ASUNCIÓN (Interstat) — Libertad Asuncion defeated Sp. Luqueno 1-0 at Estadio Tigo La Huerta in Asunción on Friday, relying on Lorenzo Melgarejo’s 71st-minute goal to secure the result. The home side broke through after a tight first half, and the only goal stood as the difference. Libertad improved to two wins, two losses and one draw in this competition and two wins, two losses and one draw across all competitions. Sp. Luqueno dropped to one win and three losses in this competition and one win and three losses across all competitions. The visitors were held scoreless and could not find an equalizer after falling behind. The goal was the only one of the game, and Sp. Luqueno finished with zero goals. Libertad’s lead held through the final whistle.

The decisive sequence came in the 71st minute when Melgarejo scored for Libertad Asuncion. Federico Carrizo provided the assist on the play, giving Libertad the lead it would not surrender. Melgarejo played 35 minutes and scored once, while Carrizo played 36 minutes and recorded one assist. The goal came after Libertad worked the ball into a dangerous area, and Carrizo’s pass created the opening for Melgarejo. It was the only scoring play of the match. The goal arrived after Sp. Luqueno had kept the match level into the second half, and it forced the visitors to chase the game over the final stretch. Libertad’s back line then protected the advantage as Sp. Luqueno pushed forward.

The match grew more physical after the break. Sp. Luqueno’s Ramos received a yellow card in the 41st minute. Libertad’s Campuzano was booked in the 53rd. Sp. Luqueno’s Barrios was cautioned in the 82nd, and Libertad’s Valdez was booked in the 84th. Sp. Luqueno then had Benitez booked in the 85th and Gonzalez booked in the 86th. Libertad’s Villalba received a yellow card in the 90th minute plus two. The late bookings reflected the visitors’ attempts to disrupt Libertad’s control as time wound down. The bookings came in a scattered sequence across both halves, with Sp. Luqueno receiving four yellow cards and Libertad three.

Both teams made changes as the second half unfolded. Sp. Luqueno’s Barreto came on in the 46th minute. Libertad made a pair of changes in the 54th, with Aguilar and Sanabria entering, and Fernandez followed in the 55th. Sp. Luqueno’s Beltran came on in the 57th. Libertad’s Gimenez entered in the 67th. Sp. Luqueno made three changes in the 70th, with Maggi, Ojeda and Ramos coming on. Libertad’s Vera entered in the 75th. The substitutions gave both sides fresh legs, but Sp. Luqueno could not turn its late possession into a shot that changed the outcome. Sp. Luqueno used its bench to search for an equalizer, while Libertad’s changes were aimed at protecting the lead and closing space in midfield. The visitors increased their push in the final 20 minutes, but Libertad’s defensive shape held.

Sp. Luqueno entered the match after a 3-2 home win over San Lorenzo, a 3-0 home loss to Cerro Porteno and a 3-2 loss at Sportivo Trinidense. Libertad had lost 1-0 at Sportivo Trinidense, drawn 2-2 with Guarani, won 2-1 at Recoleta and lost 1-0 to Olimpia Asuncion. The result gave Libertad a second win in the competition and kept Sp. Luqueno on one win. Those results left both teams looking for consistency. Libertad’s defense made the single goal stand, while Sp. Luqueno’s search for a response came up empty. The home side managed the closing stages without conceding again.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Libertad Asuncion 3, Sp. Luqueno 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Libertad Asuncion with a 94.5 percent probability to win. Libertad Asuncion had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 2.5.