ASUNCION (Interstat)—Sportivo Trinidense used Clementino Gonzalez’s only goal of the match to beat Libertad Asuncion 1-0 on Sunday, staying unbeaten in the competition and protecting home advantage in a tightly contested global football match. Gonzalez, whose statline listed 79 minutes, one goal and a yellow card, produced the decisive contribution before being substituted in the 79th minute. Sportivo Trinidense moved to 3 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw in this competition and across all competitions. Libertad Asuncion moved to 1 win, 2 losses and 1 draw in this competition and across all competitions.

The match was physical throughout, with six yellow cards issued. Sportivo Trinidense’s Mana N. was booked in the 35th minute. Libertad Asuncion then had Sanabria L. and Aguilar G. carded in the 58th minute. Gonzalez C. of Sportivo Trinidense was booked in the 62nd minute. Libertad Asuncion’s Nequecaur L. received a yellow card in the 74th minute, and Fernandez H. was booked in the 86th minute. The cards interrupted the flow of a game that remained decided by Gonzalez’s goal.

Libertad Asuncion made an early change in the 32nd minute with Gimenez N., and Carrizo F. followed at the start of the second half in the 46th minute. Sportivo Trinidense turned to its bench in the 59th minute with Abreu L. and again in the 63rd minute with Mana N. Libertad Asuncion made a double change in the 65th minute involving Ramirez I. and Manzur A. Sportivo Trinidense then made changes in the 79th minute with Gonzalez C., in the 80th minute with Morinigo A. and Gauto N., while Libertad Asuncion made a final change in the 81st minute with Aguilar G. Both benches were used heavily as the match moved into its final half-hour.

Sportivo Trinidense’s home win followed a 1-1 draw at San Lorenzo in its previous match, a 3-2 home win over Sp. Luqueno and a 2-1 home win over Cerro Porteno. Libertad Asuncion, meanwhile, had entered after a 2-2 home draw with Guarani, a 2-1 win at Recoleta and a 1-0 home loss to Olimpia Asuncion. The result left Sportivo Trinidense with 3 wins, no losses and 1 draw overall, while Libertad Asuncion stood at 1 win, 2 losses and 1 draw overall.

Clementino Gonzalez’s goal proved the difference in a match that offered few clear answers for the visitor. Sportivo Trinidense defended its advantage after taking the lead and held Libertad Asuncion scoreless. The home side maintained its advantage through the closing stages, while Libertad Asuncion could not produce a response. Libertad Asuncion’s yellow cards to Sanabria L., Aguilar G., Nequecaur L. and Fernandez H. underlined the visitors’ difficult afternoon, while Sportivo Trinidense’s Mana N. and Gonzalez C. also went into the book.

The win continued Sportivo Trinidense’s strong start to the season and kept its unbeaten record intact. Sportivo Trinidense improved to 3 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw in this competition, and Libertad Asuncion fell to 1 win, 2 losses and 1 draw in this competition. Across all competitions, Sportivo Trinidense also stood at 3 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw, while Libertad Asuncion was at 1 win, 2 losses and 1 draw. The game’s only goal came from Gonzalez, whose 79-minute performance included a yellow card and a substitution in the 79th minute.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Sportivo Trinidense 2, Libertad Asuncion 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Sportivo Trinidense with a 52.9 percent probability to win. Libertad Asuncion had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 2.5.