PAREDES, Portugal (Interstat) — Paredes scored twice in the opening eight minutes and held on for a 2-1 victory over Sao Joao Ver on Sunday, with Miguel providing a goal and an assist for the home side. Gustavo Fernandes put Paredes ahead in the seventh minute, and Miguel doubled the lead one minute later. Sao Joao Ver pulled one back through O. Carvalho J. in the 78th minute but could not find an equalizer. Paredes improved its record in this competition to 6 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, while Sao Joao Ver dropped to 2 wins and 1 loss.

The early stretch shaped the match. Paredes pressured from the opening whistle and broke through when Gustavo Fernandes scored in the seventh minute. Miguel then struck in the eighth minute to give the home side a two-goal cushion. Miguel was Paredes’ top performer, finishing with one goal and one assist; he had scored three goals in his previous appearance and remained the central attacking threat. Daniel Rodrigues also recorded an assist for Paredes. Gustavo Fernandes, whose goal came during a 23-minute appearance, was replaced in the 23rd minute.

Sao Joao Ver steadied after the early setback and created more of the play after halftime, but it could not convert until late. O. Carvalho J. scored in the 78th minute during a 24-minute stint, cutting the deficit to one goal and giving the visitors hope. Tiago Campas provided an assist for Sao Joao Ver and was shown a yellow card in the 56th minute. Rui Bruno was also booked for Sao Joao Ver in first-half stoppage time at 45+1, while Paredes’ Ze Oliveira received a yellow card in the 61st minute. Sao Joao Ver pushed more numbers forward after its goal, but Paredes’ defense dealt with crosses and held the visitors to few clear chances.

Both teams made use of their benches as the match wore on. Paredes brought on replacements in the 23rd, 71st and 81st minutes, with Rodrigues and Erik entering together in the 71st. Sao Joao Ver made changes in the 62nd, 66th, 79th and 79th minutes, including a double switch that brought on Rui Bruno and Luisinho. The substitutions helped Sao Joao Ver push forward in the final half-hour, but Paredes protected its lead through the closing stages. Paredes’ bench players helped slow the game after Sao Joao Ver’s goal, while Sao Joao Ver’s late changes added fresh legs for a final push.

Paredes’ overall record across all competitions now stands at 9 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Sao Joao Ver is 2 wins and 1 loss across all competitions, the same mark it holds in this competition. Sao Joao Ver entered after wins over SC Vianense and Varzim in its previous two competition matches, while Paredes had recent wins over Trofense and Famalicao and a draw at SC Vianense. The home side’s win followed a 4-0 home victory over Trofense and a 1-0 home win over Famalicao. The visitors’ late goal made for a tense finish, but Paredes held possession in the final minutes and limited Sao Joao Ver’s chances for an equalizer.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Paredes 2, Sao Joao Ver 0, and its ELO system had given Paredes an 85 percent probability to win. Paredes had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1, and the total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.