PAÇOS DE FERREIRA, Portugal (Interstat) — Rafael scored in the 34th minute and FC Pacos de Ferreira made the lone goal stand in a 1-0 win over Leca on Friday at Estádio da Capital do Móvel. Leca was held scoreless despite pushing numbers forward after halftime. FC Pacos de Ferreira improved to 2 wins and 0 losses in the competition and 2 wins and 0 losses across all competitions. Leca’s record in the competition is now 3 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, while its overall record is 5 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. Rafael was credited with 90 minutes and one goal.

The decisive sequence came midway through the first half. Leca’s Reis N. received a yellow card in the 31st minute, and Rafael put FC Pacos de Ferreira ahead three minutes later. Leca’s Balde F. was booked in the 41st minute as the visitors tried to respond before the break. FC Pacos de Ferreira protected the lead after halftime, when the match grew more physical. Platiny was cautioned in the 51st minute, Wesley Junio in the 62nd, Castro T. in the 64th and Joao Pedro in the 68th. Leca’s Berna was booked in the 90th minute plus three. The cards interrupted Leca’s attempts to build rhythm, and FC Pacos de Ferreira kept its shape while defending the narrow advantage. The home side did not need a second goal, but it managed the closing stages without allowing Leca to find an equalizer.

Both sides used substitutions to alter the match. Leca brought on Ferreira R. and replaced Reis N. in the 59th minute. FC Pacos de Ferreira replaced Platiny in the 60th. Leca’s Mesquita B. entered in the 68th minute. FC Pacos de Ferreira made a double change in the 76th minute, replacing Castro T. and Joao Pedro. In the 86th minute, FC Pacos de Ferreira brought on Mesquita T. and Cunha N. Leca made two more changes in the 89th minute, replacing Balde F. and bringing on Pereira D. The substitutions did not produce an equalizer for Leca, and FC Pacos de Ferreira held on for the clean sheet. Leca’s late changes added fresh legs, but the visitors could not turn possession into a clear scoring chance before the final whistle.

Leca’s previous results this season included a win at Penafiel, a home win over AD Marco 09, wins at Mortagua and Trofense, a win at Paredes, a home draw with Sao Joao and losses to AD Fafe and Vitoria SC B. FC Pacos de Ferreira had beaten Vitoria SC B in its previous competition result and kept its unbeaten start in the competition intact. The home side’s defense limited clear chances after Rafael’s goal, while Leca’s best pressure came late without a finishing touch. The result gave FC Pacos de Ferreira a second win in the competition and kept Leca at 3 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw in the competition.

FC Pacos de Ferreira’s goal came from its most productive attacking moment of the match, and Rafael’s finish proved enough on a afternoon when Leca could not convert its spells of pressure into a goal. Leca’s first-half bookings forced the visitors to play with caution, and the second-half cards against FC Pacos de Ferreira did not change the balance enough to produce an equalizer. The home side defended its area and limited Leca to hopeful attempts in the final third. FC Pacos de Ferreira’s overall record remained 2 wins and 0 losses, while Leca’s overall mark stayed at 5 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw. The match ended with FC Pacos de Ferreira protecting the one-goal margin through the final minutes.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Leca 2, FC Pacos de Ferreira 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected FC Pacos de Ferreira with a 58.5 percent probability to win. Leca 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.