Barcelona SC achieved a tight 3-1 victory over Olmedo this Saturday at the Monumental, for the ninth matchday of Phase 1 of the LigaPro tournament, and moved up to second place in the championship with 17 points.

After Olmedo set the pace of the game with several goal opportunities that demanded goalkeeper Javier Burrai, Argentine-Ecuadorian Damián Díaz scored the opening goal for Barcelona at 44 minutes and national defender Darío Aimar converted the second goal shortly after the second half started. Paraguayan Cristian Colmán, at 88m, sealed any attempt by the visitors by scoring the 3-1 with a header.

Against Ciclón, winger Michael Arroyo played an official match for the Ecuadorian championship again, without competitive games at the top level since October 2018, when he played a Clásico del Astillero at the same stadium.

The yellow team, who were unexpectedly defeated by Guayaquil City (2-1) in the previous matchday at the Christian Benítez Stadium, resisted Olmedo's attacks in the first half hour of the game, with Luis Moreira and Willian Cevallos being very dangerous in the attack.

Specially, the first goal opportunity was created by the visitors at 9 minutes through a service from Moreira that was first touched by Cevallos and the ball went near the post.

Burrai saved his goal at 14 by rejecting a long shot and at 17 he was again demanded with a powerful shot from Cevallos.

Barcelona's response came at 21 with a set piece that was executed by Matías Oyola and Paraguayan defender Williams Riveros missed the header.

When the half-hour mark of the match was approaching, Bryon Castillo projected himself down the wing and attempted a right-footed shot that was cleared in extremis by Irazún. Immediately after, Castillo delivered a cross for José Angulo and the striker headed wide.

Irazún saved a header from Fidel Martínez at 43, but at 44 Díaz beat him with a powerful right-footed shot, giving Barcelona a 1-0 lead.

In the second half, with Aimar's early goal, Bustos' team spoiled the plans of coach Geovanny Cumbicus, however, Riobamba's team managed to reduce the deficit at 50 minutes through Gorman Estacio.

Díaz came close to scoring a brace at 58, but the crossbar denied him a goal after a beautiful free-kick execution.

Barcelona sealed the match two minutes before the end with a header from Paraguayan Colmán, who now has two goals in the championship. (D)