COMAYAGUA, Honduras (Interstat) — Oscar Rosales scored twice, including the go-ahead goal in the 26th minute, and Estrella Roja held off Genesis 2-1 on Sunday at Estadio Municipal Carlos Miranda. The visiting side took the lead in the 9th minute when Rosales finished, then restored its advantage after Genesis had equalized. Genesis pushed for a second equalizer late, but could not find one as the match grew increasingly physical. Estrella Roja’s back line weathered pressure over the final half-hour, preserving a result that improved its competition record. Genesis pressed for an equalizer after falling behind again, but Estrella Roja’s defense held through the first half.

Rosales was Estrella Roja’s top star, registering two goals. Rosales opened the scoring in the ninth minute, I. Arzu Zapata C. leveled for Genesis in the 17th, and Rosales put Estrella Roja back in front in the 26th. Arzu Zapata played 74 minutes and later received a yellow card in the 44th. Genesis made an early substitution in the 16th minute, bringing on Alderete E., and made another change at the start of the second half with Lacayo J. Estrella Roja made a halftime substitution, introducing Garcia J. After the busy opening half-hour, clear chances were harder to come by as fouls and cards interrupted the flow. Estrella Roja protected its narrow lead by dropping deeper and absorbing pressure, while Genesis struggled to create a clean look at goal.

The match turned chippy after the break. Arzu Zapata’s yellow card in the 44th minute opened a long sequence of bookings. Estrella Roja received a yellow card in the 55th minute, Genesis’s Figueroa J. was booked in the 62nd, Estrella Roja’s Duron D. in the 64th, Genesis’s Gabriel Araujo in the 66th, Genesis’s Sander R. in the 69th and Estrella Roja’s Mayorquin R. in the 70th. Genesis’s Mosquera J. was cautioned in the 81st. Estrella Roja picked up yellow cards in the 84th, 90th and 90+4th minutes, and Genesis was booked in the 90+1st. Genesis also received a red card in the 90+8th minute, leaving it short-handed in the final moments. The match included 12 yellow cards overall and one red card. The cautions came in rapid succession during a second half that featured little continuity. Estrella Roja managed the closing minutes with the lead intact.

Estrella Roja’s season record in this competition is now 3 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws. Genesis’s season record in this competition is now 0 wins and 2 losses. Estrella Roja’s record across all competitions is also 3 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws, while Genesis’s record across all competitions is 0 wins and 2 losses. Estrella Roja had entered the match after a home loss to Real Espana. Genesis had lost to Olimpia in its previous competition match. Estrella Roja’s previous results this season also included a road loss to CD Choloma, a home draw with Platense, a road loss to Marathon, a home draw with Olimpia, a home win over Juticalpa, a road draw at UPNFM, a road win at Motagua and a home loss to Olancho. The visitors made the most of their early chances and then held on through a contentious second half. Genesis could not convert its late pressure into an equalizing goal.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Genesis 1, Estrella Roja 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Genesis with a 71.2 percent probability to win. Genesis 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 2.5.