MERIDA, Mexico (Interstat) — Mineros de Zacatecas defied pregame projections and a hostile environment to secure a 2-1 victory over Venados FC in a tense Liga de Expansión MX match on Friday night.

Playing on the road at Estadio Olímpico Carlos Iturralde Rivero, Mineros de Zacatecas overcame a significant statistical disadvantage to hand the home side a defeat in Week 11 of the Mexican second-division season. Data analysts at Interstat had given Venados a 63.6 percent probability of winning and projected a 1-1 draw, but the visitors from Zacatecas delivered a result that reshuffled the early season outlook.

The match was a physical and often disjointed affair, heavily punctuated by referee interventions. A total of seven yellow cards were issued, with Mineros de Zacatecas accounting for five of them. The disciplinary actions began early, with Mineros de Zacatecas’ Jesús Henestrosa Vega booked in the 17th minute, setting a fractious tone that persisted throughout the contest.

Despite the stop-start nature of the game, the deadlock was finally broken just after the hour mark. In the 63rd minute, Mineros de Zacatecas attacker Luis Salvador Razo Miranda provided the crucial breakthrough. The Irapuato native found the net to give his side a 1-0 lead, a reward for the visitors’ persistence against a Venados team that had been favored to control proceedings.

The goal from Razo Miranda, who played 76 minutes, stood as the game’s key offensive contribution. Venados struggled to mount a consistent response, though the pressure intensified as the match wore on. The home side managed to find an equalizer later in the second half, briefly raising hopes of salvaging a point that had long been expected.

However, Mineros de Zacatecas demonstrated resilience and found a winner, securing their second goal to ultimately claim a 2-1 victory. The final minutes were marred by further bookings, including two in stoppage time, as Venados frantically sought another equalizer and Mineros de Zacatecas fought to preserve their narrow lead.

The result provides a strong start to the Liga de Expansión MX campaign for Mineros de Zacatecas, who begin their season with a record of one win and no losses. For Venados, the loss marks a disappointing opening, leaving them with a record of no wins and one loss. The records across all competitions for both clubs mirror their league standing after this single fixture.

The victory represents a significant early statement from Mineros de Zacatecas, successfully navigating a difficult away fixture that most predictive models had tipped them to lose or draw. For Venados, the defeat at home underscores a failure to convert pregame favoritism into points, a issue they will need to address as the season progresses.