Barcelona Sporting Club won against Liga de Portoviejo
Barcelona Sporting Club arrived at Sunday's match against Liga de Portoviejo criticized for their defeat in their last match of the Copa Libertadores group stage (lost 2-0 against Independiente del Valle), and the worst was expected due to the expulsion of Mario Pineida, however, they achieved a 0-2 victory against the team from Manabí with a superb contribution from Argentine-Ecuadorian Damian Diaz, who participated in both goals.
Pedro Pablo Velasco (30 min) and Adonis Preciado (38 min) scored the goals for the yellow team. In addition to Diaz, Jonatan Alvez and the authors of the goals, the other standout was goalkeeper Javier Burrai. A result that confirms Barcelona as the leader of the second stage of the national tournament with 9 points.
The canaries came out with their sights set on the opponent's goal to open the scoring. Before the 10th minute, Diaz sent a cross to Uruguayan forward Jonatan Alvez, who tried to control the ball to score but was stopped by defender Jonathan Ferrari.
After that play, the Barcelona team settled into the Manabí field, however, Paraguayan defender Bruno Piñatares got into trouble in an action of no major significance, as he let the midfielder Vinicio Angulo steal the ball from him.
The skillful winger from Capira assisted Robertino Insua, who shot but goalkeeper Burrari made a great save (12 min).
After several attacks from both teams, Barcelona was left with one less player due to the expulsion of Mario Pineida (26 min). The left back saw the red card for jumping to stop Argentine forward Francisco Fydriszewski.
And just when it was thought that Barcelona was going to suffer with Pineida's expulsion, Pedro Pablo Velasco scored a goal. He headed a free kick from Diaz and during the ball's trajectory, Fydriszewski touched it and complicated goalkeeper Jerónimo Costa (30 min).
With the advantage of having more players on the field, coach Rubén Darío Insúa tried to take advantage, but between the entry of Michael Jackson Quiñonez for Koob Hurtado, Diaz launched a counterattack from the left side, made a pass to Alvez, who decided to cross the ball to the right for Adonis Preciado to score and secure the 0-2 lead (38 min).
The two blows received in the first half forced the Manabí team to press and under the leadership of Michael Jackson and Insúa, they put pressure on the defenders and goalkeeper Burrai.
Shots from Fydriszewski, Insúa, and Angulo sought to break the canaries' resistance. Fydriszewski had the most dangerous chance, as he turned and shot, but couldn't score before the 70th minute.
On the other hand, Barcelona showed caution. They waited and tried to counterattack with Diaz's passes to score a third goal, but in their few advances, they were stopped by Ferrari or Ayrton Cisneros.
Insúa dared to shoot from long range towards the end, but this action only served to confirm the good moment of goalkeeper Burrai, who stretched to deflect the ball (90+3 min).
Barcelona arrives as the leader for the next match on Sunday (18:00) against Liga de Quito at the Monumental Banco Pichincha Stadium. (D)