TEGUCIGALPA (Interstat) — Motagua scored twice after halftime and defeated Juticalpa 2-0 on Sunday at Estadio José de la Paz Herrera Uclés. Motagua, the home side, broke a scoreless match in the 63rd minute and added a second goal in the 72nd. Juticalpa did not score. Motagua improved to 7 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw in the competition and 7 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws across all competitions. Juticalpa fell to 2 wins and 9 losses in the competition and to the same 2-9 record across all competitions.

Jordan Garcia was on the field for all 90 minutes and scored once for Motagua. Aaon Barrios played 27 minutes and scored the opening goal. Motagua made three substitutions at the start of the second half, sending on Izaguirre E., Miranda J. and Hernandez A., and made another change when Moya J. entered in the 63rd minute. Barrios scored in the 63rd minute, and Garcia scored in the 72nd. Juticalpa made a change in the 72nd minute when Reyes M. entered, then brought on Barrios O. and Casildo L. in the 74th, Sacaza C. in the 80th and Altamirano C. in the 81st. Juticalpa could not answer after the two goals.

Motagua’s Discua O. received a yellow card in the 76th minute, and Juticalpa’s Monico D. was booked in the 82nd. Motagua protected its lead through the final stages and kept Juticalpa from finding a response. The home side finished with two goals and a shutout, while Juticalpa finished without a goal. Motagua did not allow a goal after taking the lead. The result gave Motagua its seventh win of the competition season.

Juticalpa entered the match after a 2-1 home loss to CD Choloma and a 2-1 loss at Platense. Earlier in the season, Juticalpa lost 2-1 at Independiente, lost 3-0 at home to Policia Nacional FC, beat UPNFM 1-0 at home, lost 5-2 at Estrella Roja, lost 1-0 at Olancho, lost 3-1 at home to Olimpia, lost 3-0 at home to Motagua and beat Marathon 3-2 at home. Motagua entered after a 0-0 draw with Alajuelense and a 2-0 win at Platense. Motagua also had a 2-0 win over CD Choloma at home, a 1-0 loss at Real Espana, a 1-0 win over Policia Nacional FC, a 0-0 draw at Independiente, a 2-1 win over Olancho, a 4-1 win over UPNFM, a 3-1 loss at Olimpia and a 2-0 loss at home to Estrella Roja. Motagua beat Juticalpa 3-0 in the teams’ most recent head-to-head meeting earlier this season.

The competition records left Motagua with 7 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw and Juticalpa with 2 wins and 9 losses. Across all competitions, Motagua stood at 7 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws, while Juticalpa stood at 2 wins and 9 losses. Motagua’s home win followed its recent results against Alajuelense, Platense and CD Choloma. Juticalpa’s loss followed its recent results against CD Choloma, Platense and Independiente.

Motagua made its first three substitutions at the 46th minute and another at the 63rd. Juticalpa used five substitutions from the 72nd through the 81st minute. Yellow cards went to Motagua’s Discua O. in the 76th and Juticalpa’s Monico D. in the 82nd. Motagua held Juticalpa without a goal over the final minutes.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Motagua 2, Juticalpa 1. Its ELO system had projected Motagua with a 93.7 percent probability to win. Motagua had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -2. The over/under line was 3.5, and the total score of 2 went over that line.