SANTA LUCÍA COTZ., Guatemala (Interstat) — Ángel López scored two goals in a five-minute span in the second half to lead Malacateco to a 2-1 comeback victory over Marquense in a Liga Nacional match on Saturday.

The result at Estadio Municipal Santa Lucía reversed the outcome of the teams’ previous meeting and provided a vital three points for the home side in Guatemala’s top-flight league.

Marquense struck first in the 15th minute when Diego Casas found the net, giving the visitors an early advantage they would carry into halftime.

The momentum shifted dramatically after the break. López equalized for Malacateco in the 51st minute, sparking the home crowd. He completed the turnaround just five minutes later with his second goal of the match in the 56th minute, securing the win for Malacateco.

The victory improved Malacateco’s record in the Liga Nacional to six wins, 12 losses and one draw this season. Marquense’s league record fell to five wins, 11 losses and four draws. Their overall records across all competitions are identical to their league standings.

The win served as a measure of revenge for Malacateco, which suffered a 4-1 defeat to Marquense in their last encounter on Aug. 24.

The match defied the pregame projections from Interstat. The organization’s game simulator had predicted a 1-1 draw, while its ELO rating system gave Malacateco a 65.80 percent probability of winning outright.

Marquense entered the match with mixed recent form, having secured a 1-0 victory over Comunicaciones on Oct. 25 but falling 3-0 to Coban Imperial on Oct. 19. Malacateco was looking to rebound from a 4-1 loss to Municipal on Oct. 25 and a 1-0 defeat to Guastatoya on Oct. 19.

Looking ahead, Marquense will host Xelaju on Wednesday in its next Liga Nacional fixture. Malacateco travels to face Achuapa, also on Wednesday.