regional groups (of 3 teams each) moved to the national stage. There they were joined by the winner of the 9th group, where Lima clubs played– just like everywhere else in South America, the capital city had not only too many clubs, but more professionally organized too and there was no way to ignore them: unilke the regional groups, the Lima group was made of 7 teams. Goal-difference did not play a role – when teams had equal points, a play-off was staged to determine the winner. To the second stage – Etapa Nacional – qualified: Los Aguerridos de Monsefú [Lambayeque] , Universidad Técnica de Cajamarca [Cajamarca] , Deportivo Aviación [Loreto], Octavio Espinosa [Ica], Juan Bielovucic [Huánuco], Pesca Perú [Arequipa], Deportivo Garcilaso [Cusco], Miguel Grau [Apurímac], Unión Gonzales Prada (Lima). Naturally, no famous clubs played that low, so most names hardly mean anything for anybody outside Peru.
The next stage was slightly different: still round-robin groups, three of them of 3 teams each, with the top 2 teams going to the finals. However, in case of equal points the winner was determined differently: instead of play-off, goals mattered – whoever scored more, finished higher. If this was unable to determine positions, then goal-difference was decided. As every tie-breaking rule, results were bordering to the ridiculous: in Group 1 U.T.C. (Cajamarca) finished last, despite the fact they were the only team with positive goal-difference in the group. But they scored one goal less than the Los Aguerridos and Deportivo Aviacion and since all teams ended with 4 points, U.T.C. was eliminated just because they scored one goal less. Deportivo Aviacion had negative goal-difference and Los Aguerridos, first at the end had 6-6 goal-difference.
Group 2 had 4 teams, not 3… because here Leon (Huanuco) was automatically included – they were relegated from First Division the previous season. Leon finished 2nd, behind Gonzales Prada, which scored one goal more then them. Did not matter much. For the record, Leon was the only teams ending this stage without a loss. For those more inquisitive a point of interest could be the last team in the group – Juan Bielovucic. A Croatian name of famous aviator.
Group 3. No trouble here – points decided everything. Miguel Grau finished last, the other two teams moved ahead to the final.
The final was again round-robin tournament, played entirely in Lima. The 6 teams qualified from Etapa Nacional played one-round mini-league, and the winner was promoted to the First division. Simple? Nothing is simple… there were 7 teams at the final stage, not 6. Aguas Verdes ( Zarumilla) was invited to the final. Why? Because they were the losing finalist of Copa Peru the previous year.
Comercial Aguas Verdes – straight to the final, because they were good one year earlier. Standing from left: Juan Girón, Walter Valladares, José Morán, Valqui, Edel García.
First row: Augusto Gemmell, Pedro Campaña, Rolando Vargas, José “Chimbote” Mendoza, Miguel Santín, Julio García Lapoublé.
Luckily, points decided the winner of the final. Cities and departments are given between brackets.
FINAL TABLE
Pts – P – W – D – L – GF – GA
1. León (Huanuco,Huanuco) 10 – 6 – 4 – 2 – 0 – 8 – 2 [Promoted]
2. Gonzales Prada (Lima, Lima) 8 – 6 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 6 – 4
3. Los Aguerridos (Monsefu, Lambayeque) 7 – 6 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 6 – 4
4. Pesca Perú (Mollendo, Arequipa) 5 – 6 – 1 – 3 – 2 – 5 – 6
5. Deportivo Aviación (Iquitos, Loreto) 5 – 6 – 2 – 1 – 3 – 5 – 9
6. Aguas Verdes (Zarumilla, Tumbes) 4 – 6 – 0 – 4 – 2 – 3 – 5
7. Garcilaso (Cusco, Cusco) 3 – 6 – 1 – 1 – 4 – 5 – 8
Since second level clubs are rarely seen, here is a picture of a modest team, which played well this year:
Los Aquerridos finished third in the final of Copa Peru. It was success for them. Standing from left: Cadenillas, Cañola, Cabrera, Elcolobarrutia, García, Mell.
First row: Camacho, Muñoz, Ramos, Celli, Samamé.
Leon (Huanuco) – proud winners of Copa Peru and returning to top flight after a single season in the second level purgatory.
This was not the end, however. The second placed in the Copa Peru final still had a chance for promotion – Gonzales Prada went to a play-off against the next to last finisher in the relegation group of 1st Division.