MANTA, Ecuador (Interstat) — In a dramatic finish that defied pregame projections, Aucas snatched a 1-0 victory over Delfin in a Liga Pro match Saturday at Estadio Jocay.

The contest, a tightly contested defensive battle for over 90 minutes, was decided deep into second-half stoppage time by substitute Brian Montenegro. His late-game heroics secured all three points for the visiting side and spoiled the home opener for Delfin.

The match was a physical affair from the outset, with referee decisions frequently punctuating the flow. Aucas’ Ederson Quiñónez received the first yellow card in the 13th minute, setting a tone for a game that would see seven cautions issued in total. Key defenders were not immune, as Aucas’ Mateo Burdisso saw yellow in the 26th minute and Delfin’s Carlos Estacio was booked just before halftime in the 45+3rd minute.

Despite the chippy play, clear scoring chances were at a premium for both sides throughout regulation. The statistical narrative favored the home team before kickoff, with Interstat’s game simulator projecting a 1-1 draw and its ELO system giving Delfin a 52.6 percent probability to win. For much of the match, Delfin’s defense appeared poised to at least validate the expectation of a point.

Aucas manager Fabián Bustos turned to his bench to find a breakthrough, and the substitutions ultimately proved decisive. The winning sequence in the 90+2nd minute was a product of fresh legs and precise execution. Defender Mateo Burdisso initiated the play, delivering an assist from the back. The ball moved through midfield, where substitute Luis Castro also registered a key assist, before finding Montenegro inside the area. The forward made no mistake, slotting home to stun the home crowd.

The goal was assisted by a total of four Aucas substitutes, highlighting the depth and impact of Bustos’s second-half changes. In addition to Castro, Jonnathan Mina, Ederson Quiñónez and Luis Cano were all credited with assists on the decisive play, though Cano and Quiñónez had also been cautioned earlier in their energetic appearances. The final moments saw tensions boil over, resulting in a yellow card for Delfin’s Osmar Fernández in the 90+5th minute.

With the result, Aucas begins its 2025 Liga Pro campaign with a perfect record of one win and no losses. Delfin starts with one loss and no wins. The records mirror each team’s overall start to the season across all competitions.

The victory provides an early momentum boost for Aucas, demonstrating an ability to grind out a result on the road against a favored opponent. For Delfin, the defeat is a harsh lesson in closing out matches, as a single defensive lapse in the dying moments cost them a point at home.