SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA (Interstat) — N. Nacif scored twice as Oriente Petrolero came from behind to beat The Strongest 2-1 at Estadio Ramón Aguilera Costas. The home victory moved Oriente Petrolero to two wins, no losses and one draw in the competition. The Strongest fell to one win and two losses in the competition. Across all competitions, Oriente Petrolero is now four wins, two losses and two draws, while The Strongest is three wins, three losses and two draws. The result gave Oriente Petrolero a home win and left The Strongest with a second competition loss.

The first half ended without a goal. The Strongest struck first in the 49th minute when Gabriel Sotomayor scored. Sotomayor played 81 minutes before being substituted. Oriente Petrolero answered in the 63rd minute through Nacif, and Nacif’s two-goal performance powered the comeback. Nacif was credited with 90 minutes and two goals and was replaced in the 90+4th minute. The home side then held the advantage through the closing stages and stoppage time.

Jaime Arrascaita played 81 minutes and recorded an assist for The Strongest before being booked in first-half stoppage time. Joffre Escobar played 28 minutes, recorded an assist for Oriente Petrolero and was booked in the 66th minute. The match produced seven yellow cards. Chiatti M. of The Strongest was booked in the 10th minute, Jusino A. of The Strongest in the 27th, Velasco J. of Oriente Petrolero in the 42nd, Arrascaita J. of The Strongest in the 45+3rd, Lovera J. of Oriente Petrolero in the 57th, Escobar J. of Oriente Petrolero in the 66th and Vaca J. of Oriente Petrolero in the 76th. The bookings continued after the break, with Lovera J., Escobar J. and Vaca J. all cautioned for Oriente Petrolero.

The Strongest made a halftime substitution with Ventura C. entering. Oriente Petrolero brought on Flores J. in the 62nd minute, and The Strongest used Saavedra in the 71st. Rojas J. entered for Oriente Petrolero in the 75th. The Strongest replaced Sotomayor and Arrascaita in the 81st minute. Pedraza P. came on for The Strongest in the 90+1st, and Nacif exited for Oriente Petrolero in the 90+4th. The substitutions came as both teams sought fresh legs in the second half. The changes included Sotomayor and Arrascaita coming off after their attacking contributions for The Strongest, while Nacif departed after his two-goal outing for Oriente Petrolero.

Oriente Petrolero entered the match after a 3-2 home win against Nacional Potosi. Before that, Oriente Petrolero drew 1-1 at Guabira, beat Academia del Balompie 1-0 at home, beat Universitario de Vinto 2-0 at home, lost 2-1 at Guabira, played The Strongest to a 1-1 draw and lost 3-0 at Universitario de Vinto. The Strongest entered after a 1-1 draw at Always Ready. The Strongest also had a 2-1 home win against Always Ready, a 1-0 loss at Real Potosi, a 2-1 loss at Guabira, a 5-2 home win against Universitario de Vinto, a 1-1 draw at Oriente Petrolero and a 2-1 home win against Guabira. The teams’ previous meeting ended 1-1. Nacif had played 76 minutes against Nacional Potosi and 90 minutes at Guabira in his two previous appearances.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of The Strongest 5, Oriente Petrolero 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected The Strongest with a 60.6 percent probability to win. Oriente Petrolero had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 0.5. The total score of 3 went over the over/under line of 3.25. The projection was made before the match.