CIRCUS CITY (Interstat) — Circus FC defeated D-Power 5-3 on Monday, turning a frantic opening stretch into a home win and remaining unbeaten in the competition. Circus FC scored five goals before halftime and withstood D-Power’s response to close out the match. The game opened with four goals in the first five minutes before Circus FC pulled away with three more before the break. D-Power scored its third goal later to complete the scoring. The teams combined for eight goals, with Circus FC holding the advantage after its first-half surge. Circus FC’s lead was built on a first-half scoring burst that D-Power could not match.

Alessio Salvato opened the scoring for Circus FC in the 1st minute. Edoardo Matta answered for D-Power in the 2nd minute. Pol Ortega put Circus FC back in front in the 3rd minute. Matta equalized again in the 5th minute. Lorenzo Berra gave Circus FC the lead for good in the 23rd minute. Davide Bertocchi added another in the 29th minute. Berra scored again in the 39th minute. D-Power’s third goal came after that sequence. The early exchanges produced four goals in five minutes and left the match level at 2-2 before Circus FC reclaimed control. The scoring sequence listed seven goals before D-Power’s third goal completed the total.

Matta played 90 minutes and scored twice for D-Power. Berra played 90 minutes and scored twice for Circus FC. Salvato played 90 minutes and scored once for Circus FC. Ortega played 90 minutes and scored once for Circus FC. Bertocchi played 90 minutes and scored once for Circus FC. Circus FC’s five goals came from four players, with Berra the only one to score twice. D-Power’s total of three goals included Matta’s two strikes. Matta’s goals came in the 2nd and 5th minutes, while Berra scored in the 23rd and 39th minutes. Each of the five listed performers was on the field for 90 minutes.

The result dropped D-Power to 0-2 in the competition and 0-2 across all competitions. Circus FC improved to 2-0 in the competition and 2-0 across all competitions. D-Power previously lost 7-5 to TRM FC. Circus FC previously beat FC Caesar 6-2. D-Power’s previous match was a 7-5 loss to TRM FC, and Circus FC’s previous match was a 6-2 win at FC Caesar. The competition record and overall record are identical for both teams after the match.

Circus FC’s early pressure produced the first goal when Salvato struck in the opening minute. D-Power responded almost immediately through Matta, but Circus FC regained the lead when Ortega scored in the 3rd minute. Matta’s second goal in the 5th minute made it 2-2. Berra then scored in the 23rd minute to start a run of three unanswered Circus FC goals before halftime. Bertocchi scored in the 29th minute, and Berra added his second in the 39th minute. The burst gave Circus FC a 5-2 lead before D-Power scored again.

D-Power’s third goal ended Circus FC’s scoring run and set the final margin. Circus FC finished with five goals, while D-Power finished with three. The match remained a high-scoring contest from the opening minutes through the closing stages, with the teams combining for eight goals. Circus FC’s lead held through the final whistle, and D-Power could not close the gap after its late goal. Circus FC protected its advantage after Berra’s second goal, and D-Power’s third goal arrived after the listed scoring sequence.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Circus FC 9, D-Power 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Circus FC with a 72.8 percent probability to win. Both projections were made before the game. The simulator and ELO figures were pregame projections.