ZUUNMOD, Mongolia (Interstat) — Central Stallions scored twice before Deren pulled a goal back, and the home side held on for a 2-1 victory over Deren in a football match on Sunday. The result gave Central Stallions a hard-fought win after a tense closing period, while Deren left with a narrow defeat despite a late push. Central Stallions led 1-0 at halftime and added a second goal in the second half before Deren responded.

Central Stallions took the lead in the 41st minute. The home team built possession patiently before creating the opening goal, which gave it a one-goal advantage going into the break. Deren tried to answer before halftime but could not find an equalizer, and Central Stallions went into the interval with the lead.

The hosts doubled their advantage in the 64th minute. That goal gave Central Stallions a 2-0 cushion and appeared to put the match firmly under their control. The scoring sequence came after Central Stallions maintained pressure and found space in the attacking third, rewarding the home side for its earlier work.

Deren answered almost immediately. The visitors scored in the 65th minute, pulling one goal back and cutting the deficit to 2-1. The quick response changed the mood of the match and gave Deren renewed hope, with the visitors pushing forward in search of a second goal that would level the score.

Central Stallions then focused on defending the lead. The home side limited Deren’s space in the final third and dealt with a series of late attacks. Deren continued to press for an equalizer, but Central Stallions held its shape and managed the closing minutes well enough to protect the one-goal advantage.

The win moved Central Stallions to 2 wins and 0 losses in the competition. Its record across all competitions also stood at 2 wins and 0 losses. Deren’s record in the competition moved to 1 win, 1 loss and 1 draw, and its overall record across all competitions was also 1 win, 1 loss and 1 draw. The result kept Central Stallions unbeaten while leaving Deren with a mixed start to its season.

Earlier this season, Deren had drawn 3-3 with Khovd and won 5-1 at Khovd Western. Central Stallions had beaten Khovd Western 8-4 in its previous match. Those earlier results gave both teams different forms entering the contest, but Central Stallions found the decisive goals when it mattered most. Deren had shown scoring ability in prior games, yet it could not produce a second goal in this one.

Deren had chances after its goal, but Central Stallions defended with discipline. The visitors held possession for stretches and tried to create an opening, while the home team looked to slow the tempo and protect its lead. Central Stallions also threatened on the counter, though the final score remained unchanged after the 65th-minute goal. The visitors’ late pressure did not lead to another goal, and Central Stallions saw out the remaining minutes without conceding again.

The match featured three goals in a 24-minute span from the 41st minute to the 65th minute. Central Stallions scored first and second among those goals, with Deren’s reply coming just after the hosts had taken a two-goal lead. The timing of Deren’s goal kept the result uncertain until the final whistle, but Central Stallions did enough to secure the win. Central Stallions managed the final moments with calm, while Deren’s attempts to find an equalizer fell short before the referee ended the match.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Deren 5, Central Stallions 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Deren with a 75 percent probability to win. Neither projection matched the actual outcome, as Central Stallions won 2-1.