LIMBE, Cameroon (Interstat) — Victoria United FC used a pair of first-half goals and a second-half finish to secure a 3-1 home victory over Gazelle FA de Garoua on Sunday at Limbe Centenary Stadium in Limbe. The match unfolded with an early exchange of goals before Victoria United pulled away after halftime, giving the home side its second win in this competition and leaving Gazelle FA de Garoua still searching for a first victory. The game was played in Limbe at Limbe Centenary Stadium.

The home side struck first in the 19th minute, breaking through after a cautious opening stretch. Victoria United’s early goal gave the team a lead and forced Gazelle FA de Garoua to respond. The visitors did so in the 24th minute, finding an equalizer and turning the match back into a level contest. The sequence gave the game an open feel before halftime, with both teams having already found the net inside the first half-hour.

Victoria United regained control just before the break. A goal in the 45th minute put the home side back in front and gave it a 2-1 advantage at halftime. The timing of the goal was significant in the flow of the match, as it restored Victoria United’s cushion and left Gazelle FA de Garoua with work to do in the second half. Gazelle had responded well after conceding early, but the home side’s second goal shifted the match back in Victoria United’s favor.

Victoria United added its third goal in the 62nd minute, giving the home side a two-goal margin. With the lead restored, Victoria United was able to play with more comfort over the final portion of the match. Gazelle FA de Garoua needed two goals to earn a draw and pushed forward in search of a route back into the contest. The visitors could not reduce the deficit again, and Victoria United held its advantage through the closing stages at Limbe Centenary Stadium.

Gazelle FA de Garoua’s best response came earlier in the match, when its 24th-minute goal canceled out Victoria United’s opener. After falling behind again before halftime, the visitors were unable to produce another scoring moment in the second half. Victoria United, meanwhile, made its 62nd-minute goal stand as the final score of the contest. The home side saw out the remaining minutes without conceding, completing a victory in which it scored in each half and answered Gazelle’s only goal with two more of its own.

The result moved Victoria United FC’s season record in this competition to 2 wins and 1 loss. Gazelle FA de Garoua’s season record in this competition is now 0 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. The same records apply across all competitions for both clubs. Victoria United has 2 wins and 1 loss overall, while Gazelle FA de Garoua has 0 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw overall. The win gave Victoria United a second victory in the competition, while Gazelle remained without a win after two matches.

Gazelle FA de Garoua entered the match after a scoreless draw with Canon Sportif de Yaounde. Victoria United FC had lost 3-0 at Unisport Bafang in its most recent outing before facing Gazelle. Earlier in the season, Victoria United had beaten AS Aigle Royal de la Menoua 2-1. Those results framed the background for Sunday’s match, with Victoria United looking to bounce back from a heavy road defeat and Gazelle seeking a breakthrough after opening with a draw.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Gazelle FA de Garoua 2, Victoria United FC 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Gazelle FA de Garoua with a 56.4 percent probability to win. Victoria United FC had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 4 went under the over/under line of 2.5.