RIO DE JANEIRO (Interstat) — Estudiantes L.P. made a single goal stand on Thursday, defeating Flamengo RJ 1-0 at Estadio Jornalista Mário Filho in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro. The visitors scored the game’s only goal and kept the home side off the scoreboard in a match shaped by a tight scoreline and a long list of disciplinary decisions. Flamengo RJ could not turn its home advantage into a goal, while Estudiantes L.P. did enough to leave with the result. The teams had recently met in a scoreless draw, and this meeting followed a similarly low-scoring pattern. Estudiantes L.P. defended its area through the final stages and limited Flamengo RJ to no answer on the scoreboard.

Eros Mancuso was listed as the game’s most important performer for Estudiantes L.P., playing the full 90 minutes and scoring. Leo Pereira of Flamengo RJ also went the full 90 minutes. Tiago Palacios logged 52 minutes for Estudiantes L.P., Giorgian De Arrascaeta played 26 minutes for Flamengo RJ and Jose Sosa was listed with zero minutes. The key-performance list placed Mancuso at the top, followed by Pereira, Palacios, De Arrascaeta and Sosa. Estudiantes L.P. protected its narrow advantage through the second half as Flamengo RJ searched for an equalizer that never came. Flamengo RJ pressed after the break, but Estudiantes L.P. kept the home side from finding a finishing touch.

Discipline became a major part of the match, with all five yellow cards going to Estudiantes L.P. Rodriguez B. was booked in the 35th minute, Gonzalez Pirez L. in the 49th, Rodriguez B. again in the 50th, Nunez S. in the 54th and Piovi L. in the 64th. The cards came in a stretch that began late in the first half and continued early in the second. The bookings interrupted the flow and forced Estudiantes L.P. to manage the closing stages carefully while protecting its one-goal lead. Flamengo RJ could not turn its possession and pressure into a goal, and Estudiantes L.P. held on for the win. Estudiantes L.P. finished with five bookings, while Flamengo RJ did not have a player listed with a yellow card.

Substitutions began in the 38th minute when Correa J. entered for Estudiantes L.P. Flamengo RJ used Carrascal J. in the 64th. Estudiantes L.P. made a triple change in the 77th with Burgos J., Rojo M. and Carrillo G. Flamengo RJ brought on Pulgar E., Alex Sandro and Samuel Lino in the 82nd and Pedro in the 88th. Estudiantes L.P. added Castro A. in the 90th minute. The changes did not alter the score, as Estudiantes L.P. saw out the result. Both sides adjusted their lineups through the second half, but the single goal remained the difference.

The result moved Estudiantes L.P. to 1 win, 0 losses and 1 draw in this competition, and to 2 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws across all competitions. Flamengo RJ is now 0 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw in this competition, and 2 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws across all competitions. Estudiantes L.P. entered the match after a loss to San Lorenzo and a scoreless draw with Flamengo RJ, while Flamengo RJ had beaten Bahia before the previous draw between the sides. Estudiantes L.P. had also drawn with Central Cordoba SdE, beaten Gimnasia Mendoza and lost to Platense earlier in the season. Flamengo RJ had also beaten Fluminense and drawn with Santos. The visitors’ ability to score once and defend the lead proved decisive in a game with few clear scoring details beyond Mancuso’s finish.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Flamengo RJ 4, Estudiantes L.P. 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Flamengo RJ with a 97.6 percent probability to win. Flamengo RJ had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.25. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 2.5.