GUADALAJARA, Spain (Interstat) — In a dramatic conclusion that defied pregame projections, Guadalajara U19 edged CP Cacereno 2-1 on Tuesday in a first-round match of the Copa del Rey Juvenil, a result sealed by a stoppage-time winner after a late red card reduced the visitors to 10 men.

The match, played before a sparse crowd at Estadio Pedro Escartín, saw the home side open its campaign with a victory, improving its record across all competitions to one win and zero losses. CP Cacereno begins its season with a defeat, its record now standing at zero wins and one loss.

The contest was a tense, physical affair that saw six yellow cards and one pivotal red, with the decisive action unfolding in a chaotic final 10 minutes of regulation and stoppage time.

After more than 80 minutes of deadlock, Guadalajara U19 finally broke through in the 83rd minute. The opening goal was crafted by defender Víctor Rodríguez, who delivered a decisive pass to midfielder Samu Mayo. Mayo finished the chance, giving the home side a late lead and marking a key performance for both players.

CP Cacereno, however, responded with resilience. The momentum shifted dramatically in the 86th minute, when a single incident led to a mass confrontation that resulted in yellow cards for four players: Dani Gallardo and Joserra of CP Cacereno, and Emiliano and Julio Martínez of Guadalajara U19.

The disciplinary situation worsened for the hosts just six minutes later. In the second minute of stoppage time, Guadalajara U19’s Julio Martínez received his second yellow card of the match, resulting in a red card and forcing his team to see out the final moments with only 10 players.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Guadalajara U19 found a stunning winner. In the fourth minute of added time, substitute Javier Barrio, who had entered the match and made an immediate impact, provided the assist for forward Neeskens. Neeskens slotted the ball home to secure the 2-1 victory, a crucial goal that capped a standout performance for the attacking duo.

The result was a significant upset based on pregame analytics. Interstat’s ELO system had projected CP Cacereno with a 56.70 percent probability to win, while the organization’s game simulator had forecast a 1-1 draw.

The victory provides a positive start for Guadalajara U19 in the Spanish youth knockout competition, demonstrating an ability to secure a result under pressurized circumstances. For CP Cacereno, the defeat marks a frustrating beginning to its season, as a match that appeared winnable on paper slipped away in the closing moments.