MERCEDES, Argentina (Interstat) — Mercedes, the home team, secured a 2-1 victory over visiting Leones de Rosario at Estadio Liga Mercedes in Mercedes, Provincia de Buenos Aires, after scoring the decisive goal deep in second-half stoppage time. Mercedes scored twice in the match, while Leones de Rosario scored once. The result kept Mercedes unbeaten in the competition and handed Leones de Rosario its first loss in the competition.

Leones de Rosario opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Gustavo Ezequiel Britos found the net. Mercedes responded with a goal from Leandro Amado before Juan Cruz scored in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to put the home side ahead. Cruz’s goal came after Leones de Rosario’s Benitez received a red card in the 89th minute. Leones de Rosario, which was the visiting team, finished the match with 10 players and could not produce an equalizer after falling behind.

The key performances, in descending order of importance, began with Leandro Amado of Mercedes, who played 90 minutes and scored one goal. Juan Cruz of Mercedes also played 90 minutes and scored one goal. Gustavo Ezequiel Britos of Leones de Rosario played 90 minutes and scored one goal. Those three players were on the field for the full match, and each recorded a goal. Britos’ goal gave Leones de Rosario its only lead of the match, while Amado and Cruz provided the scoring needed for Mercedes to complete the comeback.

Mercedes’ season record in this competition is now 3 wins and 0 losses. Leones de Rosario’s season record in this competition is now 2 wins and 1 loss. Mercedes’ season record across all competitions is also 3 wins and 0 losses, while Leones de Rosario’s season record across all competitions is 2 wins and 1 loss. The win kept Mercedes unbeaten in the competition, and the loss was the first in the competition for Leones de Rosario.

Earlier this season, Mercedes beat Lugano 1-0 and Puerto Nuevo 1-0. Leones de Rosario had beaten Fenix 2-1 and Sportivo Barracas 2-0. Mercedes had won all of its competition games, and Leones de Rosario had won two of its first three. Mercedes remained perfect in competition play with the home win, while Leones de Rosario moved to 2-1 in the competition after the road loss.

Mercedes and Leones de Rosario traded goals in a match that remained close into the final minutes. Britos put Leones de Rosario ahead in the 34th minute, and Mercedes pulled even through Amado. The red card to Benitez in the 89th minute left Leones de Rosario with 10 players, and Cruz scored in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to give Mercedes the final margin. Mercedes scored two goals total, and Leones de Rosario scored one.

The scoring sequence began with Britos in the first half. Mercedes answered later in the match, and the game remained level until Cruz’s late goal. Benitez’s red card in the 89th minute changed the numbers on the field before Cruz scored in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time. Leones de Rosario could not respond after the final goal.

The competition record and overall record are identical for both teams after the match. Mercedes has won all three of its competition matches and all three of its overall matches. Leones de Rosario has won two and lost one in the competition and has the same record across all competitions. The result was Mercedes’ third win in the competition and Leones de Rosario’s first loss in the competition.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Leones de Rosario 2, Mercedes 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Leones de Rosario with a 66.1 percent probability to win. Leones de Rosario had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 1.5.