BUENOS AIRES (Interstat) — Boca Juniors II turned an early red card and Rodrigo Bacidalupe’s two first-half goals into a 2-0 home victory over Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II on Thursday. Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II was reduced to 10 men in the fourth minute, and Boca Juniors II quickly took control. Bacidalupe scored in the sixth minute and again in the 29th. Boca Juniors II protected the lead through the second half and kept a clean sheet.

Bacidalupe’s statline was 90 minutes and two goals, and he was the top star for Boca Juniors II. The goals came at 6’ and 29’, both for Boca Juniors II. Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II’s red card arrived at 4’. The visiting side could not recover from the early dismissal or the two-goal deficit. Boca Juniors II controlled the match after taking the lead and did not allow Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II to score. The home side’s defense held through the closing stages.

The result moved Boca Juniors II to 3 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw in the competition, and 3 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw across all competitions. Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II is now 1 win, 2 losses and 3 draws in the competition, and 1 win, 2 losses and 3 draws across all competitions. The records reflect the same mark in both settings for each club. Boca Juniors II continued a strong run in the competition, while Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II remained on the wrong side of the result.

Boca Juniors II entered the match after a 1-0 loss at Huracan II, a 1-0 home win over Ferro II and a 1-0 home win over Colon Santa Fe II. Earlier in the season, Boca Juniors II lost 2-1 at Independiente II and drew 2-2 at River Plate II. The home side had two wins in its previous five matches before facing Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II. Boca Juniors II carried that form into the match and secured the win.

Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II entered after a 2-1 home loss to Independiente II, a 1-1 draw at Atl. Rafaela II, a 2-2 home draw against Platense II, a 1-1 draw at Quilmes II and a 2-0 win at Instituto II. The visiting side had drawn three of its previous five matches before the loss to Boca Juniors II. Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II’s prior results included a win at Instituto II and draws against Atl. Rafaela II, Platense II and Quilmes II. The team’s search for consistency continued after the early red card and two first-half goals against.

Boca Juniors II’s home victory followed a narrow road defeat and two home wins. The club’s recent results had been tight, with four of its previous five matches decided by one goal or ending level. Boca Juniors II made the most of its home setting and claimed the result. Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II, meanwhile, remained without a win in its most recent match and continued a stretch of close results.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Boca Juniors II 1, Estudiantes Rio Cuarto II 1, while Interstat’s ELO system had projected Boca Juniors II with a 64.5 percent probability to win. Boca Juniors II had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The over/under line was 2.5, and the total score was 2.