JARABACOA, Dominican Republic (Interstat) — Jarabacoa scored three times before halftime and withstood a second-half rally from Universidad O&M for a 4-3 home victory at Estadio Junior Mejía. The home side improved to 1-1-1 in the competition and 1-1-1 across all competitions. Universidad O&M fell to the same 1-1-1 mark in the competition and 1-1-1 across all competitions. Jarabacoa controlled the first half and built a lead that held up despite a late push from the visiting side. Universidad O&M scored three goals total, but Jarabacoa’s early surge and a late finish provided the final margin.

De Los Santos Fernandez R. opened the scoring for Jarabacoa in the ninth minute. Guzman M. doubled the lead in the 12th minute and added another goal in the 39th, sending the home side into halftime with a three-goal advantage. The first-half scoring sequence gave Jarabacoa the cushion it ultimately needed. Universidad O&M went into the break needing a significant response after conceding three times in the opening 39 minutes. Jarabacoa’s early pressure produced a commanding position, and the home side carried that advantage into the second half.

Universidad O&M answered after halftime. Duverge W. scored in the 78th minute and again in the 80th, cutting into Jarabacoa’s lead and bringing the visitors back into the match. Josue Baez also finished with one goal in 90 minutes for Universidad O&M. Sanchez A. scored for Jarabacoa in the 85th minute to restore separation. The visitors’ push made the closing stages tense, but Universidad O&M could not complete the comeback. Universidad O&M scored three goals total, while Jarabacoa held on for the home win.

Richerly Fernandez of Jarabacoa played 90 minutes and was credited with one goal. Baez’s 90-minute, one-goal performance was among the key individual efforts for Universidad O&M. Duverge’s two second-half goals gave the visitors a late lift, while Guzman’s two first-half goals for Jarabacoa proved central to the home side’s advantage. The match featured seven total goals and a wide swing in momentum after a first half dominated by Jarabacoa. Fernandez’s goal was part of Jarabacoa’s four-goal output, and Baez’s goal helped account for Universidad O&M’s three scores.

Jarabacoa’s season record in this competition is now 1-1-1, and its record across all competitions is also 1-1-1. Universidad O&M’s season record in this competition is now 1-1-1, and its record across all competitions is also 1-1-1. Both teams remain level in the standings context after the high-scoring result. The game took place at Estadio Junior Mejía in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. The home victory gave Jarabacoa its first win in the competition, while Universidad O&M absorbed its first loss.

Universidad O&M entered the match after a 0-0 draw with Delfines Del Este and a 2-1 win at Moca. Jarabacoa entered after a 1-0 loss at Moca and a 1-1 draw with Delfines Del Este. The recent results set up a matchup between sides still searching for separation in the early part of the competition, and the seven-goal output contrasted with the lower-scoring form reflected in those previous matches. Both teams had shown the ability to keep matches close before the meeting at Estadio Junior Mejía.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Universidad O&M 2, Jarabacoa 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Universidad O&M with a 75.8 percent probability to win. Universidad O&M had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1. The total score of 7 went under the over/under line of 2.5.