Deportivo Cuenca Has Three Matches Left to Change Its Season

Deportivo Cuenca enters the final three matches of the first phase in a difficult position. The club sits 12th with 32 points and a -12 goal difference, outside the quadrangular that awards a place in the Copa Sudamericana.

The latest setback was a 3–1 defeat to Técnico Universitario. The club is also dealing with salary delays that affect the squad.

The coaching change

Daniel Néculman made his debut as coach on July 27, in Matchday 22, with a 2–1 win over Emelec in Guayaquil. Across the following six-match stretch, the team recorded one win, one draw, and four losses, taking four of 18 possible points for a 22.2% effectiveness rate.

Wednesday’s match

Deportivo Cuenca will play Guayaquil City on Wednesday, September 2, at 5:30 p.m. at Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar.

Guayaquil City has 36 points, while Deportivo Cuenca has 32. Libertad is next with 37 points, and the schedule closes with a match against Liga de Quito.

The table leaves little room for drift. With three matches remaining, the practical question is whether Deportivo Cuenca can turn a local home fixture into the start of a late push rather than another step in the current slide.